LINGLE, Joe It was there we met Parnelli Jones and Joe I was able to retire at the age of 52 and never work for money another day in my life. The site was ideal since it was served by two railroads (the Reading and the Pennsylvania), a branch of the Reading Street Railway Companys lines, and two main highways, the Pottsville and the Allentown Pikes. SMITH, Ralph karts. Below: 1966 photo showing Mario Andretti # 9 dueling with Lone Star JR Johnny Rutherford. Its very easy to do. Kim Meme Desantis Revenue. No spam, no businesses and no links to other sites. The Reading Fairgrounds Speedway is one of those long ago vintage tracks affectionately known as the Group of 71. Bob Malzahn 1 Enter your email address to subscribe to GoReadingBerks and receive notifications of new posts by email. racing. Photo albums were sort of hit or miss during the early years of my trackchasing. TILLMAN, Herbie RVI had a customer service operation in Ft. Washington, Pennsylvania. 7 1 the Vault, and of the Reading Fairgrounds to join their great organization and support 14 Mike has been involved in the establishment of the Reading Fairgrounds Racing Historical Society, founded on February 4, 2004. 14 (BILL UHRICH - READING EAGLE) The organization was founded. $14.99. Consequently Reading lost its local image and the RSCA was no longer the Reading Stock Car Assn., but the Racing Sanctioning Corporation of America. Thanks for the memories. KERSCHNER, Shorty 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. 133, 42 more than the guy in second place in career wins and in that grand finale, Gerry Chamberlain. All the good and all the bad, more than a half-century of blood, sweat and cheers gone. MATTA, Tony Reprinted with permission from my Pre-1980 memory! Brightbill would win two more, finishing with 135, and Chamberlain one more, finishing with 92. 30 This was win no. Promoters brought the finest racecar drivers in the nation to the Reading area. Tommy Hinnershitzhad wins at the track early in his career. OSBORNE, Lee I currently live in Virginia where I work for the US Army performing stress analysis, vibration and structural tests on Army Aviation platforms and structures. 2014 Reading Fairgrounds Racing Historical Society Elected Officials went down for some of those famous french fries to the right of the 5 Whats that you ask? 715 also. Billy Osmun 2 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. DRIVER 7 When I opened it, it asked me whether I wanted to transfer software from another source, which I did; I transferred everything . This had nothing to do with the quality of the racing! mentioned this to his Dad who ignored the question so I told him that it was a small block Thanks to Concepts II Video Productionsthey did a great job with this. CHAMBERLAIN, Gerald Peoria Old Timers Racing Club (P.O.R.C.) ADAM, Freddy 41 Today, as a trackchaser, I commonly get up at some very early hours. 1 9/10/76 The ultimate irony, of course, is that it wasnt the last race. 1 BUTLER, Gary Where we work. 8 16 9/3/67 REIFINGER, Hal exciting. Buzzie now Held at Pioneer Pole Buildings on Route 183 in Schuylkill Haven, Reading Fairgrounds Historical Society hosted a three-day event to honor and remember the drivers and cars that ran at the. CHARLES, Harry 9/17/78 2 TOBIAS, Ronnie Did you know David was at the Reading Fairgrounds with his dad ? 5 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. 1 The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. It was a local driver named Tommy Hinnershitz that caused its beginning. 2 1 interrupt until the Fike sprinter fired up and the sound was music to my ears. 3 1 When the structure gave way, in 1979, to a multi-million dollar shopping mall, it was only memories that remained. 6 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. 3 5 I went back to my favorite tracks like Ascot, Rockford, Manzanita and Santa Fe among others time and again. HALDEMAN, Ed 4/5/64 1 Hundreds of photos of drivers and their car. Below: 1966 photo showing Mario Andretti # 9 dueling with Lone Star JR Johnny Rutherford. 8/9/68 * By using this form you agree with the storage and handling of your data by this website. 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. After having gotten a terrible nights sleep getting up at 3 a.m. my time was terrible. TROUT, Bob It wasnt until 1949, though, that the Fairgrounds started to gain a characteristic of its own. 3 No matter who We welcome your suggestions for articles for the GoReadingBerks website. FOREWORD It was a local driver named Tommy Hinnershitz that caused its beginning. I became interested in the history of Reading through the many stories my grandfather used to tell me. Reading Fairgrounds Speedway(19241979) was a one half mile dirt/clay modified race track located inMuhlenburg Township,Berks County,Pennsylvania. Stan Ploski 6/25/78 3 READING FAIRGROUNDS MODIFIED Memories Yearbook 1980-History of modified stock. Donnie Varner If you have any photos from back in the day, send them to me at. Ron Tobias DETWEILER, Ralph Donny and I also raced, but the smaller version go 3 Jackie Evans Thumbnails Roll View In the summer of 1915 work began on converting several fields under tillage into exposition grounds, complete with buildings and a race track, and to expand the Fairgrounds from a 25 acre spread to one almost three times that size. Through turns 1-2 they 4 Am now a Tony Raines, 65 Drivers Health? 4 1 2 8 6/22/75 8/30/63 ELY, George Starting with Tommy Hinnershitz in the sprints, the tradition carried over to the flatheads and then the modifieds. 3 6 Randys Complete Track List 7 We raced with Michael Andretti when he was a kid at an 7 Bill Williams Who can forget the DRIVER The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Reading was the first track that I visited to see the USAC sprint cars run - actually, it Since 1911 the covered grandstand saw many generations pass and echoed the names of many champions. Editors note: This is a CLASSIC Trackchaser Report. 4 8 The purpose of the earliest fairs in Berks County was to bring farm goods to city dwellers. Thanks for the memories. http://www.readingfairgroundsracing.com/, Back If youve got a question, comment or whatever please leave it at the bottom of this report. 11 This was win no. 224 pp. READINGER, Dan Photographer:Joe Simpkins - Provided by:Bobby My Reading Fairgrounds Photo Collection from 1968 to 1979!! I was a Reading race fan from 1972-1975. in 73 my brother and I did Remember, this was only the 46, Reading Fairgrounds Speedway, the Home of Champions, Below: Reading Fairgrounds located in Muhlenburg Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania, Since 1911 the covered grandstand saw many generations pass and echoed the names of many champions. 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. STEIF, Billy 13 I had heard tales of the packed houses Reading got, and this night Reading Fairgrounds Racing Historical Society and members Mike Shaub, Ken Johnson, Alan 1 3 www.goreadingberks.com website, including a video capturing racing 2 This was during our first time to live in California from 1975-1979. Well, one day my dad 1 you hear them all the way up in Allentown. 4 Today where the racetrack once stood is theFairgrounds Square Mall, which opened in 1980 and closed in 2018. Vince Conrad They built a Horse Race Track and grandstands which were opened to the public in 1916. Dave Kelly won six of those 12 races, including what became known as Grand Finale II on June 29, 1979. The first auto racing stunts as a part of the Fair were presented in 1924. Thematically, it centres on the consequences of totalitarianism, mass surveillance and repressive regimentation of people and behaviours . SWINEHART, Ray We usually had 7 a.m. eastern time breakfast meetings. BUSS, Del 16 KEPPLEY, Jim 13 3 In 1932, three shows were held. All of that, however, was a mere epilogue, like a wave in the distance. 10 I am indebted to several of these folks for their help and friendship. 11 10 This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. waves as they near the finish and at the line it 11 We usually had 7 a.m. eastern time breakfast meetings. 10 COLLINS, Kevin 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. 6 McLAUGHLIN, Jackie One story I do remember well, was the fact that I had to sit in the grandstand. CAPIE, Tom Once you begin researching my trip itineraries from my website, yes you will want to do that, you will be surprised. It was also through the modified cars that Reading innovated car rules and regulations, safety features, track preparations, and more efficient race procedures. 9/9/66 Red Coffin JOHNSON, Bob I didnt begin producing my YouTube videos until 2009 (YouTube channel: RANLAY). I hope you enjoy it. Your guess is as good as mine! 1 RAFTER, Bill It features the Reading Fairgrounds when it was a race track. He brought in the flatheads to compete every Wednesday night. 1 1 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. KREITZ JR, Don 2 2 FRENCH, Ralph 5/6/66 My best guess on the timing would have been 1976-1978. Racechasing was good enough for me. 2 Ronnie Tobias Eddie Pratt 714 27 8/6/71 At the Reading Fairgrounds, we seldom missed a week of attending. 6 KESSLER, Randy 6 29 ago) and myself were part of the faithful who attended any types of Home; About. Learn how your comment data is processed. 2 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. I went back to my favorite tracks like Ascot, Rockford, Manzanita and Santa Fe among others time and again. It wasn't until 1915 that the Fair was held at it's most remembered location in Muhlenberg Township. 17 1 TAYLOR, Lee The first auto racing stunts as a part of the Fair were presented in 1924. I am indebted to several of these folks for their help and friendship. 1 5 HUBBARD, Johnny The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Women were I trackchase. 4 When you receive one of my Trackchaser Reports or find one on my website atwww.randylewis.orgI hope you will take the time to imagine in your mind what it took to make this trip from SoCal and understand the fun I had doing it. lives in Zephyrhills,Fl and loves to talk about the good old days. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. 1 There was the aroma of french fries and the roar of the modifieds mingling with the dust in the night air and the deep-throated howl from the stands. Source: www.goreadingberks.com SADLER, Blaine POTTS, Lauden Most of the racetracks in the U.S. are located well over 1,000 miles from where I live. 4 Again, in the end of the 1962 season, another trial modified event was held. I had never given much thought to being a trackchaser. 5 7/10/64 VOLZ, Tony Send post to email address, comma separated for multiple emails. feature event started and the crowd was starting to build into a Carl Van Horn Randy Lewis One big contribution to the fairs success was the accessibility of transportation accommodations. SLEIGHT, George RVI had a customer service operation in Ft. Washington, Pennsylvania. As a fan of the racetrack I now live in Florida and go to Volusia Tried to explain the difference but gave up when Dad told the lad to go get something to Do they share their experiences? 17 2 A minor bit of sfuffing to extremes, but overall, a much nicer copy than usually encountered. GramaFan, not related but his methodical way of moving thru the pack and his quiet 1 The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". I get the chance to meet people from all over the world. GEORGE, Del Or you can visit me on Facebook. The track opened September 24, 1924 and ran until June 29, 1979. WILLIAMS, Bill track was Chamberlain in the #76 Mustang (was it) and Brightbill in 46 TOBIAS, Ron 133, 42 more than the guy in second place in career wins and in that grand finale, Gerry Chamberlain. SLADE, Ron 4 4 Reading racetrack he said he loved the 3 min. not miss a race. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. GRANDSTAND MEMORIES READING FAIRGROUNDS - YouTube A look Back at the Reading Fairgrounds Grandstand A look Back at the Reading Fairgrounds Grandstand AboutPressCopyrightContact. 1 They dont. 4 An amazing life's work. 6/28/68 The 80 acres of motor sports memories was being converted into a shopping mall. 18 5 2 Racechasing was good enough for me. Jimmy Horton 5/26/68 10/25/75 Via Tert.am The memories of Armenian Genocide survivors will play a crucial role in achieving the fair solution of the Armenian cause, ethnographer Vergine Svazlyan finds. Open Document. 1 Serving folks since 2002. ALLEN, Jerre STUMPF, Don These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. 6 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. RFRHS: A great variety of amusements to appeal to the taste of everyone who came through the gate was provided. SUMMARY 1 3 2 12 With trackchasing trips to 85 countries and counting just getting the chance to experience so many unique cultures, spend time in the homes of my friends and meet so many people is a huge reward for being in this hobby.
