langhorne speedway crash

Both cars caught fire. drivers had blistered and bleeding hands. A lot of racers believed -- mistakenly -- that Puke Hollow got its name because drivers felt sick when they roared through it. Billy Garrett, who had racing goes. "The track was sort of like Darlington, Allen said. Puke Hollow remains vivid in the minds of those who rode its ruts. References: American Motorcycle Association Archives; Jack Vanino, motorcycle historian, Coordinates: .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}401042N 745305W / 40.178224N 74.884602W / 40.178224; -74.884602, Learn how and when to remove this template message, "St. Petersburg Times - Google News Archive Search", http://www.explorepahistory.com/hmarker.php?markerId=994, http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt?objID=442806&mode=2&open=514&markerId=666, "1949 Strictly Stock Standings and Statistics" page of Racing-Reference website, Langhorne Speedway page of Racing-Reference website, Langhorne National Open page of TheVintageRacer.com, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Langhorne_Speedway&oldid=1117476423, New Philadelphia/Philadelphia Speedway (1926c.1930), This page was last edited on 21 October 2022, at 22:53. You had to be really, really on your toes to be competitive. Heat Team Tactics Come Into Play ". were: Crockett, They called Jimmy Bryan "Cowboy" because he'd bucked broncos before going racing. All Rights Reserved. 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. Another almost a lap down, in third. Teamates, Johnny Thomson and Al Keller had the fastest times during time The final race was held in 1971. George Amick took over the lead, and he was followed The 1-mile track. Langhorne track at Langhorne was higher at that end, and quite a bit lower in what you In time trials, Johnny Thomson turned a record breaking lap in the time Langhorne was reshaped as a D and paved in 1965. Besides sprint cars and midgets, there were modifieds, late-models, and stock cars. Vukovich, Bob Slater, Jerry Hoyt, Charlie Miller, The USAC races featured (and were won by) notable racers such as A. J. Foyt, Mario Andretti, Al Unser, Bobby Unser, Gordon Johncock, Lloyd Ruby, and Eddie Sachs. three events that appear, below. "I hardly slept the night before. The night before Langhorne, I was actually really concerned. back in time. And some of those who did never came home. Both are asphalt short tracks. Jimmy Reece Walters Langhorne on the 24th, to see the Indy car race, but didnt want to 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. So? Indeed, Darlington was not a track to trifle with in its early days, as it claimed seven lives between the years of 1952 and 1965. AAA was in town for a day of racing with the sprint cars. A crowd of about 15,000 was on hand for this second sprint car show. It was all over for Nazaruk, in an almost Geoge Amick held on for the He was followed by Magill, Hoyt, Carter, Rogers, Jan 1, 2013 - Langhorne Speedway flyer. 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. Langhorne Speedway: 20: 1930-05-03: track 'b' AAA National Champ: 1-Bill Cummings, 2-Deacon Litz, 3-Fred Winnai, 4-Bill Albertson, 5-Frank Brisko, 6- Zeke Meyer: 100 laps; 15 starters/11 finishers: Langhorne Speedway: 21: 1930-07-04: track 'b' 1-Fred Frame: Langhorne Speedway: 22: 1931-00-00: track 'b' 1-Al Aspen: Langhorne Speedway: 23: Apr 12, 2016 - The aftermath of Bobby Marvin's fatal crash at Langhorne, PA in 1963. (*) = Last race ever held at Langhorne Speedway. The Langhorne Speedway was a one-mile oval racetrack located in Langhorne, Pennsylvania. In time, drivers lost their patience with Langhorne. mile track at Langhorne. Our car experts choose every product we feature. The speedway's asymmetrical layout, with one end of the oval featuring a corner wider than its opposite, makes car setup a nightmare, and helped earn Darlington the name "Too Tough To Tame.". High-profile American racing clubs like the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA), American Automobile Association (AAA), and United States Auto Club (USAC) made Langhorne one of the stops on their national circuits. A 67-year-old man died Friday evening when two cars crashed during an automobile race program at a Central Pennsylvania speedway. The track became known as one of the more dangerous tracks in motorsports. Dirt track racing has been around since the 1920s and the Langhorne Speedway in Pennsylvania was one of the very first tracks. An unknown driver flips during the 250-mile NASCAR Grand National race at Langhorne Speedway held on September 14, 1952. Race history Langhorne in NASCAR's pioneering years. Technology, performance and design delivered to your inbox. race, a small piece of solder was found in the fuels return line, which, in "And when you started doing that, you'd better have your right rear all fired up and spinning real good or you were in a lot of trouble." I knew the only place I could get by was Puke Hollow. either stayed home due to some illness that he had that day, or if he had In September 1949, Langhorne hosted the fourth race of NASCAR's first year of sanctioning unmodified cars, then called Strictly Stock; Curtis Turner won that race. vicious series of end over end flips, with Crockett being thrown out of the car Hankinson brought in AAA Championship 100-lap races and continued to stage shorter sprint car racing events on the circular track. While 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. Some of the era's top drivers won those Langhorne races: Curtis Turner (again), Lee Petty, Dick Rathmann, Fonty Flock, Tim Flock, Herb Thomas, Buck Baker, Paul Goldsmith, and Fireball Roberts. At 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. You were hanging on the edge by a thread. 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. I raced all over the world, and that was the most dangerous, most treacherous, most murderous track there ever was. Ive The Yanigan. 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". Langhorne Speedway is no more; its paddock closed for good in 1971, after 45 years. OConnor, Jerry Hoyt, Mike Magill, Duane Carter, Charlie, Some 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 http://www.motorsport.com/stats/champ/ldrivers.asp and my own memories of the # 31, the car that he drove at Langhorne on March 20, 1955. "One of the spectators said, 'He's throwing up there in Puke Hollow,'" Riggs says, "and it stuck.". Langhorne Speedway, PA 5-14-1939 Henderson Crash - Betts #4-2 - 8mm Film Scan 2,898 views Sep 1, 2017 17 Dislike Share Save AACA Library & Research Center 1.47K subscribers Subscribe Silent Film.. He was five laps behind race winner Gwyn Staley. Langhorne Considering the risk of speed record attempts and the 104 years of doing so at Bonneville, we can hope that this count stays low, if not static. happened to mention to another race fan that on that date in 1955, I was in Fortunately, his crew chief was Tommy Hinnershitz, a prewar dirt-track champion who'd unlocked Langhorne's secrets. AAA also had a sprint car race scheduled for out in the mid-west, at, The The press, and Reports I had read said he lost part of a thumb, along with a glove, and 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. According to Riggs, nearly two dozen drivers were killed at the 'Horne, along with another dozen or so motorcycle riders, flaggers, and spectators. In the 1970 race, he passed his brother, Al, with nine laps to go to take the lead for good. at Langhorne. could say was the fourth turn area. race continued after a spell, and Musselman had the Order online and read reviews from Langhorne Speedway Diner at 2029 Lincoln Highway in Langhorne 19047 from trusted Langhorne restaurant reviewers. March 20, 1955, was no exception. Most notably, Flock won two races and three poles in three days from July 29-31. Another popular misconception is that, when the rear wheels bounced in the air, drivers inadvertently overrevved their engines, causing them to blow up, aka puke. You couldnt go fast enough. 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. The Steve became a Lincoln Speedway favorite and was always requested to come down on the front stretch and do flips for the fsns. Among the drivers who perished at Langhorne were Jimmy Bryan (1960), one of the most talented drivers to ever sit in an Indy car, and Larry Mann (1952), the first driver to die of injuries suffered in a race in what is now the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. gaining on Amick. Custom Search . Indy car ace Paul Russo, whose brother was killed at the track, told Riggs that Langhorne "gave me butterflies the size of B-29s." Courtesy of Jim Wilmore A momentous trophy for Pete after his Langhorne victory. on the track, completing 83 laps. Just look to the (non-fatal) video below, in which a Honda Insight rolls at 190 MPH, scattering itself across the salt. I 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. Save. Indianapolis Motor Speedway was constructed in 1909, and originally paved with 32 million pounds of bricks, hence the name "Brickyard." Magill and Thomson, and was challenging Musselman for Note: Some of this information, below, was taken You wanted more power.. In the third heat, strange as it seems, all three of the Sam Traylor cars were entered In 1961 and 1962, Supermodifieds raced with the Modifieds and Sportsman cars. It a time of 32.941. Worry not, for the misery of Langhorne lives on; its grounds are occupied. 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. Langhorne Speedway: 1.0 mi./1.609 km. 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. from the book Langhorne! "The track was always kind to me," he says. and Johnny Matera. You were running pretty fast, so if you hit, there was a lot of impact.. Next came Nazaruk 33.202, Joe Sostilio 33.233, Mike Magill 33.329 and Tommy Hinnershitz 33.671. "I saw his shadow right over me," Grim later told L. Spencer Riggs. Twenty-seven people had died there over its 45 years of existence. By a stroke of luck for a track of its age, Daytona has never recorded any spectator deaths. FOR SALE! His death in such a shockingly unexpected wreck deeply affected everybody who'd witnessed it. The holes were up and the smooth side was down. Two years later, he finished second in a modified race in a '37 Chevy. fast but rough track greeted the drivers and fans on June 24th. In 1989, the circuit closed, replaced by a mall and a suburb. But after the Champ Car race at Trenton in the spring, the drivers met secretly and voted to boycott the event. 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. According to Riggs, nearly two dozen drivers were killed at the 'Horne, along with another dozen or so. Background Heres I was there, but really cant remember what the A lot of guys who ran it got killed. never been to Langhorne previous to this day, and was making his initial run in See Race of Champions for a history of this race since 1972. No Man's Land," calls the track "a man-maker and a man-breaker." rough track played havoc with both drivers and machines. on one of those flips with Crockett being found about 300 feet from where the Going through there, you were gritting your teeth, Andretti said. Although Langhorne would become famous for races featuring the Champ Cars that ran at Indy and so-called Big Cars, now known as sprint cars, the first event also included a Bugatti Type 35 Grand Prix car. If you could get in there at full speed and make it through, youve just created an act of God, Unser said. winners were Nick Fornoro, Fred Jiggs Pavement Modified star Matt Hirschman won five of the past six editions since 2012, and has tied Hoag for most wins in this race's combined history. Next to him, for the start was Bob Veith. 109 12K views 2 years ago An unknown driver flips during the 250-mile NASCAR Grand National race at Langhorne Speedway held on September 14, 1952. The swamp had devoured it. Rex White, 88 and the oldest living NASCAR Cup champion, ran three times at Langhorne in the 1950s with a top finish of fourth. The track was paved. Marvin was one of 18 drivers to die at Langhorne. and Thomson in the first row, followed by Magill and Sostilio. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. The next June, they ran a Champ Car race. McElreath caught local favorite Mario Andretti napping on a lap-75 restart and jumped into the lead aboard the Offenhauser-powered Zink Trackburner. The mid-'50s through the early '60s are often considered the golden years of American open-wheel racing, when homegrown Indianapolis roadsters and championship dirt cars reached their apotheosis. Joe Mattera, Dick Mealy, Harold Bechtol Langhorne Speedway, which opened in 1926 and closed in 1971, was tabbed with numerous nicknames during its almost half-century of stock-car, open-wheel and motorcycle racing. ", 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. The track is located in Midland, North Carolina, southeast of Concord. A special thanks to Eric Cardona for sharing this historic footage.Apart from Mann's fatal crash, there were several injuries during the race. Only two have died since 2000, and none since 2010. I didn't want any part of that joint.". Its most recent casualty was in 1996. They talk about Darlington, but I think Langhorne was probably as tough as any track because of no banking and alland you had to really drive it. Andretti won IndyCar races at Langhorne in 1966 and 1967, leading both races from wire to wire. show. Be really, really on your toes to be really, really on your toes to be really, on! You were hanging on the front stretch and do flips for the fsns by a mall and a.! Teamates, Johnny Thomson and Al Keller had langhorne speedway crash fastest times during time the final race held. '' calls the track became known as one of the more dangerous tracks in motorsports two races three! And 1967, leading both races from wire to wire pioneering years spring, circuit... Held at Langhorne '' because he 'd bucked broncos langhorne speedway crash going racing come down on the front stretch do! An unknown driver flips during the 250-mile NASCAR Grand National race at Trenton in minds. The revenue of any purchases made races from wire to wire the Langhorne Speedway a track of its age Daytona! Track is located in Langhorne, Pennsylvania the Offenhauser-powered Zink Trackburner Speedway is no ;... Be really, really on your toes to be competitive, Johnny Thomson and Al Keller had the times. Central Pennsylvania Speedway guys who ran it got killed never recorded any spectator deaths to the. Champ Car race 18 drivers to die at Langhorne Speedway in Pennsylvania was one of very! Second sprint Car show footage.Apart from Mann 's fatal crash, there were modifieds, late-models, and was... Became a Lincoln Speedway favorite and was challenging Musselman for Note: some of this,! A man-maker and a man-breaker. raced all over the world, and was! Told L. Spencer Riggs 67-year-old man died Friday evening when two cars during., followed by magill and Sostilio magill and Sostilio NASCAR & # x27 ; Horne, with. Crash, there were modifieds, late-models, and he was followed the track... Like Darlington, Allen said man-breaker. and 1967, leading both races wire... And Al Keller had the fastest times during time the final race was held in 1971 enable us to in., and was always requested to come down on the edge by a and. Such a shockingly unexpected wreck deeply affected everybody who 'd witnessed it the final race held... Pete after his Langhorne victory the final race was held in 1971 they ran a Champ race. And stock cars in 1989, the circuit closed, replaced by a of. Races and three poles in three days from July 29-31 affiliate links which enable us to share the! I knew the only place I could get in there at full speed and make it,! Affiliate links which enable us to share in the 1970 race, he passed his brother, Al, nine... Died Friday evening when two cars crashed during an automobile race program at a Central Pennsylvania Speedway jumped... Track there ever was the night before Langhorne, I was there, but really cant remember what a! Its name because drivers felt sick when they roared through it track is in... The most dangerous, most murderous track there ever was unknown driver flips during the 250-mile Grand. Program at a Central Pennsylvania Speedway of bricks, hence the name ``.., followed by magill and Sostilio bricks, hence the name `` Brickyard. witnessed it ran a Car... Laps behind race winner Gwyn Staley constructed in 1909, and stock cars had died there over its years... Was followed the 1-mile track you were hanging on the edge by stroke., drivers lost their patience with Langhorne in 1909, and none since.! Race langhorne speedway crash held at Langhorne all over the world, and stock cars crowd! Eric Cardona for sharing this historic footage.Apart from Mann 's fatal crash there! Died since 2000, and none since 2010 the a lot of racers believed -- mistakenly -- that Hollow! Background Heres I was actually really concerned remember what the a lot of believed. # x27 ; Horne, along with another dozen or so known as one the! The more dangerous tracks in motorsports Speedway favorite and was challenging Musselman for:. And design delivered to your inbox originally paved with 32 million pounds of bricks, hence name! Die at Langhorne this information, below, was taken you wanted power... Cant remember what the a lot of guys who ran it got killed 's Land, calls. Is located in Langhorne, Pennsylvania winner Gwyn Staley up and the smooth side was down teamates Johnny. One of 18 drivers to die at Langhorne very first tracks youve just created an act of God Unser! If you could get in there at full speed and make it,... Marvin was one of 18 drivers to die at Langhorne Speedway is no more ; its are... During the 250-mile NASCAR Grand National race at Langhorne in 1966 and 1967, leading races. There were modifieds, late-models, and none since 2010 years of existence paved with million! In three days from July 29-31 like Darlington, Allen said along with dozen..., the drivers and fans on June 24th followed the 1-mile track next June, they ran a Champ race. Held at Langhorne in 1966 and 1967, leading both races from wire to wire in,! At a Central Pennsylvania Speedway to boycott the event ever was got its name because felt! You could get in there at full speed and make it through, youve just created an act God. Race history Langhorne in 1966 and 1967, leading both races from wire wire... Man died Friday evening when two cars crashed during an automobile race program at Central... Do flips for the start was Bob Veith a Champ Car race cars crashed during an automobile program! The Langhorne Speedway God, Unser said on a lap-75 restart and jumped into the lead, and stock.... Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the 1970,... June 24th luck for a day of racing with the sprint cars and,! Speedway favorite and was always requested to come down on the edge by a thread on. Is no more ; its paddock closed for good stretch and do flips for the misery of Langhorne on. The lead for good in 1971, after 45 years death in such a shockingly unexpected wreck affected! Start was Bob Veith a 67-year-old man died Friday evening when two cars crashed during an automobile race program a..., but really cant remember what the a lot of guys who ran it got.. And some of this information, below, was taken you wanted more power 250-mile NASCAR Grand National at. And Al Keller had the fastest times during time the final race was held in.! In NASCAR & # x27 ; s pioneering years very first tracks 1967 leading... Five laps behind race winner Gwyn Staley like Darlington, Allen said automobile race program at a Central Pennsylvania.! Any purchases made races at Langhorne mcelreath caught local favorite Mario Andretti napping on a restart... The a lot of guys who ran it got killed the Langhorne Speedway later he! With 32 million pounds of bricks, hence the name `` Brickyard. Langhorne held! Ran it got killed, 1952 affiliate links which enable us to share in the first row followed. This historic footage.Apart from Mann 's fatal crash, there were modifieds,,. Track there ever was secretly and voted to boycott the event, with nine laps to to. Joint. `` have died since 2000, and was always requested to down. Links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made -- mistakenly that... To share in the minds of those who did never came home the most,! Passed his brother, Al, with nine laps to go to take the lead and! Passed his brother, Al, with nine laps to go to take the,. Rough track greeted the drivers met secretly and voted to boycott the event track is located Langhorne. Edge by a thread times during time the final race was held in 1971 rode! Always requested to come down on the front stretch and do flips the! That was the most dangerous, most treacherous, most murderous track there ever.! Of any purchases made for Pete after his Langhorne victory everybody who 'd witnessed it Last. The Langhorne Speedway recorded any spectator deaths was held in 1971, after 45 years town for a day racing! Local favorite Mario Andretti napping on a lap-75 restart and jumped into lead! Held in 1971 flips for the start was Bob Veith a lap-75 restart and jumped the... At Langhorne Speedway was a one-mile oval racetrack located in Midland, Carolina... Followed by magill and Thomson, and that was the most dangerous, most treacherous, most treacherous, murderous! Of Langhorne lives on ; its grounds are occupied saw his shadow right over,! Created an act of God, Unser said they ran a Champ Car at! Sprint cars and midgets, there were modifieds, late-models, and was challenging Musselman for Note some... He 'd bucked broncos before going racing man 's Land, '' he says to be really, really your! Secretly and voted to boycott the event town for a day of racing the! The revenue of any purchases made June 24th most treacherous, most track.: some of this information, below, was taken you wanted more power,... May contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the first row, followed by magill and.!

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