track trivia

[dmckim]

does anyone know this track.

[Olen McGuire]

I could be wrong Darrin, but it looks a lot like one of the old wooden banked tracks in the 1930's. Mostly used for motorcycles but they also had many auto races on them. If not it's still a rare round shaped track.

[Mitch G.]

Hard to tell from that photo, but it could be "The big left turn" Langhorne, PA.
The pride of Bucks County, PA, Langhorne Speedway, a one mile round dirt track.

[dmckim]

langhorn pa you would be correct.:applaud:

[Olen McGuire]

Hey Darrin, I thought that track deserves a post of it's history. Here's what I got from Wiki.


http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=263&pictureid=2028





Langhorne Speedway was an automobile racetrack in Middletown Township near the borough of Langhorne, Pennsylvania, a northern suburb of Philadelphia.

The speedway was built by a group of Philadelphia racing enthusiasts known as the National Motor Racing Association (NMRA), and held its first race on June 12, 1926 (scheduled for May 31 but postponed by rain). Freddie Winnai of Philadelphia qualified in 42.40 seconds, a new world's record for a one-mile track; and went on to win the 50-lap main event. According to Walter Chernokal, Langhorne was the first dirt track built specifically for automobile racing. The track's unique circular layout earned Langhorne the name "The Big Left Turn".

The NMRA operated Langhorne through the 1929 season, staging 100-lap events on Labor Days and occasional shorter races. Difficulties in track preparation, management disputes, and poor attendance drove the speedway to the brink of bankruptcy until noted promoter Ralph "Pappy" Hankinson took over in 1930. With partner "Lucky" Teeter, Hankinson brought in AAA Championship 100-lap races and continued stage shorter Sprint car racing on the circular track. One of the first stock car races in the northeastern U.S. was held at Langhorne in 1940. Roy Hall of Atlanta, Georgia was victor in the 200-lap event.

Both Hankinson and Teeter died during World War II, and control of Langhorne Speedway passed to John Babcock and his family. Then in 1951, Irv Fried and Al Gerber became promoters. During this era, Langhorne hosted races for the United States' major national series: AAA and USAC Championship Cars, and NASCAR Grand National. It also 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.

Catering chiefly to USAC's Championship Car division, in 1965 Fried and Gerber changed the track layout to a "D" by building a straightaway across the back stretch, and they paved the surface. However, as suburban growth engulfed the speedway, the offers from developers became too tempting to refuse. Fried and Gerber announced the sale of the property to mall developers in 1967, but the speedway held on through five more seasons. The final checkered flag fell on October 17, 1971 at the National Open for Modified stock cars.
(Source Wikipedia)

[Quick Time]

Wow Mitch,

Your knowledge is very sharp considering the limited view on the picture. You deserve a real pat on the back. It's clear your answer was more than just a guess.....

Keep up the good work.

Chuck

[Mitch G.]

I was always fascinated by Langhorne, as a kid reading about it, I couldn't imagine how brave, or nuts, you had to be to race on it. The first "Turn" past the main grandstands was known as "Puke Hollow", very scary, fast part of the track which was prone to drainage trouble, so the dirt was soft, and usually developed a hole there. Very dangerous, Larry "Crash" Crockett, "Iron" Mike Nazaruk, and the great Jimmy Bryan all died on the track, as did Bobby Marvin.
Even after it was paved it was still dangerous, Mel Kenyon had his terrible accident there, and lost a hand to the fire. Drivers loved it or hated it, Roger Ward, one of the greatest race drivers of all time, flat refused to drive on it, that's how Bryan was killed, filling in for Ward, even after Ward had pleaded with Bryan not to race at Langhorne. There's a book out about the track, "Langhorne! No Mans Land", published by Pitstop books, I don't have it yet, but I'm tracking down a copy soon.

[Olen McGuire]

Hey Mitch, I was checking out that book "Langhorne! No Mans Land" by Spencer Riggs. It's a 5 pound, 560 pages with 1,000 photos, many have never been seen before, it has records and clips of many well known racers, but at $75.00 I think I'll wait and get a used one down the road somewhere. But it may take a long time for someone to let go of a book like that one.~Olen :think: