reading fairgrounds memories

Thematically, it centres on the consequences of totalitarianism, mass surveillance and repressive regimentation of people and behaviours . VARNER, Donnie Tommy Long Drivers flocked from all over the east coast for a share of the pie. mentioned this to his Dad who ignored the question so I told him that it was a small block 2 It was primarily a local division, but large purses and crowds forced Lindy to stay with the flatheads long after other area speedways were already running the powerful modified racing cars. EPPOLITE, Frank The historical information about the photos and articles on goreadingberks.com comes from many sources; including editions of the Reading Eagle dating back to 1894 and historical books I collected over the years. 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. pre-war coupes & coaches to the Pintos and other more modern bodies. Recent Additions to our Reading Fairgrounds Memories Page. 14 Again, in the end of the 1962 season, another trial modified event was held. 7 All of that, however, was a mere epilogue, like a wave in the distance. 9/10/76 Leon Manchester 1 Brightbill would win two more, finishing with 135, and Chamberlain one more, finishing with 92. BRIGHTBILL, Freddy 9/21/75 Copyright 2021 GoReadingBerks | All Rights Reserved |. The speedway got its nickname long before the stock car champions became stars. For much longer than that, he has focused on spreading joy and peace through his music. was really wound up and getting louder. 1 The Reading Fairgrounds Speedway is one of those long ago vintage tracks affectionately known as the Group of 71. 6/23/67 Have you ever in your life heard of trackchasing? 17 6 Hundreds of photos of drivers and their car. 5 Reading Fairgrounds - Modified Memories - Stock Car Racing by VICARI, Vince; Ed. 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. 8 [1]It featured a regular weekly series of modified, sportsman modified, and late modelstock carracing. TROUT, Bob The ultimate irony, of course, is that it wasnt the last race. 4 5/18/75 The crowd BRENN JR, Ken Enter your email address to subscribe to GoReadingBerks and receive notifications of new posts by email. 1 14 Flemington Speedway, East Windsor Speedway, Bridgeport, Reading Fairgrounds, Nazareth Speedway, Harmony Speedway . TOBIAS, Ron BAKER, Jim 65 Drivers It was primarily a local division, but large purses and crowds forced Lindy to stay with the flatheads long after other area speedways were already running the powerful modified racing cars. 1 Eventually with the changing times, the racing transitioned from horse into motor vehicle racing. * By using this form you agree with the storage and handling of your data by this website. 35 2 20 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. I was amazed that the east coast folks scheduling these early meetings had ZERO empathy for their west coast visitors. also. PRATT, Eddie Im thinking there were a few strings of these lights around the track. WEAVER, Mark 1 It was in this time that they went from running Thats all folks! ABEL, Bobby 26 Reading Fairgrounds Modified Memories Yearbook Issue: / Year: 1980 Condition: VG-History 313495870366 It was also through the modified cars that Reading innovated car rules and regulations, safety features, track preparations, and more efficient race procedures. 5 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. 5 Nineteen Eighty-Four (also published as 1984) is a dystopian social science fiction novel and cautionary tale by English writer George Orwell.It was published on 8 June 1949 by Secker & Warburg as Orwell's ninth and final book completed in his lifetime. 3 COLLINS, Kevin 1 1 BROWNING, Hal It wasn't until 1915 that the Fair was held at it's most remembered location in Muhlenberg Township. Im calling the shots and that makes all the difference in the world. area. Photo albums were sort of hit or miss during the early years of my trackchasing. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". 6/24/77 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. 2 The beloved flatheads grew in popularity and stature. SWINEHART, Ray 135 10 The background was yellowish-orange, and the illustration was a pen and ink drawing of a young man . I dont mind to much. 7 Through turns 1-2 they 6 GRIFFIN, Bernie No matter who This profile needs more info. Expenses. 7/14/78 Ample parking spaces were also provided for motorists. Al Tasnady Everyone came to share the moment and say goodbye. Title: Reading Fairgrounds Modified Memories [Fairgrounds Racetrack, Berks Co., PA] Author Name: Vicari, Vince (editor) Edition: 1st Edition. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Lap after lap, side by 2 3 80 LAPE, Dave 11 6/19/77 Sorry. 1 715 Reading Fairgrounds Speedway(19241979) was a one half mile dirt/clay modified race track located inMuhlenburg Township,Berks County,Pennsylvania. Have you ever in your life heard of trackchasing? 1 HERN, Tom Joel Wessner . 18 6/22/75 Indy champions loved to compete at The Home of Champions. McANDREW, Tommy 6 One of the main parts of a nonfiction reading fair board is a summary of the text. Glenn Fitzcharles Hotels..how to buy them at 30-60% off and more.the way I do it. racing at the Reading Fairgrounds. reading fairgrounds memories. 6 By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. 7 1 Tommy Hinnershitzhad wins at the track early in his career. side, neither one could get the advantage on the other. 1 13 drivers 3 3 7 Then in 1963 the inevitable occurred and Reading switched over to running weekly modified competition paying $500 to win and posting the largest weekly modified purse around. 4 1 1 5/6/66 1 The last full season of racing was held at the fairgrounds in 1978. During intermission we 7 All the p.from 1034873775 12 A great variety of amusements to appeal to the taste of everyone who came through the gate was provided. DECKER, Charlie In 1965, the United States Auto Club (USAC) ran its first night race and also began scheduling five shows a year. 7 was no disappointment. exciting. So many local drivers made the competition tough and exciting. . you hear them all the way up in Allentown. My name is Fred George. 8/26/77 KELLY, Mike 3 Everyone came to share the moment and say goodbye. 2 6 3 I take 35-40 of those trips each season. 3 5 Budd Olsen Tom Hager This had nothing to do with the quality of the racing! A typical business trip to the customer service center would have me flying into Philadelphia the night before our meeting. 9 POTTS, Lauden Reading At midnight in the east it was only 9 p.m. in California (Pacific Time). 1 1 1 5/26/68 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. What the heck does Classic mean? favorite # 26 Red Coffin. 1 Im not sure of the year, but the big rivalry on The Heritage of Reading: 1813-1847: Canals, Heavy Industry, and the Railroad, The Seventh and Penn Street Railroad Crossing, Mount Laurel Furnace and Temple Iron Company, History of Holy Guardian Angels, Hyde Park, Independence Island along the Schuylkill River, Reading, PA Outlet Capital of the World, History of the former Bachman Pretzel Company, Organized Crimes Infiltration of The Pizza and Cheese Industry in Pennsylvania, Lancaster Avenue Covered Bridge and Bingaman Street Bridge, Beautiful photographs of Reading's Catholic churches with their altar rails and sanctuaries, Very awesome in history. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data. The beloved flatheads grew in popularity and stature. Well, one day my dad It was henceforth proclaimed throughout the ranks, to win at Reading is beating the best, but it was tough. | See more about Best cheese, Santander and Restaurant. Long 6 38 1 I live in southern California. SCHNEIDER, Frankie 2 great modifieds, we loved watching the sprint and midgets race KIRK, Jimmy Learn how your comment data is processed. 14 1 SHARP, Henry Whats that you ask? 5 Thanks for reading about my trackchasing, 2 Below: The Reading Fair, 1937-1940 Eventually with the changing times, the racing transitioned from horse into motor vehicle racing. 1 17 Since that time the site has grown to provide information about historical sites, landmarks, museums, parks, hotels and more. Indy champions loved to compete at The Home of Champions. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. 1 In 1932, three shows were held. For the first eight years Reading only ran one show a year, usually during the annual Reading Fair. Drivers flocked from all over the east coast for a share of the pie. 8/7/77 I didnt begin producing my YouTube videos until 2009 (YouTube channel: RANLAY). Welcome to trackchasing's most popular website. One day Ill be in Tucson, the next in maybe Tuscaloosa and the following day in Syracuse. Whip Mulligan I really love the heritage of the homestead, I have a box from the 60 s Bachman Foods Inc. Its. 9/3/71 I hail from the sleepy little village by the sea, San Clemente, California. Below: Car # 54 races # 76, Freddy Adam, the Kutztown Comet, who competed in more seasons than any other racer. 1 Lindy V. Vicariwas a stock-car racing promoter and operator of the Reading Fairgrounds from 1955 until 1979. My grandson and I went to the World of Outlaws and The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". REIDER, Blackie 2019 Ted Fund Donors 1 2 1 10 If you have any photos from back in the day, send them to me [email protected]. Tommy won his first race in 1938. 4/8/72 THE CLASSIC TRACKCHASER REPORT It was also through the modified cars that Reading innovated car rules and regulations, safety features, track preparations, and more efficient race procedures. FRENCH, Ralph Photo albums were sort of hit or miss during the early years of my trackchasing. 8 GILMORE, Charlie 10/17/65 PICKELL, Bobby 7 Again, in the end of the 1962 season, another trial modified event was held. Rags Carter As we were reminiscing about the Money? Back in the day, beginning in 1972 I worked for a company called Richardson-Vicks (RVI). Billy Ellis 2 This was during our first time to live in California from 1975-1979. compiled by Bill Braga 1 If you would like to see where Ive been and experience those adventures heres the link: Since that time the site has grown to provide information about historical sites, landmarks, museums, parks, hotels and more. FREYER, Karl When gasoline took the place of the railroad, the Reading Transit Company brought in fleets of buses from other cities. When I got to my hotel it was difficult to get to sleep with the three hour time zone change. BRAXTON, Bobby 7 10/22/78 ROMER JR, Joe DUNSTAN, Ronnie MEALS, Mike The Reading Fairgrounds Racing Historical Society was created to preserve the. 6 133, 42 more than the guy in second place in career wins and in that grand finale, Gerry Chamberlain. KERSCHNER, Shorty WALES, Milford ADAM, Freddy 1 MOORE, Harry 2 8 1 We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Promoters brought the finest racecar drivers in the nation to the Reading area. chief mechanic on the race car, came to the fence and motioned for me to bring him the RVI had a customer service operation in Ft. Washington, Pennsylvania. I got the "last I didnt think so. 4 1 COLLIS, Carl In 1955, apromoter named Lindy Vicari took over a tract of land and began weekly racing for the first time at the Reading Fairgrounds. 1 Bobby Braxton MARBURGER, Dave 4 Hope you find what you are looking for and discover things that you were not! 1 I am indebted to several of these folks for their help and friendship. 10 1 The white flag was 6/29/79 10 3 Billy Deskovick 22 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. 5/27/77 17 So many local drivers made the competition tough and exciting. clock. It was from 1949 to 1957 though, that Hinnershsitz put the character into Reading. 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. 1 Carter and many, many others have been very supportive of our efforts here in the Vault. 30 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. Dave Marburger 2 Whitey Kerschner Kenny Brightbill You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. 1 Ver ms de Reading Fairgrounds Speedway Resurrection 2013 en Facebook. 27 Drivers such as A. J. Foyt, Roger McCluskey, Jim Hurtubise, Jud Larson, Johnny Rutherford, and Bobby Unser took over after Tommy retired in 1960. In 1947 a building designed for roller skating was added to the facilities. RILEY, Don For almost 38 years, Myron Nealey has focused on the technical aspects of delivering water throughout the Denver metro area as a reclamation and hydraulics engineer for Denver Water. All-Time Victory Leaders 4 Reading hosted more USAC sprint car events than any race track in the country. With the mall becoming too crowded, the Fair moved to Kutztown while Fair organizers searched for a new site. DERR, Earl Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. The Gus Yatron postal facility in Reading is holding a job fair Saturday. 1 GRBAC, Mike 9/9/66 3 (Satis Shroff, Freiburg) Our brain is like a labyrinth with all those fissures and lobes, and memory was a big theme at the 62nd Book Fair in Frankfurt-upon-the-Main 2010. 8/21/64 From Staff Reports News-Post Staff; May 13, 2012 May 13, 2012 Updated Mar 11, 2016; 0; Facebook; Thanks for the memories. 2 GEORGE, Del . old who had many questions for his Dad. USAC friends and fellow co-workers there. 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. Home; About. 7/22/75 Let's stay updated! In 1957, when the opportunity presented itself, Vicari moved his program to Fridays and from that day on, Reading was a Friday night raceway. Typically these will be stories from tracks I visited five years or ten years or more ago. 1 Absolutely. 4 At the Reading Fairgrounds, we seldom missed a week of attending. 3 2 GUEST, Terry Thank you for reading! SHEETZ, Tommy 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. KOZAK, Johnny 1 CRONCE, Howie 1 As the feature went on, both of them were working their way toward 9 The brainchild of Jeff Hartman, Saturday's event has been over a decade in the making, with a few bumps along the way. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. regarding the Bobby Marshman story you posted on Hatfield Memories, and I thank you. I take 35-40 of those trips each season. Also besides the 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. Bobby Blatt 5 SOLOMON, Larry 715 3 715 . 1 I do that kind of thing all the time. 4/26/74 23 1 On Saturday May 21st, 2022, a plaque commemorating the Reading Fairgrounds & Speedway was ceremonially dedicated to the drivers who lost their lives there. Ronnie Tobias READING FAIRGROUNDS MODIFIED VICTORIES were all about. 6 BALOGACH, Paul That October Sunday in 78 made it official. 7/3/77 for one or the other. Ask Admins if you aren't sure if you may post something. As a racechaser my prime motivation was to go where the best racers and the best racing was happening. It features the Reading Fairgrounds when it was a race track. EPPIHIMER, Bob Remembering Reading Fairgrounds Speedway #2819. 11 The ultimate irony, of course, is that it wasnt the last race. Prior to 1980 I was a racechaser. 6 SASSAMAN, Dave 1 For $ 2.25 you could see some great dirt track GERHART, Bobby 6 Frank Sinatra performed at the Fair in 1950. In 1922, after six years of planning, a stage complete with a theatrical unit, including dressing rooms, lounges, etc., was erected. Over the years other performers included Ray Charles and Pat Boone. feature event started and the crowd was starting to build into a BOTTCHER, Bobby And when it was over, no one was surprised to find Kenny Brightbill in Victory Lane, which had become his second home since he got his first Reading victory in 1970. Frankie Schneider 716 TOBIAS, Ronnie their efforts. Nov 19, 2022 - Explore Patrick Bendrick's board "reading Fairgrounds" on Pinterest. 2 Billy Osmun CONRAD, Vince So with the knowledge, as limited as it is, that I fell asleep during the semi at Reading I will share some research info that I gathered about the famous Reading Fairgrounds Speedway. 4 19 It featured a regular weekly series of modified, sportsman modified, and late model stock car racing. 5 eat. 8 5/20/79 Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Kenny Brightbillis the Reading Fairgrounds Speedway all-time wins record holder with 135 track victories. History All the good and all the bad, more than a half-century of blood, sweat and cheers gone. JOHNSON, Alan 2 The summary should include the main idea and important takeaways related to that main idea. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Russ Delp For whatever reason (usually not enough time) this trackchasing adventure didnt get posted to my website when I first made the track visit. Eddie Pratt My memories of that trip are few. There was the sight of promoter Lindy Vicari in his grader, working the track surface to the optimum of tackiness the good kind. LAZZARO, Lou Back Smith 08.24.20 FARLEY, Ed [1]It featured a regular weekly series of modified, sportsman modified, and late modelstock carracing. We usually had 7 a.m. eastern time breakfast meetings. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. 1 from the rest of the field. Sometimes overshadowed by his highly successful racing promotions, Lindy also rebuilt the Farmers Market, honored the community s farm family and FFA children, attracted top entertainers and conducted a class-A slate fair with a full carnival and agricultural and horticultural midway. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. I developed goreadingberks.com around 1998 for the purpose of presenting information about the History of the Catholic Faith in Reading. My Reading Fairgrounds Photo Collection from 1968 to 1979!! FORRETTE, Maynard He brought in the flatheads to compete every Wednesday night. Put the 3 of them together in the front of 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. 36 3 9/3/76 Randy on Facebook 5 yrs. Its simply a Trackchaser Report that comes from my trackchasing archives. Thats what a racechaser does. Now you know a little bit about my trackchasing addiction. WELLER, Curt 2 OPPERMAN, Jan 1 7/5/70 REUTIMANN, Wayne 14 6/4/65 3 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. 1 TIE (1st) Freddy Adam & Jackie Evans 8/13/1967 there to help his young son, and naturally, he always drew a huge 17 to victory. Dizzie Dean Or you can visit me on Facebook. HULBERT, Mert 2 3 I developed goreadingberks.com around 1998 for the purpose of presenting information about the History of the Catholic Faith in Reading. BRIGHTBILL, Kenny It wasnt until 1949, though, that the Fairgrounds started to gain a characteristic of its own. - $156.06. Further reading: Increase Staff Engagement With a Personalised Event The rising importance of employee experience in the workplace and the role of internal events in facilitating the experience Building team culture in a work from anywhere world Engagement: How to personalise your employee events 10 reading pa obituaries 2021. 4 8 COZZE, Frank SHIRE, Charlie I really love the heritage of the homestead, I have a box from the 60 s Bachman Foods Inc. Its. Below: Car # 54 races # 76, Freddy Adam, the Kutztown Comet, who competed in more seasons than any other racer. Time? 2 I didnt begin writing a complete Trackchaser Report until I had seen about 425 tracks. 5 Hall of Fame Member, Thats all folks! 3 the undercover economist chapter summary. 4/1/79 Planning necessitated the visualizing of a proposed building site in terms of the possibility of expansion rather than of removal and rebuilding. It was the memory of it that inspired his Art . 2 3 Today, as a trackchaser, I commonly get up at some very early hours. ALLEN, Bobby 1 2 1 waving and they were still side by side, as the crowd was so loud 7 Use it! USAC had run more sprint car races at Reading than any track in the country when it closed in 1979. 6 Randy Lewis The first auto racing stunts as a part of the Fair were presented in 1924. track was Chamberlain in the #76 Mustang (was it) and Brightbill in 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. STEIF, Billy There were Brightbill and Chamberlain, Dick Tobias and A1 Tasnady, Bobby Gerhart and Freddy Adam, the names who made Reading what it was -and who were made what they were in many ways bj the fairgrounds. 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. Whats that you ask? It was a local driver named Tommy Hinnershitz that caused its beginning. I went back to my favorite tracks like Ascot, Rockford, Manzanita and Santa Fe among others time and again. Please join the RFRHS to help preserve the great memories. 13 Harry Moore 1 1 I do have one memory of looking at the cover of a paperback book. 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. 21 We had the privilege of HENDRICKSON, Lee PLOSKI JR, Stan Again, in the end of the 1962 season, another trial modified event was held. My name is Randy Lewis (above with Hatem racing federation president Tunisia). Who can forget the Source: www.goreadingberks.com Several subsequent purchases increased the area to approximately 78 acres. Will it work now? I now live in Macungie, PA and I dearly miss his famous #19 Pinto. DENGLER, Smokey Mike Meals JOHNSON, Bob 1 4/4/70 When the structure gave way, in 1979, to a, 1 TIE (1st) Freddy Adam & Jackie Evans 8/13/1967, You might have remembrances about this track. Indy champions loved to compete at The Home of Champions. Once you begin researching my trip itineraries from my website, yes you will want to do that, you will be surprised. 4/6/73 DIFFENDORF, Don I had never given much thought to being a trackchaser. HEIN, Jim 1 Golly, did Dad wake up then - told the 11 AbeBooks.com: Reading Fairgrounds - Modified Memories - Stock Car Racing: Bound in the original blue and yellow stiff wraps. 7/7/78 This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. 1 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 EARNSHAW, Leigh VAN KIRK, Billy On April 13, 2016, Hull Property Group took over the Fairgrounds Square Mall, with plans to revitalize the mall. 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. The track closed in 1979 shortly after my visit. went down for some of those famous french fries to the right of the 3 BREEDING, Walt Here or email us at [email protected] and 1 Reading fairgrounds from Sept 18th 1966 where Stan Poliski won a 200 lap race Al Quellette 4.7K views 2 years ago 1956-57 California Jalopy Racing. Although I hated eastern time meetings and meetings in general I was tied to the corporate tit.

My Wife Is Not Sexually Attracted To Me, Articles R