Speedbowl announces possible lease agreement, racing season to start in June
Waterford — After canceling the first spring weekend of racing and staying silent for weeks, staff at the New London-Waterford Speedbowl have announced they have plans to open to racers next month.
An anonymous post on the racetrack’s website Sunday announced “that there is currently a working agreement for the Speedbowl to be leased for the 2017 racing season.”
The Speedbowl has remained closed since it canceled its first racing weekend in early May, citing "additional work needed on the grandstands and the (unforeseen) weather conditions."
Bruce Bemer, the Glastonbury businessman who bought the track at auction in 2014, was arrested in late March on charges that he was the main client of a group that lured young men, many of whom had mental illnesses, to other men who wanted to have sex with them.
Since Bemer's arrest, several victims have signed on to a civil suit seeking to freeze up to $10 million in assets belonging to Bemer and another man who took part in the trafficking organization.
If the motion filed April 5 goes through, the court would take control of the assets of Bemer, the 63-year-old owner of the New London-Waterford Speedbowl, and William Trefzger, 72, of Westport. One of those assets is the Speedbowl.
Both men are facing charges of patronizing a trafficked person in Danbury Superior Court. Although Trefzger remains in custody on a $250,000 bond, Bemer posted a $500,000 bond and was released March 30.
A separate suit that New Britain attorney Kevin Ferry filed on behalf of an Enfield man also seeks to freeze $5 million worth of Bemer's assets. That suit, filed in Hartford Superior Court this week, alleges the Enfield man was 15 when he was victimized.
Since Bemer's arraignment, the track’s racing director, a longtime race official and two other staff members all have resigned from the track.
On April 6, NASCAR announced it would terminate its sanction of the Whelen All-American racing series that was set to begin May 6, effectively ending the track’s major racing event.
The Speedbowl’s manager, Scott Gregory, could not be reached to comment Monday.
“Additional information will follow within the coming weeks but it is anticipated that racing will begin before the end of June,” the May 21 post continues.
“An open practice will be scheduled prior to opening weekend. We thank all of our staff, drivers, fans and supporters for their patience and love of the race track and ask that you continue to be patient as final details are made. In the meantime……LETS GET READY TO GO RACING!!”
