5 Your guess is as good as mine! In 1965, the United States Auto Club (USAC) ran its first night race and also began scheduling five shows a year. I didnt begin writing a complete Trackchaser Report until I had seen about 425 tracks. 4/8/72 In 1979 a limited racing series was held at the Fairgrounds as legal entanglements delayed development of the mall. 9/15/72 6 Planning necessitated the visualizing of a proposed building site in terms of the possibility of expansion rather than of removal and rebuilding. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. 2 USAC had run more sprint car races at Reading than any track in the country when it closed in 1979. Love Im calling the shots and that makes all the difference in the world. Back Hal Browning 2 8/21/64 When the structure gave way, in 1979, to a multi-million dollar shopping mall, it was only memories that remained. 5 716 11 1 8 9/5/75 yrs. 3 Additionally, if you see a website link know that link worked when the TR was originally written. 1 1 Reading I got the "last Below: 1966 photo showing Mario Andretti # 9 dueling with Lone Star JR Johnny Rutherford. Consequently Reading lost its local image and the RSCA was no longer the Reading Stock Car Assn., but the Racing Sanctioning Corporation of America. Copyright 2021 GoReadingBerks | All Rights Reserved |. 9/3/71 2 Im calling the shots and that makes all the difference in the world. Ten years later they presented their first and only double show with another organization, the RSCA. 7/10/64 2 Today, many of the fans who frequented the Fairgrounds during those heydays, as well as many of the drivers who once competed at the famed half-mile, will gather at the Fairgrounds Square Mall to relive what the memories as the 25th annual Racing Legends Reunion & Car Show opens. 3/23/74 It was the end of an era. SNELLBAKER, Smokey 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. Students can choose an appropriate type of graphic . Russ Delp Peggy Snyder 01/31/07 We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Women were laugh" when the announcer mentioned the sound and that it was a Chevy engine in not allowed in the USAC pits at that time. The beloved flatheads grew in popularity and stature. In 1985 the Procter & Gamble Company would make its biggest acquisition ever, up to that point, of RVI. As I came out of the theater, though, I decided that it would be fun to update a . 6 1 27 "We're looking for city carriers, rural carriers and we also have what we . VAN KIRK, Billy 1 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. ago) and myself were part of the faithful who attended any types of Thats trackchasingthe way I do it. When I opened it, it asked me whether I wanted to transfer software from another source, which I did; I transferred everything . 1 I was able to retire at the age of 52 and never work for money another day in my life. I developed goreadingberks.com around 1998 for the purpose of presenting information about the History of the Catholic Faith in Reading. It will run through Feb. 27. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". 4 heat as they enter turn 3-4. action from the mid 70's: Who can forget the You want this if you love Racing ! his famous #19 Pinto. 1 Since 1911 the covered grandstand saw many generations pass and echoed the names of many champions. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. I take 35-40 of those trips each season. Date of experience: September 2012. At midnight in the east it was only 9 p.m. in California (Pacific Time). Thats probably the most inconvenient location in the country for seeing tracks in the U.S. Will Cagle 7 That October Sunday in 78 made it official. 4 Accueil; A propos de nous; Nos produits; Contactez-nous; reading fairgrounds memories. 6 2 That October Sunday in 78 made it official. If you have any photos from back in the day, send them to me at. Jackie McClaughlin DISSINGER, Butch Frankie Schneider 18 1 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 Laudan Potts If so, please feel free to share your memories in the comments section below. side, neither one could get the advantage on the other. 2 2 I hail from the sleepy little village by the sea, San Clemente, California. Mike has been involved in the establishment of the Reading Fairgrounds Racing Historical Society, founded on February 4, 2004. All-Time Victory Leaders It went like this lap after lap after lap. 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. Fred George 06.11.09 By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data. GARBER, Harry Billy Osmun On Oct. 29, 1978, the last race was held on the half-mile oval. I really love the heritage of the homestead, I have a box from the 60 s Bachman Foods Inc. Its. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. went down for some of those famous french fries to the right of the You can print money in the privacy of your own home! 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. I am the face behind GoReadingBerks. I was born and raised in Reading, PA. It was henceforth proclaimed throughout the ranks, to win at Reading is beating the best, but it was tough. 5/10/70 eat. VAN HORN, Carl I was amazed that the east coast folks scheduling these early meetings had ZERO empathy for their west coast visitors. Click on the link below to see the video production from the racing action today. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. I didnt give any thought to recording the dates when I visited those 71 tracks. Thats what a racechaser does. Hall of Fame Member ever seen. favorite # 26 Red Coffin. 7/14/75 On April 20, 1915, two adjoining tracts of land in Muhlenberg Township, totaling 54 acres, were purchased for $20,750 for the site of the Reading Fairgrounds. Reading Fairgrounds Speedway(19241979) was a one half mile dirt/clay modified race track located inMuhlenburg Township,Berks County,Pennsylvania. 9/24/78 Ten years later they presented their first and only double show with another organization, the RSCA. 3 Membership is open to all who are interested in keeping the tradition and memory of the races and fair alive for the future. I also remember falling asleep as I watched the racing. Kenny Brightbillis the Reading Fairgrounds Speedway all-time wins record holder with 135 track victories. I think I may have come up with a meaningful analogy--let me try it out here:I bought a new computer last week. not miss a race. He brought in the flatheads to compete every Wednesday night. Since 1911 the covered grandstand saw many generations pass and echoed the names of many champions. 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. This was during the 2000 trackchasing season. 4/10/71 The Reading Fair had it's first fair in 1854 at Penn's Commons, in what is now City Park. 7 3 27 1 Being a regular at Nazareth Speedway the most exposure I had to the 5 4/6/73 The speedway got its nickname long before the stock car champions became stars. He was one of several drivers killed at the Fairgrounds over the years. KELLY, Joe I dont mind to much. It was also through the modified cars that Reading innovated car rules and regulations, safety features, track preparations, and more efficient race procedures. Once you begin researching my trip itineraries from my website, yes you will want to do that, you will be surprised. 1 9 4/5/64 BRAXTON, Bobby 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. Whats that you ask? DeGROOT, Fred It does not store any personal data. 2 COVILLE, C D In 1961, Reading ran its first special modified event in which Bob Malzahn went home the victor. 9 1 you were when the 3 mins. 3 Thanks for filling in so much nostalgia for my upbringing and the roots I am so proud of. 46 JOHNSON, Jack All of that, however, was a mere epilogue, like a wave in the distance. Speedway Park. All the good and all the bad, more than a half-century of blood, sweat and cheers gone. An amazing life's work. For much longer than that, he has focused on spreading joy and peace through his music. BLATT, Bobby TOTAL . 5 area. 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. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. 4 Photo albums were sort of hit or miss during the early years of my trackchasing. One day Ill be in Tucson, the next in maybe Tuscaloosa and the following day in Syracuse. 8 lives in Zephyrhills,Fl and loves to talk about the good old days. There were some sacrifices but there was a reward. 4 7/14/78 1 1 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. Indy champions loved to compete at The Home of Champions. 8 3 3 This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Welcome to trackchasing's most popular website. Golly, did Dad wake up then - told the Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. 716 Most of the racetracks in the U.S. are located well over 1,000 miles from where I live. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. 4/3/71 Back in the day, beginning in 1972 I worked for a company called Richardson-Vicks (RVI). By this time, the crowd were up you did not get out of the pits. 6/29/79 www.goreadingberks.com website, including a video capturing racing Open Document. . 41 3 3 Via Tert.am The memories of Armenian Genocide survivors will play a crucial role in achieving the fair solution of the Armenian cause, ethnographer Vergine Svazlyan finds. 14 3 Thats probably the most inconvenient location in the country for seeing tracks in the U.S. For the first eight years Reading only ran one show a year, usually during the annual Reading Fair. 4 The track opened September 24, 1924 and ran until June 29, 1979. Put the 3 of them together in the front of 6 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. GILLETTE, Don 19 Reading Fairgrounds Modified Stars Photos 4x6 Glossy Brightbill,Chamb 1975 Reading Fairgrounds Program Gerald Chamberlain Dick Tobias Reading Fairgrounds Modified Memories Book 1975-76 Syracuse Fairgrounds Schaefer 100 Super Dirt Week Dirt Modified 1975 Reading Fairgrounds Program Kenny Brightbill Dick Tobias I had heard tales of the packed houses Reading got, and this night Its very easy to do. Now you know a little bit about my trackchasing addiction. 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. 2 The Reading Fairgrounds Speedway is one of those long ago vintage tracks affectionately known as the Group of 71. The Reading Fairgrounds Speedway is one of those long ago vintage tracks affectionately known as the Group of 71. I trackchase. 1 Below: Lindy Vicari, shown below with pageant winners (unable to he identified), operated the Reading Fairgrounds from 1955 to 1979. What it DID have to do with was the Eastern time zone! I am a trackchaser. 6/4/65 3 Health? Ill try to include them here. Drivers flocked from all over the east coast for a share of the pie. 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. Thats what a racechaser does. 5/12/67 reading fairgrounds memoriesare you required to disclose you were fired. BOTTCHER, Bobby 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 OSMUN, Billy KERSCHNER, Whitey 2 Lap after lap, side by Freddy Adam In 1965, the United States Auto Club (USAC) ran its first night race and also began scheduling five shows a year. . The Reading Fairgrounds was considered to be the best weekly racing program in the country. Photo albums were sort of hit or miss during the early years of my trackchasing. 6 1 These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. This profile needs more info. In 1932 a seven-horse pileup killed race jockey Roy McCann of Elizabeth, NJ. Brightbill high, Chamberlain low, coming off the 4th turn its now a 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. 8/6/71 6 4 1 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. STEIF, Billy Reading hosted more USAC sprint car events than any race track in the country. It became so popular that the Fairgrounds eventually held an entire season of racing, starting in March and only closing in late fall. When the gates opened in 1916, there was not only a track, but a card of races extending over three days. Its simply a Trackchaser Report that comes from my trackchasing archives. 1 Accept Read More. This had nothing to do with the quality of the racing! COLLIS, Carl Typically these will be stories from tracks I visited five years or ten years or more ago. Tommy Hinnershitzhad wins at the track early in his career. Bobby Hauer Glenn Fitzcharles "The throttle stuck." The modified stock car Braxton was hired to drive flipped onto its roof. 1 Tommy won his first race in 1938. COFFIN, Red 4/4/70 Serving folks since 2002. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. 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. 4 $0. On Saturday May 21st, 2022, a plaque commemorating the Reading Fairgrounds & Speedway was ceremonially dedicated to the drivers who lost their lives there. 5 Reading Fairgrounds Speedway DVD - Snyder Video Productions Sponsored items from this seller Feedback on our suggestions Showing Slide 1 of 1 Remembering Reading Fairgrounds Speedway DVD - Snyder Video Productions New $24.99 + $5.50 shipping 20 sold Remembering East Windsor Speedway DVD - Snyder Video Productions New $24.99 + $5.50 shipping Local business owner A. T. Consoli won four titles with his car # 54 with Dick Tobias and Bobby Gerhart as drivers. Frank Sinatra performed at the Fair in 1950. Or you can visit me on Facebook. The memories of the writers and poets who haven't forgotten the terrible . Jay Stong 11 8/26/77 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. DELP, Russ 1 6 Managing personal financesor I caught the fever and Medicare wont pay for it, NASCAR My favorite and not so favorite drivers. 3 Over the years other performers included Ray Charles and Pat Boone. 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. Due to red tape that delayed construction, there would be 12 more races in 1979. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. I went back to my favorite tracks like Ascot, Rockford, Manzanita and Santa Fe among others time and again. 7/21/78 Description This video is compiled of segments from Eastern Seedway Classics, Open Cockpit Classics, Stock Car Classics, Sprint & Champ Car Classics, Dirt Track Memories & 70's Review will take you back the 30's with the big cars, AAA & USAC sprint action of the 50's & 60's, finishing up during . "I have worked diligently for 50 years, collecting memories from survivors," she told Wednesday a news conference. Billy Deskovick 7/3/77 ROCHELLE, Paul When I got to my hotel it was difficult to get to sleep with the three hour time zone change. This had nothing to do with the quality of the racing! 10/1/71 . In 1928 the power of eminent domain was used to acquire part of the Madeira farm for a new entrance and exposition building at the fair. HORTON JR, Jimmy [1]It featured a regular weekly series of modified, sportsman modified, and late modelstock carracing. The 80 acres of motor sports memories was being converted into a shopping mall. This is a professional offset lithograph print that was commissioned many years ago and quickly sold out. 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. If you would like to see where Ive been and experience those adventures heres the link: MALZAHN, Bobby Reading Fairgrounds Speedway 4/19/63 PAUCH, Billy 14 SCHOFFSTALL, Dave there. 1 7 39 9/7/75 On the green, they took off 1 What it DID have to do with was the Eastern time zone!