Where and when was your very first race?
 

And do you remember who won?

Open up those memory banks, share some stories
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First dirt track race was Brownstown in 73 or 74 was 2 or 3. First sprint car race was Kings Royal early 80's. Steve Kinser won.
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Re: Where and when was your very first race?
 

My parents took me to my first race September 4, 1989 when I was 9 months old. My dad's birthday was that day and introducing me to racing was his present. :3: It was the USAC Champ Cars for the Ted Horn 100 at the DuQuoin, Illinois State Fairgrounds.

Since I was only 9 months old, I don't remember the race or who won, but we have some good pictures from that day. I got to sit in (Indiana) Andy Hillenburg's car and made dad's day.

Here's the rundown from that day, courtesy of OpenwheelTimes.com. :6:
1) Chuck Gurney (Kurtz #30)
2) Rich Vogler (Wilke #16)
3) Jimmy Sills (Countryman #15)
4) Tony Elliott (Gurtizen #51)
5) Jim Mahoney (#50)
6) Mark Alderson (Boles #2)
7) Andy Hillenburg (McMahon #85)
8) Danny Smith (Hammond #56)
9) Jim McElreath (#23)
10) Walt Kennedy (Woodward #40)
11) Dave Feese (McClure #69)
12) Greg Staab (Wilke #7)
13) Johnny Parsons (Scruggs #37)
14) Larry Rice (Lefevre #5)
15) Steve Butler (Jarrett #1)
16) Danny Milburn (Newkirk #27)
17) Tom Bigelow (Smith #14)
18) Bob Cicconi (#59)
19) Donnie Beechler (Egan #46)
20) Russ Gamester (Mataka #31)
21) Jack Hewitt (Hampshire #63)
22) Manny Rockhold (#17)
23) Gary Bettenhausen (Delrose/Holt #12)
24) Ron Dunstan (Conroy #18)
25) George Snider (Foyt 11)
26) Terry Kawell (#90)
27) Gary Irvin (#48)
28) Warren Mockler (Mitchell #75)
29) Rickey Hood (Niebel #20)
30) Gary Hieber (#66)
31) Jerry Nemire (Lesko #98)
32) Mike Thomas (#78)

Since 1989, I've only missed one running of the Ted Horn 100. (Plus this year... :21:)

I'll try to find and add a couple of the pictures. :22:

Re: Where and when was your very first race?
 

My first race was in the summer of '73. My folks took me to Hangtown (now Placerville) Speedway. I can't tell you who won, or even raced, though. I can tell you that I was ruined for life as soon as I set eyes on the track, though. Little did I know that I would be working in the booth just a short two years later.

Re: Where and when was your very first race?
 

Re: Where and when was your very first race?
 

September, 1951, age about 1 month, Bloomington Speedway.

Parents never told me who won, but I'll guess it was either Chuck Welsh or Barney Oldfield. :2:

Re: Where and when was your very first race?
 

MIne was Checker Flag Raceway in Windsor, Ontario in 1978. I was less then a year old and they raced late models. The track has been gone for 17 years now. I live about five minutes away from the subdivision that occupies that land. The first dirt track I went to was Talladega Short Track in October 2002. First open wheel show I went to was a World of Outlaws race at the Dirt Track at Charlotte the week after. I sporadically hit races for a quite a few years, and since 2006 have managed to hit at least 40 races a year.

Re: Where and when was your very first race?
 

heidleberg speedway, pittsburgh pa. 1967
don't remember who won (i was 7 )
do remember a wheel coming off of a car and finishing ahead of the car and thought that was cool!

Re: Where and when was your very first race?
 

June 1968, age 2 months, to watch super modifieds at the old paved San Jose Speedway. I can't seem to recall who won though.:17:

Re: Where and when was your very first race?
 

I was first introduced to my lifetime fascination when I was 4 years old...and no other place than the greatest of them all...the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. I believe it was qualifications in 1988...and my only memory, my first racing memory whatsoever, was seeing the mighty Rick Mears in his brilliant yellow Pennzoil machine roaring down the front stretch at well over 200 mph. That day ignited a love affair with the sport, and the racetrack, that has not flickered but grown stronger over the last 21 years. My first actual race, I'm told, was most likely at the Terre Haute Action Track not too long after...man, I miss watching Al Thomas at that place.