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Hampton Hotels' Volunteers Wave Green Flag for Preservation of Riverside International Speedway
Local Hotel Volunteers Preserve the Historic Race Track in Honor of Motorsports Awareness Month
MCLEAN, Va. - Today, more than twenty Hampton Hotel team members will race to West Memphis, Arkansas to help preserve Riverside International Speedway in honor of National Motorsports Awareness Month and as part of the brand's Save-A-Landmark program. Celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, Riverside is one of the oldest continuously operated racetracks in the United States.
Volunteers will work to complete preservation projects at the historic track including preventing the erosion of a retaining wall, refurbishing one of the original track scoreboards and installing new lighting. Overall, Hampton Hotels donated $10,000 toward Riverside's preservation projects, including funding for a new roof to cover the visitor's area.
"Hampton Hotels is thrilled to help preserve Riverside International Speedway," said Judy Christa-Cathey, vice president of global brand marketing, Hampton Hotels. "We hope the work our volunteers are doing today will improve the historic track's structure for racers and fans and raise awareness about one of America's favorite sports."
Riverside International Speedway is an authentic dirt track that hosts a variety of racing classes, including midget race cars, sprint cars and stock cars. Each weekend during its March through November racing season, Riverside welcomes racers and visitors from around the country.
Stock car racing originated during the Prohibition when bootleggers needed a quick way to get away from police. After the repeal of the Prohibition Act in 1933, bootleggers still had a "need for speed" and continued to race for pride and sport. Today, auto racing is considered one of the most popular forms of motorsport in the nation.
Riverside is the fourth landmark to be restored in 2010 as a part of Hampton Hotels' "All-American Landmarks" campaign and the 54th landmark to be refurbished by the Save-A-Landmark program overall. This year, Save-A-Landmark is devoted to the preservation of landmarks that represent what it means to be American. Each holds a significant piece of American history that can be preserved for future generations. Next, Save-A-Landmark will travel to President Lincoln's Cottage in Washington, D.C. to celebrate the program's 10th anniversary. The Save-A-Landmark program has already refurbished Wheeler Historic Farm in Salt Lake City, Utah; the Stuhr Museum of the Prairie Pioneer in Grand Island, Neb; and St. Johnsbury Athenaeum in St. Johnsbury, Vt. this year.
Last fall, the public voted and five landmarks were chosen to be restored in Arkansas, Nebraska, Utah, Vermont and Washington, D.C. in 2010. Sites are chosen after extensively researching refurbishment need and availability of Hampton volunteers. To nominate a landmark, go to http://www.hamptonlandmarks.com/.
This year also marks the 10th anniversary of Hampton Hotels' Save-A-Landmark program. During the past decade, the program has helped research landmarks in need, promoted landmark sites and their importance, facilitated tens of thousands of volunteer hours and donated several tons of supplies - all at an investment of more than $2.5 million. Uniting its hotels together in the communities they serve, Hampton team member-volunteers work hand-in-hand on the landmarks while Hampton provides the financial support to refurbish selected sites. The Save-A-Landmark program has already successfully refurbished a landmark in 44 United States, as well as sites in Canada and Mexico.
Contact:
Charmaine Easie-Samuels
Hampton Public Relations
(901) 374-6462
Charmaine.Easie-Samuels@hilton.com
Sheryl Shelton
Hampton Public Relations
(901) 374-6383
Sheryl.Shelton@hilton.com
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