Where and when was your very first race?

Ricks Pics · 10/21/09, 9:07 PM

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

ShaneMugavin57 · 10/21/09, 9:09 PM

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.

old timer 38 · 10/21/09, 9:47 PM

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.

Charles Nungester · 10/21/09, 10:12 PM

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

snoopy · 10/22/09, 6:38 AM

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.

apexonephoto · 10/22/09, 6:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by old timer 38

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.

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.

openwheelKT · 10/22/09, 11:53 AM

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.

onthegas7j · 10/22/09, 11:57 AM

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...

10/22/09, 1:25 PM

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.

AlkyMadness · 10/22/09, 2:02 PM

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.

10/21/09, 10:12 PM	#44 Re: Where and when was your very first race?
Charles Nungester Senior Member Race Count This Year: 6 Race Count Last Year: 14 Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 22,206	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 __________________ Charles Nungester

10/21/09, 9:09 PM	#42 Re: Where and when was your very first race?
ShaneMugavin57 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 251	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.

10/21/09, 9:47 PM	#43 Re: Where and when was your very first race?
old timer 38 Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 31	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.

10/22/09, 6:38 AM	#45 Re: Where and when was your very first race?
snoopy Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 173	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.

10/22/09, 11:53 AM	#47 Re: Where and when was your very first race?
openwheelKT Senior Member Race Count Last Year: 73 Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 742	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.

10/22/09, 11:57 AM	#48 Re: Where and when was your very first race?
onthegas7j Senior Member Race Count This Year: 48 Race Count Last Year: 31 Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 302	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...

10/22/09, 1:25 PM	#49 Re: Where and when was your very first race?
dirtywhiteboy Posts: n/a	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.

10/22/09, 2:02 PM	#50 Re: Where and when was your very first race?
AlkyMadness Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 233	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.