TILLEY, Ray Brightbill, Chamberlain, Golly, did Dad wake up then - told the 3 Typically these will be stories from tracks I visited five years or ten years or more ago. I am indebted to several of these folks for their help and friendship. Tried to explain the difference but gave up when Dad told the lad to go get something to Reading Fairgrounds Modified Memories Paperback - January 1, 1978 by Racing Sanctioning Corp. (Author) Paperback from $95.00 1 Used from $95.00 224 pages. Buzzie Reutimann 1977 Reading Fairgrounds RSCA Modifieds Program Kenny Brightbill. Thanks for the memories. 1 The white flag was There was the aroma of french fries and the roar of the modifieds mingling with the dust in the night air and the deep-throated howl from the stands. 1 and got through the heats and consolations. If you want to see the true essence of trackchasing youve come to the right place. Women were 1 4 4 1 27 634 Words. MOORE, Harry There was the sight of promoter Lindy Vicari in his grader, working the track surface to the optimum of tackiness the good kind. 2 STANTON, Dave 5 BUT, I did, loud and clear. to Homepage, More interesting info Your guess is as good as mine! REICHERT, Joe 17 Dad did not talk to me the rest of the race and certainly, did not 1 1 HAMILTON, Jackie Sorry. It became so popular that the Fairgrounds eventually held an entire season of racing, starting in March and only closing in late fall. 1 FITZCHARLES, Glenn 1 Food memories immortalized on canvasand plates 2023-03-02 - REGGIE ASPIRAS MDaryl Feril was trying to recall a dish his grandmother cooked for himit was the memory of it that inspired his Art Fair piece. 6 There was the sight of promoter Lindy Vicari in his grader, working the track surface to the optimum of tackiness the good kind. Red Riegel were killed in the first turn racing sprint cars. Loaded with pics and bios of the drivers. 2 I hope you enjoy it. RVI had a customer service operation in Ft. Washington, Pennsylvania. If you would like to see where Ive been and experience those adventures heres the link: If youve got a question, comment or whatever please leave it at the bottom of this report. 715 Larry Voss 8 GramaFan, not related but his methodical way of moving thru the pack and his quiet 10 Nevertheless, this CLASSIC Trackchaser Report has finally bubbled to the surface and is now available for everyone to see atwww.randylewis.org. From September 20, 1924 to June 29,1979, dirt-track racing fans crowded the 80 acre site of the Reading Fairgrounds located in Muhlenburg Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania which was home to a half-mile oval that was known as "The Home of Champions" Modified stock cars. 1 Stan Ploski This was win no. 5/6/66 Reading Modified Top Ten Performance Index. Souvenir Program of the 175th Anniversary of the Founding of Reading, Pa., And the 150th Anniversary of the Reading Volunteer Fire Department, September 30th to October 6th, 1923. racing. 10/17/65 2 When I got to my hotel it was difficult to get to sleep with the three hour time zone change. 1 demeanor make him a favorite. Sorry. who did we see - Buzzie Reutimann. Membership is open to all who are interested in keeping the tradition and memory of the races and fair alive for the future. 6/27/71 waves as they near the finish and at the line it This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 7 Thanks to Concepts II Video Productionsthey did a great job with this. 28 DALLENBACH, Wally Tommy Long Bob Malzahn Hall of Fame Member 1 Thumbnails Roll View 4 "When all four wheels are off the ground and you're upside down, there's not much you can do but . Randy Lewis Billy Deskovick KATONA, Les SMITH, Russ 7/14/75 62 1 Since 1911 the covered grandstand saw many generations pass and echoed the names of many champions. I didnt begin producing my YouTube videos until 2009 (YouTube channel: RANLAY). Could not help overhearing him, did not 46 5 waving and they were still side by side, as the crowd was so loud The beloved flatheads grew in popularity and stature. 2 2019 Ted Fund Donors 59 2 10 5 36 11 I am a trackchaser. FELTY, LeRoy I take 35-40 of those trips each season. We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. Starting with Tommy Hinnershitz in the sprints, the tradition carried over to the flatheads and then the modifieds. The 80 acres of motor sports memories was being converted into a shopping mall. 2 Rags Carter 1 All the good and all the bad, more than a half-century of blood, sweat and cheers gone. 9/5/75 Walt Olsen A Muhlenberg Township resident for over forty years, Lindy brought back the Miss Reading Fair Pageant as well as creating the Little Miss Pageant while continuing the traditions of the annual Reading Fair. Several subsequent purchases increased the area to approximately 78 acres. Great drivers, great fans & great memories!!! 8/8/69 Dave Kelly I also remember falling asleep as I watched the racing. ago) and myself were part of the faithful who attended any types of 6 Specialties: The Barnyard BBQ Restaurant, now with three locations, smokes it all. 3 Once you begin researching my trip itineraries from my website, yes you will want to do that, you will be surprised. Promoters brought the finest racecar drivers in the nation to the Reading area. It was the end of an era. 10/8/78 9 1 Again, in the end of the 1962 season, another trial modified event was held. More than 18,000 people in the stands and more than 100 modified stock cars in the pits gathered in the united belief that dirt-track racing just doesnt get any better than this. Chamberlain hugging the fence on the inside. Peoria Old Timers Racing Club (P.O.R.C.) Held at Pioneer Pole Buildings on Route 183 in Schuylkill Haven, Reading Fairgrounds Historical Society hosted a three-day event to honor and remember the drivers and cars that ran at the. For the first eight years Reading only ran one show a year, usually during the annual Reading Fair. Peggy Snyder 01/31/07 Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. It wasnt until 1949, though, that the Fairgrounds started to gain a characteristic of its own. Im calling the shots and that makes all the difference in the world. My name is Randy Lewis (above with Hatem racing federation president Tunisia). drivers Reading Fairgrounds Speedway(19241979) was a one half mile dirt/clay modified race track located inMuhlenburg Township,Berks County,Pennsylvania. Pre-1980. old who had many questions for his Dad. 5/29/70 3 When you receive one of my Trackchaser Reports or find one on my website atwww.randylewis.orgI hope you will take the time to imagine in your mind what it took to make this trip from SoCal and understand the fun I had doing it. 22 Starting with Tommy Hinnershitz in the sprints, the tradition carried over to the flatheads and then the modifieds. The Reading Fairgrounds Speedway is one of those long ago vintage tracks affectionately known as the Group of 71. 4 was one of the first races I ever attended. Kenny Brightbillis the Reading Fairgrounds Speedway all-time wins record holder with 135 track victories. As the feature went on, both of them were working their way toward Photo albums were sort of hit or miss during the early years of my trackchasing. 21 favorite # 26 Red Coffin. Thats probably the most inconvenient location in the country for seeing tracks in the U.S. Iniciar sesin. Dave Kelly won six of those 12 races, including what became known as Grand Finale II on June 29, 1979. They dont. 7/22/75 That car has been restored. Being a regular at Nazareth Speedway the most exposure I had to the My Reading Fairgrounds Photo Collection from 1968 to 1979!! From September 20, 1924 to June 29,1979, dirt-track racing fans crowded the 80 acre site of the Reading Fairgrounds located in Muhlenburg Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania which was home to a half-mile oval that was known as The Home of Champions Modified stock cars. One day Ill be in Tucson, the next in maybe Tuscaloosa and the following day in Syracuse. 6 From September 20, 1924 to June 29,1979, dirt-track racing fans crowded the 80 acre site of the Reading Fairgrounds located in Muhlenburg Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania which was home to a half-mile oval that was known as The Home of Champions Modified stock cars. They dont. 9/13/69 Today, the Reading Fair is held in Bern Township-continuing the Fair's tradition of combining its agricultural heritage with entertainment for county residents. Its simply a Trackchaser Report that comes from my trackchasing archives. 3/12/67 RUDY, Jack Publisher Racing Sanctioning Corp. of America Publication date January 1, 1978 See all details Inspire a love of reading with Amazon Book Box for Kids Reading Fairgrounds Memories Photographer: Joe Simpkins - Provided by: Bobby Pickell Jr. We would like to thank The Reading Fairgrounds Racing Historical Society and members Mike Shaub, Ken Johnson, Alan Carter and many, many others have been very supportive of our efforts here in the Vault. where he loved it best. 4 14 EARNSHAW, Leigh 1 My earliest memories related to reading I can scarcely remember not being able to read. 1 A special 50th. 4/9/77 It was also through the modified cars that Reading innovated car rules and regulations, safety features, track preparations, and more efficient race procedures. Our Mission Our ultimate goal is to build a permanant museum to house all of the collectible items that we have acquired over the years along with race cars that have been restored. Do they share their experiences? They are looking to fill all types of positions. I trackchase. Iniciar sesin Olvidaste tu cuenta? From time to time I would visit this office. reading fairgrounds memoriesare you required to disclose you were fired. 1 GILLETTE, Don Consequently Reading lost its local image and the RSCA was no longer the Reading Stock Car Assn., but the Racing Sanctioning Corporation of America. 5 Copyright 2021 GoReadingBerks | All Rights Reserved |. Carter and many, many others have been very supportive of our efforts here in the Vault. GUEST, Terry 3 After that we would relocate to first Connecticut and then Chicago. He brought in the flatheads to compete every Wednesday night. 4/26/74 The Reading Fair had it's first fair in 1854 at Penn's Commons, in what is now City Park. EPPOLITE, Frank Title: Reading Fairgrounds Modified Memories [Fairgrounds Racetrack, Berks Co., PA] Author Name: Vicari, Vince (editor) Edition: 1st Edition. 7 3/24/68 The Reading Fairgrounds Speedway is one of those long ago vintage tracks affectionately known as the Group of 71. 6 live the memories!!!! 7 The site was ideal since it was served by two railroads (the Reading and the Pennsylvania), a branch of the Reading Street Railway Companys lines, and two main highways, the Pottsville and the Allentown Pikes. WALES, Milford FOREWORD 4 4 Im thinking there were a few strings of these lights around the track. 5/9/65 With trackchasing trips to 85 countries and counting just getting the chance to experience so many unique cultures, spend time in the homes of my friends and meet so many people is a huge reward for being in this hobby. Drivers such as A. J. Foyt, Roger McCluskey, Jim Hurtubise, Jud Larson, Johnny Rutherford, and Bobby Unser took over after Tommy retired in 1960. 11 Thanks for reading about my trackchasing, Peoria Old Timers Racing Club (P.O.R.C.) 1 3 KIRK, Jimmy These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. REUTIMANN, Wayne READINGER, Dan Will it work now? 2 4/5/64 1 Throughout the 20s and 30s Reading fans saw the likes of all the top Indianapolis 500 sprint car racing stars compete on their hometown half-mile dirt speedway. Date of experience: September 2012. Most of the racetracks in the U.S. are located well over 1,000 miles from where I live. 2 4 Reading below, and then scroll down 3/4's of the page, and you'll be able to start the video: 3 SMITH, Ralph USAC friends and fellow co-workers there. 5 Dave Kelly won six of those 12 races, including what became known as Grand Finale II on June 29, 1979. 3 5 But my job doesnt stop me from sharing my love of the history of the city where I was born and raised and love so very much. In order to get to a 7 a.m. breakfast meeting I would need to get up at 6 a.m. eastern time or 3 a.m. California time. SAUDER, Kenny 6 2 drag race to the start/finish line. 2 In any given year I will travel well over 200,000 miles, rent more than 50 cars, and stay in more than 150 hotel rooms. 7 2 KREITZ SR, Don Thanks! History What it DID have to do with was the Eastern time zone! Below: Lindy Vicari, shown below with pageant winners (unable to he identified), operated the Reading Fairgrounds from 1955 to 1979. 2 In order to get to a 7 a.m. breakfast meeting I would need to get up at 6 a.m. eastern time or 3 a.m. California time. There were those USAC sprint shows with Andretti and Unser, Foyt and Pamelli and before them, Tommy Hinnershitz, the kid from Oley, taking on all comers on his home turf. 4 Ill try to include them here. 2 Find them in Teays Valley, Milton and Cross Lanes for mouth watering smoked prime rib, slow smoked baby back ribs, smoked chicken, Cajun catfish crab stuffed catfish and much, much 48 5/12/67 Smith 08.24.20 I do remember seeing something at the track that I had never seen before. 3 3 Thanks! Ive just spent the past two hours reviewing the many historical articles found here and feel overwhelmingly nostalgic about my life growing up in Reading, PA. Having left in 1972 after attending Reading High (Class of 1968), the pictures and history makes me look forward to a trip back. Reading hosted more USAC sprint car events than any race track in the country. tipton, iowa obituaries. 7/14/78 By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Nevertheless, this CLASSIC Trackchaser Report has finally bubbled to the surface and is now available for everyone to see at, Now you know a little bit about my trackchasing addiction. A great book on Stock Car Racing in Reading, PA. . The brainchild of Jeff Hartman, Saturday's event has been over a decade in the making, with a few bumps along the way. BEAVERS, Sammy COVILLE, C D Jim Keppley 5 I am the face behind GoReadingBerks. I was born and raised in Reading, PA. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. The Reading Fairgrounds Racing Historical Society was established in 2004 with the mission to preserve and promote the memories and history of the Reading Fairgrounds Speedway and those who made it "The Home of Champions." The exhibit will run until mid-June 2019. 6 10/22/77 9/3/65 REIFINGER, Hal During this span Tommy won 11 of 26 races and soon it was known, in order to win at the Fairgrounds, you had to beat Tommy Hinnershitz. 5 ALLEN, Bobby 14 | See more about Best cheese, Santander and Restaurant. SHIRE, Charlie 4 DRIVER ever seen. 2 HILDRETH, Elton CAMERON, Alex 6 Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. The Reading Fairgrounds Racing Historical Society was created to preserve the. 1 2 KERSCHNER, Shorty DESKOVICH, Billy The first auto racing stunts as a part of the Fair were presented in 1924. exciting. 3 12 This had nothing to do with the quality of the racing! Reading hosted more USAC sprint car events than any race track in the country. 5 Tommy Hinnershitzhad wins at the track early in his career. Photographic endsheets. 2 KOZAK, Johnny 1 Nov 19, 2022 - Explore Patrick Bendrick's board "reading Fairgrounds" on Pinterest. It was henceforth proclaimed throughout the ranks, to win at Reading is beating the best, but it was tough. 4 716 37 1 2 1 5 Watching Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher on the screen reminded me of my age, though, once I learned how much Ford made for being in this episode, I understood the movie's story line much better. and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at AbeBooks.com. GAHAN, Ernie Frankie Schneider The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". There you have it. 11 Ten years later they presented their first and only double show with another organization, the RSCA. WILLIAMSON, Kramer Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. 1 And there were those who paid the ultimate price, such as Jud Larson and Red Riegel, Jackie Evans and Mike Grbac, the young New Jersey driver who died a month after the final 78 race from injuries suffered in a cartwheeling accident down the main straight halfway through that event. Back in the day, beginning in 1972 I worked for a company called Richardson-Vicks (RVI). Freddy Adam MIKOSZ, Junior Below: 1966 photo showing Mario Andretti # 9 dueling with Lone Star JR Johnny Rutherford. 1 As I came out of the theater, though, I decided that it would be fun to update a . The car is featured at the Reading Fairgrounds Racing Reunion Saturday at the Classic Auto Mall, 6180 Morgantown Road, Morgantown. TOBIAS, Ron 2 Accueil; A propos de nous; Nos produits; Contactez-nous; reading fairgrounds memories. 7 From September 20, 1924 to June 29,1979, dirt-track racing fans crowded the 80 acre site of the Reading Fairgrounds located in Muhlenburg Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania which was home to a half-mile oval that was known as "The Home of Champions" Modified stock cars. pictorials, several of which I still have. also. 4 Reading Fairgrounds - Modified Memories - Stock Car Racing Author VICARI, Vince; Ed Illustrator Photo Illustrated Format/Binding Hardcover Book condition Used - Fine Jacket condition No Jacket Edition First Edition Binding Hardcover Publisher Racing Sanctioning Corp. Of America Place of Publication Reading, PA Date Published 1979 Keywords ELY, George 2 WINKS, Jimmy (BILL UHRICH - READING EAGLE) The organization was founded. 1 USAC had run more sprint car races at Reading than any track in the country when it closed in 1979. "I have worked diligently for 50 years, collecting memories from survivors," she told Wednesday a news conference. TAYLOR, Lee 5/27/77 Thanks for reading about my trackchasing, 1 "Memories should have been collected and submitted to the scientific community. All of that, however, was a mere epilogue, like a wave in the distance. 1 Drivers flocked from all over the east coast for a share of the pie. . Thanks for filling in so much nostalgia for my upbringing and the roots I am so proud of. 6/22/75 The last full season of racing was held at the fairgrounds in 1978. Indy champions loved to compete at The Home of Champions. I didnt begin writing a complete Trackchaser Report until I had seen about 425 tracks. KEMMERER, Jim 41 PAXTON, Lynn 1 So many local drivers made the competition tough and exciting. 10/15/67 TASNADY, Al compiled by Bill Braga This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Remember, this was only the 46, Reading Fairgrounds Speedway, the Home of Champions, Below: Reading Fairgrounds located in Muhlenburg Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania, Since 1911 the covered grandstand saw many generations pass and echoed the names of many champions. 1 main stands, then got back to our seats for the main event. Starting with Tommy Hinnershitz in the sprints, the tradition carried over to the flatheads and then the modifieds. 3 Back Home; About. 15 Here or email us at 3wide@optonline.net and 1 1 5/10/70 Todays adventure was one more of the 2,000 trips that have taken me up, down and around the proverbial long and dusty trackchasing trail. 7 8 DERR, Earl 5 OSMUN, Dave 9/21/75 1 WISMER SR, Kenny 16 6 KENNEDY, Beader Billy Ellis 1 A Muhlenberg Township resident for over forty years, Lindy brought back the Miss Reading Fair Pageant as well as creating the Little Miss Pageant while continuing the traditions of the annual Reading Fair. 12 Have you ever in your life heard of trackchasing? In 1955, apromoter named Lindy Vicari took over a tract of land and began weekly racing for the first time at the Reading Fairgrounds. 8 The ultimate irony, of course, is that it wasnt the last race. 52 Chevy in there - not an Offy like the others ran. 6/25/78 The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Shares547. Thank you for reading! ADAM, Freddy 3 Planning necessitated the visualizing of a proposed building site in terms of the possibility of expansion rather than of removal and rebuilding. We raced with Michael Andretti when he was a kid at an Also a few other Speedway shots from Big Diamond,Penn National,Bridgeport. On April 13, 2016, Hull Property Group took over the Fairgrounds Square Mall, with plans to revitalize the mall. The caution flew with about 10-11 laps to go, and those 4 My average trip covers 5,000 miles and more. 2 10/1/71 Well, one day my dad McCAUGHEY, Craig I didnt give any thought to recording the dates when I visited those 71 tracks. OLSEN, Budd 90 Reading Fairgrounds Speedway We usually had 7 a.m. eastern time breakfast meetings. 1 When a caution flag was thrown the yellow lights went on alerting the drivers to slow down. It was from 1949 to 1957 though, that Hinnershsitz put the character into Reading. OCHS, Larry 1 HARWI, Otto 1 SCHELL, Tim From Staff Reports News-Post Staff; May 13, 2012 May 13, 2012 Updated Mar 11, 2016; 0; Facebook; the tracks that are now gone. In 1961, Reading ran its first special modified event in which Bob Malzahn went home the victor. 1 1 It features the Reading Fairgrounds when it was a race track. 6 Vince Conrad COLLINS, Kevin 9/3/71 I didnt begin producing my YouTube videos until 2009 (YouTube channel: RANLAY). 2 Copyright 2023 Randy Lewis - All Right Reserved. Buenos!For years I've struggled to communicate in an effective way a) why I believe the notion of 'free will' is an illusion and b) why that's important. Drivers flocked from all over the east coast for a share of the pie. While Im homesick and now living in California since 1972, a road trip back will be soon in the cards. It was from 1949 to 1957 though, that Hinnershsitz put the character into Reading. Photo albums were sort of hit or miss during the early years of my trackchasing. The racetrack was replaced by the Fairgrounds Square Mall, which opened in . If you have any photos from back in the day, send them to me atRanlay@yahoo.com. Editors note: This is a CLASSIC Trackchaser Report. 1 I didnt begin writing a complete Trackchaser Report until I had seen about 425 tracks. 8/9/68 2 Remember, this was only the 46thdifferent track I had ever seen. Nealey is an accomplished musician who currently plays the saxophone with a . Reading Fairgrounds Speedway(19241979) was a one half mile dirt/clay modified race track located inMuhlenburg Township,Berks County,Pennsylvania. Reading Fairgrounds Modified Memories Yearbook Issue: / Year: 1980 Condition: VG-History 313495870366 You want this if you love Racing ! 5 Fairgrounds Memories When I finally did get to bed in the east it was commonly 2 or 3 a.m. eastern time, again 11 p.m. or midnight California time. 1 7/7/78 10/25/75 was standing now, no one was in their sits as we all were yelling Learn how your comment data is processed. And there were those who paid the ultimate price, such as Jud Larson and Red Riegel, Jackie Evans and Mike Grbac, the young New Jersey driver who died a month after the final 78 race from injuries suffered in a cartwheeling accident down the main straight halfway through that event. REAKES, Sammy The last race of the season was marred by a fiery crash that seriously injured driver Michael Grbac of New Brunswick, N.J. A month after the crash, he died of his injuries. As a racechaser my prime motivation was to go where the best racers and the best racing was happening. 1 1 Facebook Twitter Google+ YouTube. REIDER, Blackie The track closed in 1979 shortly after my visit. 8/28/64 4/3/71 When the structure gave way, in 1979, to a multi-million dollar shopping mall, it was only memories that remained. 1 That October Sunday in 78 made it official. In 1965, the United States Auto Club (USAC) ran its first night race and also began scheduling five shows a year. Everyone came to share the moment and say goodbye. TROUT. Who can forget the REINERT, Noot 1 4/4/70 1 you were when the 3 mins. BROWNING, Hal 2 Reprinted with permission from my Pre-1980 memory! Carl Van Horn At midnight in the east it was only 9 p.m. in California (Pacific Time). 23 MULLIGAN, Whip 2 TAYLOR, Larry frenzy already. 5 The Reading Fairgrounds Racing Historical Society, whose membership is dedicated to preserving the memories of the Fairgrounds and speedway, was thankful to see the plaque finally in place,. 20,000 spectators jammed the place to. 34 4 were here. Horse racing had become a big attraction beginning with the first Fair in 1854, finally graduating into big time racing, with imported horses, in the days of the North Eleventh Street Fairs. You might have remembrances about this track. 1 Red Coffin Since 1911 the covered grandstand saw many generations pass and echoed the names of many champions. 4/30/76 not allowed in the USAC pits at that time. The modified cars hosted the tracks biggest success story when, in 1967, Reading went to two nights a week racing, running only a single show, paying up to $15,000 per week by 1970. 4/19/63 In 1947 a building designed for roller skating was added to the facilities. 80 HARRISON, George My best guess on the timing would have been 1976-1978. Born in 1897, he witnessed the growth and expansion of the city which was once the 4th largest city in Pennsylvania with a population close to 130,000 not including unnaturalized citizens. 3 It was the memory of it that inspired his Art . their efforts. On Oct. 29, 1978, the last race was held on the half-mile oval. SADLER, Blaine PRATT, Eddie 6 Photographers on record,Red Kirsh,Bob Zellers,Carl Hess. So imagine being at the 27th Muscat International Book Fair - it is a haven for students. At midnight in the east it was only 9 p.m. in California (Pacific Time). CAGLE, Will 11/20/77 9/17/78 any interesting pieces caught my attention while walking around the Art Fair.

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