Intermountain Speedway - Auto Racing Memories

Flagman · 08-25-2009, 04:02 PM

Many are familar with Big Country Speedway. But long before, it was known as Intermountain Speedway. Racers would come from all over the tri-state area to run every Saturday night. The track was built in the early 50's and ran first as a dirt track. In the summer of 1953, the track was closed for a bit while it transformed to a paved track. The first race on the new surface was held August 23, 1953.

There were always lots of cars at the track, and it wasn't uncommon to have 80 to 100 parked in the pits. The track was fast and tricky to drive, but the drivers loved it. Over the years, it's reputation grew and in the 70's and 80's was the place to race.

Many drivers got their start at Intermountain, and many went on to bigger and faster cars and tracks. Drivers who have a rich racing history in this area logged many laps at the little bullring. Just to name a few, Billy Vaughn, Fritz Wilson, Don Wilson, Comp Wilson, the Agar brothers, Kenny Hawkins, Kenny Clark, Clarance Krieger, Clarance Yackey, Bruce Yackey, Roger Avants, Paul Garrison, Bill McHone, Phil Ash, the Schilling brothers and many many more.

I look forward to reading more stories from all of you who remember Intermountain Speedway.

carc7 · 08-25-2009, 06:56 PM

I want to add a great name of those who did well at Intermountain, my friend, Gene Corley, who also was WRA President a few times. Paul Bredenberg

superchicken6 · 08-28-2009, 08:49 AM

I wasnt yet born when bcs was still intermountian speedway but i remember many races with darrell stewart, kenny clark, bill mchone,norm manners with that 68 firebird in the hobby stocks. I remember many saturday nights out there. my mom said i wasnt even a month old the first time i went out there. M uncle used to crew for kenny clark back in the day and i remember boooing bill mchone so hard i wouldnt have much of a voice left on sundays!!!!!!! those were the good ol days of racing kevin"super chicken" bell #6

Tim Weber · 08-28-2009, 10:33 PM

That is the track that I grew up at, was there pretty much every weekend from the time I was 5 years old. Arnold Seidler was my neighbor, so none of us kids even had a chance, he got us hooked when we were young. He had several great drivers that ran in his cars. Greg Cederburg, Billy Noud, Bill McHone, Clarence Kreiger, and even his own son Jeff. I have nothing but fond memories of that track, and all of the "Old Time" guys that used to run there. Darrell Stewart, Phil Ash, Herb Renz, Denis Duval, The Schillings, Wayne Ridenour, Kenny Clark, Kenny Hawkins, Comp Wilson, and on, and on.......... I could go on forever listing the guys that were my heros growing up. That is still some of the best memories of my childhood, all of us neighborhood kids piling in the back seat of Ma Seidler's Super Bee, and setting sail for Cheyenne.

webby · 08-28-2009, 10:49 PM

Tim, great stuff man! Thanks for sharing!

Flagman · 09-08-2009, 07:35 PM

One of my fondest memories of Intermountain Speedway was the Joey Chitwood Thrill Shows. Yes, the same Joey Chitwood who was or still is part of the Indianapolis Speedway. They would bring the thrill show in and they would perform all kinds of stunts and crashes right in the front straight. It was generally a packed house those nights.

charliehockflagman77 · 07-06-2014, 08:37 AM

I barely remember it being called intermountain but my Dad Charlie Hockenberger lost his life while flagging there in 1977. Then my mom remarried and my Uncle ended up being Richard Clark. This track will always be a very significant influence in my life.

Evad347 · 01-06-2017, 03:45 AM

Charlie was one of the best flagmen Intermountain Speedway had. I was very glad to be his assistant and the next flagman at Intermountain Speedway. That night will forever be locked in my and others memories.......

[img]http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=102&pictureid=729

08-25-2009, 04:02 PM	#1
Flagman Rookie Join Date: Apr 2009 Age: 62 Posts: 14	Intermountain Speedway Many are familar with Big Country Speedway. But long before, it was known as Intermountain Speedway. Racers would come from all over the tri-state area to run every Saturday night. The track was built in the early 50's and ran first as a dirt track. In the summer of 1953, the track was closed for a bit while it transformed to a paved track. The first race on the new surface was held August 23, 1953. There were always lots of cars at the track, and it wasn't uncommon to have 80 to 100 parked in the pits. The track was fast and tricky to drive, but the drivers loved it. Over the years, it's reputation grew and in the 70's and 80's was the place to race. Many drivers got their start at Intermountain, and many went on to bigger and faster cars and tracks. Drivers who have a rich racing history in this area logged many laps at the little bullring. Just to name a few, Billy Vaughn, Fritz Wilson, Don Wilson, Comp Wilson, the Agar brothers, Kenny Hawkins, Kenny Clark, Clarance Krieger, Clarance Yackey, Bruce Yackey, Roger Avants, Paul Garrison, Bill McHone, Phil Ash, the Schilling brothers and many many more. I look forward to reading more stories from all of you who remember Intermountain Speedway.

08-25-2009, 06:56 PM	#2
carc7 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Westminster, Colorado USA Age: 67 Posts: 237	Re: Intermountain Speedway I want to add a great name of those who did well at Intermountain, my friend, Gene Corley, who also was WRA President a few times. Paul Bredenberg

08-28-2009, 08:49 AM	#3
superchicken6 Newbie Join Date: Jul 2009 Age: 49 Posts: 7	Re: Intermountain Speedway I wasnt yet born when bcs was still intermountian speedway but i remember many races with darrell stewart, kenny clark, bill mchone,norm manners with that 68 firebird in the hobby stocks. I remember many saturday nights out there. my mom said i wasnt even a month old the first time i went out there. M uncle used to crew for kenny clark back in the day and i remember boooing bill mchone so hard i wouldnt have much of a voice left on sundays!!!!!!! those were the good ol days of racing kevin"super chicken" bell #6

08-28-2009, 10:33 PM	#4
Tim Weber Newbie Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: North of Hwy. 52 Age: 58 Posts: 3	Re: Intermountain Speedway That is the track that I grew up at, was there pretty much every weekend from the time I was 5 years old. Arnold Seidler was my neighbor, so none of us kids even had a chance, he got us hooked when we were young. He had several great drivers that ran in his cars. Greg Cederburg, Billy Noud, Bill McHone, Clarence Kreiger, and even his own son Jeff. I have nothing but fond memories of that track, and all of the "Old Time" guys that used to run there. Darrell Stewart, Phil Ash, Herb Renz, Denis Duval, The Schillings, Wayne Ridenour, Kenny Clark, Kenny Hawkins, Comp Wilson, and on, and on.......... I could go on forever listing the guys that were my heros growing up. That is still some of the best memories of my childhood, all of us neighborhood kids piling in the back seat of Ma Seidler's Super Bee, and setting sail for Cheyenne.

08-28-2009, 10:49 PM	#5
webby Administrator Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Lakewood, Colorado Age: 54 Posts: 1,063	Re: Intermountain Speedway Tim, great stuff man! Thanks for sharing! Follow ARM on Twitter \| Like ARM on Facebook Rat Rods, Old school Muscle cars. Advertising on Auto Racing Memories

09-08-2009, 07:35 PM	#6
Flagman Rookie Join Date: Apr 2009 Age: 62 Posts: 14	Re: Intermountain Speedway One of my fondest memories of Intermountain Speedway was the Joey Chitwood Thrill Shows. Yes, the same Joey Chitwood who was or still is part of the Indianapolis Speedway. They would bring the thrill show in and they would perform all kinds of stunts and crashes right in the front straight. It was generally a packed house those nights.

07-06-2014, 08:37 AM	#7
charliehockflagman77 Newbie Join Date: Jul 2014 Age: 45 Posts: 4	Re: Intermountain Speedway I barely remember it being called intermountain but my Dad Charlie Hockenberger lost his life while flagging there in 1977. Then my mom remarried and my Uncle ended up being Richard Clark. This track will always be a very significant influence in my life.

01-06-2017, 03:45 AM	#8
Evad347 Rookie Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Maricopa, Arizona Age: 65 Posts: 13	Re: Intermountain Speedway Charlie was one of the best flagmen Intermountain Speedway had. I was very glad to be his assistant and the next flagman at Intermountain Speedway. That night will forever be locked in my and others memories....... [img]http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=102&pictureid=729 Last edited by Evad347; 01-06-2017 at 07:22 AM.