reading fairgrounds memories reading fairgrounds memories

7 Billy Ellis 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. Will it work now? The Reading Fair had it's first fair in 1854 at Penn's Commons, in what is now City Park. Prior to 1980 I was a racechaser. Photo albums were sort of hit or miss during the early years of my trackchasing. Frank Cozze Kenny Brightbill drivers Glenn Fitzcharles 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. KIRK, Jimmy SUMMARY Being a regular at Nazareth Speedway the most exposure I had to the Below: Car # 54 races # 76, Freddy Adam, the Kutztown Comet, who competed in more seasons than any other racer. KERSCHNER, Whitey Im calling the shots and that makes all the difference in the world. PRATT, Eddie 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. 90 COLLINS, Kevin 9 ROSSELL, Bob . 5/20/79 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. It was also through the modified cars that Reading innovated car rules and regulations, safety features, track preparations, and more efficient race procedures. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. SNELLBAKER, Smokey 2 7 Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. The beloved flatheads grew in popularity and stature. 17 I had heard tales of the packed houses Reading got, and this night 1 It became so popular that the Fairgrounds eventually held an entire season of racing, starting in March and only closing in late fall. Figuring out the logistics of a trip like that is as much fun for me as watching a figure 8 race. QUALIO, Dick Copyright 2021 GoReadingBerks | All Rights Reserved |. 1 TOBIAS, Dick CHARLES, Harry My memories of that trip are few. 8/5/77 Frankie Schneider 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. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Al Tasnady If you want to see the true essence of trackchasing youve come to the right place. where he loved it best. Remembering Reading Fairgrounds Speedway #2819. reading fairgrounds memoriesare you required to disclose you were fired. 13 6 was standing now, no one was in their sits as we all were yelling Ronnie Tobias MOYER, Gene 2 7/21/78 13 For whatever reason (usually not enough time) this trackchasing adventure didnt get posted to my website when I first made the track visit. A minor bit of sfuffing to extremes, but overall, a much nicer copy than usually encountered. 54 Thats trackchasingthe way I do it. 1 3 My name is Randy Lewis (above with Hatem racing federation president Tunisia). 1 In 1983 we returned to California where we have resided until this day. gold label distribution bud man. 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. ALLEN, Bobby 8 3 COLLIS, Carl From Staff Reports News-Post Staff; May 13, 2012 May 13, 2012 Updated Mar 11, 2016; 0; Facebook; The Reading Fairgrounds was considered to be the best weekly racing program in the country. COVILLE, C D SCHOFFSTALL, Dave 10/17/65 You might have remembrances about this track. 6 Ten years later they presented their first and only double show with another organization, the RSCA. VON DOHREN, Barry 14 4/11/70 8/30/63 HILDRETH, Elton [1]It featured a regular weekly series of modified, sportsman modified, and late modelstock carracing. 1 6/28/68 1 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. 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. STRUPP, Sonny 714 Did you know David was at the Reading Fairgrounds with his dad ? It will run through Feb. 27. Thats what a racechaser does. On Oct. 29, 1978, the last race was held on the half-mile oval. If you love Reading Fairgrounds, visit 5 2 Please join the RFRHS to help preserve the great memories. 2 1 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. 7/30/65 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. you were when the 3 mins. WARREN, Smokey Junior Mikosz TOBIAS, Ronnie 1 8/26/77 2 4 SMITH, Russ Flemington Speedway, East Windsor Speedway, Bridgeport, Reading Fairgrounds, Nazareth Speedway, Harmony Speedway . 14 Thats why I fell asleep during the racing at Reading! Again, in the end of the 1962 season, another trial modified event was held. Photographic endsheets. 1 Thanks for the memories. Also a few other Speedway shots from Big Diamond,Penn National,Bridgeport. 9/10/76 14 The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". My average trip covers 5,000 miles and more. Of all the things I disliked about business the east coast meetings in the east coast time zones was at the top of the list. Randy on Facebook 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 MARBURGER, Dave I was able to retire at the age of 52 and never work for money another day in my life. There you have it. 28 2 Promoters brought the finest racecar drivers in the nation to the Reading area. 031 60 52 60 Info@enchelab.com. 36 It was henceforth proclaimed throughout the ranks, to win at Reading is beating the best, but it was tough. I do remember seeing something at the track that I had never seen before. 90 Now you know a little bit about my trackchasing addiction. Tommy Hinnershitzhad wins at the track early in his career. Worlds #1 Trackchaser 7/9/78 8/7/77 EPPIHIMER, Bob KELLY, Joe Whitey Kerschner Your guess is as good as mine! Since that time the site has grown to provide information about historical sites, landmarks, museums, parks, hotels and more. John Kozak ELLIS, Billy Reading Fairgrounds Racing Historical Society and members Mike Shaub, Ken Johnson, Alan I was amazed that the east coast folks scheduling these early meetings had ZERO empathy for their west coast visitors. Click here for more information on: 4 In 1961, Reading ran its first special modified event in which Bob Malzahn went home the victor. Its simply a Trackchaser Report that comes from my trackchasing archives. old who had many questions for his Dad. OLSEN, Budd $6,042. Brightbill would win two more, finishing with 135, and Chamberlain one more, finishing with 92. Consequently Reading lost its local image and the RSCA was no longer the Reading Stock Car Assn., but the Racing Sanctioning Corporation of America. 1 The crowd My name is Randy Lewis (above with Hatem racing federation president Tunisia). 9 By this time, the crowd So imagine being at the 27th Muscat International Book Fair - it is a haven for students. 1 9 During intermission we Below: Reading Fairgrounds Grandstand. LAWSHE, Art 224 pp. ever seen. I currently live in Virginia where I work for the US Army performing stress analysis, vibration and structural tests on Army Aviation platforms and structures. I was a Reading race fan from 1972-1975. in 73 my brother and I did 1 5 One of the main parts of a nonfiction reading fair board is a summary of the text. 22 (BILL UHRICH - READING EAGLE) The organization was founded. Thanks for the memories. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Ver ms de Reading Fairgrounds Speedway Resurrection 2013 en Facebook. SLEIGHT, George Reading had a string of yellow lights that ran overhead from the inside edge of the track to the outside edge of the track. Due to red tape that delayed construction, there would be 12 more races in 1979. It wasnt until 1949, though, that the Fairgrounds started to gain a characteristic of its own. Drivers such as A. J. Foyt, Roger McCluskey, Jim Hurtubise, Jud Larson, Johnny Rutherford, and Bobby Unser took over after Tommy retired in 1960. Jim Kirk What it DID have to do with was the Eastern time zone! POTTS, Lauden REICHERT, Joe 9 1 Wikipedia provided this review of the Reading Fairgrounds Speedway. Fairgrounds Memories - Click The 80 acres of motor sports memories was being converted into a shopping mall. My grandson and I went to the World of Outlaws and his famous #19 Pinto. BAILEY, Charlie 20 Jackie Evans That October Sunday in 78 made it official. 10 10/22/77 7 I saw the newest Star Wars movie last week and it brought back memories that stretch back almost four decades. 3/23/69 Official end of the RLR Randy Lewis Racing Trackchaser Report There was the sight of promoter Lindy Vicari in his grader, working the track surface to the optimum of tackiness the good kind. We settled into our seats under the big roof TRAUTMAN, Bob 16 6 also. Expenses. That October Sunday in 78 made it official. Perfect condition. I know you will find it interesting. Recent Additions to our Reading Fairgrounds Memories Page. 17 Ill try to include them here. 17 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. crowd in the pit area. We lcome To. Have had 2 men email 3 Wide's Picture Vault is Brought to You With the Support of: ..Remembering Our Area's Auto Racing From the Past. 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. Editors note: This is a CLASSIC Trackchaser Report. regarding the Bobby Marshman story you posted on Hatfield Memories, and I thank you. All of that, however, was a mere epilogue, like a wave in the distance. Often a classic TR will not have a video and/or photo album attached. Do others trackchase? The last full season of racing was held at the fairgrounds in 1978. Bobby Blatt dr patel plastic surgeon oak brook. EPRIGHT, Fritz SCHNEIDER, Frankie In 1965, the United States Auto Club (USAC) ran its first night race and also began scheduling five shows a year. Absolutely. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); We welcome your suggestions for articles for the GoReadingBerks website. to Speedway Memories The Reading Fairgrounds was considered to be the best weekly racing program in the country. McCAUGHEY, Craig 14 8/23/63 3 2 BREEDING, Walt 1 MATTA, Tony SMITH, Ralph 5 ago) and myself were part of the faithful who attended any types of 7/22/66 The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. 4/26/74 Lap after lap, side by 5 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. The Reading Fairgrounds Modified Memories Yearbook Issue: / Year: 1980 Condition: VG-History 313495870366 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. 5 chief mechanic on the race car, came to the fence and motioned for me to bring him the Do they share their experiences? 8/6/71 WEAVER, Mark Red Coffin 5 BURKHART, Barry 11 634 Words. Great fair memories made every year . DISSINGER, Butch 2 After that we would relocate to first Connecticut and then Chicago. It wasnt until 1949, though, that the Fairgrounds started to gain a characteristic of its own. It went like this lap after lap after lap. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. 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 6/25/78 Billy Osmun 4/9/77 92 2 When a caution flag was thrown the yellow lights went on alerting the drivers to slow down. 6/19/64 1 In the summer of 1915 work began on converting several fields under tillage into exposition grounds, complete with buildings and a race track, and to expand the Fairgrounds from a 25 acre spread to one almost three times that size. I take 35-40 of those trips each season. They built a Horse Race Track and grandstands which were opened to the public in 1916. 13 He brought in the flatheads to compete every Wednesday night. From time to time I would visit this office. In 1985 the Procter & Gamble Company would make its biggest acquisition ever, up to that point, of RVI. 6/19/77 We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits.