One of our first and foremost Labor Day Weekend
events in Springfield is always the After the Mile Party or as it’s
usually pronounced the “partaay” with a long “a” on
the end. This glorious time celebrates the running of the
“Springfield Mile” motorcycle race on the fastest mile dirt
track in the good, old U.S.A., which just happens to be at the Illinois
State Fair grandstand. Now how about that?
Since the early ’90s, race participants,
including riders, crews, and audience gathered in particular Springfield
watering holes to have a good time with live music, cold beer, and likely
other things too. Bruce’s Tavern, Miss Kitty’s, Forty-Niner
Bye-Bye, and Floyd’s Thirst Parlor have all hosted the shindig. This
year the party continues at the Artisan’s Building on the
fairgrounds, but with one major change. One of the main instigators of the
event, J. B. Norris, will not attend in person. Norris died of heart
failure earlier this year. He passed away while doing what he loved,
announcing motorcycle races.
Norris worked with the American Motorcycle
Association since the 1980s in various capacities, wrote for motorcycle
periodicals, and announced races all over the country from the early
’90s until the day he died. He will long be remembered for his
“Let’s go racing” call before each event. He was a man of
enormous appetites and keeping the party going was a favorite and constant
pastime. Now friends have organized a special event to honor him and to
raise money for the Norris Family Trust to benefit his children.
At 1 p.m. someone will ride Norris’ bike alone,
clockwise (backwards from the usual race path) around the mile track. Then
others will join for a memorial lap to honor the well-known and liked
announcer and promoter. Local bands Black Magic Johnson, Groove Daddies,
Sofa Kings and other special guests perform from 6 to midnight at the
Artisan’s Building with a break before 9 for a silent and live
auction.
“The main reason we moved the Partaay to the
Artisan’s building was because we need the space for auction
items,” says Steve Unzerzagt, Norris’ best pal and longtime
cohort. “So many items of race memorabilia were donated from dealer
networks, riders, friends—the smaller items will be for the silent
auction and bigger stuff we’ll do at the live auction.”
They’re asking for a $10 donation at the door
with food and beverages available for purchase inside. And rest assured
J.B., this won’t be the final After-the-Mile Partaay, not by a long
shot.
On Sunday, Aug. 31, continue JB’s After the
Mile Partaay & Jamfest at the Artisan’s Building on the Illinois
State Fairgrounds with Black Magic Johnson, Groove Daddies, Sofa Kings and
other special guests performing from 6 to midnight with a silent and live
auction from 8 to 9 p.m.
This article appears in Aug 21-27, 2008.
