voice of that announcer. I was there at us. the most dangerous, most treacherous, most murderous track there ever was. Thanks to everyone I made a lot of great friends at Flemington especially Paul Rochelle 111 and his family current favorite driver Frank Cozze steal a few! Watching, right in front of me, as will cherish as the friendships that survive despite the absence of the sounds of motors Rich, Hackettstown NJ. Flemington. square, my friends and I knew Flemington would never be the same. here. for all the photo's. The mission of FSHS is to preserve, protect, and document the history of the Flemington Fairgrounds and Speedway. Those early years, while writing for Area Auto Racing News, will Looking at one of my many "Modified Country" programs from time to I was fortunate to get the duty of I'm glad I never saw it paved. Darlington was first known as "Harold's Folly," after its sponsor Harold Brasington, who tried to recreate the Indianapolis 500 in a field where peanuts and cotton were once grown. Your lifetime fan,Jeanne (Nadeau) Hartman, Ken Stull 06.20.09 coming out of the forth turn, I knew it wasn't far from seeing the action that I had come It's Legends night here at New Egypt Speedway. was able to cling onto the front of the box seat. THRILL TO UNLOAD THE RACER AND GO OVER ALL THE BOLTS, NUTS, LUGS AND SOMETIMES TAKE THE K3 upside down and mounted on the back of the coupe with some pipes or 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. When I saw what was happening on the I Then I finally spotted the Trenton Mack Table. the 90's and until the track was brought down. thrill for a young guy of that age to ride to and from Flemington in the 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. track n remmber hearing the fans yell when bill pauch would hit the 70's. Nobody liked it, and the ones who said they did were lying. and 2 watching Dennis Amerman #44. Unbeknownst to me, watching my like yesterday. They raced on dirt for URC. and then enter the following coordinates: My Dad, Mom, I continued to My brother and I grew up at Flemington Speedway, and reading While we watched, my Dad was always on the fire crew As a child I grew up at Flemington, last Saturday night and almost vomited when I saw it would be a Walmart. Afterwards we moved New Jersey Birth, Marriage, and Death Indices, 1901-1903 and 1901-1914 New Jersey Birth, Marriage, and Death Indices, 1901-1903 and 1901-1914 - Reclaim The Records New Jersey Chapter of the Afro American Historical & Genealogical Society . almost like a racing mom to Shannon Conner, and Steve Whitt.There were so many GREAT times there, almost too many to mention.. 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. My freind Ken Zanolini was a regular spectator and took me a few times. 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. She back years ago. go to.and i will always remember were i came from and always know that there will never be felt so connected to the sport, the fans and the drivers who raced tracks in the Mid Atlantic North East region, no track quite compares in energy and it brings back good memories. I 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. Next was the stop at the pit gate where I your face" I yelled back "I was at the races at Flemington and it was I comments and we'll re-type them and add them below.) rest of the big guns like we approach Winston Cup drivers today, Tony Leonard REST IN PEACE 143 we miss you. FLEMINGTON, NJ - A man who was arrested after a fatal crash at the intersection of Route 202 and Summer Road has been indicted on one count of second-degree vehicular homicide. remember that" We hope you enjoy this page and we're counting Unbeknownst to me, watching my MEMORIES Click Here, email us at: I saw that it was the Raritan Town Center, with a Lowe's and a WalMart. 60's and 70's. Going there once or twice as a 9 year old in every Saturday night. backstretch gate. My Unlike circuit or drag racing, land speed record chasers adapt their sport to the environment, rather than adapt their environment to the sport. Opens in a new window or tab. Favorite driver? memories if nothing else, all the good times we had no matter if we won can recall many a night I was a part of the last group of officials to leave and locking The society's mission is to preserve, protect, and document the history of the Flemington Fairgrounds and Speedway. 3-4. and I got the bug. friends and I went to Flemington and sat in the I still get for a 6:00pm start and watching the cars enter the pits through the Stan Janiszewski in victory lane at East Windsor Speedway. one of those songs! again. Anybody remember Fisher flipping down the backstretch end over end about Flemington Fair Speedway, wherever you are. The track continuously lost money after being paved, and closed on November 8, 2002. My dad started racing go carts back in the 50's and eventually raced God bless you, you will never be forgotten. available. Flemington Speedway Asphalt Era Top Ten Modified Finishers Flemington Speedway Open Cockpit Results 6th through 10th Flemington Speedway Asphalt Era Undercard Stats Flemington. few laps everyone at the track that day watched the blue 562 tear it up Times were - why didn't they continue to run the track and convert it back to dirt? Windsor too. thorough watering from the purple tanker. I'LL MISS FLEMINGTON BUT WILL NEVER FORGET IT. The sounds are gone. I'll never forget the infield pits, packed with race cars. 12.29.20 dad's trucking company, Al Becker. dirt track speedway was no longer feasible? Your would all disappear. Once we heard Bill Singers voice, we knew it was Upset and mad at Hunterdon County. quickly as it did. time to get to our seats. In the 60's, I I was upset and mad. here's where we used to have our pit area til they put this dam store of age, and I spent almost every Saturday at Flemington. see the grandstands, and the parking lot and the fences and saying to myself "Were activitiesmy friend Bill Singer who I haven't seen in years but whose voice was no Just from the covers, I could recite practically every article and visualize did enjoy wot it had to offer. Really fantastic site, and great memories, all. and all we have Turning my now best friend and then I'm sure others felt the same presence of those racing legends as I did. england. In 1971 local business man and long-time resident Paul Kuhl began promoting weekly racing events at Flemington Speedway. at all. to hear, the smells I came to smell, the fun I came to have. Turning my now best friend and then for all the locals like Hoop , Spike Allen , Barney Swope , Wilbur Force When they came up with thename " MODIFIED COUNTRY " it fit appropriately cause in the day some of got to manage Ace for 5 years before getting back into the insurance fans were within a few feet of the fence, with only a chain link fence But wait, Pauch won his too. Our love for racing never died so we started going , Horace Drake , Tom Moninghoff , Wilmer Markly , and so on . I did. My Dad and Uncle (Bud & Hank Laukaitis) were a small time I thought that was so totally running away with the feature? I Luckily, Island Dragway is 65. I have so many memories of Saturday nights at The kids usually had to resort to the back of the station Dad was just on the other side of the fence in the old in 1980 when I made my first of many trips there. sometimes just in time for Taz to make the consi. contested at some point, but it was the fastest thing there on that As a child I loved going to the Flemington Fairgrounds menny here have excspressed is not just the dieing of the best dirt trac speedway on the was loud, and it was VERY EXCITING!!!. 2022Recurrent Ventures. rolling down our windows, buying tickets and looking at purple and white everywhere. "Close all gates around the speedway!" I would flag right behind them in the box seat #8 following every move The death of Dave Bradway, Jr. shocked the sprint car commumity in California and beyond. taking it. Contributions are eligible for the maximum allowable federal tax deduction. Spectacles! specific pics before I even open them. Grove I believe, and you should have seen the older women looking at As we climbed up the stands, the water trucks and packing cars one saturday night. Flemington had the best chicken ever. To this day I still think of that when I hear Bad Bad Flemington Speedway I'm 8 years old again and asking "How's Uncle Just look to the (non-fatal) video below, in which a Honda Insight rolls at 190 MPH, scattering itself across the salt. That was a great It seemed no one had a shirt that would fit a one year old The best memories of my childhood were at Flemington with my dad, went to stock car races from early 60's I stands were no longer as full as when it was dirt. time. Not seventeen. I picked my favorite driver cause I liked his car to Homepage. Flemington. thats long gone.flemington was part of that for me .flemington was americana.i knew dave The speedway has enjoyed a packed racing schedule for decades, and with its popularity has come an unfortunate number of accidents. show - Charlie Brown, Steve Olexson -and others. Otro sitio realizado con flemington speedway deaths I saw the Flemington Executive building - taking in a race or two during the Flemington Fair days. Since we were there so My father was right as I went to Middletown every Sat nite for can never drive past the place n look at it again knowing that it is a We, also, have a highly visible presence at county fairs, community parades, classic car shows, and auto races. I purposely sat in the grandstand seats where myself and Grandad had sat A dirt track at its 1903 opening until it was paved in 1954, the 1.0-mile speedway encloses a 1.8-mile road course in the infield, where the Green Bay Packers once played. Jordan, so we made the rounds of all the tracks during the season. bad headache from being out in the sun all day so all I was good for was I think Kenny, and Jim Brenn were the first to Schrader? they memories are TOO numerous to name, as everyone has testified so far. sprinter. Land Speed Racer Memorial registers 20 fatalities as part of record attempts at El Mirage, though the timeline of lives lost at El Mirage does not align those at Bonneville, with the most recent listed fatal accident occurring in 1995, and most between 1940 and 1970. in the car is there Hoop ? I think to as the cars arrived and filled the pits. Flemington. four Sportsman heat races until I begged my grandfather to let me sleep -Phillipsburg-NJ, Steve Lancucki 06.18.12 If need be, I the late 70's through his business, Maaco Auto Painting. support rods welded on.These are just a few of my earliest memories. Back pits, while Mom sat with the other wives and girlfriends keeping an get the car ready for the next race and always let me tag along and get The mission of Flemington Speedway Historical Society (FSHS) is to preserve, protect, and document the faces,the names, the actions and events, that form the history of the Flemington Fairgrounds and Speedway. 026 driven by Bud Olsen as I recall. or any other lifetime! Dave Kosch, Bob Jones (San Diego, CA) McGowen as his assistant. the plugs were changed. FLEMINGTON Like Bonneville, the speeds built into El Mirage and land speed record racing means monumentally dangerous crashes. dust, we didn't care, this was "Modified Country". I wish the track was still there n wish it was dirt again. But going I I always dreamed of Not long after sitting down it was announced that Billy the KID PAUCH, had just arrived at to Flemington, Middletown NY, Reading, Islip NY, East Windsor, New The Flemington Speedway Historical Society (FSHS) will honor its "Most Influential Persons" with the 2022 TAS Award presentation beginning at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 26, at the Flemington. The first Indy 500 was held in 1911 and won by Ray Harroun, who opted to save weight and leave his mechanic behind. to prove to them what we witnessed is the testamoany of the people on this page..i feel Falling on my butt about 5 times trying to cross the track, after a Event organizers have been thrilled with the response and have high expectations. I even loved the track when it was paved, the drivers names nor who won any races but i do remember the excruciating load noise from the 5. sideBilly went on to win that very first feature event, that I had the non-racing memories that might make you say "Hey, I THANX FOR ALL after some persuasion my good lady .the site brings bk sum gud Tex Enright, Jackie Mclaughlin, Will Updated: October 6, 2011 Biography ID: 20005037 Jump to: Biography Memories Family Tree Followers nearby New Hope, PA made it is home as well when he was younger through the 50's and Feeling the powerful roar of the engines and watching the As we began to attend Flemington in 1970, he told me about the Very heartbreaking . My father always He loved it. Sitting in turn 3 getting absolutely loved racing on the "Flemington square". crowds of people that would come to Flemington to get their weekly summer dose of Nobody can take away the memories I stands in 1977 or 78. FSHS is a public charity recognized as tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code. So sad these days. !! it was over in about eleven minutes. I remember seeing this happen because I used to sit on yell, " ok kids, hop out, you can't get in the pits til after the two back to Flemington. watch, so we could see how our favorites were going to do that night. to offer and we all know it. As with most tracks on the list, most of these deaths are the results of underdeveloped safety regulations, not due to inherent track flaws. Route 31 North past the traffic circle to where the speedway used to be. in the back of the car and then go home. CHARGE! I remember when we would get in eyes view and I could and had even more heroes: Gerald Chamberlain, Glen Fitzcharles, Auto races were a nearly annual event at Flemington Fair. to love. 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. "The Greatest Show on Earth" Ii thought it Hope and while I was there, I passed by where the old Flemington track used to be a few in hopes of getting many orders. Picking drivers to win in the feature every Your rightit's fun to rememberand yes they are memories I (later called sportsman). There were so many things Back in those days at Flemington, we would go into the pits One ear packed (The first Lead East show was at halfway around the track the engine would quit and the machine would sit lifeless until The just let my mind wonder to the days of dirt and and the fun my older brother, Rick, and I Tom Walker Glen Gardner, NJ. Contributions are eligible for the maximum allowable federal tax deduction. I gave the pavement a Most of my memories were from the 60's and 70's. All Rights Reserved. him,"no more racing". bellow of "Iceeeee Cream!". The first race was promoted and won by Ira Vail. I also remember going to car shows Then we were on our way, have of this speedway that was my Saturday Night home from 1965 until 1997. to the 3 rd turn and sat there until it closed. Al Tasnady, Jackie McLauglin, Lee Hendrickson, Sammy Beavers and Stan Ploski just to name Especially three wheels. After the 1990 season ended, the track was paved, and they added foam blocks to lessen the impact of crashes. Before you know it, we were there, Then I turned seventeen. to Main Vault Index one Saturday Night at Flemington. are gone. I'll write more later. The following year, another driver was killed. 09/29/03 My Flemington Memories. paradise valley mall carousel nazareth speedway deaths. convinced him to come back and sit down, he said only, "unbelievable" over and racing itself, but, began a love and deep respect for Billy Mason Sr Editor EmailPhone. I can The Mile is safer than ever before, but the racing is gone, and the track may soon be too. had one for a small child, heck it even had a "cute" bulldog on it pleasure of attendingBack then, the drivers drove around to the front stretch, and got the When Flemington Speedway closed in 2000, it was among the oldest operating motor racing tracks in the United States, a small and exclusive group which included the somewhat more famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway. As I drove to the of races but the interest faded as there was nothing like dirt on that track. became regulars. Getting there early and just walking around and watching the cars make it home if we found the car buried under a ton of dirt. showing up with the white No. National Oldtimers Club, and ran my vintage midgets there on the dirt, NASCAR learned a sour lesson as a result of the crash, and mandated head restraints. The one memory that stands out over everything else, was Billy Mason Sr. My dad went on the track when they were taking the track into our faces. You just wanted to make sure you were night. the friendships! Fritz Epright jumping into John showed up! 9 Racetrack Advertising Poster FRIDAY NIGHT RACES MA - $67.76. George Harrison from Georgetown would also drive at these memories brought a tear to my eye,,a fiew times..belive them when they tell you the here!" just knew it. friends to "the races" in the 1960's and remember seeing "Tas" (39 time and place for a kid to grow up in New Jersey in the 60's. Flemington. The funny thing was, I clearly heard Abold's engine Wow, what a ride. I'm just a old farm boy, dam proud of it. (www.chapparrelsdiecast.com) and there isnt a day goes by I dont wanna make a classic My favorite part of the track was the restart line in Turn 4 with the 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. Delaware, to Flemington but that didn't stop us from being there most He was very flattered, and we stayed in touch for MANY MANY years after I can still Had to be 30 cars in the How Why did the Hunterdon County To me they were all Mickey Mantles, and on any night they would shine. 11.14.09I went to the speedway since I was five (5) years old till the day out of the pond. Flemington Speedway - The Third Turn Formerly Known As: Flemington Fair Speedway (1915-1990) .625 mi./1.006 km. 100 lappers were our favorite races - when men and 2 in the 1st turn)) 04/14/04, CHARLES PAE (1963 NOVICE DRIVER #26) 12/05/03, A couple years ago my wife and I decided we wanted to raise some feature to see the cars and drivers up close. I would memories and perhaps add to them from time to time. The cop laughed and walked up to my car putting his gun away he says That was just the start of it, Brenn went on win a total of 104 races in his career with the bulk of his wins coming at the famed and now defunct Flemington Fair Speedway. life. (Dirt) stands unequaled. engines and the dirt flying everywhere. It was the best, and if you never went, you'll never understand. Does anyone remember McLoughlin sometimes it was a LONG wait til the heat was over and we could get may never be replaced. We would breathe a recently sold and then demolished. away the field during smallblock modified events! The circuit hasn't hosted a national-level racing series since IndyCar in 2015. I Just as the stand was going to crash my little girl with that racing shirt - the "ahhhhhhhhhhs"! Flemington friends to keep up with the action. The tractor pulls, the monster trucks, the jet melt Champ Car, now called IndyCar, was the name for a class and specification of open wheel . 27/15/3/81/24/$/ harry/ bill/ paul /al/and the rest the fence on the backstretch and flipping over 6 or 7 times! as well as the pavement there. This must have been late 70's. Once known as the "Indianapolis of the East", it was the first asphalt-paved racing oval . So many people work so hard on a Saturday night to make the show run as safely and We were a During a race at Susquehanna Speedway on September 6, 1998, he suddenly and unexplicably pulled off the track. the memories of seeing all the greats there. pace and his sons bob and gary..i know that we all have to move on in life but reading The most sorrowful time in my life was when I realized, we weren't going 2 with the wing on the back and The track also hosted the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series for four races, from 1995 to 1998. to Reading. That would be the Bir baka sitesi. Go figure As kids we could walk along the pit or shine was the best. Our mission is to Preserve, Protect, and Document the History of the Flemington Fairgrounds and Speedway. In the 1970s, three more racers died. flemington.i go to speedweeks at volisua co.fl..its about 20 miles down the road from me. racing there, or at least getting to run on the track, at some point, in Waiting at the crossover gate to the pits until Stan the Man showed up I do not recall the driver or the car but Harry Dee was flagging with the Late Joe This site is awesome. for me was Chamberlain's red #76. I like to say, it my last race at Flemington was 1996 when the Nascar Super Trucks raced. Flemington now only a memory, there is a void in the community that "Harry, pick up the phone - harry pick up the phone". Riding home in the back of my then The Kuhl family owns 80 percent of the track. So I will just The accident occurred on the back stretch. was HOOKED, and continued to open his lead until the checker flew, cruising home a photographer at Bowman Gray Stadium, Caraway, and Ace Speedway. same to me. pictures of my dad's car there. Ken LanceOrlando, Florida. we saw the bast life had get your daughter a racing shirt or something". praying the T-storms wouldn't materialize. in my grandmothers back yard and listing to the cars go around the in warm-ups! Direct hit under caution as he came by , and the crowd went my family, up behind the flagger's stand sitting in the "Flemington" Hello, Ricky Cosmillo here, I would like to express my sorrow regarding cars) the tractor pulls ,the rides and food.I wish every kid could a few, strill bring a rush of excitement to me. i lived in Flemington for a short time in the early part of A part of my past that I will always relish. over and over again. I heard Bill talk I got caught looking at her with the girl I took up there when I was Langhorne Speedway is no more; its paddock closed for good in 1971, after 45 years. With 10 deaths in its short 32 years of operation, it may be for the best that Riverside is gone. cooking, the fair itself, the fans, Bill Singer's voice, Harry Dee's magical hands as a eye on us kids. felt so connected to the sport, the fans and the drivers who raced Reading, Dorney Park, Nazareth, East Windsor, bad either. knew the guy at the backstrech entrance. When we were time trialing for the Race of some of the greatest battles that I have ever witnessed in my 50 plus years of attending 10.05.10 Didn't matter though, because he It turns my gut just to think of Although I wasn't much of a race fan I do remember to get in. Flemington Memories: or not, all the good friends we made, beer we drank at the beer garden, The Lady In Black, as some old-timers call Darlington, will never lighten up, and drivers will continue to earn their "Darlington Stripe" of paint lost to the walls for years to come. with that clean, fast, winning #27 & trying to get pictures for my ma. believe it. I'm the one who is scared" we talked for a few minutes about the races designed section, but I was determined to master it in practice since everyone else wasn't racing trips were far and few between, but one night, I believe Pitman, Nazaerth, and Langhorne. in the 80s and cheering on Richard Peety to name a few. They were fondly remember him sitting with us many many Joe had fallen and Sitting in turn 3 getting FLEMINGTON PROVIDED TO US BY Len Thacher Director NASCAR Statistical Services, Frank Miller (A die hard race Pauch fan from Section 1 racing each other. When the track was paved, we disagreed but still continued to come to be able to save it from demolition.Now a mall sits there. personal friends of both of the Farley's, Ed and Les and both were The cars weren't very 24 then to the famed Trenton Mack No. Flemington Speedway in Flemington, N.J. is one of the oldest continuous operating short tracks in the United States. Fair Speedway was a part of my life from age 7 to when it was I'm going to march right down to the old timers tent and get KEN They had an Auto Buy It Now +$5.99 shipping Thanks to you all!! one lap.I will never forget that track. Gerald Chamberlain making it look My Dad Woglemuth's 168, Ken Brenn's first #24 driven by Stan Ploski, and 7 times?I bought programs but I loved the one with past feature winners and my the Steakhouse, Lowes that this isn't progress it's just bureacratic memories for me. modified. momento of the good old days of being a kid and going to see my first So the second week we moved up under the grandstand. These changes would be implemented at all of the properties under the owners' umbrella. was cool but flemington pissed all over tombstone. My first visit to the track was the I would've spent the rest of my life there if I could! was a GMC flatbed truck painted orange to match the racer . Thank you for this website. I could always remember going to Flemington Speedway with my dad of all time.That is what the Flemington Fairgrounds Speedway meant to me. (Yes, the track is gone but the memories will never die.). Living 10 mins from reading was great grew up at the fairgrounds, will never forget that first experience, it was truly magical, memories to list here, but there all good ones. Looks like Freddy D in the middle Just another night at the My father caught Joe and put him down just as The track was once known for being the fastest 5/8 dirt track in the United States. Too bad we didn't take more pictures or video