BUT, I did, loud and clear. 1 Its very easy to do. Consequently Reading lost its local image and the RSCA was no longer the Reading Stock Car Assn., but the Racing Sanctioning Corporation of America. 4 "We're looking for city carriers, rural carriers and we also have what we . Drivers such as A. J. Foyt, Roger McCluskey, Jim Hurtubise, Jud Larson, Johnny Rutherford, and Bobby Unser took over after Tommy retired in 1960. 3 This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 3 4/19/63 document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. 14 I didnt begin producing my YouTube videos until 2009 (YouTube channel: RANLAY). from the rest of the field. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". two made up the front row on the restart. Accueil; A propos de nous; Nos produits; Contactez-nous; reading fairgrounds memories. Typically these will be stories from tracks I visited five years or ten years or more ago. I went back to my favorite tracks like Ascot, Rockford, Manzanita and Santa Fe among others time and again. You might have remembrances about this track. Planning necessitated the visualizing of a proposed building site in terms of the possibility of expansion rather than of removal and rebuilding. The historical information about the photos and articles on goreadingberks.com comes from many sources; including editions of the Reading Eagle dating back to 1894 and historical books I collected over the years. Or you can visit me on Facebook. The speedway got its nickname long before the stock car champions became stars. 1 1 HAUER, Bobby AutoRacingRecords.com 14 Movie-1-Chapter-3 Tom Luce 10K views 7. Reading was the first track that I visited to see the USAC sprint cars run - actually, it 1 KELLY, Joe Reading PA Fairgrounds Modified Memories Dirt Track Kenny Brightbill 224 pp. 4 8/30/63 HAGER, Tom RVI had a customer service operation in Ft. Washington, Pennsylvania. 7 PRATT, Eddie 4 chief mechanic on the race car, came to the fence and motioned for me to bring him the 1 3 6 Reading Fairgrounds, Pennsylvania - The Nostalgia Forum Dave Kelly won six of those 12 races, including what became known as Grand Finale II on June 29, 1979. Pickell Jr. We would like to thank The These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. A Muhlenberg Township resident for over forty years, Lindy brought back the Miss Reading Fair Pageant as well as creating the Little Miss Pageant while continuing the traditions of the annual Reading Fair. 6 Click on the #31 It became so popular that the Fairgrounds eventually held an entire season of racing, starting in March and only closing in late fall. 1 STRUPP, Sonny 11 DICKSON, Larry 2 Brightbill running the high line and Health? I now live in Macungie, PA and I dearly miss 10/22/77 yrs. BURKHART, Barry The flag This was something about killing two birds with one stone which sounds kind of barbaric to me. 5/26/68 McLAUGHLIN, Jackie 6/30/74 7/10/64 CAPIE, Tom 1 1 TIE (1st) Freddy Adam & Jackie Evans 8/13/1967 17 "Now, all these guys are in their 70's and 80's now, but the ones that can still . 3/23/69 Brightbill, Chamberlain as they near the checkered flag. My Reading Fairgrounds Photo Collection from 1968 to 1979!! - Fotki I was a Reading race fan from 1972-1975. in 73 my brother and I did Photographic endsheets. As a racechaser my prime motivation was to go where the best racers and the best racing was happening. Ver ms de Reading Fairgrounds Speedway Resurrection 2013 en Facebook. Early Memories on Reading - 634 Words | 123 Help Me BRENN JR, Ken Whip Mulligan When I finally did get to bed in the east it was commonly 2 or 3 a.m. eastern time, again 11 p.m. or midnight California time. 2019 Ted Fund Donors 4 Additionally, if you see a website link know that link worked when the TR was originally written. This print measures 32" x 26". 6/17/66 12 WALES, Milford decided we were going to the races at Reading. 716 1 In 1985 the Procter & Gamble Company would make its biggest acquisition ever, up to that point, of RVI. Ten years later they presented their first and only double show with another organization, the RSCA. Designed and Developed by Jeff Hornacek, This website uses cookies to improve your experience. WEAVER, Mark Seeing many of the locals race with the best of USAC was always The first auto racing stunts as a part of the Fair were presented in 1924. Photo albums were sort of hit or miss during the early years of my trackchasing. 1 Bob Siedel 10 It was the end of an era. 4/17/70 LODER, Don Often a classic TR will not have a video and/or photo album attached. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". 9/13/69 2 When a caution flag was thrown the yellow lights went on alerting the drivers to slow down. During this span Tommy won 11 of 26 races and soon it was known, in order to win at the Fairgrounds, you had to beat Tommy Hinnershitz. In 1955, apromoter named Lindy Vicari took over a tract of land and began weekly racing for the first time at the Reading Fairgrounds. 1 9 8 Thats what a racechaser does. HAVENS, Dick We settled into our seats under the big roof 27 WELD, Kenny BUTLER, Gary Reading Fairgrounds Slide show - YouTube Leon Manchester 11 Recent Additions to our Reading Fairgrounds Memories Page. You can print money in the privacy of your own home! 1 and got through the heats and consolations. 1 CARTER, Rags 133, 42 more than the guy in second place in career wins and in that grand finale, Gerry Chamberlain. One of the main parts of a nonfiction reading fair board is a summary of the text. 7 the tracks that are now gone. 3 2 4 I live in southern California. Ask Admins if you aren't sure if you may post something. Below: Reading Fairgrounds Grandstand. 4/9/77 If you would like to see where Ive been and experience those adventures heres the link: Bob Malzahn Back Reading PA Fairgrounds Modified Memories Dirt Track Kenny Brightbill 5/27/77 1 4/5/64 Mike Meals 2 There were Brightbill and Chamberlain, Dick Tobias and A1 Tasnady, Bobby Gerhart and Freddy Adam, the names who made Reading what it was -and who were made what they were in many ways bj the fairgrounds. Thanks for reading about my trackchasing, 9/3/67 Reading Fairgrounds Memories Photographer: Joe Simpkins - Provided by: Bobby Pickell Jr. We would like to thank The Reading Fairgrounds Racing Historical Society and members Mike Shaub, Ken Johnson, Alan Carter and many, many others have been very supportive of our efforts here in the Vault. of about Reading PA from. 1 After having gotten a terrible nights sleep getting up at 3 a.m. my time was terrible. 4 This was during our first time to live in California from 1975-1979. HENDRICKSON, Lee I just went there to have fun and follow my boyhood passion of short track, almost all the time dirt and almost all the time stock car racing. Frank Cozze Time? "Mr. Outside" Brightbill, # 5 "Mr. Carb Bobby Gerhart, and my Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Reading Modified Top Ten Performance Index. ROCHELLE, Paul 34 It was from 1949 to 1957 though, that Hinnershsitz put the character into Reading. 1 A lot of these races were won by #1 Tobias, # 76 Chamberlain, # 57 Our Mission Our ultimate goal is to build a permanant museum to house all of the collectible items that we have acquired over the years along with race cars that have been restored. Reading Fairgrounds - Modified Memories - Stock Car Racing There you have it. 8 2 As a fan of the racetrack I now live in Florida and go to Volusia Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. Speedway Park. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. BRIGHTBILL, Kenny 4 Larry Voss 3 2 Figuring out the logistics of a trip like that is as much fun for me as watching a figure 8 race. 1 Don Kreitz "Memories should have been collected and submitted to the scientific community. Im thinking there were a few strings of these lights around the track. Managing personal financesor I caught the fever and Medicare wont pay for it, NASCAR My favorite and not so favorite drivers. 36 This was win no. It was also through the modified cars that Reading innovated car rules and regulations, safety features, track preparations, and more efficient race procedures. 3 Here or email us at 3wide@optonline.net and COLLIS, Carl TV to this day. 2 DESKOVICH, Billy qualifying lap times. SLEIGHT, George frenzy already. Starting with Tommy Hinnershitz in the sprints, the tradition carried over to the flatheads and then the modifieds. Berks County racing fans, drivers keep memories alive at Reading Below: 1966 photo showing Mario Andretti # 9 dueling with Lone Star JR Johnny Rutherford. Reading Fairgrounds & Speedway Plaque Dedication Billy Osmun I remember on those dry summer COLLINS, Kevin track was Chamberlain in the #76 Mustang (was it) and Brightbill in 4/1/79 questions and stories. . . $0. 8 Today, many of the fans who frequented the Fairgrounds during those heydays, as well as many of the drivers who once competed at the famed half-mile, will gather at the Fairgrounds Square Mall to relive what the memories as the 25th annual Racing Legends Reunion & Car Show opens. 3/24/68 On Saturday May 21st, 2022, a plaque commemorating the Reading Fairgrounds & Speedway was ceremonially dedicated to the drivers who lost their lives there. Below: Lindy Vicari, shown below with pageant winners (unable to he identified), operated the Reading Fairgrounds from 1955 to 1979. From September 20, 1924 to June 29,1979, dirt-track racing fans crowded the 80 acre site of the Reading Fairgrounds located in Muhlenburg Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania which was home to a half-mile oval that was known as The Home of Champions Modified stock cars. 7/9/65 14 reading fairgrounds memories - kasheshchhabbria.com There was the sight of promoter Lindy Vicari in his grader, working the track surface to the optimum of tackiness the good kind. 1 16 GramaFan, not related but his methodical way of moving thru the pack and his quiet Ill try to include them here. HERN, Tom 2 1 That October Sunday in 78 made it official. The crowd 5 29 11 MURPHY, Johnny 7/22/66 8/21/64 Today where the racetrack once stood is theFairgrounds Square Mall, which opened in 1980 and closed in 2018. COVILLE, C D OSMUN, Billy READING FAIRGROUNDS MODIFIED Memories Yearbook 1980-History of modified 9 USPS to hold job fair in Reading this weekend Thats probably the most inconvenient location in the country for seeing tracks in the U.S. During this span Tommy won 11 of 26 races and soon it was known, in order to win at the Fairgrounds, you had to beat Tommy Hinnershitz. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. 4/6/73 10 4 Since that time the site has grown to provide information about historical sites, landmarks, museums, parks, hotels and more. SNELLBAKER, Smokey 1 1 1 Consequently Reading lost its local image and the RSCA was no longer the Reading Stock Car Assn., but the Racing Sanctioning Corporation of America. 10 This is what the Reading legends were made of. An amazing life's work. 3 10 6/23/67 Kenny Brightbillis the Reading Fairgrounds Speedway all-time wins record holder with 135 track victories. 8/9/68 This had nothing to do with the quality of the racing! Junior Mikosz 14 2 Indy champions loved to compete at The Home of Champions. Membership is only $15 per year or a life-time membership of $200. I had never given much thought to being a trackchaser. Reading Fairgrounds Modified Memories Yearbook Issue: / Year: 1980 Condition: VG-History 313495870366 Then in 1963 the inevitable occurred and Reading switched over to running weekly modified competition paying $500 to win and posting the largest weekly modified purse around. 1 The ultimate irony, of course, is that it wasnt the last race. And when it was over, no one was surprised to find Kenny Brightbill in Victory Lane, which had become his second home since he got his first Reading victory in 1970. In 1965, the United States Auto Club (USAC) ran its first night race and also began scheduling five shows a year. Remember, this was only the 46thdifferent track I had ever seen. were still neck and neck. 7/26/68 Copyright 2021 GoReadingBerks | All Rights Reserved |. BOTZ, Johnny In 1999 construction began at the present-day Fairgrounds on 60 acres in Bern Township off County Welfare Road. TROUT. 37 I know you will find it interesting. Keep it up! I hail from the sleepy little village by the sea, San Clemente, California. 5/15/70 6 Jimmy Horton 2 DRIVER 2 This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. BALOGACH, Paul BLACKLEY, Johnny were all about. Brightbill would win two more, finishing with 135, and Chamberlain one more, finishing with 92. Your guess is as good as mine! 1 Works Cited. Reading Fairgrounds Speedway DVD - Snyder Video Productions | eBay Chamberlain hugging the fence on the inside. crowd in the pit area. WISMER SR, Kenny not allowed in the USAC pits at that time. With the mall becoming too crowded, the Fair moved to Kutztown while Fair organizers searched for a new site. heat as they enter turn 3-4. Hope you find what you are looking for and discover things that you were not! Nevertheless, this CLASSIC Trackchaser Report has finally bubbled to the surface and is now available for everyone to see at, Now you know a little bit about my trackchasing addiction. Thats why I fell asleep during the racing at Reading! 1 REIDER, Blackie After that we would relocate to first Connecticut and then Chicago. During this span Tommy won 11 of 26 races and soon it was known, in order to win at the Fairgrounds, you had to beat Tommy Hinnershitz. 9/7/75 to Reading provided me with the closest, most exciting race I had 3 10/18/75 EMERICH, Bob The purpose of the earliest fairs in Berks County was to bring farm goods to city dwellers. Hope you enjoy my "way back when" little tid-bits. 9/21/75 Randy Lewis 1 20 8 Reading hosted more USAC sprint car events than any race track in the country. The brainchild of Jeff Hartman, Saturday's event has been over a decade in the making, with a few bumps along the way. EPRIGHT, Fritz It was also through the modified cars that Reading innovated car rules and regulations, safety features, track preparations, and more efficient race procedures. Neck and neck through the turns, favorite # 26 Red Coffin. 5 Although I hated eastern time meetings and meetings in general I was tied to the corporate tit.
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