Re: What track did you grow up going to?
 

Dad started taking me to the races in Jacksonville as soon as I was potty trained. We spent many Friday nights there. He started taking me around to other races a couple years after that. I remember my first WoO race in Pevely when I was real young. It rained and we almost left but I begged to stay and they got the race in but by the time we got home from the race it was getting light. I was hooked on sprint cars from a young age and I was able to spend a lot of time with my dad going to races and still do. I think sprint cars are a big reason why I am close with my dad.

Mt. Lawn speedway weekly . Some a Indianapolis raceway park and Winchester Thursday night thunder shows. When I was growing up. Then a good friend of mine took me to a dirt sprint car race at gas city then the next night at Lawrenceburg. After those two nights of racing I figured out that asphalt was to drive to the track on and dirt was to race on! Thanks for getting me hooked Bob!

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Attn.Nathan 1012 Broadway Speedway early Sixtys I remember Bob Hollifields 47 Packard&62 Pontiac conv Larry Copes blue 80 Whitey Exs 3 also the Hatches orange and black Fords

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Re: What track did you grow up going to?
 

Originally Posted by mc/rider:
Attn.Nathan 1012 Broadway Speedway early Sixtys I remember Bob Hollifields 47 Packard&62 Pontiac conv Larry Copes blue 80 Whitey Exs 3 also the Hatches orange and black Fords

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Seen a lot of pictures of the track before Paul Shafer bought it in 1980. According to Paul that's when the name change happened. Still miss the place. Seen some d@mn good racing there over the year. Broadway / Southlake / Crown Point where all the same track. Live a couple of miles from where the track was located. I remember watching many races there and every now an then you'd see some name drop in on the nights races.

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Re: What track did you grow up going to?
 

Re: What track did you grow up going to?
 

Flat Rock Speedway south of Detroit with my parents every Saturday night and then onto Toledo Speedway every Sunday. Fond memories that I would not trade for anything in the world.

Re: What track did you grow up going to?
 

Riverside Intr. Raceway , Ascot , Orange Show Speedway , 605, Ontario Motor Speedway Got to grow up around bout every form of racing, paved short to super speedways, dirt tracks , road courses & witnessed everything from Bombers to Sprints to NastyCar to Indy Car to F1 before I went to kindergarten, Thanks Pops for showing me a very diverse racing background !

Re: What track did you grow up going to?
 

Unlike most of the above, my parents had no interest in cars or racing. When I was 14, there was a loud engine running in the field behind our house. It was three local lads, about 5-6 years older with what I soon learned was a dirt modified. I started "helping" them. I soon talked my father into taking me to the closest local track, the Dracut (MA) Speedway. They ran "cut-downs" (early supermodifieds made by chopping, channeling and narrowing early coupes), but the first night turned out to have an added attraction ... the 3rd race of the newly-formed Northeastern Midget Assn!

About midseason, the dirt modified owner asked if I wanted to go with them to the Cheshire Fairgrounds, outside of Keene, NH. Of course, I went. For the next 6 years, it was Keene on Thursdays, the Rhythm Inn Speedway in Miller's Falls, MA on Fridays, and occasionally Claremont (NH) Speedway on Saturday. In '59 we ran Stafford Springs, CT (then dirt). That winter, we built a sprint car (from scratch) with which we ran URC for the next 3-4 years.

As with my parents, our kids have little interest in racing. My wife thinks I killed it by taking them to too many races while I was president of NEMA. Unlike the parents you see streaming out of the track when it goes too late, I always had to stay to the end, and they grew to dislike it. Oh, well, that's how it goes.

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I grew up at Kokomo Speedway. Bill Lipkey promoted the place and they ran a cross between sprints and super mods when I first remember going. I can remember a few seasons when they ran wings in the early 70's. Big heavy plywood wings. Then sprint cars took over for good. I remember watching USAC midgets when about half the cars had roll cages. I had seen weekly cars flip and I remember that being pretty scary. When I was in first grade they had a 2 day ASA sprint show, and I remember 2 things about it. One was it was the first and last time I saw a rear engine sprint car race. The other was my student teacher from school was the trophy girl. Later on in the 70's before the world of outlaws, Bob Deshamps one of the founders of ASA would rent the track for a sprint only show on a Wednesday night. I remember seeing Sammy and Steve for the first time at those shows. I asked Bob Kinser several years ago about Steve flipping out of the park that night, and he told me it was his third or fourth race. All the old people said Steve was just racing because of his Dad's name and would never amount to anything. Guess they missed that one. Later on saw a couple of wingless World of Outlaw races, and the first USAC sprint race ever on a track smaller than a half mile. Once the track went to pure sprint cars, I was lucky as weekly shows were always wingless. I worked for Kent Evans when he had the track.It was quite a thrill the first time circling the track in the water truck, or taking the fast qualifier around the track in the pace truck.Looking back I saw some cool things and some great drivers, and happy to say things are probably even better now.

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Started at the Terre Haute Action Track with Dad in the 1960's to watch our Fav. A.J.Foyt and Moms Fav ole Herk when the races were done we would go to the Blue Bonnet Diner in Brazil,IN which was right on U.S. 40 and wait for Drivers to stop in and visit always Foyt & Herk and many more.
Then in my Teens we began to Go To Lincoln Park Speedway back then they Ran Sprints on Friday Nights and Late Models on Sunday night each week then later they moved to Saturdays only been going there ever since

What track(San Jose)did you grow up at???...
 

Bob N!!.....unless it was a spl show @ Kearney Bowl for Midgets,they always ran Supers on Fri,San Jose Sat,Clovis 1/2 Dirt on Sun!!..Old San Jose Spdwy was my home track startin in late 50's.........
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Brucer':32:

What track did you grow up going to??....
 

Originally Posted by Sausage:
As an aside, one night at Baylands they interviewed a 13 yr. old Jeff G. They couldn't let him race because of their insurance, but he was already in Indiana at the time racing.

Raced Class "C" Flat track motorcycles @ Valleo late 60's,in the era of Kenny Roberts Sr.#80y.....
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Brucer':32:

Re: What track did you grow up going to?
 

Terre Haute Action Track was the first one. In 1969, I believe. I remember two black cars with roll cages. One was Ziggy Snider (I think). I was 6 at the time.

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went to bloomington friday lincoln park or paragon on saturday sometimes sweet owen after it opened

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Tucson Fairgrounds track and then the Indianapolis Motor Speedway

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Alton Speedway (later known as Godfrey Speedway, among others) as a youngster with my parents in the late 50's. Then it was Tri-City Speedway in Granite City with my oldest brother during the 60's to see Sprint Cars. Then when I got my drivers license, it was Granite every Tuesday night for AMA Pro Short track bikes, places like Belle Clair, Godfrey, St. Charles, MO and Little Springfield on weekends.
First trip to Indiana for USAC was 1977 Hulman Classic at Terre Haute and been goin ever since.

Re: What track did you grow up going to?
 

Started out at the Johnstown, PA Speedway and Jennerstown (then dirt) around 1959. Remember the three 'big guns' as dad called em - Gerald Chamberlain, Johnnie Grum, and Blackie Watt in the modifieds (jalopies). Graduated to Port Royal early 60's - "super modifieds" morphing into sprinters as I grew up! How can you beat the weekly regulars - Mitch Smith in the Gary Wasson Special, Johnnie Grum in the Fletcher American 66, Pete Swarmer in his homemade super running against the "store-bought sprinters", Leroy Felty in the Velvet 7, Lynn Paxton and Bobby Allen in the Shorty Emerick Chevrolet #1 and 1A sprinters, Cowboy Jim Kennedy in the huge wing #7, Elmer Ruby in the #711, a young Keith Kaufman starting out, Smokey Snelbaker in the 880, and occasional visits in later years by Opperman and Kenny Weld. I could go on and on since the more I write the more memories keep popping up!

Originally Posted by Tumey's 55:
One addendum, the trip to Bloomington was made sweeter by a stop at a relatively new hamburger joint on the north side, McDonalds. This was one of the few Greasy Mc's around and at this time was a carry out only. We would grab a cheeseburger and I got to listen to my dad and granddad relive the race on the way north on 2 lane 37.

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Setting in same McDonalds reading this post brings back a lot of great memories

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Re: What track(San Jose)did you grow up at???...
 

Originally Posted by AustinSprinter:
Bob N!!.....unless it was a spl show @ Kearney Bowl for Midgets,they always ran Supers on Fri,San Jose Sat,Clovis 1/2 Dirt on Sun!!..Old San Jose Spdwy was my home track startin in late 50's.........
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Brucer':32:

It may very well have been a special show, Brucer. Like I said, I was just 3 or 4 years old. I can't even tell you how often we went. I'd guess not too often, but it seems like it was on Sunday nights. The only reasonably vivid memory I have is of a car hitting one of the light poles, which I believe were on the outside of, and very close to, the track. My recollection is that the driver was killed. I do, however, remember Vukie's red #1. I know the races had an impact on me, because every time my brother and I raced our bicycles in later years, I was always Billy Vukovich. :)

Re: What track(San Jose)did you grow up at???...
 

Looking back at Limaland it doe's not look like they could even have cars park in the infield but that is where they parked. The light poles were in there also with mounds of dirt around them. The pond to water the track was off of what are now turns 3 & 4, Right in the Y part as you come in between the pit & general admission areas.
The funny thing is when some of the younger fans/college kids are out there I tell them, ya see where the UNOH hauler is parked & they say yeah, I tell them that is where the restrooms were & they were of the outhouse style & they say really !!!

Originally Posted by Sprintcarfanatic:
The funny thing is when some of the younger fans/college kids are out there I tell them, ya see where the UNOH hauler is parked & they say yeah, I tell them that is where the restrooms were & they were of the outhouse style & they say really !!!

If they want to see what that is like just send them to Oakshade.

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Re: What track did you grow up going to?
 

My first was Atomic Speedway south of Chillicothe Ohio in 1957. My Uncle was one of the original owners of the track, so I was at Atomic every Saturday night for most all of my young years. Now 56 years later, I attended my 110th track here in Kansas a few weeks back. A few of my favorites include Kokomo,the old Lawrenceburg,Plant Field,East Bay and Perris.

Re: What track did you grow up going to?
 

Originally Posted by hoosier race fan:
If they want to see what that is like just send them to Oakshade.

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That's about right. Anyone know the last time they did any upgrades to the facility there?

Re: What track did you grow up going to?
 

Not since Jed, Elle Mae & the rest of the Clampett's moved to California.

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Marion, Il. - Benton, Il. - DuQuoin

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Lakehill Speedway, Valley Park, MO. (closed 1978), I-55 Speedway, Pevely, MO., Tri- City Speedway, Granite City, IL. Belle-Clair Speedway, Belleville, IL.

Mike Cray

Re: What track did you grow up going to?
 

Originally Posted by double checkered:
Dorney Park in Allentown, Pa. Track is long gone. It has been replaced by amusement park rides. My dad wrenched on a stock car. Neil Beech and my mom painted/lettered it. Craziest mix of colors I ever seen.......plum crazy purple with orange numbers. Number 26. He won a few features, but his wife Gloria was really tough in the powder puffs. I can remember the smells of fresh paint on opening night. 55-57 Chevys made up the "late model" class and old coupes bodied the sportsmans. It was the tiniest asphalt "oval". It was really a circle. During intermission my sister and I would run into the amusement park and ride rides. We would return when we heard the engines. If the races got boring we would turn the other way and feed the deer in the field popcorn. I can't remember my first race, but I know dorney was the first track for me.

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Oh the memories of this place... Was just a little kid but I loved it.. Still today remember the "Flying Farmer" Paul Baushcer.. the 67 late model of Dick Ruth, Tony Hirschman, Doug Hoffman..

D.P. was one, but my mainstay was the old Nazareth half mile dirt track with my father. Many times we stood on the big Hill (under the billboard) across from the track to watch the races for free... Loved that track.... The other one we visited frequently was Flemington Speedway in New Jersey...

Man I loved those days and the memories are fresh like it was yesterday...

Re: What track did you grow up going to?
 

Lawrenceburg Speedway Saturdays,
Northern Kentucky Speedway Fridays, now Florence Speedway. My Dad ran them both at the same time. Those were the days!

Re: What track did you grow up going too?
 

Originally Posted by racephoto1:
In Massachusetts, Norwood Arena, Modifieds(coupes and coaches). Sprint cars, Reading.

Once we moved to Indiana it was IRP, then the USAC trail. Didn't really have a weekly track once we started running sprint cars. As it was called back then, It was the USAC traveling circus. Great times for a teenager though.A lifetime of memories.

what? you ran around drag strips.

Re: What track did you grow up going to?
 

Tuesday nights at the old Amvets fairgrounds track in Danville, Ill. Ran supermodifieds, fenderbenders, and amateurs (coupes). Fenderbenders (bombers now) would all line up at the exit of the pits just off of turn 2 and race to the start line for their starting positions. 3 abreast standing start. Don't know how many times the pit steward nearly got run over letting them go. Cannon, Jones, Camfield, Carrigan (my favorite at the time), Henson, too many more to name. Later the Friday night shows at the Champaign County Fairgrounds. One of the scariest wrecks I ever seen was there on the half mile when Doc Lockwood flipped most of the front straight losing his helmet in the process. Also saw a stock car hit the old wood fence coming out of turn 2 and had a plank pierce his leg on the half mile. Remember the lights going out one night then the promoter had vehicles line the inside of the track and shine their headlights outward to provide enough to race with. Oh the days.

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According to my wife I have not grown up yet, but when I do I will post my track. Until then you can guess which track!:10:

My first track was Limaland since I was an infant and then about when I was 10 I was going to Waynesfield. Now 5 to 6 years later I'm racing mini sprints at Waynesfield and only go to Limaland on St.Ritas night because its free since my dad works for St.Ritas.

Re: What track did you grow up going to?
 

Originally Posted by EldoraMark:
According to my wife I have not grown up yet, but when I do I will post my track. Until then you can guess which track!:10:

I agree with your wife :D

Re: What track did you grow up going to?
 

Originally Posted by EldoraMark:
According to my wife I have not grown up yet, but when I do I will post my track. Until then you can guess which track!:10:

I know that I am growing older but I REFUSE to grow up!:26::5:

Re: What track did you grow up going to?
 

I finally decided what I want to be when I grow-up ... RETIRED!

steiny
:32:

Re: What track did you grow up going to?
 

I started going to Lawrenceburg when I was 5. We sat in the same seat until I was 13. My dad became the track announcer and I learned how be the scorer there until I was 18. Started driving late models @ 19. Don't get to use it much, hopefully, get to race there tomorrow nite.

Re: What track did you grow up going to?
 

Oswego speedway!:44:

Re: What track did you grow up going to?
 

Originally Posted by sprntr:
I finally decided what I want to be when I grow-up ... RETIRED!

steiny
:32:

Retired 'ain't what you think' I've been retired five years now and most of the time I am bored to death and that includes going to several sprint car races and fishing my ass off.

Re: What track did you grow up going to?
 

Started out at US 24 Speedway, Henry's Speedway, then Kokomo :) Great memories!

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