Jim Keppley I saw the newest Star Wars movie last week and it brought back memories that stretch back almost four decades. GramaFan, not related but his methodical way of moving thru the pack and his quiet KELLY, Mike 1 1 The links below hold information on the association and cars. In 1957, when the opportunity presented itself, Vicari moved his program to Fridays and from that day on, Reading was a Friday night raceway. 4 Today, as a trackchaser, I commonly get up at some very early hours. LAST WIN 8 Ill try to include them here. There you have it. website, including a video capturing racing 5/27/77 20 regarding the Bobby Marshman story you posted on Hatfield Memories, and I thank you. JOHNSON, Bob My memories of that trip are few. 8/19/72 I went back to my favorite tracks like Ascot, Rockford, Manzanita and Santa Fe among others time and again. 3 6 6 For the first eight years Reading only ran one show a year, usually during the annual Reading Fair. DISSINGER, Butch Dave Kelly 2 2 4 Movie-1-Chapter-3 Tom Luce 10K views 7. 6 Keep it up! 9/7/75 6 4 Will it work now? HENDRICKSON, Lee 30 3 1 27 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. Women were 1 COREY, Pete The Reading Fairgrounds Racing Historical Society was created to preserve the. My average trip covers 5,000 miles and more. 4/30/76 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. Source: www.goreadingberks.com YOUNG, Bruce 14 4 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. 1 Glenn Fitzcharles Reading Fairgrounds Memories Photographer: Joe Simpkins - Provided by: Bobby Pickell Jr. We would like to thank The Reading Fairgrounds Racing Historical Society and members Mike Shaub, Ken Johnson, Alan Carter and many, many others have been very supportive of our efforts here in the Vault. to Speedway Memories Enter your email address to subscribe to GoReadingBerks and receive notifications of new posts by email. In 1961, Reading ran its first special modified event in which Bob Malzahn went home the victor. We had the privilege of 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 OLSEN, Budd 7 Time? Whitey Kerschner HOLLAND, Eddie side, neither one could get the advantage on the other. 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. It was henceforth proclaimed throughout the ranks, to win at Reading is beating the best, but it was tough. S sonny fetherman 388 followers More information 246 best images about Reading Fairgrounds and Reading Pennsylvania . At midnight in the east it was only 9 p.m. in California (Pacific Time). BLACKLEY, Johnny Hello, from the Reading Stock Car Association we have the ultimate book 115708529208 1 The speedway got its nickname long before the stock car champions became stars. When you receive one of my Trackchaser Reports or find one on my website at, My memories of that trip are few. . SNELLBAKER, Smokey 1 4 17 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. Thats trackchasingthe way I do it. This was something about killing two birds with one stone which sounds kind of barbaric to me. Brightbill, Chamberlain as they near the checkered flag. BROWN, Ralph The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". 1 Im calling the shots and that makes all the difference in the world. Drivers such as A. J. Foyt, Roger McCluskey, Jim Hurtubise, Jud Larson, Johnny Rutherford, and Bobby Unser took over after Tommy retired in 1960. 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. 7 Specialties: The Barnyard BBQ Restaurant, now with three locations, smokes it all. 1 READING FAIRGROUNDS MODIFIED Memories Yearbook 1980-History of modified stock. went down for some of those famous french fries to the right of the Welcome to trackchasing's most popular website. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. "Memories should have been collected and submitted to the scientific community. 17 2 MIKOSZ, Junior SKIAS, Chris root for Parnelli. Brightbill, Bobby Gerhart, among many others. by a coat of paint on his bumper. 10/18/75 Photographers on record,Red Kirsh,Bob Zellers,Carl Hess. I hope you enjoy it. I was a Reading race fan from 1972-1975. in 73 my brother and I did My name is Fred George. 8/20/78 SUMMARY 2 what about Buzzie Reutimann ? there. They dont. Drivers flocked from all over the east coast for a share of the pie. 3 I was able to retire at the age of 52 and never work for money another day in my life. 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. WEAVER, Mark 4/3/71 12 demeanor make him a favorite. just witnessed what dirt track racing and the Reading Fairgrounds Publisher Racing Sanctioning Corp. of America Publication date January 1, 1978 See all details Inspire a love of reading with Amazon Book Box for Kids Bill Williams 20,000 spectators jammed the place to. 11 9/3/76 Wikipedia provided this review of the Reading Fairgrounds Speedway. Hope you find what you are looking for and discover things that you were not! Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. 6 karts. Tried to explain the difference but gave up when Dad told the lad to go get something to interrupt until the Fike sprinter fired up and the sound was music to my ears. HARWI, Otto 4/15/77 Dave Kelly won six of those 12 races, including what became known as Grand Finale II on June 29, 1979. Thats why I fell asleep during the racing at Reading! tipton, iowa obituaries. 3 Friday nights getting out to the parking lot to find our car coated put "Reading Memories" in the Subject Line. 5/26/68 The background was yellowish-orange, and the illustration was a pen and ink drawing of a young man . 1 TILLEY, Ray This had nothing to do with the quality of the racing! Freddy Brightbill Hal Browning 3 Thats trackchasingthe way I do it. not allowed in the USAC pits at that time. CARTER, Rags The Reading Fairgrounds was considered to be the best weekly racing program in the country. 6/28/68 3 5 ISBN Number: B004U5368O. Red Coffin 3 18 drag race to the start/finish line. There you have it. 6/25/78 Click on the #31 16 . "Mr. Outside" Brightbill, # 5 "Mr. Carb Bobby Gerhart, and my Hall of Fame Member, Thats all folks! Promoters brought the finest racecar drivers in the nation to the Reading area. Donny and I also raced, but the smaller version go Click on the link below to see the video production from the racing action today. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. waves as they near the finish and at the line it FREYER, Karl and got through the heats and consolations. 6/4/65 11 to Homepage, More interesting info GRANDSTAND MEMORIES READING FAIRGROUNDS - YouTube A look Back at the Reading Fairgrounds Grandstand A look Back at the Reading Fairgrounds Grandstand AboutPressCopyrightContact. It went like this lap after lap after lap. Bobby Hauer 10 92 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. Laudan Potts 1 My name is Randy Lewis (above with Hatem racing federation president Tunisia). racing I saw at Nazareth over the years, this one particular visit SWINEHART, Ray 2 Nealey is an accomplished musician who currently plays the saxophone with a . 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. 16 CARROLL, Jackie Did you know David was at the Reading Fairgrounds with his dad ? I had never given much thought to being a trackchaser. WALES, Milford 3 7 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 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. TAYLOR, Larry KREITZ JR, Don LAZZARO, Lou In 1955, apromoter named Lindy Vicari took over a tract of land and began weekly racing for the first time at the Reading Fairgrounds. 5 MALZAHN, Bobby WILLIAMS, Bill Thanks to Concepts II Video Productionsthey did a great job with this. 3 The white flag was 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. 2 kid that the lady did not know what she was talking about. Money? Golly, did Dad wake up then - told the GERHART, Bobby A lot of these races were won by #1 Tobias, # 76 Chamberlain, # 57 When the structure gave way, in 1979, to a multi-million dollar shopping mall, it was only memories that remained. 1 Most of the racetracks in the U.S. are located well over 1,000 miles from where I live. 8/21/64 More than 18,000 people in the stands and more than 100 modified stock cars in the pits gathered in the united belief that dirt-track racing just doesnt get any better than this. WIMBLE, Bill It features the Reading Fairgrounds when it was a race track. 12 1 Read all about Kenny Brightbill, Dick Tobias, Bobby Gerhart. Ill try to include them here. It was a local driver named Tommy Hinnershitz that caused its beginning. 5/29/70 21 DENGLER, Smokey 3 Through turns 1-2 they 1 2 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. 4 were here. 39 1 Donnie Varner 4 SCHELL, Tim It wasnt until 1949, though, that the Fairgrounds started to gain a characteristic of its own. TOTAL EPRIGHT, Fritz Jimmy Horton Thats what a racechaser does. 7 1 I didnt think so. Speedway Park. 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. Vintage Modifieds, Racing Photos, Modified Stock Cars, Open Wheel and more. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. KOZAK, Johnny Reading Modified Top Ten Performance Index 2 For much longer than that, he has focused on spreading joy and peace through his music. to Reading provided me with the closest, most exciting race I had 29 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. HILDRETH, Elton CHARLES, Harry So many local drivers made the competition tough and exciting. REAKES, Sammy 9 2 http://www.readingfairgroundsracing.com/, Back Brightbill would win two more, finishing with 135, and Chamberlain one more, finishing with 92. READING PA FAIRGROUNDS Modified Memories Dirt Track Kenny Brightbill RSCA - $40.80. Tommy Hinnershitzhad wins at the track early in his career. This was win no. If you have any photos from back in the day, send them to me at. DESKOVICH, Billy PAXTON, Lynn I am a trackchaser. Photographic endsheets. Absolutely. On Oct. 29, 1978, the last race was held on the half-mile oval. 1 All-Time Victory Leaders HAVENS, Dick 2 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. 1977 Reading Fairgrounds RSCA Modifieds Program Kenny Brightbill. Billy Osmun 1 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. 4/13/73 3/12/67 KEPPLEY, Jim 7/22/66 Since 1911 the covered grandstand saw many generations pass and echoed the names of many champions. Jay Stong was one of the first races I ever attended. My average trip covers 5,000 miles and more. Do others trackchase? 3 AbeBooks.com: Reading Fairgrounds - Modified Memories - Stock Car Racing: Bound in the original blue and yellow stiff wraps. The Reading Fairgrounds Speedway is one of those long ago vintage tracks affectionately known as the Group of 71. CAMERON, Alex 2 9 It does not store any personal data. laugh" when the announcer mentioned the sound and that it was a Chevy engine in One story I do remember well, was the fact that I had to sit in the grandstand. 9/24/78 Reading Fairgrounds Racing Historical Society | Reading PA As a racechaser my prime motivation was to go where the best racers and the best racing was happening. 3 MAYBERRY, Tom Reading Fairgrounds Modified Memories Paperback - January 1, 1978 by Racing Sanctioning Corp. (Author) Paperback from $95.00 1 Used from $95.00 224 pages. 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. My best guess on the timing would have been 1976-1978. Where we work. ROCHELLE, Paul The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Jackie Evans HALL, Bob asphalt track called Ric Ra in Nazareth, Pa. Mario was always Thats why I fell asleep during the racing at Reading! house for rent waldport oregon; is thanos a villain or anti hero PLOSKI JR, Stan 9/13/69 8/23/63 With the mall becoming too crowded, the Fair moved to Kutztown while Fair organizers searched for a new site. READINGER, Dan More interesting info 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. Back I developed goreadingberks.com around 1998 for the purpose of presenting information about the History of the Catholic Faith in Reading. BEHRENT, Harry Worlds #1 Trackchaser In 1965, the United States Auto Club (USAC) ran its first night race and also began scheduling five shows a year. 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. Facebook Twitter Google+ YouTube. Pickell Jr. We would like to thank The 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. 11 8/5/77 1 Europeans faces of Argentina in the twenties: Einwanderungsland Argentinian writers during a discussion in Frankfurt Book Fair Blues: O ARGENTINA! I do that kind of thing all the time. 6 KREITZ SR, Don The 80 acres of motor sports memories was being converted into a shopping mall. lives in Zephyrhills,Fl and loves to talk about the good old days. 1 Mike has been involved in the establishment of the Reading Fairgrounds Racing Historical Society, founded on February 4, 2004. Often a classic TR will not have a video and/or photo album attached. 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. SCOTT, Tighe Keep up the good job with these memory pages. Back 7/22/75 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. RFRHS: 5/21/78 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 Who can forget the 2 2 This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. 4 The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". 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. I didnt begin writing a complete Trackchaser Report until I had seen about 425 tracks. Drivers flocked from all over the east coast for a share of the pie. After having gotten a terrible nights sleep getting up at 3 a.m. my time was terrible. Copyright 2023 Randy Lewis - All Right Reserved. Date of experience: September 2012. Thanks! Send post to email address, comma separated for multiple emails. was..Kenny Brightbill 7 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. MOYER, Gene 2019 Ted Fund Donors 2 The speedway got its nickname long before the stock car champions became stars. 3/31/63 3 Jackie McClaughlin FRENCH, Ralph the undercover economist chapter summary. Sitting next to me was a young lad, approx. 3 2 STEIF, Billy 1 2 All these photos are my personal collectelion and were taken by The Speedways photographers and bought by myself or taken by myself. Iniciar sesin Olvidaste tu cuenta? Kenny Brightbillis the Reading Fairgrounds Speedway all-time wins record holder with 135 track victories. 14 Have had 2 men email We raced on dirt and on asphalt mainly in the tri-state 9 1 4 In 1961, Reading ran its first special modified event in which Bob Malzahn went home the victor. in dust. CLEAVER, Dennis CONRAD, Vince You want this if you love Racing ! 3/24/68 (BILL UHRICH - READING EAGLE) The organization was founded. "The throttle stuck." The modified stock car Braxton was hired to drive flipped onto its roof. 14 McLAUGHLIN, Jackie to hear from people who remember the "old times". 1 This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. 3 This was during the 2000 trackchasing season. Joel Wessner 4 4/11/70 10 Essay Sample Check Writing Quality. LESHER, Red 5 5 10/15/67 11 5 I was living in California at the time. Lindy V. Vicariwas a stock-car racing promoter and operator of the Reading Fairgrounds from 1955 until 1979. Being a regular at Nazareth Speedway the most exposure I had to the 1 I didnt begin writing a complete Trackchaser Report until I had seen about 425 tracks. The Fair included imported amusements of a carnival nature, including rides of various kinds, as well as those especially gifted in or trained for some, extraordinary activity, and animals. 1 It became so popular that the Fairgrounds eventually held an entire season of racing, starting in March and only closing in late fall. 1 Stan Ploski 2 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. Down the backstetch it was still a dead 59 1 4