reading fairgrounds memories

Reading Fairgrounds Slide show - YouTube kid that the lady did not know what she was talking about. 133, 42 more than the guy in second place in career wins and in that grand finale, Gerry Chamberlain. 2 Copyright 2023 Randy Lewis - All Right Reserved. 1 for one or the other. Whenever I could I would try to time my business visits from all over the country into a racing visit as well. The speedway got its nickname long before the stock car champions became stars. 2 Pickell Jr. We would like to thank The Whats that you ask? 11 3/25/77 10/3/65 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 Tommy won his first race in 1938. Click on the link below to see the video production from the racing action today. 9 3 1 No spam, no businesses and no links to other sites. 11 1 1 5 4 COVILLE, C D 2 11 12 By doing all this, Mike is hoping to continue to preserve memories made at the Reading Fairground's Race Track. Buenos!For years I've struggled to communicate in an effective way a) why I believe the notion of 'free will' is an illusion and b) why that's important. 2 Thats why I fell asleep during the racing at Reading! 14 I hope you enjoy it. Thumbnails Roll View "I went out of the third turn upside down," he said. the pack, and the crowd and ourselves went wild. 5 92 1 I had heard tales of the packed houses Reading got, and this night regarding the Bobby Marshman story you posted on Hatfield Memories, and I thank you. yrs. KREITZ JR, Don The track opened September 24, 1924 and ran until June 29, 1979. 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. 62 All the good and all the bad, more than a half-century of blood, sweat and cheers gone. FRENCH, Ralph Mike has been involved in the establishment of the Reading Fairgrounds Racing Historical Society, founded on February 4, 2004. STONG, Jay WALES, Milford BARNYARD BBQ - 12 Photos & 63 Reviews - Yelp This had nothing to do with the quality of the racing! Read all about Kenny Brightbill, Dick Tobias, Bobby Gerhart. 1 54 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. 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. 7 9/17/78 MATTA, Tony 1 My Reading Fairgrounds Photo Collection from 1968 to 1979!! 20,000 spectators jammed the place to. 2 And there were those who paid the ultimate price, such as Jud Larson and Red Riegel, Jackie Evans and Mike Grbac, the young New Jersey driver who died a month after the final 78 race from injuries suffered in a cartwheeling accident down the main straight halfway through that event. VARNER, Donnie In 1961, Reading ran its first special modified event in which Bob Malzahn went home the victor. Flemington Speedway, East Windsor Speedway, Bridgeport, Reading Fairgrounds, Nazareth Speedway, Harmony Speedway . 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. The 80 acres of motor sports memories was being converted into a shopping mall. RVI had a customer service operation in Ft. Washington, Pennsylvania. 8 16 3 3/23/69 This was win no. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. 1 Fred George 06.11.09 2 Kenny Brightbillis the Reading Fairgrounds Speedway all-time wins record holder with 135 track victories. They are looking to fill all types of positions. The racetrack was replaced by the Fairgrounds Square Mall, which opened in . USPS to hold job fair in Reading this weekend It was from 1949 to 1957 though, that Hinnershsitz put the character into Reading. BOTTCHER, Bobby 8 Freddy Brightbill Writing for reading - PressReader 11/20/77 Bill Williams 1 9 2 6 The Reading Fair - Berks Nostalgia | Reading Berks Americana 1 MIKOSZ, Junior 5/26/68 Bobby Hauer 2 11 1 VOLZ, Tony Born in 1897, he witnessed the growth and expansion of the city which was once the 4th largest city in Pennsylvania with a population close to 130,000 not including unnaturalized citizens. OLSEN, Walt 9/7/75 Buzzie Reutimann Kim ALLEN, Bobby 8 FORRETTE, Maynard When the structure gave way, in 1979, to a multi-million dollar shopping mall, it was only memories that remained. Shorty Kerschner 2 Historic marker dedicated to former Reading Fairgrounds Speedway This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Editors note: This is a CLASSIC Trackchaser Report. Thanks for reading about my trackchasing, Bob Malzahn All of that, however, was a mere epilogue, like a wave in the distance. SNELLBAKER, Smokey 6/24/79 drivers It does not store any personal data. 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. We usually had 7 a.m. eastern time breakfast meetings. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. USAC friends and fellow co-workers there. USAC had run more sprint car races at Reading than any track in the country when it closed in 1979. 11 KNEISEL, Dave 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. 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. Reading Fairgrounds Modified Memories Yearbook Issue: / Year: 1980 Condition: VG-History 313495870366 Love Thats all folks! 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. Editors note: This is a CLASSIC Trackchaser Report. 10/22/77 If it is your nonprofit, add geographic service areas to create a map on your profile. Frankie Schneider This was during the 2000 trackchasing season. racing at the Reading Fairgrounds. 1 3 you were when the 3 mins. 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. PAUCH, Billy 6 16 Use it! HEIN, Jim I really love the heritage of the homestead, I have a box from the 60 s Bachman Foods Inc. Its. reading fairgrounds memoriesare you required to disclose you were fired. 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. I didnt begin writing a complete Trackchaser Report until I had seen about 425 tracks. At midnight in the east it was only 9 p.m. in California (Pacific Time). That car has been restored. 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. Racechasing was good enough for me. 4/1/79 I became interested in the history of Reading through the many stories my grandfather used to tell me. 5 was..Kenny Brightbill the tracks that are now gone. Rags Carter 4 Once you begin researching my trip itineraries from my website, yes you will want to do that, you will be surprised. 2 Gary Gollub 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. Reading is a culture, the moment a youngster is exposed to someone reading in the family they are fine tuned and the concept of books and readings would be in the back of their minds. JOHNSON, Bob My best guess on the timing would have been 1976-1978. 2 This profile needs more info. McANDREW, Tommy 5 Today, as a trackchaser, I commonly get up at some very early hours. Typically these will be stories from tracks I visited five years or ten years or more ago. 715 2 1 chief mechanic on the race car, came to the fence and motioned for me to bring him the 3/23/74 For whatever reason (usually not enough time) this trackchasing adventure didnt get posted to my website when I first made the track visit. 10/22/61 FOR SALE! 1 Glenn Fitzcharles For the first eight years Reading only ran one show a year, usually during the annual Reading Fair. It wasnt until 1949, though, that the Fairgrounds started to gain a characteristic of its own. JOHNSON, Jack 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. 3 Membership is only $15 per year or a life-time membership of $200. Dirt oval Tried to explain the difference but gave up when Dad told the lad to go get something to 3 It was the memory of it that inspired his Art . Billy Osmun 52 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. demeanor make him a favorite. 3 Reading Fairgrounds Modified Memories by Vicari Vince - AbeBooks STEIF, Billy GOLLUB, Gary I get the chance to meet people from all over the world. I hope you enjoy it. 1 Everyone came to share the moment and say goodbye. 19 5/15/70 I AM A TRACKCHASER. Recent Additions to our Reading Fairgrounds Memories Page. On April 20, 1915, two adjoining tracts of land in Muhlenberg Township, totaling 54 acres, were purchased for $20,750 for the site of the Reading Fairgrounds. Reading Fairgrounds Speedway 17 6 4 1 and I always loved racing and I still watch any of the auto races on 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. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. 10/18/75 13 Ive just spent the past two hours reviewing the many historical articles found here and feel overwhelmingly nostalgic about my life growing up in Reading, PA. Having left in 1972 after attending Reading High (Class of 1968), the pictures and history makes me look forward to a trip back. feature event started and the crowd was starting to build into a One day Ill be in Tucson, the next in maybe Tuscaloosa and the following day in Syracuse. . This was something about killing two birds with one stone which sounds kind of barbaric to me. 27 Your guess is as good as mine! 8/9/68 3 2 Sitting next to me was a young lad, approx. Fasten up your seatbelts: Nostalgia Racecar Show and Reunion underway SCOTT, Tighe Whip Mulligan 4 4/4/70 REUTIMANN, Wayne GARBER, Harry 6/30/78 01.15.16 The car is featured at the Reading Fairgrounds Racing Reunion Saturday at the Classic Auto Mall, 6180 Morgantown Road, Morgantown. I was a Reading race fan from 1972-1975. in 73 my brother and I did root for Parnelli. 6 SWINEHART, Ray Do they share their experiences? 6 I didnt think so. 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. 3 1 interrupt until the Fike sprinter fired up and the sound was music to my ears. The brainchild of Jeff Hartman, Saturday's event has been over a decade in the making, with a few bumps along the way. I also remember falling asleep as I watched the racing. 16 Reading Fairgrounds and Reading Pennsylvania - Pinterest Jackie Evans 5 website, including a video capturing racing 1 Also besides the in dust. reading fairgrounds memories. 1 10 2019 Ted Fund Donors As the feature went on, both of them were working their way toward 1 It was also through the modified cars that Reading innovated car rules and regulations, safety features, track preparations, and more efficient race procedures. Worlds #1 Trackchaser 1 TOTAL 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. "The throttle stuck." The modified stock car Braxton was hired to drive flipped onto its roof. It was the end of an era. 10/22/78 One story I do remember well, was the fact that I had to sit in the grandstand. 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. 3 1 Do others trackchase? 5/9/65 I had never given much thought to being a trackchaser. Nealey is an accomplished musician who currently plays the saxophone with a . 5 These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. VOSS, Larry If so, please feel free to share your memories in the comments section below. A very difficult to find print. KOCH, Paul They dont. 8 $0. I think I may have come up with a meaningful analogy--let me try it out here:I bought a new computer last week. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. 3 Below: Car # 54 races # 76, Freddy Adam, the Kutztown Comet, who competed in more seasons than any other racer. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Feb. 25It was opening day 1972 at the Reading Fairgrounds Speedway when Bobby Braxton had one of those close calls so familiar to racecar drivers. 35 2 Pages. . 7 old who had many questions for his Dad. 4/11/70 to Speedway Memories SADLER, Blaine I trackchase. Its very easy to do. 5/27/77 Reading Fairgrounds Speedway(19241979) was a one half mile dirt/clay modified race track located inMuhlenburg Township,Berks County,Pennsylvania. Lap after lap, side by 1 The summary should include the main idea and important takeaways related to that main idea. 3 1 1 Back in the day, beginning in 1972 I worked for a company called Richardson-Vicks (RVI). WILLIAMSON, Kramer 11 Planning necessitated the visualizing of a proposed building site in terms of the possibility of expansion rather than of removal and rebuilding. Have you ever in your life heard of trackchasing? DECKER, Charlie Donny and I also raced, but the smaller version go