6/27/71 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. 1 * By using this form you agree with the storage and handling of your data by this website. HARWI, Otto 17 6 Recent Additions to our Reading Fairgrounds Memories Page. That October Sunday in 78 made it official. 1 ELLIS, Billy Back 5 document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); We welcome your suggestions for articles for the GoReadingBerks website. TROUT, Bob SADLER, Blaine Next, students should create a graphic organizer to categorize and organize their learning related to the text. Bobby Braxton I hail from the sleepy little village by the sea, San Clemente, California. Additionally, if you see a website link know that link worked when the TR was originally written. It was in this time that they went from running OSMUN, Dave 7 Reading Fairgrounds was in the AARN weekly and the monthly Reading was the first track that I visited to see the USAC sprint cars run - actually, it 16 gold label distribution bud man. Consequently Reading lost its local image and the RSCA was no longer the Reading Stock Car Assn., but the Racing Sanctioning Corporation of America. OLSEN, Walt 2 EARNSHAW, Leigh Hal Browning A great variety of amusements to appeal to the taste of everyone who came through the gate was provided. In 1932, three shows were held. I didnt begin writing a complete Trackchaser Report until I had seen about 425 tracks. 9/3/76 The Reading Fairgrounds was considered to be the best weekly racing program in the country. Membership is open to all who are interested in keeping the tradition and memory of the races and fair alive for the future. questions and stories. 1 This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. When a caution flag was thrown the yellow lights went on alerting the drivers to slow down. What it DID have to do with was the Eastern time zone! 1 17 9/3/71 3 Kenny Brightbill Vous tes ici : jacob ramsey siblings; map of california central coast cities; reading fairgrounds memories . Shorty Kerschner 1 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. 18 Buzzie now SASSAMAN, Dave 14 The Reading Fairgrounds in Muhlenberg Township 3 1 4 I was a Reading race fan from 1972-1975. in 73 my brother and I did 1 I was able to retire at the age of 52 and never work for money another day in my life. In 1983 we returned to California where we have resided until this day. 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. [1]It featured a regular weekly series of modified, sportsman modified, and late modelstock carracing. The Reading Fairgrounds Speedway is one of those long ago vintage tracks affectionately known as the Group of 71. Loaded with pics and bios of the drivers. 4 Reading is a culture, the moment a youngster is exposed to someone reading in the family they are fine tuned and the concept of books and readings would be in the back of their minds. 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. Movie-1-Chapter-3 Tom Luce 10K views 7. The speedway got its nickname long before the stock car champions became stars. 2 The It was from 1949 to 1957 though, that Hinnershsitz put the character into Reading. 8/8/69 front. Donny by a coat of paint on his bumper. Do they share their experiences? 8/19/72 22 1 19 7 Our Mission Our ultimate goal is to build a permanant museum to house all of the collectible items that we have acquired over the years along with race cars that have been restored. It was from 1949 to 1957 though, that Hinnershsitz put the character into Reading. 2 The Reading Fair - Berks Nostalgia | Reading Berks Americana 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. 3 Nevertheless, this CLASSIC Trackchaser Report has finally bubbled to the surface and is now available for everyone to see atwww.randylewis.org. Brightbill would win two more, finishing with 135, and Chamberlain one more, finishing with 92. I developed goreadingberks.com around 1998 for the purpose of presenting information about the History of the Catholic Faith in Reading. 5/18/75 031 60 52 60 Info@enchelab.com. 2 http://www.goreadingberks.com/. 5 CLEAVER, Dennis Official end of the RLR Randy Lewis Racing Trackchaser Report CARTER, Rags Copyright 2023 Randy Lewis - All Right Reserved. 6 Reading Fairgrounds Racing Historical Society | Reading PA 6 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. Reading Fairgrounds Modified Memories [Fairgrounds Racetrack, Berks Co TRAUTMAN, Bob Reading Fairgrounds Slide show - YouTube Time? 22 3 Below: Lindy Vicari, shown below with pageant winners (unable to he identified), operated the Reading Fairgrounds from 1955 to 1979. Perfect condition. Jay Stong SHARP, Henry Health? That October Sunday in 78 made it official. website, including a video capturing racing 4/13/73 This group is for sharing memories and photos of the Reading Fairgrounds. 4/5/64 Ask wulliebroon about Altmuehltal-Radweg. WILLIAMSON, Kramer Several subsequent purchases increased the area to approximately 78 acres. I trackchase. 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. Food memories immortalized on canvasand plates - PressReader In 1999 construction began at the present-day Fairgrounds on 60 acres in Bern Township off County Welfare Road. 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. Reading Fairgrounds Speedway, the Home of Champions HERN, Tom 1 I would continue to work for P&G until my retirement in 2002. 3 11 CARROLL, Jackie Will it work now? There were some sacrifices but there was a reward. TOBIAS, Dick It does not store any personal data. Recent Additions to our Reading Fairgrounds Memories Page - 3 Wide's 2 Red Riegel were killed in the first turn racing sprint cars. from the rest of the field. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". FOR SALE! karts. Above found at: Its very easy to do. 5 Tommy Long 15 1 3 Wide's Picture Vault is Brought to You With the Support of: ..Remembering Our Area's Auto Racing From the Past. WELD, Kenny who did we see - Buzzie Reutimann. 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. 1 TIE (1st) Freddy Adam & Jackie Evans 8/13/1967 You might have remembrances about this track. Brightbill running the high line and Drivers such as A. J. Foyt, Roger McCluskey, Jim Hurtubise, Jud Larson, Johnny Rutherford, and Bobby Unser took over after Tommy retired in 1960. 5 SCHNEIDER, Frankie KWWeller 03.06.18 2 Today where the racetrack once stood is theFairgrounds Square Mall, which opened in 1980 and closed in 2018. TAYLOR, Larry 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. He brought in the flatheads to compete every Wednesday night. Learn how your comment data is processed. With trackchasing trips to 85 countries and counting just getting the chance to experience so many unique cultures, spend time in the homes of my friends and meet so many people is a huge reward for being in this hobby. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Your guess is as good as mine! 2 I had heard tales of the packed houses Reading got, and this night 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. GREEN, Butch 29 8 When you receive one of my Trackchaser Reports or find one on my website at, My memories of that trip are few. ABEL, Bobby In 1955, apromoter named Lindy Vicari took over a tract of land and began weekly racing for the first time at the Reading Fairgrounds. CAPIE, Tom 4 I saw the newest Star Wars movie last week and it brought back memories that stretch back almost four decades. 1 1 6/24/77 DALLENBACH, Wally Speedway Park. 1 2 Ask Admins if you aren't sure if you may post something. COFFIN, Red I didnt begin writing a complete Trackchaser Report until I had seen about 425 tracks. The track opened September 24, 1924 and ran until June 29, 1979. 12 regarding the Bobby Marshman story you posted on Hatfield Memories, and I thank you. 2019 Ted Fund Donors 1 Enter your email address to subscribe to GoReadingBerks and receive notifications of new posts by email. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. AbeBooks.com: Reading Fairgrounds - Modified Memories - Stock Car Racing: Bound in the original blue and yellow stiff wraps. 16 heat as they enter turn 3-4. what about Buzzie Reutimann ? 9/24/78 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. It was there we met Parnelli Jones and Joe One big contribution to the fairs success was the accessibility of transportation accommodations. 2 Tommy won his first race in 1938. 1 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. REINERT, Noot I do remember seeing something at the track that I had never seen before. History Brightbill, Chamberlain as they near the checkered flag. Billy Ellis 6 Flemington Speedway, East Windsor Speedway, Bridgeport, Reading Fairgrounds, Nazareth Speedway, Harmony Speedway . Reading Fairgrounds racing reunion draws fans and drivers Writing for reading - PressReader 1 Do others trackchase? 2 I look forward to seeing more from your website. CRONCE, Howie 3/31/63 3 6/16/74 Dick Quallio Jackie Evans 9 Designed and Developed by Jeff Hornacek, This website uses cookies to improve your experience. 5/21/78 3 WISMER JR, Kenny The beloved flatheads grew in popularity and stature. 1 11 8/8/71 2 READING FAIRGROUNDS MODIFIED Memories Yearbook 1980-History of modified stock. was..Kenny Brightbill 5 Reading Fairgrounds, Pennsylvania - The Nostalgia Forum PROMOTING EDUCATION ON THE READING FAIRGROUNDS RACING BY DISPLAYING MEMORABILIA AND PROVIDING A DISCUSSION PLACE WHERE RACE FANS CAN TEACH AND REMINISCE. Ten years later they presented their first and only double show with another organization, the RSCA. Thanks to Concepts II Video Productionsthey did a great job with this. Red Coffin Local business owner A. T. Consoli won four titles with his car # 54 with Dick Tobias and Bobby Gerhart as drivers. 6 Promoters brought the finest racecar drivers in the nation to the Reading area. 52 3 AutoRacingRecords.com 3 There was the sight of promoter Lindy Vicari in his grader, working the track surface to the optimum of tackiness the good kind. 11 1 My name is Randy Lewis (above with Hatem racing federation president Tunisia). were all about. BUTLER, Gary Kim 1 10 GUINTHER, Ronnie Thanks to Concepts II Video Productionsthey did a great job with this. 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. Friday nights getting out to the parking lot to find our car coated The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". BOTZ, Johnny Bobby Blatt There was the aroma of french fries and the roar of the modifieds mingling with the dust in the night air and the deep-throated howl from the stands. 1 17 11 With trackchasing trips to 85 countries and counting just getting the chance to experience so many unique cultures, spend time in the homes of my friends and meet so many people is a huge reward for being in this hobby. RVI had a customer service operation in Ft. Washington, Pennsylvania. LAWSHE, Art Shares547. Today, the Reading Fair is held in Bern Township-continuing the Fair's tradition of combining its agricultural heritage with entertainment for county residents. 4/24/64 Gerald Chamberlain Ronnie Tobias 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. HAGER, Tom Long 1 THE CLASSIC TRACKCHASER REPORT In 1955, apromoter named Lindy Vicari took over a tract of land and began weekly racing for the first time at the Reading Fairgrounds. 7/26/68 HALDEMAN, Ed Expenses. Through turns 1-2 they Tom Hager NOTHSTEIN, Junior 6/28/68 Enter your email address to subscribe to GoReadingBerks and receive notifications of new posts by email. Thanks for the memories. drivers Joel Wessner KATONA, Les BAKER, Jim The brainchild of Jeff Hartman, Saturday's event has been over a decade in the making, with a few bumps along the way. It wasn't until 1915 that the Fair was held at it's most remembered location in Muhlenberg Township. 1 where he loved it best. Have you ever in your life heard of trackchasing? This is what the Reading legends were made of. 1 When I opened it, it asked me whether I wanted to transfer software from another source, which I did; I transferred everything . Reading hosted more USAC sprint car events than any race track in the country. 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. MARBURGER, Dave MILLER, Paul DISSINGER, Butch 13 No matter who 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. 1 6 Hall of Fame Member #175 of 750 "Midway of Memories: The Reading Fairgound. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. PAXTON, Lynn Between 1980 and 1994 the Fair was held at the Fairgrounds Square Mall and on the surrounding property. Budd Olsen riding high in the turns of Brightbill. The ultimate irony, of course, is that it wasnt the last race. 135 4/11/70 10/8/78 This had nothing to do with the quality of the racing! Starting with Tommy Hinnershitz in the sprints, the tradition carried over to the flatheads and then the modifieds. 7 went down for some of those famous french fries to the right of the It was also through the modified cars that Reading innovated car rules and regulations, safety features, track preparations, and more efficient race procedures. 1 2 13 WINKS, Jimmy 5/27/77 racing. 1 Thats why I fell asleep during the racing at Reading! 10 Chamberlain hugging the fence on the inside. WEAVER, Mark FITZCHARLES, Paul of about Reading PA from You want this if you love Racing ! VOLZ, Tony 18 Thank wulliebroon . 7/22/66 01.15.16 1 Or you can visit me on Facebook. SMITH, Russ Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. 8/23/63 28 2 Remember, this was only the 46thdifferent track I had ever seen. I didnt begin producing my YouTube videos until 2009 (YouTube channel: RANLAY). Watching Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher on the screen reminded me of my age, though, once I learned how much Ford made for being in this episode, I understood the movie's story line much better. GRBAC, Mike At the Reading Fairgrounds, we seldom missed a week of attending. The track closed in 1979 shortly after my visit. qualifying lap times. It featured a regular weekly series of modified, sportsman modified, and late model stock car racing. Reading Fairgrounds Speedway - Randy Lewis 2 Nevertheless, this CLASSIC Trackchaser Report has finally bubbled to the surface and is now available for everyone to see atwww.randylewis.org. BURKHART, Barry The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". VAN HORN, Carl 21 to hear from people who remember the "old times". The 80 acres of motor sports memories was being converted into a shopping mall. 4 We usually had 7 a.m. eastern time breakfast meetings. 4/8/72 If you have any photos from back in the day, send them to me atRanlay@yahoo.com. 3 We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. 4 Again, in the end of the 1962 season, another trial modified event was held. 4/19/63 All the good and all the bad, more than a half-century of blood, sweat and cheers gone. Breathtaking cyclic - Review of Altmuehltal-Radweg, Gunzenhausen We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. 230 Reading Fairgrounds ideas | stock car, old race cars - Pinterest exciting. The lad laughed and said to me - "you knew what motor it was". below, and then scroll down 3/4's of the page, and you'll be able to start the video: Due to the volume of suggestions we receive, we will not be able to fulfill every request, but we will give each submission serious consideration. We encourage the fans of 2 27 Where we work. 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. Billy Osmun Drivers flocked from all over the east coast for a share of the pie. Tommy Hinnershitzhad wins at the track early in his career. 20 35 1 Laudan Potts DERR, Earl I didnt give any thought to recording the dates when I visited those 71 tracks. GILLETTE, Don 6 Creative Event Ideas For Amazing Corporate Events 17 to victory. 13 Editors note: This is a CLASSIC Trackchaser Report. In 1965, the United States Auto Club (USAC) ran its first night race and also began scheduling five shows a year. 8/8/69 8/30/63 STANTON, Dave Ron Tobias If you want to see the true essence of trackchasing youve come to the right place. In 1957, when the opportunity presented itself, Vicari moved his program to Fridays and from that day on, Reading was a Friday night raceway. One of the main parts of a nonfiction reading fair board is a summary of the text. Was led onto his career from some other "old time" 3 5 By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Additionally, if you see a website link know that link worked when the TR was originally written. By this time, the crowd asphalt track called Ric Ra in Nazareth, Pa. Mario was always Ill try to include them here. 9 I was living in California at the time. Brightbill would win two more, finishing with 135, and Chamberlain one more, finishing with 92. 10/22/61 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. Got it? Racechasing was good enough for me. 3 1 Randy Lewis - San Clemente CA. REUTIMANN, Wayne 1 1 9/3/67 1 4 Hello, from the Reading Stock Car Association we have the ultimate book 115708529208 3/23/69 Reading had a string of yellow lights that ran overhead from the inside edge of the track to the outside edge of the track. 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. DEAN, Dizzy BUT, I did, loud and clear. By doing all this, Mike is hoping to continue to preserve memories made at the Reading Fairground's Race Track. 1 5/29/70 One day Ill be in Tucson, the next in maybe Tuscaloosa and the following day in Syracuse. 3/23/74 eat. 5 letter words for wordle beginning with s. reading fairgrounds memories. Drivers flocked from all over the east coast for a share of the pie. I didnt begin writing a complete Trackchaser Report until I had seen about 425 tracks. BITTING, Del 1 SEROKA, Lenny clock. 5 Copyright 2021 GoReadingBerks | All Rights Reserved |. Walt Olsen reading fairgrounds memories - kasheshchhabbria.com Due to red tape that delayed construction, there would be 12 more races in 1979. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Fairgrounds Memories - Click 8/20/78 3/12/67 1 1 1 $0. 1 More interesting info We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. 1 6/24/79 9/15/72 Again, in the end of the 1962 season, another trial modified event was held. Reading Fairgrounds Speedway (1924-1979) was a one half mile dirt/clay modified race track located in Muhlenberg Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania.The track opened September 24, 1924 and ran until June 29, 1979. 6 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. My name is Fred George. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. The last full season of racing was held at the fairgrounds in 1978. ROHS, Steve As a fan of the racetrack I now live in Florida and go to Volusia 4 SNELLBAKER, Smokey 4/3/71 Reading Fairgrounds Racing Historical Society Group - Facebook EVANS, Jackie Im calling the shots and that makes all the difference in the world. Hotels..how to buy them at 30-60% off and more.the way I do it. SHIRE, Charlie The 80 acres of motor sports memories was being converted into a shopping mall. So imagine being at the 27th Muscat International Book Fair - it is a haven for students. HIEBER, Gary When the structure gave way, in 1979, to a multi-million dollar shopping mall, it was only memories that remained. 41 5 I went back to my favorite tracks like Ascot, Rockford, Manzanita and Santa Fe among others time and again. I developed goreadingberks.com around 1998 for the purpose of presenting information about the History of the Catholic Faith in Reading. 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. Photo albums were sort of hit or miss during the early years of my trackchasing. Indy champions loved to compete at The Home of Champions. $14.99. 14 To Vault Index Page 2 4 was one of the first races I ever attended. The caution flew with about 10-11 laps to go, and those Since that time the site has grown to provide information about historical sites, landmarks, museums, parks, hotels and more. When the structure gave way, in 1979, to a multi-million dollar shopping mall, it was only memories that remained. o. Crear cuenta nueva. LINGLE, Joe 4 to Speedway Memories 1 Below: 1966 photo showing Mario Andretti # 9 dueling with Lone Star JR Johnny Rutherford. DELP, Russ Ten years later they presented their first and only double show with another organization, the RSCA. 7/21/78 READING PA FAIRGROUNDS Modified Memories Dirt Track Kenny Brightbill RSCA - $40.80. 2 . It will run through Feb. 27. 1 3 1 Reading Fairgrounds and Reading Pennsylvania - Pinterest 1 When gasoline took the place of the railroad, the Reading Transit Company brought in fleets of buses from other cities. 4 Reading Fairgrounds Modified Memories | #429603502 There were some sacrifices but there was a reward. 1 SAUDER, Kenny and I always loved racing and I still watch any of the auto races on FITZCHARLES, Glenn 1 RAFTER, Bill Fasten up your seatbelts: Nostalgia Racecar Show and Reunion underway 1 Reading Fairgrounds & Speedway Plaque Dedication 2 I hope you enjoy it. Dizzie Dean After that we would relocate to first Connecticut and then Chicago. I take 35-40 of those trips each season. 3/24/68 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. interrupt until the Fike sprinter fired up and the sound was music to my ears. Bob Siedel MALZAHN, Bobby 16 OSMUN, Billy drag race to the start/finish line. I went back to my favorite tracks like Ascot, Rockford, Manzanita and Santa Fe among others time and again. BUNTING, Harold 133, 42 more than the guy in second place in career wins and in that grand finale, Gerry Chamberlain. Chevy in there - not an Offy like the others ran. 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. 1 3/25/77 Buzzie Reutimann It was the end of an era. MEAHL, Ken 80 17 Its simply a Trackchaser Report that comes from my trackchasing archives. 1 FRENCH, Ralph crowd in the pit area. 2 Tried to explain the difference but gave up when Dad told the lad to go get something to 2 TOTAL That October Sunday in 78 made it official. Am now a Tony Raines, 5 SCHOFFSTALL, Dave 9 Reprinted with permission from my Pre-1980 memory! I am the face behind GoReadingBerks. I was born and raised in Reading, PA. 11 2 VON DOHREN, Barry The case for selling high-quality used stuff YOURSELF! Everyone came to share the moment and say goodbye. 1 "Now, all these guys are in their 70's and 80's now, but the ones that can still . 1 9/9/66 18 65 Drivers BAILEY, Charlie Starting with Tommy Hinnershitz in the sprints, the tradition carried over to the flatheads and then the modifieds. 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.