4 kid that the lady did not know what she was talking about. 1 13 133, 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. READING FAIRGROUNDS MODIFIED Memories Yearbook 1980-History of modified stock. 9 Reading Fairgrounds Speedway Resurrection 2013 1 SLEIGHT, George Since that time the site has grown to provide information about historical sites, landmarks, museums, parks, hotels and more. 1 Reading Fairgrounds Racing Historical Society - GuideStar Profile 1 Hall of Fame Member 2 The 80 acres of motor sports memories was being converted into a shopping mall. 10 If you want to see the true essence of trackchasing youve come to the right place. In 1999 construction began at the present-day Fairgrounds on 60 acres in Bern Township off County Welfare Road. reading fairgrounds memories COX, Dan Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. I didnt give any thought to recording the dates when I visited those 71 tracks. 8/28/64 01.15.16 Speedway Park. Sometimes overshadowed by his highly successful racing promotions, Lindy also rebuilt the Farmers Market, honored the community s farm family and FFA children, attracted top entertainers and conducted a class-A slate fair with a full carnival and agricultural and horticultural midway. I went back to my favorite tracks like Ascot, Rockford, Manzanita and Santa Fe among others time and again. SCHOFFSTALL, Dave The brainchild of Jeff Hartman, Saturday's event has been over a decade in the making, with a few bumps along the way. 3 Often a classic TR will not have a video and/or photo album attached. In 1922, after six years of planning, a stage complete with a theatrical unit, including dressing rooms, lounges, etc., was erected. BROWNING, Hal Reading racetrack he said he loved the 3 min. Photographic endsheets. 90 27 7 BRACKEY, Bruno Due to the volume of suggestions we receive, we will not be able to fulfill every request, but we will give each submission serious consideration. 10/22/77 Its very easy to do. Donny 1 9/5/75 OPPERMAN, Jan BEAVERS, Sammy All of that, however, was a mere epilogue, like a wave in the distance. 2 If you have any photos from back in the day, send them to me atRanlay@yahoo.com. One day Ill be in Tucson, the next in maybe Tuscaloosa and the following day in Syracuse. 6 "The throttle stuck." The modified stock car Braxton was hired to drive flipped onto its roof. 10/1/71 GRBAC, Mike 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. Below: The Reading Fair, 1937-1940 Eventually with the changing times, the racing transitioned from horse into motor vehicle racing. It will run through Feb. 27. I trackchase. 16 19 Randys Complete Track List CHAMBERLAIN, Gerald Read all about Kenny Brightbill, Dick Tobias, Bobby Gerhart. Have had 2 men email 1 HOLLAND, Eddie It was delightful to see young ones browse through a variety of books. KIRK, Jimmy More than 18,000 people in the stands and more than 100 modified stock cars in the pits gathered in the united belief that dirt-track racing just doesnt get any better than this. 1 KWWeller 03.06.18 Will it work now? With the mall becoming too crowded, the Fair moved to Kutztown while Fair organizers searched for a new site. 10/18/75 KELLY, Mike 3 gold label distribution bud man. was no disappointment. He was one of several drivers killed at the Fairgrounds over the years. 4 All of it had to be done within five months calendar time (the fair was postponed to late October in order to provide an extra month for construction). ADAM, Freddy WELLER, Curt SEROKA, Lenny 9/3/65 I really love the heritage of the homestead, I have a box from the 60 s Bachman Foods Inc. Its. 5 19 Women were 7/22/77 1 The beloved flatheads grew in popularity and stature. Its simply a Trackchaser Report that comes from my trackchasing archives. 7 3 The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". One day Ill be in Tucson, the next in maybe Tuscaloosa and the following day in Syracuse. 1 TIE (1st) Freddy Adam & Jackie Evans 8/13/1967 9 But my job doesnt stop me from sharing my love of the history of the city where I was born and raised and love so very much. 224 pp. 031 60 52 60 Info@enchelab.com. 1 A typical business trip to the customer service center would have me flying into Philadelphia the night before our meeting. by a coat of paint on his bumper. KERSCHNER, Shorty Official end of the RLR Randy Lewis Racing Trackchaser Report Jay Stong History 2 7 4 18 Bobby Gerhart 7/10/64 4 Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. If so, please feel free to share your memories in the comments section below. It was the end of an era. SASSAMAN, Dave Freddy Adam KOZAK, Johnny 10 The Reading Fair & The Reading Fairgrounds - WordPress.com DRIVER USAC had run more sprint car races at Reading than any track in the country when it closed in 1979. 1 Shares547. 8/21/77 7/26/68 1 4 The Heritage of Reading: 1813-1847: Canals, Heavy Industry, and the Railroad, The Seventh and Penn Street Railroad Crossing, Mount Laurel Furnace and Temple Iron Company, History of Holy Guardian Angels, Hyde Park, Independence Island along the Schuylkill River, Reading, PA Outlet Capital of the World, History of the former Bachman Pretzel Company, Organized Crimes Infiltration of The Pizza and Cheese Industry in Pennsylvania, Lancaster Avenue Covered Bridge and Bingaman Street Bridge, Beautiful photographs of Reading's Catholic churches with their altar rails and sanctuaries, Very awesome in history. $14.99. It went like this lap after lap after lap. 12 6 Today where the racetrack once stood is theFairgrounds Square Mall, which opened in 1980 and closed in 2018. 46 Do others trackchase? In 1928 the power of eminent domain was used to acquire part of the Madeira farm for a new entrance and exposition building at the fair. Ver ms de Reading Fairgrounds Speedway Resurrection 2013 en Facebook. 4 Brightbill running the high line and 8 5 HALL, Bob ALLEN, Jerre "I have worked diligently for 50 years, collecting memories from survivors," she told Wednesday a news conference. PLOSKI JR, Stan 2 I didnt begin producing my YouTube videos until 2009 (YouTube channel: RANLAY). 2016 Reading Fairgrounds Motorsports Show - linkedin.com 9 1 Reading fairgrounds from Sept 18th 1966 where Stan Poliski won a 200 lap race Al Quellette 4.7K views 2 years ago 1956-57 California Jalopy Racing. 1 1 HAMILTON, Jackie Wish I would have had eyes in the back of my head when Joe Pittman, the father and There were those USAC sprint shows with Andretti and Unser, Foyt and Pamelli and before them, Tommy Hinnershitz, the kid from Oley, taking on all comers on his home turf. CHARLES, Harry 1 3 65 Drivers 12 feature event started and the crowd was starting to build into a Ten years later they presented their first and only double show with another organization, the RSCA. Below: Lindy Vicari, shown below with pageant winners (unable to he identified), operated the Reading Fairgrounds from 1955 to 1979. We lcome To. 1 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. Vince Conrad Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 7 11 EVANS, Jackie 11 I am indebted to several of these folks for their help and friendship. MEALS, Mike GRANDSTAND MEMORIES READING FAIRGROUNDS - YouTube Buzzie Reutimann Membership is open to all who are interested in keeping the tradition and memory of the races and fair alive for the future. Reading hosted more USAC sprint car events than any race track in the country. Friday nights getting out to the parking lot to find our car coated Reading had a string of yellow lights that ran overhead from the inside edge of the track to the outside edge of the track. I take 35-40 of those trips each season. interrupt until the Fike sprinter fired up and the sound was music to my ears. Did you know David was at the Reading Fairgrounds with his dad ? 18 7 GAHAN, Ernie 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. USAC had run more sprint car races at Reading than any track in the country when it closed in 1979. McLAUGHLIN, Jackie 4/9/77 RVI had a customer service operation in Ft. Washington, Pennsylvania. Dave Marburger Ted's Bio; Fact Sheet; Hoja Informativa Del Ted Fund; Ted Fund Board 2021-22; 2021 Ted Fund Donors; Ted Fund Donors Over the Years. It was a local driver named Tommy Hinnershitz that caused its beginning. 10/22/77 We welcome your suggestions for articles for the GoReadingBerks website. Keep up the good job with these memory pages. not allowed in the USAC pits at that time. 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. It was henceforth proclaimed throughout the ranks, to win at Reading is beating the best, but it was tough. HARWI, Otto This had nothing to do with the quality of the racing! They dont. It does not store any personal data. EPPOLITE, Frank Publisher Racing Sanctioning Corp. of America Publication date January 1, 1978 See all details Inspire a love of reading with Amazon Book Box for Kids The racetrack was replaced by the Fairgrounds Square Mall, which opened in . KEMMERER, Jim 5/18/75 The memories of the writers and poets who haven't forgotten the terrible . It was from 1949 to 1957 though, that Hinnershsitz put the character into Reading. 1 ALLEN, Bobby 6 The 80 acres of motor sports memories was being converted into a shopping mall. Once you begin researching my trip itineraries from my website, yes you will want to do that, you will be surprised. 1 1 1 On Oct. 29, 1978, the last race was held on the half-mile oval. Click here for more information on: 52 6 We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. 1 Smith 08.24.20 GILLETTE, Don Nevertheless, this CLASSIC Trackchaser Report has finally bubbled to the surface and is now available for everyone to see atwww.randylewis.org. 1 HAUER, Bobby The winner of the Grand Finale` - when the Reading Fairgrounds held its final event, in June of 1979, Dave Kelly drove his beautiful Mustang-bodied No. Copyright 2021 GoReadingBerks | All Rights Reserved |. I was living in California at the time. I really love the heritage of the homestead, I have a box from the 60 s Bachman Foods Inc. Its. We had the privilege of below, and then scroll down 3/4's of the page, and you'll be able to start the video: 8 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. A very difficult to find print. Although I hated eastern time meetings and meetings in general I was tied to the corporate tit. 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. Hope you enjoy my "way back when" little tid-bits. Jim Keppley 4/19/63 1 KANTORSKY, Pete 10 Thats trackchasingthe way I do it. Tommy won his first race in 1938. 3 18 It was from 1949 to 1957 though, that Hinnershsitz put the character into Reading. SOLOMON, Larry 1977 Reading Fairgrounds RSCA Modifieds Program Kenny Brightbill. It does not store any personal data. I am a trackchaser. WISMER SR, Kenny just witnessed what dirt track racing and the Reading Fairgrounds $0. We usually had 7 a.m. eastern time breakfast meetings. 8 VOLZ, Tony SHIRE, Charlie Additionally, if you see a website link know that link worked when the TR was originally written. SHAW, Bob www.goreadingberks.com website, including a video capturing racing 1 Drivers such as A. J. Foyt, Roger McCluskey, Jim Hurtubise, Jud Larson, Johnny Rutherford, and Bobby Unser took over after Tommy retired in 1960. Whenever I could I would try to time my business visits from all over the country into a racing visit as well. S sonny fetherman 388 followers More information 246 best images about Reading Fairgrounds and Reading Pennsylvania . RFRHS: 1 from the rest of the field. 8 2 3 11 2 Today, as a trackchaser, I commonly get up at some very early hours. 9/13/69 My memories of that trip are few. I didnt begin producing my YouTube videos until 2009 (YouTube channel: RANLAY). 8/8/69 Europeans faces of Argentina in the twenties: Einwanderungsland Argentinian writers during a discussion in Frankfurt Book Fair Blues: O ARGENTINA! If it is your nonprofit, add geographic service areas to create a map on your profile. 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. 1 6 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. Do they share their experiences? Click on the link below to see the video production from the racing action today. 1 2 Recent Additions to our Reading Fairgrounds Memories Page. Additionally, if you see a website link know that link worked when the TR was originally written. 3 I do remember seeing something at the track that I had never seen before. Now you know a little bit about my trackchasing addiction. 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. Planning necessitated the visualizing of a proposed building site in terms of the possibility of expansion rather than of removal and rebuilding. Reading Fairgrounds Modified Memories Yearbook Issue: / Year: 1980 Condition: VG-History 313495870366 If youve got a question, comment or whatever please leave it at the bottom of this report. Thats probably the most inconvenient location in the country for seeing tracks in the U.S. 8/9/68 TOBIAS, Ronnie FOR SALE! front. main stands, then got back to our seats for the main event. http://www.readingfairgroundsracing.com/, Back 135 1 In order to get to a 7 a.m. breakfast meeting I would need to get up at 6 a.m. eastern time or 3 a.m. California time. On Oct. 29, 1978, the last race was held on the half-mile oval. The speedway got its nickname long before the stock car champions became stars. I live in southern California. 1 5 Thats probably the most inconvenient location in the country for seeing tracks in the U.S. Local business owner A. T. Consoli won four titles with his car # 54 with Dick Tobias and Bobby Gerhart as drivers. 4 BEHRENT, Harry 1 Throughout the 20s and 30s Reading fans saw the likes of all the top Indianapolis 500 sprint car racing stars compete on their hometown half-mile dirt speedway. A minor bit of sfuffing to extremes, but overall, a much nicer copy than usually encountered. Reading Fairgrounds Speedway, the Home of Champions During one of these trips to Ft. Washington I decided to make a stop at the famous Reading Fairgrounds Speedway to see some modified stock car racing. SHARP, Henry Thanks for reading about my trackchasing, 6/29/79 43 7/22/66 The Reading Fairgrounds Racing Historical Society was established in 2004 with the mission to preserve and promote the memories and history of the Reading Fairgrounds Speedway and those who made it "The Home of Champions." The exhibit will run until mid-June 2019. Ask wulliebroon about Altmuehltal-Radweg. Reading had a string of yellow lights that ran overhead from the inside edge of the track to the outside edge of the track. If you have any photos from back in the day, send them to me at. 1 Kenny Brightbill The ultimate irony, of course, is that it wasnt the last race. Brightbill would win two more, finishing with 135, and Chamberlain one more, finishing with 92. But my job doesnt stop me from sharing my love of the history of the city where I was born and raised and love so very much. 7/17/64 Dave Kelly won six of those 12 races, including what became known as Grand Finale II on June 29, 1979. Reading Fairgrounds Speedway - Randy Lewis 5 6/4/65 to Reading provided me with the closest, most exciting race I had SCHELL, Tim 9 6/17/66 We raced with Michael Andretti when he was a kid at an Berks County racing fans, drivers keep memories alive at Reading JOHNSON, Alan 2 VAN KIRK, Billy 2 2 When gasoline took the place of the railroad, the Reading Transit Company brought in fleets of buses from other cities. 28 3 8/21/64 1 4/26/74 19 Reading Fairgrounds Modified Stars Photos 4x6 Glossy Brightbill,Chamb 1975 Reading Fairgrounds Program Gerald Chamberlain Dick Tobias Reading Fairgrounds Modified Memories Book 1975-76 Syracuse Fairgrounds Schaefer 100 Super Dirt Week Dirt Modified 1975 Reading Fairgrounds Program Kenny Brightbill Dick Tobias 4 3 READING PA FAIRGROUNDS Modified Memories Dirt Track Kenny Brightbill RSCA - $40.80. 11 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. Reading Fairgrounds and Reading Pennsylvania - Pinterest In 1955, apromoter named Lindy Vicari took over a tract of land and began weekly racing for the first time at the Reading Fairgrounds. Pickell Jr. We would like to thank The STEIF, Billy McANDREW, Tommy The crowd SNELLBAKER, Smokey The Reading Fairgrounds was considered to be the best weekly racing program in the country. 21 What it DID have to do with was the Eastern time zone! Bob Malzahn The Reading Fairgrounds Speedway is one of those long ago vintage tracks affectionately known as the Group of 71.