Sweikert and Pat OConnor were on hand, along with The number of individuals -- drivers, officials and spectators killed at Langhorne officially totals 27. at Langhorne. Autoweek.com takes a look at the history of Langhorne Speedway, a track that opened in 1926 and closed in '71, and in between was notorious for death and destruction. The night before Langhorne, I was actually really concerned. On June 20th, 1965, Kenyon's engine blows at Langhorne, PA, causing a fiery crash that puts him in the hospital fighting for his life. Three-time Indy champ Bobby Unser agrees. Then in 1951, Irv Fried and Al Gerber became promoters. was a member of the graduating class of 1956 from the Pearl River. racing goes. The car, upside down, and burning, was about 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. The speedway was razed. row 7, Ed Elisian and Jim McWithey But my right hand was like hamburger when I got finished. It might as well have been called the Killing Field. a relief driver on his 55th lap, and Rodger Ward took over for him. The final race was held in 1971. And I made it! Charlotte has since extended the fencing to 24 and 12 feet respectively. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. Twenty-seven people had died there over its 45 years of existence. Those ruts would send you up in the air, and the speed was so high., After several deaths and countless wrecks in that part of the track in the late 1950s, officials called in Indianapolis Motor Speedway superintendent Clarence Cagle, who was known far and wide for being able to solve surface and design problems at speedways. thumb had to be amputated in the hospital. See Race of Champions for a history of this race since 1972. The current space features a Sam's Club, a Restaurant Depot warehouse and a CarMax dealership where the pits and grandstand were once located. Because the track was round, you couldnt see very far ahead of you. snow was in the forecast. Failing George didnt qualify his normal ride, the HOW Offy, IMCA stars, Bob Slater and Bobby Grim. track at Langhorne was higher at that end, and quite a bit lower in what you The The track was paved. However, Teter's tenure only lasted until July 5, 1942, when he was killed while attempting his rocket car leap stunt at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. If something went wrong, you were in the wall.". On June 14th, 1970, Rick Muther spun and hit the wall on lap 121 ending the effort of the only turbine powered car ever to run at Langhorne. I But after the Champ Car race at Trenton in the spring, the drivers met secretly and voted to boycott the event. Autoweek participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. Bobby Unser qualified on the pole at a record speed of 129.483 mph in an Eagle owned by Ralph Wilke, whose father had owned the car driven by Jimmy Bryan the day he died. You wanted to be on the list of guys who had done it., Allen said the track had many ruts and you could get hooked in there and get upside down or fly out of the track. Bryan, intent on making <br> <br>This photo was taken at Langhorne, Pennsylvania of the 100 Mile U.S.A.C National Championship on June 20th, 1965. the September 11, 1949 (200 Miles at Langhorne Speedway) to the September 15, 1957 (300 Miles at Langhorne Speedway) Search DriverAverages. in the Nyquist # 29, also from March 20, 1955. OConnor, Jerry Hoyt, Mike Magill, Duane Carter, Charlie Musselman, Tinglestad escaped injury. Drivers said Puke Hollow was softer and forever changing during a race, in part because underground springs made the ground beneath the racing surface swampy. VINTAGE INDY 500 Winners Aj Foyt / Mario Andretti Photo - Trenton Speedway - $5.59. pace. Includes the menu, user reviews, photos, and highest-rated dishes from Langhorne Speedway Diner. They called Jimmy Bryan "Cowboy" because he'd bucked broncos before going racing. No Mans Land, an extensive history of the speedway. The newest track on this list of the 10 deadliest was constructed in 1964, and all of them were raced in the days before the introduction of fire retardant Nomex suits, HANS devices, and mandatory roll cages. Had seen a couple guys not coming home from there. The half-mile Meyer Speedway in Houston, which hosted a 1971 Cup Series race in which Bobby Allison and Richard Petty started on the front row in front of 9,000 spectators, went down in the late . On Saturday, October 14, 2006, almost 35 years to the day of the last race held at Langhorne, the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission dedicated a historical marker at 1939 E. Lincoln Highway (in the same general area where the track was located) which reads: Opened in 1926, this circular one-mile dirt track was known as the "Big Left Turn". track that day, as the racing usually was at the horne. Jan 1, 2013 - Langhorne Speedway flyer. While the SCTA holds two speed trials at Bonneville every year, it hosts six at El Mirage, and the volume of racing opens the event up to more crashesand more deaths. six weeks later, he too, would suffer the same fate as Crockett. The Larry was thrown from the car, but suffered fatal chest and lung injuries. Marvin's car hit the outside fence, flipped high in the air and landed on Bud Tinglestad's car. Garrett, who had passed Veith, would assume Langhorne, Penn. A heavily overgrown wooded area has completely enveloped the infield and backstretch, while asphalt parking lots around the perimeter of the site cover up the rest. Due to the obviously dangerous nature of auto racing, many individuals, including drivers, crew members, officials and spectators, have been killed in crashes related to the sport, in races, in qualifying, in practice or in private testing sessions. That view was basically I raced all over the world, and that was the most dangerous, most treacherous, most murderous track there ever was. in row 5, Don Freeland and Mike Magill in row 6, Eddie Russo and Jack Turner in having The got the lead and pulled away slowly. line up for the 25 lap 25 mile feature was: Pat In time, drivers lost their patience with Langhorne. track was oh, so fast, on May 1st. Paved Oval located in Langhorne, PA: Track Status: Razed (Opened: 1926 --- Closed: 1971) TOURING SERIES & MAJOR EVENTS ; Date Sanction Winner Laps 3 May 1930: AAA Champ Car Series: Bill Cummings: 100 7 May 1932: AAA Eastern Big Car Series: Bill Cummings: 50 28 May 1932: But when it was paved, there was no forgiveness. He said they expected to get a good report. Next came Nazaruk 33.202, Joe Sostilio 33.233, Mike Magill 33.329 and Tommy Hinnershitz 33.671. The Following those two were: Thomson, The Veith/Ward combo was 10th, with 94 laps The Speedway hosted the nation's most noted race for the Modified division; the first post-war stock car race run at the facility was a National Championship Stock Car Circuit (a forerunner to NASCAR) race in 1947, with Bob Flock taking home the checkered flag. His average speed was 95.212 MPH. NR2003 name NR2003 year NR2003 sky Date of .ptf Date of race.lp Author Real name Length (mi) Ban king Location State Country Region Racing started Racing ended That was the most dangerous track on Earth. Earnhardt's outspoken disregard for some safety equipmenthe was an obstinate opponent of the HANS devicecaught up with him at the 2001 Daytona 500, when a last-lap crash into the wall caused multiple serious head injuries. for Ferrari, both in sports/racing cars and also in Grand Prix cars, after LeMans. from 71 to 100. And it was very unforgiving. Nazaruk set a new record for the 6 miles with The 1-mile track. Photographer is unknown. All Rights Reserved. The NMRA operated Langhorne from its inception through the 1929 season, staging 100-lap events on Labor Days and occasional shorter races. AJ Foyt, who won four consecutive Championship Car races at Langhorne to go along with his four Indy 500s, was one of the few drivers who relished the opportunity to pound through Puke Hollow. "Puke Hollow was, by far, the worst corner I ever drove," says Parnelli Jones, the 1963 Indianapolis 500 winner who always dreaded running Langhorne. Crockett never made that next lap, having It was known in part for its pothole-infested first sector, known as "Puke Hollow." In 1964, accidents at the track claimed the lives of Jimmy Pardue and "Fireball" Roberts. When the track was reconfigured and paved over in 1965, the smooth and level asphalt racing surface essentially prevented the formation of any rough patches and effectively eliminated the "hollow". ISM Raceway is the modern name for a speedway some know as Phoenix International Raceway. A year later, Andretti got his own baptism by fire at the 'Horne. It I was at the Selinsgrove Speedway, last Saturday, March 20. Pinterest. The blood would start running out of my hands with about 10 laps to go. On lap 43, Veith Langhorne Speedway is no more; its paddock closed for good in 1971, after 45 years. Some of North Americas most popular racing venues have fatality counts in the dozens. lap, Bryan Another In time trials, Johnny Thomson turned a record breaking lap in the time By a stroke of luck for a track of its age, Daytona has never recorded any spectator deaths. Magill and Thomson, and was challenging Musselman for 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. These changes would be implemented at all of the properties under the owners' umbrella. On on one of those flips with Crockett being found about 300 feet from where the Langhorne - March 20 and May 1, 1955 and June 24, 1956 While I was at the Selinsgrove Speedway, last Saturday, March 20th, I happened to mention to another race fan that on that date in 1955, I was in attendance at the Langhorne track to watch the sprint car races. Curing a three-month stretch beginning with the June 24 race in Charlotte, N.C., and ending with the Sept. 18 event at Langhorne (Pa.) Speedway, Flock captured 11 of 15 poles and won eight races. If youre afraid of racing, you best get out of it. The track was built as a near-perfect circle and was dirt for most of its existence. That 1964 race -- which Foyt won, with Andretti ninth -- was the last one on the original dirt surface. But I liked Langhorne because you could run fast there. FIRE IS A RACE CAR DRIVERS WORST ENEMY! 6:00 on that Sunday evening. He began racing at the track in 1938 against his parents' wishes with a V8-engined car that he built himself. A 67-year-old man died Friday evening when two cars crashed during an automobile race program at a Central Pennsylvania speedway. Langhorne Speedway was a 1-mile circle that challenged even the toughest drivers. Peters, and Nazaruk. Share. 300 yards from that hole in the fence. The circuit's ownership realized how dangerous the track could be, but before the layout of Riverside was amended in 1969, it claimed the lives of NASCAR champ Joe Weatherly, sports car legend Ken Miles (despite a theory claiming the contrary), and two others. # 31, the car that he drove at Langhorne on March 20, 1955. The following year, another driver was killed. 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. AAA sprint car show was held on May 1, 1955, at the big, circular oiled dirt I watched poor Bobby burn to death.. race, so it seemed, was gong to be a third straight win at Langhorne, for Jimmy The car crashed through a fence and rolled over into a field. The track just came apart. However, as suburban growth engulfed the speedway with Levittown being built up around the area, the offers from developers became too tempting to refuse. first two rows of the feature consisted of. at Langhorne Speedway, Langhorne, PA. 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. Even today, 40-odd years since the track was razed to make way for a shopping center, the men who raced there still speak about the place with respect and awe. Explore. Nicknamed Crash for his early drives, he settled down and became a very smooth driver. ", Another Langhorne devotee was three-time Indy winner Johnny Rutherford, who qualified on the pole in 1964 -- just ahead of Foyt -- in the last Champ Car race before the track was paved. On the 70th three events that appear, below. Then came the 92nd lap, and Bryan headed pit side, again The circuit hasn't hosted a national-level racing series since IndyCar in 2015. took 14:39.05 to go the 25 miles, and the average speed was 102.383 MPH. "I'd say their stand is due to an accumulation of fat," Fried complained. Dutch Hoag was the most successful driver, winning five times. Grim, Klar, Mattera, Matera, Bechtol, McCoy, OConnor, Crockett and Mealy. Then they paved purgatory and put up a parking lot. It's no coincidence that only the best of the best won at Langhorne, and the victory roll features many of the greatest legends of the '30s and '40s: Mauri Rose, "Wild" Bill Cummings, Duke Nalon, Ted Horn, the incomparable Rex Mays. Heres Tinglestad being lead away from the wreck by a track official. March 20 and May 1, 1955 and June 24, 1956. Langhorne Speedway Langhorne, PA. Glossary Tweet. Nobody raised their hand. Bob The We'll never see its kind again. 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. NASCAR Cup Series Race Recaps. Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com. To do well, you had to want to run fast, and you had to want to race. But if I'd gone 10 feet past that pole, I would have gone straight over the guardrail.". The proposal will have to go through the land development process. Going through there, you were gritting your teeth, Andretti said. The first Langhorne National Open was held in 1951, and Dutch Hoag raced in it; he was one of the last cars to get through the large wreck which blocked the track and burned driver Wally Campbell, who was that year's NASCAR National Modified Champion. Even with them wearing gloves, a lot of At looking at previous trips to Langhorne, and the times that we arrived back We may earn money from the links on this page. having Langhorne most every occasion when I went to Langhorne, I sat in the stands in what you In fact, the nation's deadliest racetracks share one common trait: They've been around a while. . winners were Nick Fornoro, Fred Jiggs been thrown out after one or two barrel rolls. It was a challenge, but if youre a racer, you want a challenge. Crocketts car owner, Charlie Engle, thought A special thanks to Eric Cardona for sharing this historic footage.Apart from Mann's fatal crash, there were several injuries during the race. Unlike circuit or drag racing, land speed record chasers adapt their sport to the environment, rather than adapt their environment to the sport. at Langhorne, on May 1, 1955. Thats Langhorne. After the race, Clarence said they took bulldozers and steam shovels and dug down 25 or 30 feet and didnt find any concrete. In 1989, the circuit closed, replaced by a mall and a suburb. ", The car landed on Bryan several times before coming to rest right-side up. 18 drivers, five motorcycle riders, three spectators, and one flagman have died at the track. L. Spencer Riggs, author of the definitive motorsport history, "Langhorne! car had gone through the fence, minus his helmet and most of his clothing. Ironically, despite the improvement in safety, the reviews for the "improved" Langhorne were uniformly sour. There are only two reminders that the track existed -- a Pennsylvania state historical marker on U.S. Route 1 and the nearby Langhorne Speedway Diner. Review. Being the most modern track on this record, ISM has the fewest confirmed fatal accidents. They only want to race in the softer spots. You were hanging on the edge by a thread. No credible source reports any deaths since. rough track played havoc with both drivers and machines. Amick was It was very rough (in its dirt-track days). Geoge Amick held on for the retired from competition during the LeMans race, right What he hated, though, was the dust, which made it hard to see and got into everything, even after being thoroughly covered with a spray of Pennsylvania oil. OConnor, Ken Gottschalk and Elmer George. racing goes. They still had horrendous wrecks on the pavement and people got hurt, but no one else was killed after the surface was paved. Paving removed some of the tracks fearsome nature, but those who ran its dirt surface had long memories. BUNBURY GLEN IRIS LITTLE CIRCUIT 1961 - 1974, BUNBURY AUSTRALIAN MOTORCYCLE GRAND PRIX 1962, ESPERANCE BANDY CREEK PINK LAKE SPEEDWAYS, KALGOORLIE GOLDEN MILE TROTTING TRACK SPEEDWAY, PERTH BUCKLAND - ROPEWORKS - MONUMENT HILL HARLEY SCRAMBLE, PERTH BULLSBROOK RAILWAY ROAD SPEED TRIALS, PERTH DIRT TRACKERS - GIDGEGANNUP - KEWDALE, PERTH FORRESTFIELD SPEEDWAY HARTFIELD ROAD, PERTH FORRESTFIELD SPEEDWAY DAWSON AVENUE 1960s, PERTH FORRESTFIELD SPEEDWAY DAWSON AVENUE 1970, PERTH FORRESTFIELD SPEEDWAY DAWSON AVENUE 1971, PERTH FORRESTFIELD SPEEDWAY DAWSON AVENUE 1972, PERTH FORRESTFIELD SPEEDWAY DAWSON AVENUE 1973, PERTH FORRESTFIELD SPEEDWAY DAWSON AVENUE 1974, PERTH FORRESTFIELD SPEEDWAY DAWSON AVENUE 1975, PERTH FORRESTFIELD SPEEDWAY DAWSON AVENUE 1976, PERTH FORRESTFIELD SPEEDWAY DAWSON AVENUE 1977, PERTH FORRESTFIELD SPEEDWAY DAWSON AVENUE 1978, PERTH FORRESTFIELD SPEEDWAY DAWSON AVENUE 1979, PERTH FORRESTFIELD SPEEDWAY DAWSON AVENUE 1980, PERTH KALAMUNDA GO KART & SOAP BOX RACING, WONGAN HILLS - PIAWANING GRAVEL PIT - WONGAN HILLS SPEEDWAY, 1991 > 1995 BUNBURY SHRUBLAND PARK MOTOCROSS, 1996 > 2000 BUNBURY SHRUBLAND PARK MOTOCROSS, 2001 > 2005 BUNBURY SHRUBLAND PARK MOTOCROSS, 2006 > 2010 BUNBURY SHRUBLAND PARK MOTOCROSS, 2011 > 2015 BUNBURY SHRUBLAND PARK MOTOCROSS, 2016 > 2020 BUNBURY SHRUBLAND PARK MOTOCROSS, KATANNING PINWERNYING PARK SPEEDWAY 1985 > 1998, WANNEROO PINJAR PARK SENIOR SPEEDWAY 2021, PORTLAND HI PINE SPEEDWAY SOUTHERN 500 SPEEDWAY, CANBERRA TRALEE - FRASER PARK SPEEDWAY 1970, CANBERRA TRALEE - FRASER PARK SPEEDWAY 1971, CANBERRA TRALEE - FRASER PARK SPEEDWAY 1972, CANBERRA TRALEE - FRASER PARK SPEEDWAY 1973, CANBERRA TRALEE - FRASER PARK SPEEDWAY 1974, CANBERRA TRALEE - FRASER PARK SPEEDWAY 1975, CANBERRA TRALEE - FRASER PARK SPEEDWAY 1976, CANBERRA TRALEE - FRASER PARK SPEEDWAY 1977, CANBERRA TRALEE - FRASER PARK SPEEDWAY 1978, CANBERRA TRALEE - FRASER PARK SPEEDWAY 1979, CANBERRA TRALEE - FRASER PARK SPEEDWAY 1980, CANBERRA TRALEE - FRASER PARK SPEEDWAY 1981, CANBERRA TRALEE - FRASER PARK SPEEDWAY 1982, CANBERRA TRALEE - FRASER PARK SPEEDWAY 1983, CANBERRA TRALEE - FRASER PARK SPEEDWAY 1984, CANBERRA TRALEE - FRASER PARK SPEEDWAY 1985, CANBERRA TRALEE - FRASER PARK SPEEDWAY 1986, CANBERRA TRALEE - FRASER PARK SPEEDWAY 1987, CANBERRA TRALEE - FRASER PARK SPEEDWAY 1988, CANBERRA TRALEE - FRASER PARK SPEEDWAY 1989, CANBERRA TRALEE - FRASER PARK SPEEDWAY 1990, CANBERRA TRALEE - FRASER PARK SPEEDWAY 1991, CANBERRA TRALEE - FRASER PARK SPEEDWAY 1992, CANBERRA TRALEE - FRASER PARK SPEEDWAY 1993, CANBERRA TRALEE - FRASER PARK SPEEDWAY 1994, CANBERRA TRALEE - FRASER PARK SPEEDWAY 1995, CANBERRA TRALEE - FRASER PARK SPEEDWAY 1996, CANBERRA TRALEE - FRASER PARK SPEEDWAY 1997, DUBBO SPEEDWAY - DUBBO SHOWGROUNDS SPEEDWAY, GOULBURN RACECOURSE SPEEDWAY SHOWGROUND SPEEDWAY, LAKEVIEW HILL CLIMB CANBERRA SPORTING CAR CLUB, NEWCASTLE BOOLAROO MOTOR CYCLE HILL CLIMB, NEWCASTLE MEMORIAL DRIVE HILL CLIMB (NSW), NEWCASTLE MOTORDROME - JERILDERIE PARK SPEEDWAY, SYDNEY CASULA MOTOR CYCLE HILL CLIMB (NSW), SYDNEY CUMBERLAND OVAL PARRAMATTA SPEEDWAY, SYDNEY LANSDOWNE MOTOR CYCLE HILL CLIMB (NSW), SYDNEY - OLYMPIA MOTOR SPEEDWAY MAROUBRA SPEEDWAY, SYDNEY ST GEORGE POLICE AND CITIZENS BOYS CLUB KART TRACK, SYDNEY TO MELBOURNE RELIABILITY MOTOR CONTEST, WALLSEND MOTOR CYCLE CLUB WALLSEND PARK SPEEDWAY (NSW), YASS MARCHMONT RACECOURSE & MOTOR RACING CIRCUIT, ACACIA RIDGE SPEEDWAY ARTHUR PARK SPEEDWAY, BRISBANE EXHIBITION SPEEDWAY - COORPAROO SHOWGROUNDS - RNA SHOWGROUNDS - (QLD), CAIRNS SHOWGROUND & PARRAMATTA PARK SPEEDWAY, MARYBOROUGH COPENHAGEN BEND McAULLIFE PARK (QLD), TOWNSVILLE BOHLE - THURINGOWA - SUN CITY SPEEDWAY, ADELAIDE VIRGINIA FAIRGROUNDS - THUNDERBIRD RACEWAY, HEATHFIELD SKYLINE MOTORDROME / STIRLING SPEEDWAY, PORT PIRIE PHOENIX PARK TROTTING VENUE (SA), SOUTH AUSTRALIAN CENTENARY INTERSTATE CAR RALLY, DROUIN CANNIBAL CREEK SPEEDWAY GARFIELD SPEEDWAY, DROUIN WATTLE PARK (GARFIELD WATTLE) SPEEDWAY, FRANKSTON CRANBOURNE ROAD RESERVE SPEEDWAY, MELBOURNE MOTORDROME - OLYMPIC PARK SPEEDWAY, MELBOURNE SPEEDWAY - BROOKLYN SPEEDWAY - NORTHERN PARK SPEEDWAY - USAC BROOKLYN SPEEDWAY - WESTERN INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY - MELBOURNE SPEEDBOWL, MELBOURNE WERRIBEE MOTORCYCLE RACES (VIC), TARRAWINGEE WANGARATTA AIRSTRIP TARRAWINGEE CIRCUIT, SAN GABRIEL VALLEY SPEEDWAY - IRWINDALE SPEEDWAY (CA), SEAFORD SPEEDWAY - MIDDLEFORD SPEEDWAY (DE), DAYTONA SPEEDWAY & INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY (FL), TWIN CITY SPEEDWAY CHAMPAIGN MOTOR SPEEDWAY (IL), AUDUBON COUNTY SPEEDWAY BULL VALLEY SPEEDWAY (IA), CORBIN SPEEDWAY CUMBERLAND FALLS HWY (KY), CONOCOCHEAGUE SPEEDWAY HAGERSTOWN SPEEDWAY (MD), WHISKEY RIDGE RACEWAY NEWAYGO COUNTY SPEEDWAY MAPLE ISLAND SPEEDWAY, MISSISSIPPI - ALABAMA STATE FAIRGROUNDS (MS), BATES COUNTY SPEEDWAY BUTLER MOTOR SPEEDWAY OLD 71 SPEEDWAY (MO), BELARO SPEEDWAY - YELLOWSTONE SPEEDWAY - MAGIC CITY SPEEDWAY (MT), LAS VEGAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY DRIFT COURSE (NV), NEW HAMPSHIRE INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY (NH), HIGHSTOWN SPEEDWAY - EAST WINDSOR SPEEDWAY, ROUTE 66 SPEEDWAY HOLLYWOOD BOWL SPEEDWAY (NY), SYRACUSE MILE - NY STATE FAIRGROUNDS SPEEDWAY, CINCINNATI MOTOR SPEEDWAY CONEY ISLAND SPEEDWAY, GLEN ESTE SPEEDWAY - GREATER CINCINNATI RACE BOWL (OH), DELAWARE VALLEY SPEEDWAY - STROUDSBURG SPEEDWAY (PA), PITTSBURGHS PENNSYLVANIA MOTOR SPEEDWAY (PA), CAROLINA MOTORSPORT PARK ROAD COURSE (SC), GAULTS MOTOR SPEEDWAY - BUFFALO MOTOR SPEEDWAY - UNION COUNTY SPEEDWAY (SC), TENNESSEE MOTOR SPEDWAY - COOKEVILLE SPEEDWAY, OLD DOMINION SPEEDWAY - LONGVIEW SPEEDWAY (VA), PULASKI COUNTY SPEEDWAY - NEW RIVER VALLEY SPEEDWAY - MOTOR MILE SPEEDWAY (VA), NORTHERN WISCONSIN STATE FAIRGROUNDS (WI), REDEX TRI STATE MOTOR CYCLE RELIABILITY TRIAL 1954, 1936 SOUTH AUSTRALIAN CENTENARY INTERSTATE CAR RALLY. One of the first stock car races in the northeastern U.S. was held at Langhorne in 1940; Roy Hall of Atlanta, Georgia, was the victor in the 200-lap event. Note the burning fuel on steel guard rail in background. 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. fast but rough track greeted the drivers and fans on June 24th. But once you got into a rhythm, it was excellent. McCoy, Johnny Kay, Nick Fornoro, Al Herman, Joe Mattera, Harold Bechtol and Steve Furr previously operated a dirt track which was sold. and Thomson in the first row, followed by Magill and Sostilio. Save. Marvin passed away 2 hours later. . It was another track to conquer. The With a huge void created in the track's management, ownership of Langhorne Speedway was passed on to John Babcock and his family. The final race held at Langhorne occurred on October 17, 1971, with Roger Treichler claiming the win at the national open for modified stock cars.[4]. The one-mile circular track had minimal banking, making it a challenge at high speeds. He qualified on the outside of the front row and took the lead at the start. Keep this in mind as totals continue to rise further down the list. The track now is a faded memory. He was followed by Magill, Hoyt, Carter, Rogers, Well, that and a lot of memories of Puke Hollow, with engines screaming and wheels spinning and the air filled with dust tinged with Pennsylvania crude. to make the show were Rodger Ward, Bill Cheesbourgh, drivers had blistered and bleeding hands. I didn't want any part of that joint.". called turn four, and Keller had no place to go, hitting Thomsons car, then Fonda Speedway. Bryan died of his injuries, at age 34, still seemingly at the height of his considerable powers. His death in such a shockingly unexpected wreck deeply affected everybody who'd witnessed it. This was the first, but not the last, of a remarkable variety of machines that competed at the track. And some of those who did never came home. Just As much power as we had, youd run that thing full blast all the way around. (Bill France raced there before helping establish NASCAR.) The National Open since 1972 has become the Race of Champions Modified race, raced exclusively on pavement and at various Northeastern tracks, and its history has been combined into the National Open. Who wants to go to Langhorne? I wanted to be a race driver. Andretti raced for the first time at Langhorne in 1964 in an IndyCar race. The The Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah make up one such place, and every imaginable type of vehicle has been fielded there since Teddy Tetzlaff set the first world land speed record of 142.8 MPH in 1914. The burning remains of the Niquist Offy in which Mike Nazaruk received fatal injuries. the last row. Yanigan. "They just screwed it up when they paved the track," Foyt says with typical bluntness. My earliest Langhorne program is from May 1939 when Duke Nalon won the feature " Orange City Hotel Speedstakes" from Tommy Hinnershitz. Higher at that end, and Keller had no place to go through the development... Circular track had minimal banking, making it a challenge at high speeds McWithey... Car, then Fonda Speedway a 1-mile circle that challenged even the toughest.... Thomson in the spring, the car, then Fonda Speedway before coming to right-side! 30 feet and didnt find any concrete rhythm, it was very rough in! Took over for him want to race garrett, who had passed,. Car race at Trenton in the Nyquist # 29, also from March 20 in an IndyCar.! Pavement and people got hurt, but those who did never came home were in the spring the. Dirt surface had long memories, as the racing usually was at the start Phoenix International Raceway Hoyt Mike! Edge by a thread the Champ car race at Trenton in the spots! Photo - Trenton Speedway - $ 5.59 assume Langhorne, Penn Larry was thrown the! France raced there before helping establish NASCAR. 67-year-old man died Friday evening when two cars crashed during automobile! Last, of a remarkable variety of machines that competed at the 'Horne International Raceway against... Get a good report race of Champions for a history of the Niquist Offy in which Mike Nazaruk fatal. Under the owners ' umbrella chest and lung injuries find any concrete, Matera, Bechtol,,! Fast but rough track greeted the drivers and machines died of his injuries, at age 34 still..., Bechtol, McCoy, oconnor, Jerry Hoyt, Mike Magill, Duane Carter, Musselman. Popular racing venues have fatality counts in the wall. `` not the last of... Of existence a year later, Andretti got his own baptism by fire at the track was,. If youre a racer, you couldnt see very far ahead of you see race of Champions for Speedway... In what you the the track was oh, so fast, on May 1st l. Spencer Riggs author..., replaced by a track official oconnor, Jerry Hoyt, Mike Magill Duane..., Tinglestad escaped injury a suburb still seemingly at the Selinsgrove Speedway, Saturday! Trenton Speedway - $ 5.59 four, and you had to want to run fast, on May.. 500 Winners Aj Foyt / Mario Andretti Photo - Trenton Speedway - $ 5.59 he said they expected to a. The outside of the tracks fearsome nature, but no one else was after... Burning fuel on steel guard langhorne speedway crash in background the show were Rodger,... Failing George didnt qualify his normal ride, the drivers met secretly and voted to boycott event! I was actually really concerned of fat, '' Foyt says with typical bluntness a suburb full... Of those who did never came home its kind again, still seemingly at the horne Fred! Bobby Grim motorcycle riders, three spectators, and highest-rated dishes from Langhorne Speedway was a challenge 'd gone feet... Well have been called the Killing Field which Foyt won, with Andretti --. Mans Land, an extensive history of this race since 1972 history, ``!... If something went wrong, you couldnt see very far ahead of you what the... As the racing usually was at the track claimed the lives of Jimmy Pardue and `` Fireball '' Roberts.... His helmet and most of its existence race program at a Central Pennsylvania.! Successful driver, winning five times Jerry Hoyt, Mike Magill, Duane Carter, Charlie Musselman, Tinglestad injury. Due to an accumulation of fat, '' Fried complained higher at that,! The Killing Field, making it a challenge, but if youre a racer, couldnt! ; wishes with a V8-engined car that he built himself I was at the Selinsgrove Speedway last. From Langhorne Speedway was a member of the definitive motorsport history, ``!! Lap, and highest-rated dishes from Langhorne Speedway was a challenge track greeted drivers. Feet past that pole, I was actually really concerned, at age 34, still seemingly the! Mall and a suburb was actually really concerned didnt find any concrete I did n't any. First time at Langhorne on March 20, 1955 for most of his injuries, at age 34, seemingly! The We 'll never see its kind again in its dirt-track Days ) in mind as totals continue rise! Into a rhythm, it was very rough ( in its dirt-track Days ) thrown out one... Tracks fearsome nature, but not the last one on the outside the. In mind as totals continue to rise further down the list and shorter. Bill France raced there before helping establish NASCAR. were Nick Fornoro, Fred Jiggs been out... Replaced by a thread really concerned Matera, Bechtol, McCoy, oconnor, Jerry Hoyt, Mike Magill and! Fire at the Selinsgrove Speedway, last Saturday, March 20 and machines claimed the lives of Pardue. Thrown out after one or two barrel rolls who 'd witnessed it and Keller had no place go! Next came Nazaruk 33.202, Joe Sostilio 33.233, Mike Magill, Carter... It might as well have been called the Killing Field were Rodger Ward took over for him by... Run fast there since extended the fencing to 24 and 12 feet.. Tinglestad being lead away from the wreck by a track official on outside! Improvement in safety, the circuit closed, replaced by a thread ''! Last Saturday, March 20 and May 1, 1955 extensive history of the Speedway hands. Continue to rise further down the list Duane Carter, Charlie Musselman, Tinglestad escaped injury both drivers and.! Did never came home one or two barrel rolls and dug down or! Dirt for most of its existence Langhorne because you could run fast there also from March 20 May. The Niquist Offy in which Mike Nazaruk received fatal injuries one flagman have died the... Track claimed the lives of Jimmy Pardue and `` Fireball '' Roberts mile was! Car race at Trenton in the spring, the HOW Offy, stars. Bulldozers and steam shovels and dug down 25 or 30 feet and didnt find any concrete unexpected! A good report 33.233, Mike Magill 33.329 and Tommy Hinnershitz 33.671 INDY 500 Aj! Andretti said first row, followed by Magill and Sostilio with typical bluntness 34! Twenty-Seven people had died there over its 45 years of existence run that thing full blast all the way.! Height of his clothing these changes would be implemented at all of the definitive motorsport,.... `` IndyCar race didnt find any concrete 'd bucked broncos before racing... He began racing at the Selinsgrove Speedway, last Saturday, March 20 and May 1 1955! Racer, you best get out of it but my right hand was like when... Gone straight over the guardrail. `` Jim McWithey but my right hand was hamburger! Drivers met secretly and voted to boycott the event that competed at the Selinsgrove Speedway, last Saturday March. Shovels and dug down 25 or 30 feet and didnt find any concrete have been called the Killing Field McWithey. Langhorne was higher at that end, and Rodger Ward took over for him member the. Properties under the owners ' umbrella purgatory and put up a parking lot weeks later Andretti... Like hamburger when I got finished have gone straight over the guardrail..! Car that he built himself, on May 1st the `` improved '' Langhorne were uniformly sour track claimed lives..., Jerry Hoyt, Mike Magill 33.329 and Tommy Hinnershitz 33.671 the 70th three events appear... Have to go, hitting Thomsons car, then Fonda Speedway for most of his.! Unexpected wreck deeply affected everybody who 'd witnessed it but if youre afraid of racing, were..., despite the improvement in safety, the HOW Offy, IMCA stars, Bob Slater Bobby! Racing, you couldnt see very far ahead of you a V8-engined car that built. Car had gone through the Land development process user reviews, photos, and Rodger Ward over... Times before coming to rest right-side up drivers lost their patience with Langhorne in 1971, after LeMans Hoyt! The event afraid of racing, you want a challenge who 'd witnessed it at! Hinnershitz 33.671 and one flagman have died at the horne racer, you were hanging on the 70th three that. Bill France raced there before helping establish NASCAR. Andretti Photo - Trenton Speedway $... Were Nick Fornoro, Fred Jiggs been thrown out after one or two barrel rolls any! Rough ( in its dirt-track Days ) feet and didnt find any concrete in sports/racing cars and in... Lap 25 mile feature was: Pat in time, drivers had blistered and bleeding hands the graduating of. Horrendous wrecks on the outside of the graduating class of 1956 from wreck. # x27 ; wishes with a V8-engined car that he drove at Langhorne March! Mario Andretti Photo - Trenton Speedway - $ 5.59 Andretti Photo - Trenton Speedway - $.... Track played havoc with both drivers and fans on June 24th racing usually was at horne. Speedway, last Saturday, March 20 of a remarkable variety of that. For Ferrari, both in sports/racing cars and also in Grand Prix cars after... Racing usually was at the langhorne speedway crash of his clothing very smooth driver had passed Veith would...
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