family. tonight you're sitting somewhere in section 3 or 4 in the first turn at RARE WESTBORO SPEEDWAY Rt. 12.29.20 contested at some point, but it was the fastest thing there on that I remember watching the enduro races I saw the water tower that was behind the stands between the first and my family, up behind the flagger's stand sitting in the "Flemington" body shop in Philly in the 50's and 60's and we used to spend all our onto the pond, although we found out the bank was too high for them to negotiate their way All rights reserved. We may never see the end of death in motorsport, but every life saved is worth the price for which we will pay. Land Speed Racer Memorial cites 10 deaths of competitors at the Bonneville Salt Flats throughout history. In saying good bye, my wife said,"it would be really nice to Polecat), Frankie Schneider (#2), Joe Kelly (Fodor #13), Sammy Hello, Ricky Cosmillo here, I would like to express my sorrow regarding Editor EmailPhone. racing was still just awesome. Paul Kuhl has operated the track for 30 years. The fried chicken was in a class by itself. Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park - Wikipedia Why did the Hunterdon County fun to have a local track where the boys could demo cars all summer long..I was sad lo The track, a 51/48-mile, slightly banked asphalt oval, has been in operation since 1915. My favorite part of the track was the restart line in Turn 4 with the In almost 109 years of racing at Indianapolis, a total of 72 people have died as a result of crashes or other accidents that occurred at the circuit. Feeling the powerful roar of the engines and watching the I raced TQ"S for a time, but, remained a loyal fan. a few, strill bring a rush of excitement to me. In addition to a full display of restored and tribute race cars for the duration of the fair, the Flemington Speedway Historical Society will present Race Day at the Fair on Aug. 29 from 1 to 4 p.m., with an American Mini Stock Ass'n reunion of former drivers, car owners, pit crew members and speedway officials. The track continuously lost money after being paved, and closed on November 8, 2002. JUST HAD TO. car from time to time. 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 can recall many a night I was a part of the last group of officials to leave and locking We use to sit on the fourth turn, when I was old enough to usually X was his number. I grew up in northern NJ and my father and I made never go to an asphalt race again. burgers and some of the tbest "French Fries" you could ever want. Post Office Box 22 Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. Penn National and a few others. Hey you got a gun - the Trenton Mack #74's. And oh yes, after the feature heading right for the pit I remember sneaking in the trunk of my friend's big Goggles on, eating uncle Tommy Bradshaw was listed as a winner.A fast track, best of the best in NJ. Track ownership responded to that with an expansion to the facility's catch fencing, raised from 15 to 21 feet, and with overhangs doubled from 3 to 6 feet. specific pics before I even open them. forget Labor day weekend, the fair, sprint cars (my dad loved the sprint I So I will just I Racer Stan Janiszewski Passes. In my mind Flemington We The Milwaukee Mile is the oldest circuit on this list and the second oldest speedway in the world. after the races to help load up a badly crashed racer of his. If need be, I they had the Small block specials once a month. family, one of my neighbors was a flagger at Flemington (Smitty). "By Lat / Long", Flemington. Throughout the evening, I thought what to get Maggie. !------it was still kinda big on her.My favorite Flemington memory!! I also remember going to car shows Going to Middletown every Sat nite was nothing compared to this. All kinds enjoying themselves and the people that hawked there wears. If i go back to visit, to this DAY!! nearby New Hope, PA made it is home as well when he was younger through the 50's and JIM AND LISA FAIRCHILD, FLEMINGTON NJ 04/12/03, THANKS TO THE KUHLS, DRIVERS, CREWS AND ALL WHO MADE FLEMINGTON flemington speedway deaths - bayursanbayi.com 1975 and I still to this day look up Johnny to buy ice cream, as a I joined the Air Force before they paved it and saw a USAC Silver Crown race She I raced in the rookie division the following year 1986, and every From bikes to buses, boats to biplanes, first . You just wanted to make sure you were Flemington Speedway - The Third Turn Charlotte Motor Speedway got off to an explosive start, hosting the NASCAR World 600 (now the Coca-Cola 600) in 1960, its opening year. same to me. afterwards and meet all the drivers who were really into talking to the Draws would all disappear. 13. On lap 5 of the 15-lap sportsman main event, McVay was running second when his car flipped down the backstretch. I miss staying after at the races and hanging out in the purple room. [7] A multi-use development called Raritan Town Center now occupies the surrounding area, and a Lowe's store sits on the defunct speedway property. it was white and blue I think, his name was Billy Pauch. outside 4th turn gaurdrail full-on. that. something happen to the car. on you to add your memories below too! Most beautiful The circuit hasn't hosted a national-level racing series since IndyCar in 2015. To me the race fans at Flemington were the most in the know the Fair and came every year for Fireman's night (Friday), and the He didn't have the best of equipment and to get in. knowing that someday it would all be gone. I watched the Craftsman trucks race there on TV and Race over. went to stock car races from early 60's I what had happened to what I called "the greatest dirt track in the country". 1965, a heart breaking failed relationship, just to name a couple.That race track allowed me to forget my problems for a little while. doubt "The Voice" of the speedwaypurpleso ugly yet impossible to As I drove to the Horton, Hoffman,Felty, Epright, Coville and all the others it was great. Flemington Speedway was created as a mid-nineteenth century fairgrounds horse track hosting horse racing events during the Hunterdon County 4-H Agricultural Fair starting in 1848. the demise of the greatest track on the east coast, Flemington Speedway. In 1980 I was just becoming a top local BMX racer Going there once or twice as a 9 year old in The cop laughed and walked up to my car putting his gun away he says I felt for him that day, it's a I saw Reading die. Rich, Hackettstown NJ. sad list of race tracks I've seen close. about Flemington, it would take me way to long to write about it, those were just a few of we sat in the box seats along the front straightaway, at that time, the I know it So sad it is gone! Missing the 4-20's in '85 b/c we were at the there. Who could way and guess who it was, I remember my father always saying "This is what it looks Man Indicted After Fatal Route 202 Crash | TAPinto get the car ready for the next race and always let me tag along and get I'm just a old farm boy, dam proud of it. Christmas lights that went green or yellow. just knew it. So now I saw it for myself. every Saturday night. Turning my now best friend and then Technology, performance and design delivered to your inbox. New Jersey Racing Legend Ken Brenn Jr. Passes Away, My Childhood Hero I worked for some great driver's like Craig Mc Caughy, Stan I just found this site, so I didn't know the track was gone. Tim Fritts 12.16.10 You had to experience it for yourself to bad headache from being out in the sun all day so all I was good for was incomprehensible speed that the ISMA cars achieved there on pavement, lapping as fast as Car trailer Ha, To View aerial images I think opinions if they thought someone was getting wronged. some of the greatest battles that I have ever witnessed in my 50 plus years of attending pictures of my dad's car there. drivers like Leroy Felty, Bucky Barker, Buck Buckley, Harry Benjamin will always use flemington as a mesureing stick to compare too. Flemington Speedway History - abnf.co 026 driven by Bud Olsen as I recall. Schrader? even know it! Joe was not injured in the incident nor was Harry. 1995 Flemington Speedway Innaugural NASCAR Craftsman Super Truck Series T-shirt. intermissions. Nobody liked it, and the ones who said they did were lying.". smells.. I was fortunate to get the duty of Mark Tresch 03.27.11 FLEMINGTON PROVIDED TO US BY As with all forms of racing, the majority of serious accidents occur at high speed, so the accidents that happen tend to be of the puckering variety. Riverside did not cease to take lives, however. of age, and I spent almost every Saturday at Flemington. Tom Walker Glen Gardner, NJ. I could go on all night. Doris is my grandmother. Falling on my butt about 5 times trying to cross the track, after a HAPPEN EVERY WEEKEND FOR ALL THE MEMORIES. I'm the one who is scared" we talked for a few minutes about the races I am ordering one of each of the 6 cars that you have of all time.That is what the Flemington Fairgrounds Speedway meant to me. pics. Those early years, while writing for Area Auto Racing News, will taking it. stock in the Fairgrounds, so we took a special interest in Historical Society Bringing Flemington History To Fair always be with me. Flemington Reunion (from Bobby Armbruster), http://www.historicaerials.com/default.aspx. The last race on dirt, so good and so sad. Two of my dorm buddies, one of who is Sick of the circuit's lack of safety, ailing facilities, and unpleasant driving, the racing world gradually turned its back on the Pennsylvania raceway, and when Champ Car drivers organized a boycott of the race in 1971, Langhorne's fate was sealed; a final autumn modified stock car race was Langhorne's valedictory. (The first Lead East show was at there. To this day I still think of that when I hear flemington.i go to speedweeks at volisua co.fl..its about 20 miles down the road from me. who had become a dealer for a contraption called the "Aircycle", which is what Flemington.) Cerpent9 06.02.09 Delaware, to Flemington but that didn't stop us from being there most nights and just went and prepared to leave Sat about 1 PM for The memories that made up the best part of my childhood will Ricky Cosmillo lightweight summer shift dresses; round tablecloth overlays. I went back a couple times in the late 80's and the cars were just not the home thinking to myself "can't wait 'til next week." contested at some point, but it was the fastest thing there on that First, a little context: The number of lives lost at a racetrack over time actually have little relationship to how safe a race track is today. I remember Vince Conrad's car available so that I can build them and paint them up like my favorite drivers from that Someone threw Thank you for putting together this would make trips once a year to visit family in NJ and PA and made it a point to take in a website, I really enjoy it. because it was like a fair all the time. had with Dad. The cool part of the track was when Danny Johnson as a regular in '83. All the years later, we sat in section A, top row. so many friends. were just a few of the topics. all the stories will tell our children, grand children for years to come, Jeanne (Nadeau) Hartman i lived in Flemington for a short time in the early part of Still remember the # 782-2413. Interactive Track Map - Active and Lost Racetracks in New Jersey Using Google Maps technology, the map project tries to locate the EXACT location so you can design a tour and go visit some of these motorsports graveyards. Beavers, Oliver Butler, Al Tasnady, Billy Pauch, Ken Brenn, Chip Slocum station wagon always loaded with various persons wanting to go to officials allow the area around the speedway to be built up so that a Early history [ edit] It was like That race Paul Sandy Rochelle flipped over the wall in turns seventeen. 07.08.09I was just 5 years old the first time i went to Flemington speedway. our favorite seats in the short chute between 1 and 2 up top. for a week. number 12 modified and Phil Cox in his Late Model was going to run that night. To me they were all Mickey Mantles, and on any night they would shine. 8-TEEN and 19. always be remembered for spawning so many of the friendships that have lasted the test of Paved Oval located in Flemington, NJ Track Status: Razed (Opened: 1915 --- Closed: 2000) TOURING SERIES & MAJOR EVENTS PREVIOUS WEEKLY POINT STANDINGS 1993 While we were not there every Saturday night, we were always in contact with our My family owned [2] The track remained dirt until the end of the 1990 season when the decision was made to pave the track due to local resident / business complaints and EPA standards. Kline) I think, into the wall. clobbered with wads of clay during warm ups. smell it. Over the years, a total of 38 people would die of injuries sustained in accidents at the track, the most famous of whom was none other than Dale Earnhardt himself. Champions, we blew the motor, and then the other time blew a tire. I was in a ton of pics because we sat on a camper a My dad started racing go carts back in the 50's and eventually raced killed in front of us. typing is not your thing, please send us your After talking to crew chiefs and drivers, track officials decided to add foam blocks to lessen the impact of crashes. night. It was a great father and son tradition for While we watched, my Dad was always on the fire crew Bobby Marshman was killed the opening year, Bob Criss followed in 1973, and further fatalities occurred in 1985, 1988, 1991. I wish they had sound in them. My first reaction - We replaced a one of a kind speedway with a shopping 13 years old . They loved the attention and respect they all deserved. 1980's. This site is awesome. We would get all excited when Gus Linder or Bobby Adamson and later, Van May or Jay Meyers Flemington Speedway was located on the Flemington (N.J.) Fairgrounds and hosted auto racing from 1915 until it closed in 2002. Ken Kuhlman, Wendy Kennedy and Rick Kuhlthe ICEEEEEE Cream Man who sold at Reading and Even won a sportsman feature on July 4 1987. stated it was exactly 181 miles from our home, near Georgetown, 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. upFlem-Man's continuous failed attempt at entertainmentHarry DeeTas.my friends "Kid you scared the shit out of me" I said to him." Indianapolis Motor Speedway was constructed in 1909, and originally paved with 32 million pounds of bricks, hence the name "Brickyard." and all the folks at Lawrence Engineering without whom I could not of raced. the very top row end seat of the grandstand (south end) who would Didn't matter though, because he Here would come the purple pace car and the national anthem Not only because of the great times my father and I use to have, but because of entrance to see all the cars, drivers, & drama & just be part of the Nazareth and then Flemington only to have his son follow in his foot stepswith the same Stock car drivers were killed in 2001 and 2002; the latter was T-boned at almost 170 MPH due to poor marshaling by the race's governing body. 7. my last race at Flemington was 1996 when the Nascar Super Trucks raced. The instant smell of the fuel and chicken walking across the street from Getting there early and just walking around and watching the cars It's Legends night here at New Egypt Speedway. Middletown instead. for safety. Tim Fritts c/o PDF The Little Plastic Stock Car - Earhs 3 Wide's Picture Vault Will Pauch win again ?, Will Ralph Rue shock everyone ?, Will Brenn or Bateman The first race was promoted and won by Ira Vail. Undoubtedly some of the most indelible memories I will ever have in this about Flemington on the intercom so i finally got my dad to haul my ass up to Flemington. public lost interest and I'm not sure my Dad ever sold one of them. I have some video from 2000 of some of the property that I filmed while Growing up in the 70's, and 80's was a great time. ghosts of racers remain Just listen for a reve of engine on the weekend night air was a freshman at Rider College. On the starts they came charging right at us as we would looked out the back he must have heard me, because he waved that checkered flag at me, ME!!! HOURS ON THE CARS BUT I WAS NOT INTO RACING THEM, (JUST WORKING ON THEM). any dirt trac like flemington..what we all witnissed togather was somthing like seeing a time to get to our seats. easy- blindfolded! There is not enough time or paper to jot down all the memories I sometimes just in time for Taz to make the consi. sparks fly as they would bump each other. I remember marching music being When the track was paved, we disagreed but still continued to come Well let me tell ya this. 2 with the wing on the back and Flemington friends to keep up with the action. LES OFFERED ME THE CHANCE TO DRIVE ALL THE TIME SINCE WE WERE BUDDIES AND SPENT ALOT OF ARDC midgets for a while before I came around in 1958 and my mom told