Bark River Adds $5000 to TORC Sportsman Point Fund   Bark River, MI (July 22, 2010) – The organization behind Bark River International Off-Road Raceway, one of the most established short course off-road races in North America, the Bark River Lions Club is contributing $5,000 to the end of the year championship points fund for the Sportsman racers of the Traxxas TORC Series presented by AMSOIL.   Since 1976, the UP Off-Road 100 has gone through many changes, but year after year the racers, the campers, the spectators, and the television crews keep coming back in record numbers to this iconic facility. The two events are not only a part of the economic fiber in Bark River, but all of Delta County Michigan. The Bark River Lions Club and the 350 volunteers use the two weekends of racing as their primary fund raisers. The money collected is used to assist in various national, regional, and local projects, including the Michigan Eye Bank, the Bay Cliff Health Camp, and the Bark River Township Sports Complex.   “Sometimes I don’t think the racing community realizes how much their presence at our two race events means to our community,” noted Lion Club member Gary Lantagne. “Our contribution back to the Sportsman racers is just our way of thanks to all that support our efforts. In the past year we saw the MORR group working hard to keep the Sportsman racers coming back to our facility as well as all the races on the TORC schedule. As a representative of the Bark River community we appreciate the efforts.”   The second visit from the Traxxas TORC Series presented by AMSOIL to Bark River International Off-Road Raceway will be August 13-15. The PRO “Superstars” of Off-Road racing will be in attendance as well as the Sportsman “Stars of Tomorrow” will be in full force.  The Boss Snow Plow Island Resort & Casino UP Off-Road 100 begins with Friday afternoon practice sessions with racing all day Saturday and Sunday, along with live music on the “Hill” each night.   About the Bark River Lions Club The Bark River Lions Club was organized on January 12, 1943 with 24 charter members. These members, led by President Joseph Gucci and Secretary  & Treasurer B.E. Douglas, put in place a set of standards and goals which members hold true to this day. Since then the club has established an unprecedented record of community, regional, and international contributions and service. - www.barkriverlions.com   About the UP Off-Road 100 In 1976 the club undertook the major task of presenting an off-road race. From its meager beginnings, the UP Off-Road 100 has grown to become one of the premiere off-road racing events of the Midwest.   In the early days, the course was 7 miles long and ran through swamps, highlands, and farm fields covering the land of five neighboring farms. Participants were to complete 100 miles of grueling racing. To provide more excitement for spectators, the course was shortened to its present day 1.5 mile track. Now the entire course can be easily viewed by spectators from atop a high hill located in the center of the course.   The race is now featured in several major national publications as well as national television outlets. In 2010, both off-road events will be featured in the upcoming TORC reality series that will be broadcast weekly, beginning this fall on Discovery Channel’s HD Network. This year marks the 36th anniversary of the Bark River Lions annual event. This event is growing each year and provides superior family entertainment. -    www.upoffroad100.com www.torcseries.com www.midwest-offroadracing.com www.bosssnowplow.com www.islandresortandcasino.com