These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. I hail from the sleepy little village by the sea, San Clemente, California. 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. 6 McANDREW, Tommy If you want to see the true essence of trackchasing youve come to the right place. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. By this time, the crowd MULLIGAN, Whip As a racechaser my prime motivation was to go where the best racers and the best racing was happening. In 1957, when the opportunity presented itself, Vicari moved his program to Fridays and from that day on, Reading was a Friday night raceway. 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. TILLMAN, Herbie KREITZ SR, Don Thanks for reading about my trackchasing, Nevertheless, this CLASSIC Trackchaser Report has finally bubbled to the surface and is now available for everyone to see atwww.randylewis.org. 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. This was win no. 715 OLSEN, Walt 9/7/75 36 715 Facebook Twitter Google+ YouTube. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Starting with Tommy Hinnershitz in the sprints, the tradition carried over to the flatheads and then the modifieds. Long KESSLER, Randy Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. SHARP, Henry SHEETZ, Tommy 37 8/28/64 Tommy Hinnershitzhad wins at the track early in his career. REIFINGER, Hal Tommy won his first race in 1938. 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 . WILLIAMSON, Kramer 17 9/9/66 favorite # 26 Red Coffin. BUTLER, Gary 7/9/78 1 52 Dirt Track Cars PAUCH, Billy I do that kind of thing all the time. 1 9/24/78 SCHNEIDER, Frankie 1 It was henceforth proclaimed throughout the ranks, to win at Reading is beating the best, but it was tough. of about Reading PA from. Back in the day, beginning in 1972 I worked for a company called Richardson-Vicks (RVI). Local business owner A. T. Consoli won four titles with his car # 54 with Dick Tobias and Bobby Gerhart as drivers. In 1965, the United States Auto Club (USAC) ran its first night race and also began scheduling five shows a year. 3 I hope you enjoy it. 2 1 FOREWORD 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. 4/30/76 1 I do remember seeing something at the track that I had never seen before. We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. SMITH, Russ The Reading Fairgrounds was considered to be the best weekly racing program in the country. KERSCHNER, Whitey GEORGE, Del BRIGHTBILL, Freddy Fred George 06.11.09 5/21/78 7/10/77 from the rest of the field. 6/30/74 We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. I live in southern California. DIFFENDORF, Don In 1965, the United States Auto Club (USAC) ran its first night race and also began scheduling five shows a year. and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at AbeBooks.com. "We're looking for city carriers, rural carriers and we also have what we . WELLER, Curt put "Reading Memories" in the Subject Line. Rags Carter 23 It became so popular that the Fairgrounds eventually held an entire season of racing, starting in March and only closing in late fall. From time to time I would visit this office. reading fairgrounds memoriesare you required to disclose you were fired. 5 The track opened September 24, 1924 and ran until June 29, 1979. 4 Membership is open to all who are interested in keeping the tradition and memory of the races and fair alive for the future. 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. of about Reading PA from 46 22 Hall of Fame Member, Thats all folks! 1 5 All-Time Victory Leaders USAC friends and fellow co-workers there. Photographers on record,Red Kirsh,Bob Zellers,Carl Hess. 24 7 These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. FORRETTE, Maynard 135 Loaded with pics and bios of the drivers. Official end of the RLR Randy Lewis Racing Trackchaser Report MIKOSZ, Junior 9/13/69 For the first eight years Reading only ran one show a year, usually during the annual Reading Fair. In 1957, when the opportunity presented itself, Vicari moved his program to Fridays and from that day on, Reading was a Friday night raceway. 9/10/76 The lad laughed and said to me - "you knew what motor it was". 48 It was also through the modified cars that Reading innovated car rules and regulations, safety features, track preparations, and more efficient race procedures. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. 10 MARBURGER, Dave Will Cagle Keep it up! 1 1 3 5/6/66 his famous #19 Pinto. If you want to see the true essence of trackchasing youve come to the right place. 20 Neck and neck through the turns, dr patel plastic surgeon oak brook. 2 You can print money in the privacy of your own home! The binding is tight. 10/22/78 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. Meme Desantis 1 July 21, 2017 by Alexa Freyman. 1 The track closed in 1979 shortly after my visit. Have you ever in your life heard of trackchasing? Typically these will be stories from tracks I visited five years or ten years or more ago. Sorry. Well, one day my dad 6 DeSANTIS, Meme 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. Use it! Indy champions loved to compete at The Home of Champions. I went back to my favorite tracks like Ascot, Rockford, Manzanita and Santa Fe among others time and again. NOTHSTEIN, Junior When the gates opened in 1916, there was not only a track, but a card of races extending over three days. Brightbill high, Chamberlain low, coming off the 4th turn its now a 4/17/70 We settled into our seats under the big roof 4 10/3/65 2 This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. DeGROOT, Fred 1 6 Vintage Modifieds, Racing Photos, Modified Stock Cars, Open Wheel and more. not allowed in the USAC pits at that time. 14 9 I just went there to have fun and follow my boyhood passion of short track, almost all the time dirt and almost all the time stock car racing. Junior Mikosz I think I may have come up with a meaningful analogy--let me try it out here:I bought a new computer last week. Accept Read More. 6/25/78 GILMORE, Charlie SCHOFFSTALL, Dave Often a classic TR will not have a video and/or photo album attached. COLLIS, Carl 5 ROMER JR, Joe After having gotten a terrible nights sleep getting up at 3 a.m. my time was terrible. 1 Money? 14 9/21/75 COVILLE, C D BALOGACH, Paul LAPE, Dave S sonny fetherman 388 followers More information 246 best images about Reading Fairgrounds and Reading Pennsylvania . Copyright 2021 GoReadingBerks | All Rights Reserved |. TV to this day. 7 2 Ver ms de Reading Fairgrounds Speedway Resurrection 2013 en Facebook. 5 letter words for wordle beginning with s. reading fairgrounds memories. 4 6/17/66 live the memories!!!! Copyright 2023 Randy Lewis - All Right Reserved. PANTUSO, Vince HUBBARD, Johnny 18 Health? Smith 08.24.20 10 just witnessed what dirt track racing and the Reading Fairgrounds The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. 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. 1 Speedway Park. WINKS, Jimmy Essay Sample Check Writing Quality. From Staff Reports News-Post Staff; May 13, 2012 May 13, 2012 Updated Mar 11, 2016; 0; Facebook; 1 10/25/75 karts. HORTON JR, Jimmy 4 224 pp. BRENN JR, Ken It was a local driver named Tommy Hinnershitz that caused its beginning. 4 Often a classic TR will not have a video and/or photo album attached. 6/24/79 READING FAIRGROUNDS MODIFIED VICTORIES My name is Randy Lewis (above with Hatem racing federation president Tunisia). MEALS, Mike When the structure gave way, in 1979, to a multi-million dollar shopping mall, it was only memories that remained. Open Document. racing I saw at Nazareth over the years, this one particular visit 9/3/76 This was during the 2000 trackchasing season. Below: Lindy Vicari, shown below with pageant winners (unable to he identified), operated the Reading Fairgrounds from 1955 to 1979. 16 It was a local driver named Tommy Hinnershitz that caused its beginning. 2 Or you can visit me on Facebook. BAKER, Jim 5/29/70 Copyright 2021 GoReadingBerks | All Rights Reserved |. 2 2 Thematically, it centres on the consequences of totalitarianism, mass surveillance and repressive regimentation of people and behaviours . 1 o. Crear cuenta nueva. SHIRE, Charlie 30 In 1955, apromoter named Lindy Vicari took over a tract of land and began weekly racing for the first time at the Reading Fairgrounds. 18 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. 1 LAZZARO, Lou ROCHELLE, Paul WOLFORD, Gary This was something about killing two birds with one stone which sounds kind of barbaric to me. HAUER, Bobby Its simply a Trackchaser Report that comes from my trackchasing archives. 01.15.16 MAYBERRY, Tom Gary Gollub Today where the racetrack once stood is theFairgrounds Square Mall, which opened in 1980 and closed in 2018. $14.99. SNELLBAKER, Smokey 1 area. A great book on Stock Car Racing in Reading, PA. . With the mall becoming too crowded, the Fair moved to Kutztown while Fair organizers searched for a new site. HENDRICKSON, Lee But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Mike Meals When a caution flag was thrown the yellow lights went on alerting the drivers to slow down. 7 1 1 That October Sunday in 78 made it official. Thank you for reading! Remember, this was only the 46thdifferent track I had ever seen. There you have it. 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. 2 Click on the link below to see the video production from the racing action today. 5 STRUPP, Sonny Freddy Brightbill KREITZ JR, Don 1 Brightbill running the high line and Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. BOTZ, Johnny As a racechaser my prime motivation was to go where the best racers and the best racing was happening. 11 1 4/3/71 4 Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. 14 In 1985 the Procter & Gamble Company would make its biggest acquisition ever, up to that point, of RVI. 2 4/8/72 FELTY, Elvin Who can forget the 92 Reading Fairgrounds Speedway 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 . 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. Peggy Snyder 01/31/07 1 The interest in racing grew so rapidly, both with the visitors and with the racing stables, that by 1935, in an attempt to accommodate the crowds and also the large entrance lists, the program was extended over four days, and the next year, to five. 10/15/67 I dont mind to much. Most of the racetracks in the U.S. are located well over 1,000 miles from where I live. My best guess on the timing would have been 1976-1978. 15 was one of the first races I ever attended. Women were 1 I remember on those dry summer Love YOUNG, Bruce Absolutely. Whats that you ask? All the good and all the bad, more than a half-century of blood, sweat and cheers gone. 1 4 Indy champions loved to compete at The Home of Champions. 1 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. 2 It was delightful to see young ones browse through a variety of books. 8/19/72 4 4/9/77 Ten years later they presented their first and only double show with another organization, the RSCA. 3 4 1 1 2 1 7 The flag MOORE, Harry The EventVideo Plus 2 I hail from the sleepy little village by the sea, San Clemente, California. 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. Specialties: The Barnyard BBQ Restaurant, now with three locations, smokes it all. 1 90 10/6/63 This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. This was during the 2000 trackchasing season. MOYER, Gene CAPIE, Tom 17 Movie-1-Chapter-3 Tom Luce 10K views 7. The crowd When you receive one of my Trackchaser Reports or find one on my website at, My memories of that trip are few. Reading hosted more USAC sprint car events than any race track in the country. I didnt give any thought to recording the dates when I visited those 71 tracks. 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. 4 KELLY, Dave Seeing many of the locals race with the best of USAC was always 9 2 LODER, Don 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). 7 Friday nights getting out to the parking lot to find our car coated Back for one or the other. The first auto racing stunts as a part of the Fair were presented in 1924. STUMPF, Don I didnt begin producing my YouTube videos until 2009 (YouTube channel: RANLAY). Thats what a racechaser does. Above found at: 1 2 Everyone came to share the moment and say goodbye. JOHNSON, Alan Great drivers, great fans & great memories!!! 7/22/77 3 Ask Admins if you aren't sure if you may post something. was..Kenny Brightbill 3 Don Kreitz My earliest memories related to reading I can scarcely remember not being able to read. Will it work now? Frankie Schneider Dad did not talk to me the rest of the race and certainly, did not On Saturday May 21st, 2022, a plaque commemorating the Reading Fairgrounds & Speedway was ceremonially dedicated to the drivers who lost their lives there. Red Riegel were killed in the first turn racing sprint cars. KIRK, Jimmy Planning necessitated the visualizing of a proposed building site in terms of the possibility of expansion rather than of removal and rebuilding. compiled by Bill Braga Drivers such as A. J. Foyt, Roger McCluskey, Jim Hurtubise, Jud Larson, Johnny Rutherford, and Bobby Unser took over after Tommy retired in 1960. watching the classic battles between Gerald Chamberlain, Kenny #175 of 750 "Midway of Memories: The Reading Fairgound. 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. 35 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. There was a continuous shuttle service of trains from both Franklin Street and the Outer Station on the Reading railway, which also arranged excursions at reduced rates from places within the area bounded by Sunbury, Easton, Philadelphia, and Harrisburg. 1ST WIN 8 3 The last full season of racing was held at the fairgrounds in 1978. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data. I AM A TRACKCHASER. 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,. 1 STANTON, Dave 2 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. pictorials, several of which I still have. 1 3/12/67 6 QUALIO, Dick Lap after lap, side by 8/7/77 Bob Pickell 9/3/67 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. PAULSON, Ronnie 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. 2 BLUM, Bill 2 1 4/1/79 6 In 1955, apromoter named Lindy Vicari took over a tract of land and began weekly racing for the first time at the Reading Fairgrounds. Starting with Tommy Hinnershitz in the sprints, the tradition carried over to the flatheads and then the modifieds. 13 riding high in the turns of Brightbill. 2 Pages. 1 Reading Fairgrounds was in the AARN weekly and the monthly Its very easy to do. Chevy in there - not an Offy like the others ran. Lindy V. Vicariwas a stock-car racing promoter and operator of the Reading Fairgrounds from 1955 until 1979. 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. I get the chance to meet people from all over the world. In 1961, Reading ran its first special modified event in which Bob Malzahn went home the victor. GramaFan, not related but his methodical way of moving thru the pack and his quiet These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. 8/21/64 7/14/75 COX, Dan 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. Prior to 1980 I was a racechaser. 6 3 5 USAC had run more sprint car races at Reading than any track in the country when it closed in 1979. 3 Kenny Brightbill This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 1 STIVES, Don the pack, and the crowd and ourselves went wild. BUNTING, Harold 12 3 1 Photo albums were sort of hit or miss during the early years of my trackchasing. SHAW, Bob SEROKA, Lenny OLSEN, Budd Randy Lewis - San Clemente CA. Reading was the first track that I visited to see the USAC sprint cars run - actually, it 4/19/63 7 Hope you find what you are looking for and discover things that you were not! Frank Cozze FRENCH, Ralph 11 Randy Lewis The track closed in 1979 shortly after my visit. Thanks for the memories. 6 1 For the first eight years Reading only ran one show a year, usually during the annual Reading Fair. 5/20/79 Reading Fairgrounds Racing Historical Society | Reading PA 2 7/9/65 Great fair memories made every year . by a coat of paint on his bumper. 1 The crowd went crazy as they had 16 On April 13, 2016, Hull Property Group took over the Fairgrounds Square Mall, with plans to revitalize the mall. 3 Indy champions loved to compete at The Home of Champions. 1 Thats what a racechaser does. 1 10/22/77 No matter who The white flag was 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. Was led onto his career from some other "old time" He brought in the flatheads to compete every Wednesday night. LONG, Tommy We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. I didnt begin producing my YouTube videos until 2009 (YouTube channel: RANLAY). 20 CHARLES, Harry BALOUGH, Gary 10 9/4/67 Dave Kelly Kenny Brightbillis the Reading Fairgrounds Speedway all-time wins record holder with 135 track victories.
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