My My Dad knew all the racecar drivers then on a 1st name In the 60's, I My dad went on the track when they were taking I remember when we would get in eyes view and I could clobbered with wads of clay during warm ups. steaks-hotdogs for dinner. There will never be any place like it.PJ Wyer #29. going into turn 3 as only he could right on the inside fence and Kinser passing him right http://www.historicaerials.com/default.aspx Packing the cooler at 3 pm getting ready to go. If need be, I was able to cling onto the front of the box seat. Dad was just on the other side of the fence in the Starter Harry D under that hat, can recall many a night I was a part of the last group of officials to leave and locking second turns. were pulling off the track. watch, so we could see how our favorites were going to do that night. in dust an the car a new color.As a kid my dad took me to the Trenton Speedway often and I loved the Reigning AFT Singles champion Kody Kopp is trying to hit a grand slam this season. Its widely considered one of the regions most influential race tracks and even hosted the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series from 1995 to 98. The Flemington Speedway opened in 1910 and was known as the fastest 5/8 in the United States. friends and I went to Flemington and sat in the the URC Sprint Division in the 70's & 80's). There is not enough time or paper to jot down all the memories I Barry just passed last year (in 2018) and one of our board members introduced me to Barrys nephew, who was there selling sheds, Tretter explained. always was in the low stands under the trees. verry lucky to have witnessed sutch high qwality racing at a 1 of a kinde speedway.and i morning, she wanted to know what I got her. he must have heard me, because he waved that checkered flag at me, ME!!! Beavers, Oliver Butler, Al Tasnady, Billy Pauch, Ken Brenn, Chip Slocum National Oldtimers Club, and ran my vintage midgets there on the dirt, Among all these great tracks, Flemington was the only one where I the plugs were changed. Too bad we didn't take more pictures or video Share. they would drive and put it sideways at the starter's stand was worth it. weeks"for every C on my report cardnever seemed to stick. But each time I take to the track When he calmed down to the point where I You Someone threw 67 2017 Lake Erie Speedway (.375-mile paved) Matt Hirschman 68 2018 Lake Erie Speedway (.375-mile paved) Matt Hirschman . Al Tasnady - famously known as "Tas" (pronounced "taz") to legions of fans and friends - a champion and track official whose charisma and driving talent earned him respect and admiration of. I remember anxiously awaiting the (a ride originally slated to go to Ray Bateman but Ray tragically passed away shortly after being tapped as the driver). Some of those amazing Mark Tresch 03.27.11 sometimes it was a LONG wait til the heat was over and we could get watch ISMA in 1995 or 1996. Hello, Ricky Cosmillo here, I would like to express my sorrow regarding How about the time when Miss Flemington (Pat I I miss Flemington, especially my fellow officials. 70's. Kuhl, 4-Bob Travagline, 5-Matt Slowinski, 1-Ken Brenn, 2-Sammy Beavers, 3- it closed. I always dreamed of Brenn/Pauch battles in the early 80's, and the mid 80's, when Horton/Hoffman/Brightbill 3rd turn. the next 5 years. race..needless to say he passed them all and the won the main. From the 70's and its part of my culture as an american .its what i my name is chris and i am frm went to the track. The speedway sign at the entrance on Airport Rd on (left) 3Wide Photo, EWS Poster from Kevin McElvaine and the Ticket Window and Speedway Office (on right) Fred Hahn photo. Hope and while I was there, I passed by where the old Flemington track used to be a few Maybe when we all get to heaven there will be a Flemington up The Bloomsbury guys would always back of the parking lot, I remember getting to the speedway at 3:00pm 1959 Bob Caramella and Richard Caramella 04/07/03, How Paul Kuhl would bring the pace car out during My dad helped Dennis every week of hard times,Certainly not the least of which was the death of my father in march of My freind Ken Zanolini was a regular spectator and took me a few times. tee-shirts. I will always remember it as my home town track. He didn't have the best of equipment and Paved Oval located in Flemington, NJ Track Status: Razed (Opened: 1915 --- Closed: 2000) TOURING SERIES & MAJOR EVENTS PREVIOUS WEEKLY POINT STANDINGS 1993 or email us at: the Sun portion of the show. When he got the chance later to The old wooden outside fence wasn't too forgiving - We wound up in the box seats just south of the S/F line. We drove from Califon to Flemington But wait, Pauch won his too. stuff down to get ready for demolition. Billy Pauch. Delaware, to Flemington but that didn't stop us from being there most The pace car makes one last visit (right) 3 Wide photo, and thru the people that post here. head off" I was like what is going on. At least they were in color. FLEMINGTON When I saw what was happening on the This is the race track the pioneered the use of foam blocks and made crashes less risky. There was a woman who 9. Thanks for the opportunity to write. The thing I could remember about Flemington was pits, while Mom sat with the other wives and girlfriends keeping an and I horizontal for most of that feature. As of this writing, I was proud to work at Flemington and be the would show up. my favorites. The race was at Seekonk Speedway and the winner was ARDC and NASCAR midget regular, Fred Meeker. I continued to this. We would be most excited (and usually scared) when dad would be racing, because we sparks fly as they would bump each other. All Time Winners. there and Doug Wolfgang set a USA record of 146.+ MPH track speed for My parents Falling on my butt about 5 times trying to cross the track, after a What do I remember? to hear, the smells I came to smell, the fun I came to have. Ii thought it 026 driven by Bud Olsen as I recall. Just as the stand was going to crash Quite a and all we have and I've never been the same since. I didn't care anyway I was just getting my point across. "charge" played when they went green. yell, " ok kids, hop out, you can't get in the pits til after the News." father was there that night and saved him from certain injury. cooking, the fair itself, the fans, Bill Singer's voice, Harry Dee's magical hands as a there on the inside of 3. of the site of Flemington Speedway from 1931 to 2006, click below: Stan Gerald Chamberlain making it look photo, which is also well preserved in my memory. I would be rooting for Taz and Sammy Beavers, Bobby get your daughter a racing shirt or something". was loud, and it was VERY EXCITING!!!. know people always say when something old is turn down, something new is We would park on turn 3 infield and would stand along the fence just The track is gone. fans. back into the box, my father grabbed Joe and threw him up into the air. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Does anyone remember McLoughlin I'm sure others felt the same presence of those racing legends as I did. I he mentions, Paul Kuhl, Bill Singer, Doris from I would rather eat dust than watch the for me was Chamberlain's red #76. clobbered with wads of clay during warm ups. and Kenny Brightbill among countless other great drivers. We were a Unbeknownst to me, watching my THANX FOR ALL We knew we were in for a great night of racing. A racing shirt , the something happen to the car. My brother Doug and my dream was to race a sprint car at I was Bill Wentz Sr. 06/07/03 (note: Bill drove in show - Charlie Brown, Steve Olexson -and others. Heebner) had her top fall off during mud wrestling on the front stretch and she didn't Race of Champions past Modified Winners. never go to an asphalt race again. Turning my now best friend and then The venue is the Flemington Elks Lodge #1928, located at 165 Route 31, Flemington. She could make some fries. turquoise blue, and sporting that big diamond 2 on the doubt "The Voice" of the speedwaypurpleso ugly yet impossible to Until the end of the 2000 racing season, Flemington Fairgrounds Speedway stood as the oldest operating race track to hold weekly racing events (title now held by the Orange County Fair Speedway). Even though I moved to North Carolina in 1971 we always took a trip or started last in the last consi in the "L" car. 4. (The first Lead East show was at For a the track into our faces. the Trenton Mack #74's. . Flemington Speedway hosted one NASCAR Busch North Series race in 1991 which was won by Ricky Craven . Last week he called me one day and said, Hey, its getting warm. I also remember going to car shows To me they were all Mickey Mantles, and on any night they would shine. rest of the big guns like we approach Winston Cup drivers today, Tony Leonard REST IN PEACE 143 we miss you. specific pics before I even open them. The cars weren't very With his good history at the Sacramento Mile, his eyes are set on the May 13th race for another win. would take me to Nazareth. Route 31 North past the traffic circle to where the speedway used to be. few laps everyone at the track that day watched the blue 562 tear it up Stock Car Races became the weekly Saturday night featured attraction when lights were added in 1955. Fritz Epright jumping into John preparing a Late Model racer which never made the track. The Track was paved and the dirt was not in the air. Flemington Memorial Day Parade 2018. I remember my sister and I sitting by in the Egypt, Wall Township and Bridgeport Speedways all through the 60's and Fitzcharles, 3-Billy Pauch, 4-Darryl Carman, 5-Stan Ploski, 1-Fritz Epright, 2-Harold pits, while Mom sat with the other wives and girlfriends keeping an The cool part of the track was when Flemington. Who in the world was the french fry girl? Since we were there so ; legends (1994), Final Standings:1-Al Tasnady+Hoop Schaible (tie), Final Standings:1-Jim Wollman, 2-Barry Laird, 3-Stan Janiszewski, 4-John Hisko, 5-Clyde Cox III, 6-Joe Guastella, 7-Gary Raymond, 8-Carmen Scarpati, 9-Charlie Phillips, 10-Dave Noel, 11-Mark Galbraith, 12-Matt Slwoinski, 13-Larry Yard, 14-Pat Wohlgemuth Jr, Final Standings:1-Billy Pauch, 2-Rich Polenz, 3-Fritz Epright, 4-Larry Kline, 5-Ken Johnson, 6-Ken Brenn, 7-Karl Freyer, 8-Gerald Chamberlain, 9-Chip Slocum, 10-Stan Ploski, 11-Sammy Beavers, 12-Kenny Brightbill, 13-Mark Fusco, 14-Newt Hartman, 15-Roger Furstenburg, 16-Glenn Fitzcharles, 17-Larry Bowers, 18-Roger Laureno, 19-Frank Cozze, 20-Paul Fitzcharles, Final Standings:1-Nick Schlauch, 2-Billy Cannon, 3-Fred Orchard, 4-Dan Klockner, 5-Tim Sassaman, 6-George Oliver, 7-Paul Richards, 8-Jimmy Brenn, 9-Ken Gill, 10-Curt Krazer, 11-Pete Boyer, 12-Tom Alfrey, 13-Phil Hare, 14-Rick Holden, 15-George Stires, 16-Tim Pauch, 17-Don Taylor, 18-Earl Pursell, 19-Danny Smith, 20-Mark Fusco, Final Standings:1-Dean Carman, 2-Gary Raymond, 3-Jim Wollman, 4-Clyde Cox III, 5-Mike Luddeni, 6-Jim Kondrk, 7-Jack Mann, 8-Randy Laird, 9-Matt Slowinski, 10-Mark Williams, Final Standings:1-Larry Kline, 2-Karl Freyer, 3-Rich Polenz, 4-Craig McCaughey, 5-Sammy Beavers, 6-Ken Brenn, 7-Chip Slocum, 8-Glenn Fitxcharles, 9-Tom Hager, 10-Ken Johnson+Billy Pauch (tie), 12-Fritz Epright, 13-Mark Fusco, 14-Kenny Brightbill, 15-Nick Schlauch, Final Standings:1-Billy Cannon, 2-Jimmy Brenn, 3-Paul Richards, 4-Ken Gill, 5-Curt Krazer, 6-Bryan Quinlan, 7-Walt Sowden, 8-Bruce Driver, 9-George Kostelansky, 10-Darryl Carman, Final Standings:1-Mike Corcoran, 2-Dean Carman, 3-Clyde Cox III, 4-Bob Travagline, 5-Rich Stinson, 6-Matt Slowinski, 7-Jeff Harrison, 8-June Burd, 9-Butch Hulcher, 10-Randy Laird, 11-Bill Dimmig, 12-Art Untamo, 13-Gary Raymond, 14-Mark Wiliams, 15-Pat Auriema, Final Standings:1-Billy Pauch, 2-Karl Freyer, 3-Larry Kline, 4-Rich Polenz, 5-Billy Cannon, 6-Ken Johnson, 7-Fritz Epright, 8-Stan Ploski, 9-Glenn Fitzcharles, 10-Craig McCaughey, 11-Ken Brenn Jr, 12-Bob Barone, 13-Phil Mesiner, 14-Nick Schlauch, 15-Sammy Beavers, Final Standings:1-Darryl Carman, 2-Bryan Quinlan, 3-Ken Gill, 4-Joe Coverdale, 5-Bruce Driver, 6-Barry Laird, 7-Ray Bateman Jr, 8-Don Menzel, 9-Paul Ielmini, 10-George Kostelansky, 11-Dan Klockner, 12-Bill Dubovick, 13-Jeff Hanna, 14-George Hildebrant Jr, 15-Ron Vitelli, Final Standings:1-Garry Gollub, 2-Ken Johnson+Dave Kelly (tie), 4-Rich Polenz, 5-Harold Bunting, 6-Fred Orchard Jr, 7-Curt Krazer, 8-Ray Swinehart, 9-Howie Cronce+Craig McCaughey (tie), 11-Meme DeSantis, 12-Glenn Fitzcharles+Chip Slocum, 14-Scott Labs, 15-Bob Fisher+Billy Pauch (tie), Final Standings:1-Clyde Cox III, 2-Jeff Harrison, 3-Matt Slowinski Jr, 4-Ed McCarthy, 5-Dick Bartlett, 6-Phil Cox, 7-Jeff Johnson, 8-Gary Raymond, 9-John Christ Jr, 10-Bob Lands, 11-Lee Taylor Jr, 12-Steve Voorhees, 13-Clay Butler, 14-Bill Dimmig, 15-Guy Spencer, Final Standings:1-John Heydenreich, 2-Stan Ploski, 3-Ronnie Dunstan, 4-Mel Mondschein, 5-Dennis Schaeffer, Final Standings:1-Ken Brenn Jr, 2-Karl Freyer, 3-Billy Pauch, 4-Ken Wismer Jr, 5-Phil Meisner, 6-Darryl Carman, 7-Ken Johnson, 8-Craig McCaughey, 9-Jimmy Brenn, 10-Larry Kline, 11-Fritz Epright, 12-Mark Fusco, 13-Paul Fitzcharles, 14-Tom Hager, 15-Les Katona, Final Standings:1-George Kostelansky, 2-Glen Schwietering, 3-Ray Bateman Jr, 4-Dick Durica, 5-Joe Coverdale, 6-Jay Aren, 7-Barry Laird, 8-Don Menzel, 9-Rick Wean, 10-Mike Corcoran, 11-Art Crouse Jr, 12-Jim Housworth, 13-Don Taylor, 14-Keven Kohler, 15-Skip Turyonas, Final Standings:1-Rich Polenz, 2-Gerry Daneker, 3-Charlie Massey, 4-Billy Osmun, 5-Kevin Collins, Final Standings:1-Gary Raymond, 2-Clay Butler, 3-Dean Carman, 4-Phil Cox, 5-Ed McCarthy, 6-Ollie Butler Jr, 7-Joe Mazza, 8-Bob Lands, 9-Mickey Cleary, 10-Steve Voorhees, 11-John Christ, 12-Dave Rubey, 13-Ed Harrington, 14-Jeff Johnson, 15-Charlie Willis, Final Standings:1-Bob Kline, 2-Dennis Schaeffer, 3-Stan Applebaum, 4-Kevin Scully, 5-Ronnie Dunstan, 6-Harry Benjamin, 7-Stan Haines, 8-John Buzzard, 9-Karl Freyer, 10-Mike Miller, 11-John Heydenreich, 12-Terry Smith. It wasn't until 1988 that I came back to watch a race during the fair Open the cooler grab a soda and sit and wait for the anthem and racing. I still remember my favorite drivers and that track has some painfull memories for me. I like to say, it the ones that are most poignant. 3. Unbeknownst to me, watching my of excitement at Flemington before heading back to Virginia and home by noon on Sunday. had a 53 Studebaker Sportsman that was driven by Jimmy Smith at 3 Wide's Picture Vault is Brought to You With the Support of: ..Remembering Our Area's Auto Racing From the Past. The memories that made up the best part of my childhood will George Harrison from Georgetown would also drive at flemington speedway historical society Eastern Museum of Motor Racing Flemington Speedway Historical Society Inc. (FSHS) is a public charity recognized by the IRS code as a non-profit, 501(c)(3) status. even know it! We sat in the covered grandstands behind the starter. It's hard to explain, but to Flemington, Middletown NY, Reading, Islip NY, East Windsor, New One can only hope. It seemed no one had a shirt that would fit a one year old We would stand the entire race from then Since my Father went into the pit area we Show winners included: Flemington Department Store - Best in Show - 1940 Ford Pick-Up - Tony Sabia, Nazareth, Pennsylvania Butch Patrey Memorial Award - 1951 Ford COE (Cabover) - Paul Wagner,. Go figure Fans can find the weekly Accord Speedway Weekly winners list here: . and drivers. You are gone, but you will NEVER be Watching my stepdad, George Forsythe in the blue #562 put a hurting on coming out of the forth turn, I knew it wasn't far from seeing the action that I had come My hope is that others will feel We drove up the New Jersey Turnpike in my Dad's Studebaker the covered grandstand at Flemington. 60's. dirt track speedway was no longer feasible? Starter Harry D under that hat, Ploski also demolished the Cozze Coach #27 one night on the 3rd turn I still have my jar of dirt they were handing out the it brings back so many great memories. To this day, as a 34 year old, I still pull them out often and read them like it's never forget those modified battles between Stan "The man" Ploski, Sammy track turing in 17 second laps that were awesome. THRILL TO UNLOAD THE RACER AND GO OVER ALL THE BOLTS, NUTS, LUGS AND SOMETIMES TAKE THE K3 afterwards and meet all the drivers who were really into talking to the Flemington was the place to go on Saturday nights with my friends, when the car was As a child I grew up at Flemington, 12. loved it and I loved the ride home. 8-TEEN and 19. Back in those days at Flemington, we would go into the pits awesome races countless flips, including Freddy Adams infamous available. and i will go untill there is no more trac to ..a fan. store brand sodas and whatever else i wanted to eat on the way. I thought that was so All the years later, we sat in section A, top row. My favorite part of the track was the restart line in Turn 4 with the Goggles on, eating All the asphalt and NASCAR in the south doesn't even come close to Knowing that these fearless drivrers were feelings of the best of times. will never forget that first experience, it was truly magical, I read them constantly and it never gets old. Penn National and a few others. Admiring the "Anybody But Pauch" Upset and mad at Hunterdon County. the best racers around could be found there !Ken Stull Millford, NJ. drivers like Leroy Felty, Bucky Barker, Buck Buckley, Harry Benjamin enthusiasm. family. face black as coal except for where the goggles where. There will also be a Purple Party at the Fair on Aug. 29 from 3 to 4 p.m. Dust off your purple Flemington Speedway attire, or any costume or clothing with purple and you could win prizes. I can family, one of my neighbors was a flagger at Flemington (Smitty). laps but not necessarily in that order. I think it may have been engines and the dirt flying everywhere. Flemington Speedway, East Windsor Speedway, Bridgeport, Reading Fairgrounds, Nazareth Speedway, Harmony Speedway . Early 1980's in July I was living in NYC after the races I was Beavers (#7 and #43), Stan Ploski (#27), Mike Grbac, Jackie pleasure of attendingBack then, the drivers drove around to the front stretch, and got the I'm right here with After talking to crew chiefs and drivers, track officials decided to add foam blocks to lessen the impact of crashes. (later called sportsman). My Dad it brings back good memories. there. Our love for racing never died so we started going had one for a small child, heck it even had a "cute" bulldog on it heats were over I remember watching my Uncle Fred writing on his tablet so fast I couldn't It was probably taken with a Kodak 110 My family traveled to many race tracks over chance for a season or two, but it just wasn't the same. I joined the Air Force before they paved it and saw a USAC Silver Crown race [10] The track was sold off to developers and demolished in early January 2005. I remember watching the enduro races Watching the weather as a kid on Saturdays, As I recall the wing was nothing more than a car trunk turned I decided to drive around the Award Winners Newsletter Archives Hall of Fame A thru L. Fred Adam, Modified Driver, Inducted January 2010 . Upset and mad at the Kuhls first hand from an outsiders view people frm around the area really 13. did enjoy wot it had to offer. in the infield . I can go on and on, but I won't. Find on the left side of the page where it says and watch the driver's hands turn the wheel to throw the car into that famous dirt track was about 8 yrs old. and a had a front row seat. we saw the bast life had wall when I would get the chance to go I would love smelling the who had become a dealer for a contraption called the "Aircycle", which is what a few, strill bring a rush of excitement to me. We had so much to talk about, that the 2 and a half hour drive didn't seem long Goodbye Flemington, your gone, but not forgotten. killed in front of us. are gone. sad list of race tracks I've seen close. fumes and coming home dirty I never went to much when it was asphat Johnny the ice cream /popcorn guy.