OLSEN, Walt 6 Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. 14 2 By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data. Bobby Braxton My Reading Fairgrounds Photo Collection from 1968 to 1979!! Subscribe to my Newsletter for new posts, tips, photos & more. 1 1 OSMUN, Billy 1 When gasoline took the place of the railroad, the Reading Transit Company brought in fleets of buses from other cities. 4 Brightbill would win two more, finishing with 135, and Chamberlain one more, finishing with 92. 8 I also remember falling asleep as I watched the racing. 3 6/16/74 7 4 Reading Fairgrounds Modified Memories Yearbook Issue: / Year: 1980 Condition: VG-History 313495870366 Drivers flocked from all over the east coast for a share of the pie. 8 7/3/77 The modified cars hosted the tracks biggest success story when, in 1967, Reading went to two nights a week racing, running only a single show, paying up to $15,000 per week by 1970. 7 From time to time I would visit this office. 2 Please join the RFRHS to help preserve the great memories. 4 10/1/71 8/23/63 1 10/3/65 When I got to my hotel it was difficult to get to sleep with the three hour time zone change. 1 Chevy in there - not an Offy like the others ran. Thats why I fell asleep during the racing at Reading! action from the mid 70's: So imagine being at the 27th Muscat International Book Fair - it is a haven for students. 7 asphalt track called Ric Ra in Nazareth, Pa. Mario was always They dont. Hotels..how to buy them at 30-60% off and more.the way I do it. Promoters brought the finest racecar drivers in the nation to the Reading area. We raced on dirt and on asphalt mainly in the tri-state TILLEY, Ray 17 It was a local driver named Tommy Hinnershitz that caused its beginning. 10/17/65 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. Friday nights getting out to the parking lot to find our car coated 2 That October Sunday in 78 made it official. At midnight in the east it was only 9 p.m. in California (Pacific Time). Great fair memories made every year . Nevertheless, this CLASSIC Trackchaser Report has finally bubbled to the surface and is now available for everyone to see atwww.randylewis.org. Typically these will be stories from tracks I visited five years or ten years or more ago. - $156.06. Walt Olsen 21 1 5/6/66 Thanks to Concepts II Video Productionsthey did a great job with this. Welcome to trackchasing's most popular website. 3 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. LAWSHE, Art After that we would relocate to first Connecticut and then Chicago. The Gus Yatron postal facility in Reading is holding a job fair Saturday. 1 Starting with Tommy Hinnershitz in the sprints, the tradition carried over to the flatheads and then the modifieds. BLACKLEY, Johnny ROMER JR, Joe 6 Eddie Pratt 4 Expenses. 5 letter words for wordle beginning with s. reading fairgrounds memories. WIMBLE, Bill 2 SEIDEL, Bob ROHS, Steve Fred George 06.11.09 1 Well, one day my dad The modified cars hosted the tracks biggest success story when, in 1967, Reading went to two nights a week racing, running only a single show, paying up to $15,000 per week by 1970. SWEIGART, Bob FRENCH, Ralph When the gates opened in 1916, there was not only a track, but a card of races extending over three days. 6/17/66 their efforts. REUTIMANN, Wayne 7 Food memories immortalized on canvasand plates 2023-03-02 - REGGIE ASPIRAS MDaryl Feril was trying to recall a dish his grandmother cooked for himit was the memory of it that inspired his Art Fair piece. 3 Again, in the end of the 1962 season, another trial modified event was held. I do remember seeing something at the track that I had never seen before. 3 Frank Sinatra performed at the Fair in 1950. 1 Although I hated eastern time meetings and meetings in general I was tied to the corporate tit. 4 3 15 Its very easy to do. On Oct. 29, 1978, the last race was held on the half-mile oval. Click on the link below to see the video production from the racing action today. All these photos are my personal collectelion and were taken by The Speedways photographers and bought by myself or taken by myself. Managing personal financesor I caught the fever and Medicare wont pay for it, NASCAR My favorite and not so favorite drivers. HEIN, Jim 9 The track closed in 1979 shortly after my visit. Brightbill would win two more, finishing with 135, and Chamberlain one more, finishing with 92. BUT, I did, loud and clear. Often a classic TR will not have a video and/or photo album attached. 22 Consequently Reading lost its local image and the RSCA was no longer the Reading Stock Car Assn., but the Racing Sanctioning Corporation of America. 2 6 LAST WIN Today where the racetrack once stood is theFairgrounds Square Mall, which opened in 1980 and closed in 2018. 17 4 I live in southern California. WISMER SR, Kenny 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. 6/27/71 MULLIGAN, Whip Due to red tape that delayed construction, there would be 12 more races in 1979. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. HOLLAND, Eddie 3/24/68 5 The binding is tight. We raced with Michael Andretti when he was a kid at an 11 Thats probably the most inconvenient location in the country for seeing tracks in the U.S. Have you ever in your life heard of trackchasing? 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. pre-war coupes & coaches to the Pintos and other more modern bodies. 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. Im not sure of the year, but the big rivalry on REIFINGER, Hal 1 MOORE, Harry 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. FITZCHARLES, Paul Its simply a Trackchaser Report that comes from my trackchasing archives. Since 1911 the covered grandstand saw many generations pass and echoed the names of many champions. 26 Money? Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Promoters brought the finest racecar drivers in the nation to the Reading area. 7 These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. The lad Do they share their experiences? 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. 17 Ronnie Tobias Europeans faces of Argentina in the twenties: Einwanderungsland Argentinian writers during a discussion in Frankfurt Book Fair Blues: O ARGENTINA! It was henceforth proclaimed throughout the ranks, to win at Reading is beating the best, but it was tough. 4 He brought in the flatheads to compete every Wednesday night. eat. 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. 7/22/75 website, including a video capturing racing Figuring out the logistics of a trip like that is as much fun for me as watching a figure 8 race. Stan Ploski 133, 42 more than the guy in second place in career wins and in that grand finale, Gerry Chamberlain. 2 Your guess is as good as mine! Speedway Park. For whatever reason (usually not enough time) this trackchasing adventure didnt get posted to my website when I first made the track visit. Once you begin researching my trip itineraries from my website, yes you will want to do that, you will be surprised. In 1922, after six years of planning, a stage complete with a theatrical unit, including dressing rooms, lounges, etc., was erected. 5 Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. 4 12 29 My best guess on the timing would have been 1976-1978. PAXTON, Lynn BRIGHTBILL, Kenny CHAMBERLAIN, Gerald 6/24/79 Perfect condition. 8/21/64 2 Dizzie Dean 1 I hope you enjoy it. Kenny Weld 2 If you love Reading Fairgrounds, visit 1 USAC had run more sprint car races at Reading than any track in the country when it closed in 1979. For whatever reason (usually not enough time) this trackchasing adventure didnt get posted to my website when I first made the track visit. 1 My memories of that trip are few. This was something about killing two birds with one stone which sounds kind of barbaric to me. 2 Photo albums were sort of hit or miss during the early years of my trackchasing. I live in southern California. If you have any photos from back in the day, send them to me atRanlay@yahoo.com. Its simply a Trackchaser Report that comes from my trackchasing archives. "The throttle stuck." The modified stock car Braxton was hired to drive flipped onto its roof. 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. 634 Words. 2 SPENCER, Ed COLLIS, Carl The speedway got its nickname long before the stock car champions became stars. Dave Kelly won six of those 12 races, including what became known as Grand Finale II on June 29, 1979. 4 Health? 9/5/75 Reading hosted more USAC sprint car events than any race track in the country. 9 7 [1]It featured a regular weekly series of modified, sportsman modified, and late modelstock carracing. 1 was..Kenny Brightbill 11 MEAHL, Ken Below: Reading Fairgrounds Grandstand. Your guess is as good as mine! We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. 10 In 1965, the United States Auto Club (USAC) ran its first night race and also began scheduling five shows a year. 3 6 2 Reading racetrack he said he loved the 3 min. 7 drag race to the start/finish line. 6 Bobby Gerhart 18 1 http://www.readingfairgroundsracing.com/, Back The Reading Fairgrounds Racing Historical Society, whose membership is dedicated to preserving the memories of the Fairgrounds and speedway, was thankful to see the plaque finally in place,. Back 2 Starting with Tommy Hinnershitz in the sprints, the tradition carried over to the flatheads and then the modifieds. 6/29/79 MATTA, Tony 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. 1 As a racechaser my prime motivation was to go where the best racers and the best racing was happening. 14 2 3 Wide's Picture Vault is Brought to You With the Support of: ..Remembering Our Area's Auto Racing From the Past. 92 READINGER, Dan 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. Facebook Twitter Google+ YouTube. 11/20/77 17 to victory. As I came out of the theater, though, I decided that it would be fun to update a . 2 Pre-1980. What it DID have to do with was the Eastern time zone! 7 You might have remembrances about this track. It wasn't until 1915 that the Fair was held at it's most remembered location in Muhlenberg Township. 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. When you receive one of my Trackchaser Reports or find one on my website at, My memories of that trip are few. CONRAD, Vince 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. 3 8/6/71 BAKER, Jim This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 14 track was Chamberlain in the #76 Mustang (was it) and Brightbill in 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. Tommy won his first race in 1938. 2 8/8/69 Ask wulliebroon about Altmuehltal-Radweg. 2 This was during the 2000 trackchasing season. Membership is only $15 per year or a life-time membership of $200. Dave Kelly won six of those 12 races, including what became known as Grand Finale II on June 29, 1979. 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. The Reading Fairgrounds was considered to be the best weekly racing program in the country. 1 13 1 My memories of that trip are few. 7/10/77 REINERT, Noot 1 2 Thanks for reading about my trackchasing, Will it work now? 1 SHEETZ, Tommy 4 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. When I got to my hotel it was difficult to get to sleep with the three hour time zone change. 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 These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. 6 Kenny Brightbillis the Reading Fairgrounds Speedway all-time wins record holder with 135 track victories. 1 It was also through the modified cars that Reading innovated car rules and regulations, safety features, track preparations, and more efficient race procedures. He brought in the flatheads to compete every Wednesday night. Everyone came to share the moment and say goodbye. 4/3/71 This was during our first time to live in California from 1975-1979. Also a few other Speedway shots from Big Diamond,Penn National,Bridgeport. to Homepage, More interesting info Sorry. One big contribution to the fairs success was the accessibility of transportation accommodations. USAC friends and fellow co-workers there. 1 7/9/78 1 Works Cited. Since that time the site has grown to provide information about historical sites, landmarks, museums, parks, hotels and more. HAVENS, Dick USAC had run more sprint car races at Reading than any track in the country when it closed in 1979. I look forward to seeing more from your website. I remember on those dry summer They dont. 2 1 CRONCE, Howie CARTER, Rags FARLEY, Ed Enter your email address to subscribe to GoReadingBerks and receive notifications of new posts by email. 3 1 McCAUGHEY, Craig Billy Deskovick 2 I trackchase. Editors note: This is a CLASSIC Trackchaser Report. HARRISON, George Since 1911 the covered grandstand saw many generations pass and echoed the names of many champions. 1 6 The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. If you would like to see where Ive been and experience those adventures heres the link: 3 The completed Fairgrounds consisted of exhibition buildings, a racetrack with a grandstand and amusement rides. It was also through the modified cars that Reading innovated car rules and regulations, safety features, track preparations, and more efficient race procedures. 3 11 Eventually with the changing times, the racing transitioned from horse into motor vehicle racing. Remember, this was only the 46thdifferent track I had ever seen. was really wound up and getting louder. 10 COFFIN, Red 2 10/22/61 2 The track opened September 24, 1924 and ran until June 29, 1979. When the series of Fairs was in the making at the Muhlenberg site, racing had become so popular that one of the first items of business was the location and building of a track. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. He was one of several drivers killed at the Fairgrounds over the years. It was a local driver named Tommy Hinnershitz that caused its beginning. Source: www.goreadingberks.com 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. Use it! 5 BROWNING, Hal I do that kind of thing all the time. racing at the Reading Fairgrounds. Since 1911 the covered grandstand saw many generations pass and echoed the names of many champions. 2 1 1 I didnt begin writing a complete Trackchaser Report until I had seen about 425 tracks. 3 9 JOHNSON, Alan 6/24/77 3 10 Absolutely. 1 1 26 6 Of all the things I disliked about business the east coast meetings in the east coast time zones was at the top of the list. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. 3 OCHS, Larry 6/19/64 2 I went back to my favorite tracks like Ascot, Rockford, Manzanita and Santa Fe among others time and again. TAYLOR, Lee 3 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. Brightbill, Chamberlain, 5/20/79 Local business owner A. T. Consoli won four titles with his car # 54 with Dick Tobias and Bobby Gerhart as drivers. 1 3/23/74 2 5 KELLY, Mike 1 41 1 1 We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. MOORE, Mose 6 They built a Horse Race Track and grandstands which were opened to the public in 1916. 8/21/77 SCHOFFSTALL, Dave Thanks again, Peggy Snyder at plsnyder@ptd.net - welcome all emails and/or 26 4 Automobile racing at the fairgrounds was introduced on September 20, 1924 at the annual Reading Fair, dating back to the middle of the 19th century. by a coat of paint on his bumper. SCOTT, Tighe (BILL UHRICH - READING EAGLE) The organization was founded.