Bill Brenner got his first H.O.  slot car set when he was 11 years old in 1963.  He had no idea then that 50 years later in 2014 he would be a regular racer at Randy’s Raceway in Kutztown.  Bill has been a steady and regular competitor here at the Berks oval since the early years.  Bill got that first set as a Christmas present from his parents, the old lock and joiner type Aurora track and T-Jet cars.
When Bill was 15 he began racing in competition in his hometown area of Manheim, PA.  Mainly racing against his buddy’s from High School at his house.  They would also take the track apart and reassemble it at other guys houses in different layouts.  So he had oval and road courses to hon his skill.  In 1967 Bill meet Kip in Lebanon.  I think everybody from this area knew Kip or at least heard of him if you’ve raced for awhile.  Around 1969 Bill began racing at Kips track and some of the guys he raced with were Bobby Gerhart and Randy Wolfe.  He raced at a track in Willowstreet PA that was a drag strip that actually had the Xmas tree from York Dragway.  In 1978 Bill meet Tom Hiester and began a long career at the Reading tracks that Tom has promoted.  Bill still races with the Hiester’s today and was a long time race sponsor donating around the holidays for many years.
So every winter all these years later Bill is still at it, still loves racing slot cars you can see it in his eyes, he really enjoys this hobby we all do.  Bill’s wife and daughters have always been supportive although he has had only limited success getting them to try a controller in their hands.
Bill has won features over the years and has been a driver in the Eric Beard stables for a number of seasons.  Bill and Eric met at a flea market over 30 years ago. They make a potent team and are strong competitors in the Modified division at Randy’s Raceway.  Some of the many places Bill has raced at other than the tracks at Randy’s Raceway are listed here.  Fry’s Hobby Shop, Smitty’s in Manor Township, Lancaster Shopping Center, The Fenton’s, Keith Guidon’s, Bob Zelano’s, Kips, Ed Reifinger, Kevin Reimert’s, Ted Van Pelt’s,  Billy Decker’s in the Poconos, Port Royal, Mifflentown both oval and road courses, Hiester’s Raceway, Woodland Raceway in Trooper PA, and Big T’s in Exeter.  Bill has also been part of the PA Tyco series traveling show off and on over the years.  Some of Bill’s memorable moments were winning the first race at the new Hiester’s Raceway in Sinking Spring, competing in a National event and making the top 15.  Although Bill may have never won a points championship you can always count on a good clean race and a hardy handshake from him.  He is always fun to be around and we are all glad to call him a friend.  Make sure if you get a chance congratulate Bill on 50 years and still going strong.

Mark Williams won the final Modified feature on the Tri-Oval in it’s current location.  I a real close finish Williams won his 8th main event in a row over Bryan Kisthart.  Williams won 3 segments and won by only 3 pieces of track over the Road Race specialist Kisthart, who won 4 segments.  Bryan has been so close this season to winning one and this one was about as close as he could get without winning the race.  Third spot went to Sheldon Hiester who had strong runs all night winning 4 segments as well.  [Read more…]

It was season ending Twin 15’s for the NASCAR Division on the 8 lane speedway at Randy’s Raceway and Mark Williams running the Budweiser #50 scored 7 segment wins on way to his 2nd win of the year. Only 1 lap of the pace Sheldon Hiester scored high 14’s, winning 1 segment to claim a solid 2nd place finish. Coming off a strong run on the Road Course Toby Reinhard ran his Purolator #21 to 2 segment wins for a career best Cup finish for a 3rd place finish. [Read more…]

Doubleheader action was on tap at Randy’s Raceway with the Modifieds opening up the night going 15 laps on 6 lanes, a field of 17 racers signed in and Mark Williams turned in a sweep on way to the win. Eric Beard collected 4 segment wins with his strong running #55 for a season best 2nd place finish. Billy Decker broke out of a late season slump scoring 2 segment wins for a good 3rd place effort. [Read more…]

The mighty Modifieds took to the 8 lane super speedway for a double show.  Mark Williams won the first show with an 8 lane sweep, runnerup was Sheldon Hiester who won twice on lanes 1 and 2.  Third spot went to Corey Bailey who returned to the track and won 3 segments.  Fourth driving an Eric Beard car was promoter Randy Haydt who won 3 segments.  Rounding out the top five was Bryan Kisthart.  In the nightcap Williams once again won driving the GTB for feature win #10 this season.  Williams won 5 segments.  Second spot went to Gettysburg’s Eric Beard.  The car builder had a nice run and even with a bubble out on lane 6 won 4 segments to grab second.  [Read more…]

Cup racing returned to Randy’s Raceway Tuesday night on the challenging Tri-Oval and Sheldon Hiester scored 2 segment wins on way to a close win, his 2nd of the year. Sheldon’s win was only 8 pieces of track ahead of Mark Williams who ran his multi colored machine to 5 segment wins coming home 2nd. Shane Hiester ran his Miller Lite #2 to 3 segment wins for a 3rd place finish. [Read more…]

Points leader Mark Williams won the Modified feature at Randy’s Raceway on Tuesday night in a field of 14 racers.  Williams won on all lanes except 5 on the tough Tri-Oval.  Second spot again was Bryan Kisthart who won 2 segments and continues to knock on the door looking for that first feature win.  Third went to Sheldon Hiester who won 1 segment and was consistent on all the lanes.  Fourth was veteran Bob Amore with 2 wins and a strong running modified.  Rounding out the top five was another Randy’s veteran Jim Levan who won 1 segment on the night.