Where and when was your very first race?

10/22/09, 2:08 PM

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!

VSneader2 · 10/22/09, 2:20 PM

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

short track scott · 10/22/09, 2:39 PM

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

treecitytornado · 10/22/09, 2:42 PM

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.

Checker'd Past · 10/22/09, 2:54 PM

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.

I Miss Manzy · 10/22/09, 3:25 PM

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!

10/22/09, 4:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sprntr

First Dirt Race - 1958 Minnesota State Fair- Sanction & Winner Unknown
First Pavement Race - 1964 Minnesota State Fair - Sanction & Winner Unknown - The Jerks PAVED it!
First Road Course Event - Donnybrooke International Speedway - July 6, 1969 - SCCA Trana-Am Series - Won by Parnelli Jones in a Bud Moore Ford Mustang
First Time Driving a Race Car - June, 1972 - Jim Russell International Racing Drivers School - Le Circuit Mont-Tremblant,Quebec- Lotus Formula Ford

Good GOD you are old

Gregg · 10/22/09, 5:03 PM

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.

10/22/09, 5:24 PM

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

#1Brad Kuhn Fan · 10/22/09, 6:14 PM

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.

10/22/09, 2:08 PM	#51 Re: Where and when was your very first race?
raceway video Posts: n/a	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!

10/22/09, 2:20 PM	#52 Re: Where and when was your very first race?
VSneader2 Senior Member Race Count This Year: 2 Race Count Last Year: 11 Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 1,317	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

10/22/09, 2:39 PM	#53
short track scott Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 365	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

10/22/09, 2:42 PM	#54 Re: Where and when was your very first race?
treecitytornado Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 4,019	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.

10/22/09, 3:25 PM	#56 Re: Where and when was your very first race?
I Miss Manzy Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 556	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!

10/22/09, 5:03 PM	#58 Re: Where and when was your very first race?
Gregg Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 3,941	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.

10/22/09, 5:24 PM	#59 Re: Where and when was your very first race?
Tripcrwn Posts: n/a	A dirt track between the Washington state cities of Sunnyside and Grandview. SunnyGrand Speedway" or something like that. I was maybe 10 years old.

10/22/09, 6:14 PM	#60 Re: Where and when was your very first race?
#1Brad Kuhn Fan Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,012	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.