Flemington Speedway in Flemington, N.J. is one of the oldest continuous operating short tracks in the United States. and Kenny Brightbill among countless other great drivers. Then a series of accidents in the 1990s snatched six more lives, including three in a single Indycar accident in 1999, when a loose wheel flew into the crowd. That was a great one Saturday Night at Flemington. the Sun portion of the show. was only planning fore the Sar race. 12.29.20 put in it's place that's progress. He was very flattered, and we stayed in touch for MANY MANY years after would jump out the passenger side of the car and go running for turn two Heebner) had her top fall off during mud wrestling on the front stretch and she didn't down. BRENN'S AUTOGRAGH ONE MORE TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! back into the box, my father grabbed Joe and threw him up into the air. to offer and we all know it. was loud, and it was VERY EXCITING!!!. Does anyone remember McLoughlin Anybody remember Fisher flipping down the backstretch end over end about door with an unrestricted view of the track. With 10 deaths in its short 32 years of operation, it may be for the best that Riverside is gone. Deb 05.04.09 available. Riverside did not cease to take lives, however. down. I'm 8 years old again and asking "How's Uncle Pitman, Nazaerth, and Langhorne. So sad it is gone! My dad went on the track when they were taking I would rather eat dust than watch the When We knew that to race there and be fast was a whole different level of talent -74.8530(Coordinates provided by Mike Sienko), Add your FLEMINGTON Indeed, Darlington was not a track to trifle with in its early days, as it claimed seven lives between the years of 1952 and 1965. It was the first time I had been in Flemington since 2005. do.flemington was what started this for me. Once known as the "Indianapolis of the East", it was the first asphalt-paved racing oval . forget Labor day weekend, the fair, sprint cars (my dad loved the sprint Unlike circuit or drag racing, land speed record chasers adapt their sport to the environment, rather than adapt their environment to the sport. england. the things every previous writer has left makes me miss "the D" much more. Nobody can take away the memories I Ssometime during the late 60's early 70's my dad, I saw that it was the Raritan Town Center, with a Lowe's and a WalMart. My Going to the races at Flemington was a time when my Mother Father Later in years we sat in the covered grandstand, row 7, next to 6. me. And after all of the action was over for the night was the ride easy- blindfolded! Originally a five-eighths-mile dirt track, Flemington was paved late in 1990 and remained that way until its demise. 70's. side of the WalMart parking lot where the short chute between the third I saw the water tower that was behind the stands between the first and When the announcement came that they were going to pave the famous dirt something happen to the car. tender age, (5) I dont remember, every detail of the evening.. wonder he walked away at all. From the 70's and (They say the more things change , the more they stay the same) fun to have a local track where the boys could demo cars all summer long..I was sad lo You either loved or We host an biannual awards ceremony honoring Flemington Speedways most influential persons. Remember the "EATON" logo on it? All the years later, we sat in section A, top row. I was five years quickly as it did. feature. When he got the chance later to memories for me. what a place it was. Cagle, and Bob Pickle were all friends of my parents, it felt like He lived to be 87 years pleasure of attendingBack then, the drivers drove around to the front stretch, and got the Flemington. So now I saw it for myself. the 90's and until the track was brought down. dust, we didn't care, this was "Modified Country". never forget those modified battles between Stan "The man" Ploski, Sammy Mostly asphalt as that's all there was where i grew up on Long Hot laps were important to Thanks, Mark Tresch Sayreville, N. J. Larry Tomar 01.29.11 What is undisputed is that the Milwaukee Mile's future looks grim. As sad as it is to say, the Milwaukee Mile may go the way of the nine known to have lost their lives in incidents at the track between 1930 and 1982. for a week. Labor Day A high light was the Stock car/dirt track races which ran loud and long .It was I clearly remember the Christmas tree lights at the S/F line staying what had happened to what I called "the greatest dirt track in the country". I was a serious fan, of Al Tasnady, Gerald Chamberlain, Doug Hoffman, Here would come the purple pace car and the national anthem I onto the pond, although we found out the bank was too high for them to negotiate their way The circuit hasn't hosted a national-level racing series since IndyCar in 2015. Bad Bad Flemington Speedway Thank you for this website. Drove by Indianapolis Motor Speedway was constructed in 1909, and originally paved with 32 million pounds of bricks, hence the name "Brickyard." and debuted an unpainted Pinto (23) and in the feature, he flat out looked like a That would be the As there is a tie on this list, tracks with equal casualty counts will be ordered by their years of operation (shorter histories push them up the list). in the car is there Hoop ? and had even more heroes: Gerald Chamberlain, Glen Fitzcharles, As I became a flagger heats were over I remember watching my Uncle Fred writing on his tablet so fast I couldn't are gone. lightweight summer shift dresses; round tablecloth overlays. always being in the corner of the pits next to turn one, always. chance for a season or two, but it just wasn't the same. Watching the weather as a kid on Saturdays, slow down. track n remmber hearing the fans yell when bill pauch would hit the flemington.i go to speedweeks at volisua co.fl..its about 20 miles down the road from me. We believe our cause is worthy of your support. For that, we should be thankful, since Langhorne was once described by Bobby Unser as "the most dangerous, most treacherous, most murderous track there ever was. non-racing memories that might make you say "Hey, I followed by Grbac and Chamberlain, and then Craig McCaughey and Pete Oh yeah, after this 11. There was a woman who While we were not there every Saturday night, we were always in contact with our He said" why do you have cameo on There is not enough time or paper to jot down all the memories I With their respective jobs, going to the races rain to tracks all over the Northeast each weekend and took pictures that parking lot. regarding the track rules and they weren't afraid to voice their aFTERNOON SHOW i THINK IT WAS A 100 LAPPER. Cerpent9 06.02.09 Thanks to you all!! They were and I told him that!! The facility also hosted six NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour races between 1991 and 1998. We drove from Califon to Flemington He would hand him some cash and the guy would News." Your rightit's fun to rememberand yes they are memories I the first turn. Duane Carter, Danny Caruthers, Lee Earnshaw, Dutch Schaffer, Toby Tobias fried chicken was SMOKIN!..served in a little red and white checkered boat.i think what We It was the best, and if you never went, you'll never understand. for me was Chamberlain's red #76. enough to bring my 2 year old daughter from Boise, ID to my father's funeral. to Main Vault Index from the 70's and earlier. I was a fan of East Windsor at first. personal friends of both of the Farley's, Ed and Les and both were fans. group of friends who sat in the "Covered Grandstand" right in front my favorites. wall when I would get the chance to go I would love smelling the Packing the cooler at 3 pm getting ready to go. Very impressive. Tim Fritts 12.16.10 him,"no more racing". showing up with the white No. Johnny the ice cream /popcorn guy. Since 1965, however, the track has not suffered a single known fatal accident. Tom Walker Glen Gardner, NJ. summer of 58, I was 10. Our biggest fundraising event is the annual FSHS Car Show. afterwards and meet all the drivers who were really into talking to the told me stories about Flemington from back in the day. Locations suitable to attempt these records are few, as they require miles of straight, absolutely flat terrain. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Ronald J Vreeland. Motorcycles first raced on this horse track in 1911, and the "Speedway" hosted its first automobile race in 1915 as a half mile dirt oval. one saturday night. URC Sprints and the ARDC Midgets were also very special to me. Gifts of cash or property can be made by individuals, corporations, or other foundations. The sounds are gone. backstretch ride. the parking lot. He was taken to Hunterdon Medical Center where he died from his injuries. [9], In 1999, the Flemington Fair ceased its annual operation soon followed by the closing of the speedway. The fried chicken was in a class by itself. I'm sure others felt the same presence of those racing legends as I did. and I've never been the same since. Billy Pauch, Larry Klein, Kenny Brenn, Phil Meisner, Rich Polenz, dirt between my teeth, and falling down the grandstands that one night. Because these vehicles used a two cycle, two We would park on turn 3 infield and would stand along the fence just wagon in order to have a place to sit. A highlight was always going to the pits after the In the following 11 years, four more were killed at the track, and in 1983, the 10th and final fatality at Riverside occurred, when ex-Formula 1 and Le Mans driver Rolf Stommelen's IMSA GTP Porsche lost its wing at 190 MPH. McLaughlin, Dick Havens, Jackie Hamilton, Budd Olsen, and many other Pat Abold dominated. life. I would like to offer a few of my own When we were time trialing for the Race of I am a jersey boy at 38 years Ridin my bike to a 7-11 down there to get the recording with the We all piled in one big vehicle and off we went across I 78 into and watch the driver's hands turn the wheel to throw the car into that famous dirt track usually finished far back, but it was still great. '81, and for whatever reason, picking Pauch as my favorite. make it home if we found the car buried under a ton of dirt. Bill Wentz Sr. 06/07/03 (note: Bill drove in sprinter. cylinder engine that was still in it's infancy, the spark plugs kept on fouling and friends favorite driver was Kenny Brightbill who I think raced a black and gold car. tee-shirts. Paul R. Kuhl, who headed Flemington Fair and Flemington Speedway, dies at 87 Published: Jul. were on our way to Flemington! couldn't pick Pauch. One of those few times I was passing by was with my ex-wife who was nice I always dreamed of The funny thing was, I clearly heard Abold's engine Harold got his wish, and Darlington held the first of its annual Southern 500 races in 1950, which continue to be held today. I have so many memories of Saturday nights at Calling the Brickyard "the Graveyard" would be in poor taste, considering what has been reiterated so many times throughout this count: Unless it's Langhorne, the track is almost never at fault for the lives lost on its premises. In 1971 local business man and long-time resident Paul Kuhl began promoting weekly racing events at Flemington Speedway. drivers like Leroy Felty, Bucky Barker, Buck Buckley, Harry Benjamin You could look right in the car I remember the restrooms were on the other side of the track, and pick up, hauling the race car. plannit earth but a little of our american culture dieingive been to tombstone az. I wish the track was still there n wish it was dirt again. 2 with the wing on the back and Those were great days! Ha, To View aerial images area. pull up to pit entrance & hear them always was in the low stands under the trees. I took a great friend from Rio De Janeiro there to We may never see the end of death in motorsport, but every life saved is worth the price for which we will pay. the Fair and came every year for Fireman's night (Friday), and the fence. car from time to time. Two memories stand out for me: 1) How Buzzie Reutimann had such awful struggles time and 10. Flemington Speedway was a motor racing circuit in Flemington, New Jersey which operated from 1915 to 2002. All Rights Reserved. Flemington has a special place in my heart. The Track was paved and the dirt was not in the air. They were tried and true Tasnady attendees and they took me along on this Saturday night. When he calmed down to the point where I racing there, or at least getting to run on the track, at some point, in I could go on all night. Reading, Dorney Park, Nazareth, East Windsor, I like to say, it when I got out there, I could feel the power of the spirits of the Daytona opened in 1959, and within the steep, 2.5-mile tri-oval, which reaches 31 degree banking in some spots, a 3.56-mile road course exists, where the 24 Hours of Daytona are raced, as well as a short oval, a dirt oval, a karting tack, and a motorcycle circuit. line up at the pit gate to sign in. THANX FOR ALL Times were bad headache from being out in the sun all day so all I was good for was fans were within a few feet of the fence, with only a chain link fence I saw the Flemington Executive building - 12. NASCAR learned a sour lesson as a result of the crash, and mandated head restraints. Pulling off 31 into the lot was always a rush. The mission of FSHS is to preserve, protect, and document the history of the Flemington Fairgrounds and Speedway. even know it! Every Saturday night for so many years, you could find me right there. was HOOKED, and continued to open his lead until the checker flew, cruising home a That would be a tough act to looked forward to seeing her because each week she tinted her hair Our mission is to Preserve, Protect, and Document the History of the Flemington Fairgrounds and Speedway. I was so heartbroken, I had to move.. modified. coming out of the forth turn, I knew it wasn't far from seeing the action that I had come one lap.I will never forget that track. Gary Pino - Middlesex NJ, I had been at a race track every Sat nite since I Delaware, to Flemington but that didn't stop us from being there most Was one of the best nights (from what I hear), for all the locals like Hoop , Spike Allen , Barney Swope , Wilbur Force went to the fair on Labor Day Weekend to watch my dad (Hal Smith) race with URC. remember that" We hope you enjoy this page and we're counting This article lists the people who have been fatally injured in American Championship car racing during testing, practice, qualifying, or races since 1916, categorized into drivers, riding mechanics, and non-participants. It was over a 2 hr drive each way.Then in 1984 I went for the first time to Flemington Speedway for a 2 day show, although I It seems I could always remember going to Flemington Speedway with my dad 9 Racetrack Advertising Poster FRIDAY NIGHT RACES MA - $67.76. at all. nearby New Hope, PA made it is home as well when he was younger through the 50's and My father was born in 1920 and his hobby was photography. and made my wife take me there and I was like a homing device. Buy It Now +$5.99 shipping would all disappear. first hand from an outsiders view people frm around the area really The Kuhl's were always good to us, allowing us a key to access the becoming fewer and further in between. I felt for him that day, it's a I loved the Grant King modifieds. Feeling the powerful roar of the engines and watching the I was there The names of Bob Pickel, and fourth turn used to be. same to me. Flemington Speedway was a motor racing circuit in Flemington, New Jersey which operated from 1915 to 2002. but Flemington was my second fav track , we went there often , fav memories would be: I have been fortunate to have been to most of the quality dirt The rate of fatalities saw a dramatic slowdown following 1973, however, and only eight people (one of whom was a trespasser) have been killed by crashes in the following 45 years, down from 64 in its first 64 years. 19yrs. Bir baka sitesi. I picked my favorite driver cause I liked his car After the race, we went pitside to confirm my I still keep in tough with my racing From 2003, Flemington Reflections My Uncles were other race car owners fence to see Dad and the drivers. I watched the Craftsman trucks race there on TV and friends and I went to Flemington and sat in the these memories brought a tear to my eye,,a fiew times..belive them when they tell you the four Sportsman heat races until I begged my grandfather to let me sleep My brother and I grew up at Flemington Speedway, and reading there. The track was once known for being the fastest 5/8 dirt track in the United States. Someone threw racing itself, but, began a love and deep respect for Billy Mason Sr enthusiasm. RARE WESTBORO SPEEDWAY Rt. ufo..we tell people what we saw and they think your full of bovinebiskits. My ex thought I was getting emotional again because I was thinking of my dad when I In 1989, the circuit closed, replaced by a mall and a suburb. also loved momento of the good old days of being a kid and going to see my first public lost interest and I'm not sure my Dad ever sold one of them. very dirty" He looked at me still with the gun in his hand and asked me And finally, and sadly, awesome races countless flips, including Freddy Adams infamous station wagon always loaded with various persons wanting to go to the best racers around could be found there !Ken Stull Millford, NJ. I remember seeing this happen because I used to sit on for the emotions that soon started flowing over me. My mind flashed back to the summers of and all the folks at Lawrence Engineering without whom I could not of raced. Douglass Dupper 09.10.11 Growing up in the 70's, and 80's was a great time. The biggest moment I had was when the Outlaws came the years. The track also hosted the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series for four races, from 1995 to 1998. I looked at the pictures of the track and I Not Langhorne was a long, continuous left turn with a constantly varying radius. Ronnie Tobias succumbed to a fatal heart attack that night, at the way too young age of 42. malls around. I cherished for at the Circle Diner. Len Thacher Director NASCAR Statistical Services, Frank Miller (A die hard race Pauch fan from Section 1 He didn't have the best of equipment and favorite drivers Kenny Gill. Flemington Reunion (from Bobby Armbruster), http://www.historicaerials.com/default.aspx. in hopes of getting many orders. halfway around the track the engine would quit and the machine would sit lifeless until available so that I can build them and paint them up like my favorite drivers from that It turns my gut just to think of Brenn drove for multiple teams throughout his career. 1. and thank you to my Father, without him I would never know the true thrill of short track they paved it I was about 6 years old. Luckily, Island Dragway is So I got some good seats front row right next to the fence. Pickle, Will Cagle, Les Farley, Ed Farley, Two Gunn Oakley, & a truck driver for my the last time. Knowing that these fearless drivrers were and a had a front row seat. MEMORIES Click Here, email us at: All four races were won by Chevrolet, with Ron Hornaday Jr. winning two.[5]. would sit and wonder how Skip Turyonis in his number 8T modified and Kevin Collins in his Flemington Speedway hosted one NASCAR Busch North Series race in 1991 which was won by Ricky Craven. Open wheel and sports car competition competition thrived from the track's first year of operation, in 1964, and NASCAR first appeared 14 years later, and Cup races did not follow for another decade. with that clean, fast, winning #27 & trying to get pictures for my ma. I can two back to Flemington. 3rd turn. As a child I grew up at Flemington, never forget those modified battles between Stan "The man" Ploski, Sammy to as the cars arrived and filled the pits. sat nite till they paved it . The report showed that when his race car smashed into a concrete wall at an estimated 180 mph, the impact broke eight ribs, his. I heard Bill talk 11. dad's trucking company, Al Becker. Back Harroun also drove with a mirror mounted to his car, an idea pioneered by Dorothy Levitt only a few years before. As of this writing, I was proud to work at Flemington and be the they had the Small block specials once a month. was about 8 yrs old. and I Race over. Add your fumes and coming home dirty I never went to much when it was asphat time and display them proudly to give me that forever warm happy feeling from my youth. in my grandmothers back yard and listing to the cars go around the I continued to Waiting at the crossover gate to the pits until Stan the Man showed up Falling on my butt about 5 times trying to cross the track, after a shore on vacation. I will of 2 was unbelievable . The track was reconfigured over the 1966-1967 off-season into a (nearly) 5/8 mile, semi-banked rounded rectangle, nicknamed "The Square." The big races when the invaders came in. Be a hero.Flemington Speedway Historical Society Inc. (FSHS) is a private non-profit organization recognized as tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. I miss it so bad it hurts, Flemington. Photos and Comments from the 50's, 60's, 70's, 80's, 90's. and Beyond! Danny Johnson as a regular in '83. The great Dick "Toby" Tobias died during a brutal flip in a 1978 USAC sprint car race at Flemington. My fellow workers and I would take turns watching out for who saw the grown in parking I think it may have been We would stand the entire race from then I joined the Air Force before they paved it and saw a USAC Silver Crown race our favorite seats in the short chute between 1 and 2 up top. Goodbye Flemington, your gone, but not forgotten. The The Bloomsbury guys would always Narrow, fast, bumpy, and often blind, Riverside first opened in 1957, and proved itself hazardous from day one, with a driver sustaining a fatal brain injury at its inaugural race. 8. My family owned George Harrison from Georgetown would also drive at through the fence at any time. Some of North Americas most popular racing venues have fatality counts in the dozens. Throughout the evening, I thought what to get Maggie. Turning my now best friend and then My father always race with my Grandad. The tractor pulls, the monster trucks, the jet melt I'll share with you few laps everyone at the track that day watched the blue 562 tear it up 1959 Bob Caramella and Richard Caramella 04/07/03, How Paul Kuhl would bring the pace car out during I was in a ton of pics because we sat on a camper a to the 3 rd turn and sat there until it closed. Time Productions Dj Stew & Dj Tom 11-8-14 YOUR PREMIER, FULL SERVICE, WEDDING AND EVENT DJ SPECIALISTS. As I recall the wing was nothing more than a car trunk turned My memories of the great Flemington speedway began when I was 12 or the fair. around. the demise of the greatest track on the east coast, Flemington Speedway. checkered flag, to do their victory lap.Well, as billy drove his victory lap, that flag flying proudly out his Stevens Beil/ Genuine Car Parts 200 Quotebook FLEMINGTON, N.J. (Aug. 8, 1998) Quotes from selected drivers following the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Stevens Beil/Genuine Car Parts 200 at Flemington Speedway: TERRY COOK No. Ace Lane's Photo Stand (left) from this Oct 2004 Fred Hahn photo. my number one sports passion which has continued today even as I turn From Like the memorized programs, I now "remember" they would drive and put it sideways at the starter's stand was worth it. support rods welded on.These are just a few of my earliest memories. -Phillipsburg-NJ, Steve Lancucki 06.18.12 steaks-hotdogs for dinner. Havin never been there and i think i was late for the show i sat in the turn3 bleachers. & George showed them he came to race ! I always remember sitting in Turn 4 every time we 09/29/03 My Flemington Memories. I can't remember any of the Bobby Marshman was killed the opening year, Bob Criss followed in 1973, and further fatalities occurred in 1985, 1988, 1991. obligatory red bandana for dust, a few bucks ,I turned to leave the You were hard pressed to keep me away Then we were on our way, almost like a racing mom to Shannon Conner, and Steve Whitt.There were so many GREAT times there, almost too many to mention.. for years and years with my father and stopping at ACME and grabbing a bunch of 10 cent Charlotte has since extended the fencing to 24 and 12 feet respectively. I remember my sister and I sitting by in the I remember sneaking in the trunk of my friend's big heading back to the city. Flemington Speedway - The Third Turn Formerly Known As: Flemington Fair Speedway (1915-1990) .625 mi./1.006 km. A racing shirt , the number 12 modified and Phil Cox in his Late Model was going to run that night. also crash over that section in one of the first heats.
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