14 Several subsequent purchases increased the area to approximately 78 acres. When gasoline took the place of the railroad, the Reading Transit Company brought in fleets of buses from other cities. I know you will find it interesting. . 9 5 Pickell Jr. We would like to thank The I take 35-40 of those trips each season. 2 5/10/70 1 GERHART, Bobby 4 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. 13 5 letter words for wordle beginning with s. reading fairgrounds memories. Thanks! Date of experience: September 2012. Its simply a Trackchaser Report that comes from my trackchasing archives. Billy Ellis 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,. 4 Remembering Reading Fairgrounds Speedway #2819. 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. their efforts. History In 1961, Reading ran its first special modified event in which Bob Malzahn went home the victor. 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. Typically these will be stories from tracks I visited five years or ten years or more ago. feature event started and the crowd was starting to build into a More interesting info If so, please feel free to share your memories in the comments section below. The Reading Fairgrounds Speedway is one of those long ago vintage tracks affectionately known as the Group of 71. Where we work. It was henceforth proclaimed throughout the ranks, to win at Reading is beating the best, but it was tough. (BILL UHRICH - READING EAGLE) The organization was founded. to Homepage, More interesting info 1 Hundreds of photos of drivers and their car. 3 Wide's Picture Vault is Brought to You With the Support of: ..Remembering Our Area's Auto Racing From the Past. MEAHL, Ken SEIDEL, Bob 1 If you want to see the true essence of trackchasing youve come to the right place. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. 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. I do have one memory of looking at the cover of a paperback book. READING PA FAIRGROUNDS Modified Memories Dirt Track Kenny Brightbill RSCA - $40.80. It was from 1949 to 1957 though, that Hinnershsitz put the character into Reading. A great variety of amusements to appeal to the taste of everyone who came through the gate was provided. 7 Reading Fairgrounds Speedway Sorry. Shorty Kerschner 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. Today where the racetrack once stood is theFairgrounds Square Mall, which opened in 1980 and closed in 2018. 3 11 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. 4 8 ROCHELLE, Paul Chevy in there - not an Offy like the others ran. TOBIAS, Ron RFRHS: KREITZ JR, Don 8/8/71 I went back to my favorite tracks like Ascot, Rockford, Manzanita and Santa Fe among others time and again. Shares547. 1 Reading racetrack he said he loved the 3 min. BRIGHTBILL, Freddy 1 Frank Cozze Feb. 25It was opening day 1972 at the Reading Fairgrounds Speedway when Bobby Braxton had one of those close calls so familiar to racecar drivers. GUEST, Terry lives in Zephyrhills,Fl and loves to talk about the good old days. As the feature went on, both of them were working their way toward 14 9 Reading hosted more USAC sprint car events than any race track in the country. COLLINS, Kevin 2 One day Ill be in Tucson, the next in maybe Tuscaloosa and the following day in Syracuse. Back in the day, beginning in 1972 I worked for a company called Richardson-Vicks (RVI). were all about. 1 GILMORE, Charlie drag race to the start/finish line. 6 was no disappointment. 7/10/64 Dave Marburger 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 Do others trackchase? 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. 4 1 1 135 BRAXTON, Bobby Drivers flocked from all over the east coast for a share of the pie. Pre-1980. 8/21/64 14 29 9/13/69 $14.99. 1 It features the Reading Fairgrounds when it was a race track. Lindy V. Vicariwas a stock-car racing promoter and operator of the Reading Fairgrounds from 1955 until 1979. Thanks for reading about my trackchasing, Peoria Old Timers Racing Club (P.O.R.C.) 2 I didnt begin writing a complete Trackchaser Report until I had seen about 425 tracks. 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. 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. Mike Meals In 1957, when the opportunity presented itself, Vicari moved his program to Fridays and from that day on, Reading was a Friday night raceway. Frank Sinatra performed at the Fair in 1950. 6/28/68 Hotels..how to buy them at 30-60% off and more.the way I do it. 1 [1]It featured a regular weekly series of modified, sportsman modified, and late modelstock carracing. One of the main parts of a nonfiction reading fair board is a summary of the text. Most of the racetracks in the U.S. are located well over 1,000 miles from where I live. Lifetime track #46 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. 1 * By using this form you agree with the storage and handling of your data by this website. Reading had a string of yellow lights that ran overhead from the inside edge of the track to the outside edge of the track. Automobile racing at the fairgrounds was introduced on September 20, 1924 at the annual Reading Fair, dating back to the middle of the 19th century. This is what the Reading legends were made of. It does not store any personal data. It went like this lap after lap after lap. area. 2 BRIGHTBILL, Kenny 3 This was during the 2000 trackchasing season. 9 From time to time I would visit this office. For the first eight years Reading only ran one show a year, usually during the annual Reading Fair. waves as they near the finish and at the line it Walt Olsen By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data. 2 CONRAD, Vince To Vault Index Page 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 you hear them all the way up in Allentown. 13 VOLZ, Tony In 1932, three shows were held. 35 11 With all the great SASSAMAN, Dave 1 4/1/79 Click here for more information on: What the heck does Classic mean? 13 1 Ralph Smith what about Buzzie Reutimann ? If you have any photos from back in the day, send them to me atRanlay@yahoo.com. frenzy already. tipton, iowa obituaries. 2 7 . RICHARDS, Harvey The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Bobby Gerhart Thats why I fell asleep during the racing at Reading! 11 Thats probably the most inconvenient location in the country for seeing tracks in the U.S. 41 3/23/69 I really love the heritage of the homestead, I have a box from the 60 s Bachman Foods Inc. Its. Im calling the shots and that makes all the difference in the world. I was living in California at the time. DeSANTIS, Meme 1 racing. I was amazed that the east coast folks scheduling these early meetings had ZERO empathy for their west coast visitors. Thats what a racechaser does. There was the sight of promoter Lindy Vicari in his grader, working the track surface to the optimum of tackiness the good kind. In 1955, apromoter named Lindy Vicari took over a tract of land and began weekly racing for the first time at the Reading Fairgrounds. I didnt begin producing my YouTube videos until 2009 (YouTube channel: RANLAY). Tom Hager 1 5 716 EPPOLITE, Frank We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. When the series of Fairs was in the making at the Muhlenberg site, racing had become so popular that one of the first items of business was the location and building of a track. 4 Accueil; A propos de nous; Nos produits; Contactez-nous; reading fairgrounds memories. Jim Kirk USAC had run more sprint car races at Reading than any track in the country when it closed in 1979. Often a classic TR will not have a video and/or photo album attached. TILLMAN, Herbie 17 1 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. All of that, however, was a mere epilogue, like a wave in the distance. 10/1/71 REIDER, Blackie 2014 Reading Fairgrounds Racing Historical Society Elected Officials 1 The Reading Fairgrounds Racing Historical Society has assembled a display that includes vintage and restored cars and memorabilia and will be open throughout the show. SHAW, Bob DICKSON, Larry It became so popular that the Fairgrounds eventually held an entire season of racing, starting in March and only closing in late fall. 1 Photographer:Joe Simpkins - Provided by:Bobby 5/26/68 I am the face behind GoReadingBerks. I was born and raised in Reading, PA. 10/3/65 133, 42 more than the guy in second place in career wins and in that grand finale, Gerry Chamberlain. I was living in California at the time. Here or email us at 3wide@optonline.net and LINGLE, Joe 1 DERR, Earl S sonny fetherman 388 followers More information 246 best images about Reading Fairgrounds and Reading Pennsylvania . Or you can visit me on Facebook. 7/9/65 Drivers flocked from all over the east coast for a share of the pie. Brightbill would win two more, finishing with 135, and Chamberlain one more, finishing with 92. 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. It was henceforth proclaimed throughout the ranks, to win at Reading is beating the best, but it was tough. Put the 3 of them together in the front of asphalt track called Ric Ra in Nazareth, Pa. Mario was always 1 FELTY, Elvin 1 2 2 A minor bit of sfuffing to extremes, but overall, a much nicer copy than usually encountered. Randys Complete Track List If you want to see the true essence of trackchasing youve come to the right place. Home; About. 2 5 After that we would relocate to first Connecticut and then Chicago. 1 Next, students should create a graphic organizer to categorize and organize their learning related to the text. 2 I remember on those dry summer 224 pp. 1 Drivers such as A. J. Foyt, Roger McCluskey, Jim Hurtubise, Jud Larson, Johnny Rutherford, and Bobby Unser took over after Tommy retired in 1960. 3/23/74 I became interested in the history of Reading through the many stories my grandfather used to tell me. Prior to 1980 I was a racechaser. 2 1 Serving folks since 2002. 1 3 "Now, all these guys are in their 70's and 80's now, but the ones that can still . I would continue to work for P&G until my retirement in 2002. With the mall becoming too crowded, the Fair moved to Kutztown while Fair organizers searched for a new site. 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. 5 7 4 Recent Additions to our Reading Fairgrounds Memories Page. I got the "last 8 and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at AbeBooks.com. It was the end of an era. KERSCHNER, Shorty 4/6/73 The Heritage of Reading: 1813-1847: Canals, Heavy Industry, and the Railroad, 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. REUTIMANN, Wayne The beloved flatheads grew in popularity and stature. I know you will find it interesting. 10 1 The beloved flatheads grew in popularity and stature. Facebook Twitter Google+ YouTube. I dont mind to much. Below: Reading Fairgrounds Grandstand. 14 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. 5/15/70 Being a regular at Nazareth Speedway the most exposure I had to the 6/30/78 Hall of Fame Member, Thats all folks! 17 2 1977 Reading Fairgrounds RSCA Modifieds Program Kenny Brightbill. 21 13 3 3 KATONA, Les Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. KWWeller 03.06.18 Women were 6/19/77 3 Bill Williams The speedway got its nickname long before the stock car champions became stars. 37 2 I also remember falling asleep as I watched the racing. 3 A very difficult to find print. 1 That October Sunday in 78 made it official. OSMUN, Billy Promoters brought the finest racecar drivers in the nation to the Reading area. 52 7 All of it had to be done within five months calendar time (the fair was postponed to late October in order to provide an extra month for construction). were up you did not get out of the pits. Kenny Weld I trackchase. FARLEY, Ed 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. 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. 11 3 Will it work now? KANTORSKY, Pete I now live in Macungie, PA and I dearly miss 6 . 5 1 1 5 Today, as a trackchaser, I commonly get up at some very early hours. Dirt Track Cars there. 1 1 2 to Speedway Memories not miss a race. Dirt oval 1 The binding is tight. Tommy won his first race in 1938. Photo albums were sort of hit or miss during the early years of my trackchasing. DEAN, Dizzy 9/15/72 yrs. KELLY, Joe ALLEN, Jerre There you have it. 1 SHIRK, Darryl 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. My memories of that trip are few. drivers STEIF, Billy 1 17 I look forward to seeing more from your website. 14 COLLIS, Carl 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. Thanks to Concepts II Video Productionsthey did a great job with this. BAKER, Jim HEIN, Jim 16 GREEN, Butch In 1957, when the opportunity presented itself, Vicari moved his program to Fridays and from that day on, Reading was a Friday night raceway. The track closed in 1979 shortly after my visit. 3 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. 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 Above found at: 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. 1 9 27 3/24/68 Several subsequent purchases increased the area to approximately 78 acres. 6 1 18 As I came out of the theater, though, I decided that it would be fun to update a . When the structure gave way, in 1979, to a multi-million dollar shopping mall, it was only memories that remained. 2 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. 4/24/64 In 1947 a building designed for roller skating was added to the facilities. This profile needs more info. http://www.goreadingberks.com/. 3 Photographers on record,Red Kirsh,Bob Zellers,Carl Hess. He brought in the flatheads to compete every Wednesday night. ADAM, Freddy 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. Jackie Evans When I got to my hotel it was difficult to get to sleep with the three hour time zone change. When the gates opened in 1916, there was not only a track, but a card of races extending over three days. The ultimate irony, of course, is that it wasnt the last race. BLUM, Bill In 1965, the United States Auto Club (USAC) ran its first night race and also began scheduling five shows a year. Money? 7/17/64

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