New three-year contract for Street Machine Nationals only the beginning

The signing of a new three-year contract that keeps the Street Machine Nationals in Du Quoin through 2017 was only the beginning of a feel-good morning on Tuesday for state fair manager Shannon Woodworth.

Doug Cochran, local chiropractor and partner in Indian Hills motorcycle motocross racing at the Du Quoin State Fairgrounds, announced the addition of new events in 2015. One becomes a regional qualifying event for the Loretta Lynn nationals.

With assistant manager Norm Hill, Du Quoin Mayor Rex Duncan, Fairgrounds Inn owner Jim Zeller, Cochran and members of a citizens support group nearby, Woodworth is clearly on the hunt for events with a WOW factor that will fuel his high performance goal to make the fairgrounds THE place to come to.

It's 1,400 acres, sylvan lakes, 22 miles of roads, Southern Illinois Center, exhibition hall, grandstand and camping amenities make it one of the nation's entertainment and recreational crown jewels.

It just gets down to getting the word out and networking with people who can bring high quality events to Du Quoin.

"We are going to become more aggressive and more determined than ever to attract more non-fair events to the fairgrounds," Woodworth told those in attendance. "The fairgrounds will play a greater role in growing the Southern Illinois economy through the economic impact of these events."

To that end he has enlisted the help of a citizens group that includes Mayor Rex Duncan, Du Quoin Tourism Commission director Judy Smid, Trails to Adventure regional tourism director Tibretta Reiman, publicist and fair manager under Hayes family ownership Fred Huff and this newspaperman.

The Du Quoin State Fair in 2015 will run from Aug. 28 to Labor Day Sept. 7, but the focus of the citizens committee will largely be behind-the-scenes work on non-fair events and will include helping find the resources for a study that proves the economic impact the fair has on the economy, then helping identify new events, rallies and conventions that are a good fit for the fair and for Du Quoin.

The Street Machine Nationals return to the Du Quoin State Fairground June 26-28, 2015. A handful of performance cars lined the walk in front of the Southern Illinois Center where the press conference was held.

Woodworth commented, "The return of the Street Machine Nationals has been a very positive one and has answered any concerns from the past." Mayor Duncan said, "As far as I am concerned, (it is) promises kept."