Re: Where and when was your very first race?
 

Memorial Day, 1972, Salem Speedway,USAC MIdgets, Mel Kenyon.

Remember the old covered grandstands and how the noise rattled around inside. A fellow from my hometown, Dave Garner, asked me to the races when he saw me hanging out in town. I remember that it rained lightly and that Jimmy Caruthers ran practice laps to help dry the track. I knew so little about racing that I thought the cars had to stay between the lane markers painted on the track like on a highway or a slot car track. That brought chuckles from people around me.

First sprint race, Hulman Classic in 1973. My first dirt race and one of the worst track surfaces I've ever seen. The only redeeming quality was watching Foyt for the first time. Little Joe survived the mess and Foyt pulled off early. The other things that stood out were June Cochrane and Linda Vaughn.

Jim Morrison

Re: Where and when was your very first race?
 

July of 1972 Clay City, Kentucky 2 day show. I was 6 weeks old. Not sure who won. Hopefully it was Dad but the guys to beat in that area at the time would of been Fats Coffey or Butterball Woolridge. Of course any of those dreaded Cincy area cars that made the haul would of been favorites also.

Re: Where and when was your very first race?
 

Salem Speedway in 1947 at the age of 9. Not sure who won but was standing close to the first turn wher two drivers locked whells an went out of the track killing one an leaving the other parlized.

Re: Where and when was your very first race?
 

Had to be when I was a little squirt as interested at runing my hotwheels up and down the benches as to what was on the track. Playin on the stage and listening to ole Bert Swafford from the Crows Nest on the Wendelman PA system Early 70s Burg.

Wilkerson would jump from his black sprinter into a midget and on occation a Beetle Bug Mod. Gaines Milburn, Krebs. Solimito and a host of other notables would take to the banks.

One phrase I can't get out of my head from when I was about four or five years old was durring a yellow Swafford must have repeated a hundred times. Tony Solimito goes in front of Johnny Krebs! Probably why I remember it.

Butch mustta won because he was my favorite of all time.
BTW Butch it was nice meeting and talking to you a few times this year at Bloom July 3rd and Burg Polish Luau :)

Re: Where and when was your very first race?
 

:3:Sam Stockon Sr. and John Auxter both ran the dirt track in Rome. Clips were used in the movie Ben Hur. 4 horse power, no cages, no wings, mean looking wheel covers.

Re: Where and when was your very first race?
 

From http://www.motorsportmemorial.org

Clay Corbitt died at the high-banked Salem Speedway in the first turn of the first lap of the first heat race ever held at Salem Speedway. He was the fast qualifier for the AAA sanctioned sprint car race, giving him the track record for the new oval. Corbitt was driving the Johnston Offenhauser #36 as a temporary driver replacement for Travis "Spider" Webb.

The accident happened when Corbitt's car and and a car driven by Jack Schultz locked wheels and started flipping. Both cars went over the guard rail and ended up outside of the track in turn one, with Corbitt dead and Schultz critically injured. Jack Schultz lived five more years before passing away in 1952, never recovering from the injuries he sustained in the accident.

Clay Corbitt worked as a linoleum installer when not racing. He was born in Alabama, but at the time of his death he was a resident of Columbus, Ohio. He had previously lived in Dayton, Ohio. Corbitt was a veteran of more than twenty years of racing throughout the Midwest in the AAA, CSRA, IMCA and other circuits. The few photographs we have seen of him revealed a man neatly attired with a smile on his face when he was at the tracks. He was also an outstanding mechanic.

The 1930 US Census shows Clay Corbitt, single at that time, living in Columbus, Ohio, with his mother, Rose (born ~1887), and two sisters, Betty (b. ~1901) and Dotea (sic?, b. ~1910). Rose was a widow, and both sisters were actresses in vaudville. Military records indicate that Clay served in the U. S. Army Air Force during World War II.

Corbitt is buried at Ferncliff Cemetery in Springfield, Ohio.

Re: Where and when was your very first race?
 

Mine would have been Warsaw Speedway in about '83. Tony Elliott, Denny England, Bimbo Atkins, and DeWayne Barker were the heavy hitters back then. DD started showing up a few years later in the 36d and won many races. That was the first place I saw him run and have been a fan ever since.

Re: Where and when was your very first race?
 

1990 Southern Illinois 200 winner was the late Dean Roper if I am correct... First open wheel was the next day, Ted Horn Memorial 100 winner was Jeff Swindell in the 12 car... i may have been to one at Charleston or Danville before that but thats the first i really have record of... I've only missed 1 Ted Horn at Duquoin in 20 years and that was 07 when I was at boot camp... and this year i missed the ARCA race...

Re: Where and when was your very first race?
 

Don't remember the date or who woh (was way to young for that) but it was at Little Springfield. No other place will compare that that. It's kind of like your first car or your first wife. Well not necessarily your first wife. The toher two atleast gave you good memories, lol.

Re: Where and when was your very first race?
 

1967 or 68. Erie County Fairgrounds in Hamburg, NY for the USAC Sprints. I believe Gary Bettenhausen won, but not sure. All I know is I was fascinated with the cars and that fascination stills burns today.

I still have a USAC program from that race and I believe the cover had Joe Leonard in an Indy car on the cover. At that time, USAC was in the stock car business and there were articles about Ramo Stott and Iggy Katona.

Our local weekly track that I started going to with my Dad about the same time period was Lancaster. The feature class was the asphalt mods that would eventually morph into the tour-type mods of today. I can remember watching Jim Hurtibise running a mod coupe. Also, some of the regulars there were Maynard Troyer, Jerry Cook, the Treichlers. Occasionally, a guy would show up in an orange couple with a black V on the roof, #61, the early days of Richie Evans. Also remember when a young hotshot named Geoff Bodine showed with a pinto bodied car. The pinto and vega signaled the end of the coupes and coaches.

Re: Where and when was your very first race?
 

1972 East Windsor Speedway in New Jersey. Stan "The Man" Ploski was the feature winner. I'd give anything to get in a time machine to go back and watch a race from my youth!

Re: Where and when was your very first race?
 

My first race was in 1981 when i was still a baby at Bulter Motor Speedway in Michigan watching sprints mods stocks and Detroit Iron. I love the mods back in the 80's

81 or 82. Warsaw Speedway. Saw a young Tony Elliott racing Bimbo Atkins and Dwayne Barker. Eventually saw Bob Darland's boy go at it. On the shores of Winona Lake. The best backdrop in the Midwest.
Posted via Mobile Device

Re: Where and when was your very first race?
 

My first race was a UMRA T.Q. MIDGET race at the Rush County Fairgrounds around 1982. Too young to remember much other than sitting in Terry Goff's car in the pits after the race back when he first started out driving for his Dad. My first Sprint Car race was at the Legendary Lawrenceburg Speedway in 1983. This is when Burt Swafford was announcing and he called it the fastest 1/4 mile dirt oval in the Midwest. Don't remember who won but do remember Leon Thickstun in that bright orange 22, Greg Staab in the yellow 44, Joe Miller in the red 4, Randy Kinser in the Shields 56, etc. :27:

Re: Where and when was your very first race?
 

Attended my first race at Sun Valley Speedway (Andeerson Speedway) Anderson, Indiana with my parents 1947-1948 . I was three years old. The cars I watched were called "Roaring Roadsters". Don't remember much about them, just that they seemed loud. Saw my very first "Little 500" and have seen every one of them since. My dad past away 20 years ago. I still miss him. We were racing buddies. Thanks Dad for introducing me to wonderful sport.

Re: Where and when was your very first race?
 

Mine would have been Spring 1962 at Freeport Stadium on Long Island N.Y. Where I grew up,you could hear the races.As I remember,I had done something worth a reward(a rarity at that time)and my parents said they'd take me anywhere I wanted.The races were running,so I pointed to the noise and said "I want to go there".The next Saturday we went. The sights,the sounds,the smells,I was instantly hooked! I remember that there were Midgets(TQ's?),Modifieds and Novice Stockcars running that night. I think Bruno Brackey or Al DeAngelo may have won the Modifieds.And I seem to remember a buzz about a driver in the Midgets.There was a young Italian kid out of Pennsylvania making a name at that time,Mario Andretti!

Re: Where and when was your very first race?
 

Good GOD you are old :3::6:

Re: Where and when was your very first race?
 

I may have been to the Cincinnati Race Bowl but I certainly do not remember it.

My first race was in June 1964, where else, Lawrenceburg Speedway for the USAC Midgets. Dad worked second shift at Ford and couldn't make it. Mom led the Sauer deligation to the 'burg. Everything was new to me any I do not remember several of the names. Names that I do remember is Demsey Wilson, Mike McGreevey and a young driver named Mel Kenyon who ended up winning a midget feature or two...or 100+. My early favorite was Chuck Rodee who was impressive to me in hotlaps. Bob Wente was not only there but also got a ride in the 'burg pace car in honor of his recent 8th place finish in the Indianapolis 500.

When the dust settled that evening, Jimmie Davies was the feature winner. A year later I watched Jimmie do the very same thing.

Re: Where and when was your very first race?
 

A dirt track between the Washington state cities of Sunnyside and Grandview. SunnyGrand Speedway" or something like that. I was maybe 10 years old.

Re: Where and when was your very first race?
 

i was 8 years old. Uncle gave me the choice to watch iu game on tv or go to gascity... you can prolly guess which one i picked. :3:

Re: Where and when was your very first race?
 

My first RACE (;)) was 1997 Lawrenceburg Speedway, opening night of Indiana Sprint Week. I think Darland won in the 36 car, but I'm not positive about that....Great race that night...Been hooked on Non-Wing ever since...:6:

Re: Where and when was your very first race?
 

1950 Tucson Arizona Fairgrounds dirt track, Johnnie Dye:22:

Re: Where and when was your very first race?
 

Mid to late August of 1971.....either at Limaland, New Bremen, Millstream, or Eldora. Don't actually know, as I would have been recently 'created' ;)

Re: Where and when was your very first race?
 

My guess is the winner was Tommy Hinnershitz and the driver killed was Clay Corbett. That would have been Salem's first race

Re: Where and when was your very first race?
 

My first race was at Oswego Speedway, I am guessing in 1953. Oswego openned in August of 1951 as a dirt track an ran seven races that year, by June of 1952 there had been so many complaints about the dust that the track was closed down for paving, I don't remember Oswego as a dirt track which is why I think it was 1953 before Dad took me to the races. Of course I was only four at the time, I do remember the coupes that dominated the fifties and the drivers that wrote the history of the Speedway back then, Nolan Swift in the 10 Pins, Irish Jack Murphy's Shamrock 6, Eddie Bellinger Sr.'s #3, Lee Bliss's #151 and Billy Blum's #51. While I don't remember which one of those five won the first race I ever attended it is a safe bet it was one of them, they dominated the fiftes at Oswego.

My first dirt track race was the Moody Mile at the Syracuse Fairgrounds, back in the day the fair always closed on Labor Day with the coupes running. Today they use the race track as a parking lot for the fair vendors,kind of sad if you ask me. Anyhow I remember Irish JacK Murphy winning at the fairgrounds.

My Dad introduced me to the sport I love and in turn my daughter attended her first race in my womb, her first race as a spectator was May 1971 at nine monhs old, a supermodified race in Canada and her son attended his first International Classic at Oswego Sept. '08 at six months old and first Indy car race at Watkins Glen July '09 at sixteen months old. Dad started a love for a sport that has lasted fifty plus years, made numerous long lasting friendships and spanned four generations. Miss you Dad!

Patti

Re: Where and when was your very first race?
 

Thank you, my 1st race was at Columbus Motor Speedway Clifty Hole. it was about 1950 I remember Gene Minor winning the race I stated go/karts there in 1957 my racing career has been very wonderful I am so glad it over. I also would to say have thoundsands of peaple I met were GREAT even SUPERDUKE. Butch Wilkerson #1

Re: Where and when was your very first race?
 

Mt. Lawn Speedway, New Castle Indiana.Roaring Roadsters". Probably won by the great Dick Frazier.

Re: Where and when was your very first race?
 

first full race was a go kart race at the little italy festival in clinton, in......have no clue what the outcome was...first race i remember was 1989 indy 500 won by emerson fittapaldi....

Re: Where and when was your very first race?
 

Yep, I are!

Wife says I'm #1, too! Or was that just the One Fingered Salute? :32:

Re: Where and when was your very first race?
 

Was the driver Vito Calia out of Kansas City ????

Re: Where and when was your very first race?
 

Flat Rock, MI in July 1962. My uncle was running a figure 8 car, they also had late models. Don't remember who won the figure 8 race, but Joy Fair most likely won the late model feature. He owned that place in the 60's. Then we would go to Mount Clemens and Toledo. Also, the old Michigan State Fairground track was the first dirt track I saw in person that same summer, I was 6. Sure do miss the late models at Mount Clemens, they used to run the double-o for their feature, using both the 1/4 and 1/2 mile tracks. Thats some of the best and most entertaining races I've ever seen. First midget race, mid 70's, don't remember where except thinking those guys were nuts. Took my nephew, along with my brother to Daytona 1974, he was 6 months old, I guess it took, he went on and is in NC working for one of the Cup teams.

Re: Where and when was your very first race?
 

My first race was in 1976, just a little over a year old at Santa Fe Speedway in Hinsdale, IL just outside of Chicago. Not sure what month, but was told I went frequently that year. First sprint car race was in October of 1977 at Eldora speedway. First World of Outlaw race was at Knoxville, IA in April 1978. I think it is safe to say I was hooked back in 1976.:31:

Best part of going to Eldora Speedway when I was young was sitting on my dad's shoulders so I could see the racing as we stood up top behind everyone. Felt like I had the best seat in the house! Lots of good memories at that place....some of the best racing I used to see there was watching Steve Kinser, Doug Wolfgang, and Sammy Swindell going at it lap after lap right on the wall. They were a lot slower back then and produced some great racing....I also miss the old announcer at Eldora. That guy game me goose bumps every time! I think qualifying was the best part at times! He had you drawn in big time....man it's giving me goose bumps thinking about it now! I wonder if anyone has any video clips with him announcing during qualifying?

Re: Where and when was your very first race?
 

The first race I remember is a local bracket drag race at Pacemackers Dragway in Mt. Vernon, Ohio. I was 2 maybe 3 years old. My parents have pics of me at the winter indoor quarter midget races in Columbus around 1982. The car I was standing next to has Robbie Stanley as the driver. I sure dad took me to Columbus Motor Speedway and Eldora on sundays when he wasn't drag racing.

My first time driving a racecar was sitting on Doug Krik's lap driving/warming up his ex Butch Leal pro stocker around National Trail Dragway east of columbus on a super wednesday show. I drove my first quarter midget race Dec. 3, 1987. National Trails used to let passengers in cars slower than 12.00 et. Dad says I had 100 plus passes under my belt by the age of 5 in a 1960 Chevy Station Wagon with a 283 that dad ran in NHRA T/SA and bracket racing at the many drag strips in Division 3. The reason I went down the track so much, I would cry if dad didn't take me with him. I quess this racing bug is really a sickness that has no known cure.

Re: Where and when was your very first race?
 

My first race I went to I was 2 months old. It was at Norwood Arena in Norwood Massachusetts. The first one I remember was a USAC sprint show at Reading . I was 4 or so. I got corrupted at a very early age.Been going down hill ever sense.

Re: Where and when was your very first race?
 

My 1st was @ the fantastic Salem Speedway I was ONE month old. It was a USAC Midget race won by Mel Kenyon himself.

I would have to say my first race would have been spring of 82 at Kokomo, Anderson, or Bloomington considering those were my dad's favorite tracks to go to.
Posted via Mobile Device

Re: Where and when was your very first race?
 

First race was 1958 Riverside Speedway Kansas City Ks. The winner was Bud Hunnicut.

Re: Where and when was your very first race?
 

I was too young to remember, but it would have been at Joe Shaheen's Springfield Speedway in the early 70's. I started going to races at the mile in 74', but I know I saw a bunch at Little Springfield first. The winner was probably Bubby Jones or Dean Shirley in those days, or even Al Thomas.:31:

Re: Where and when was your very first race?
 

1951, Fort Miami 1/4 mile in Maumee,Ohio, I was 10 yrs. old. I sat in the stands with my soon to be aunt while my uncle drove a 40 Ford sedan, yellow and black number 25, in the race. The oldtimers on here will remember those days of the flat head Fords with a hook welded on the dash to hold the car in second gear. The 1/4 mile was in front of the grandstands and used the straightaway of the mile horse track where Ronnie Householder won a number of AAA midget races.
First USAC sprint car race Aug. 5, 1962 New Bremen, OH. when it was still dirt. Don Branson was the winner in the Iddings 93 car. Unfortunately that was also my first fatality, Don Davis who crashed after taking the checkered flag.

Vern Plotts

Re: Where and when was your very first race?
 

There might have been a few trips to the speedrome (called Art Zipps in those days) prior, but the first one I remember was to the 61 Indy 500. Dad and I were sitting on top of the car on a makeshift platform he built. I remember Hurtibuise leading for awhile in the yellow Demlar Special, but we all know Foyt got his first one that day.