Wanted this TB to visit a historical Reading location. The posted coordinates are just northwest of where the race track would draw thousands every week. The center of the mall is where the infield of the east/west lying half-mile track was located. The track was a dirt track which was more clay than actual "dirt". The races drew cars and drivers from Maine to Florida with most from the area around Reading. Al Tasnady, "the Vineland Bomber" was my favorite driver and he would make the trip every weekend from south Jersey. In the latter part of the flat-head days, Russ Smith's blue and yellow number 11 was always good to see coming across the track to set up in the pits. He had 2 coupes and a coach!
Every so often, there would be sprint car races (the days before winged sprint cars!) that brought nationally known drivers to the track. Mario Andretti and A. J. Foyte would frequent the track with their sprint cars.
Below is a bit of history that tells just how it was, as me and my friends had "our seats" in the grandstand every Friday night. We all grew up a short two miles from the track and, if there was a southerly wind, could here Warren Ruffner calling the races. We even built our own oval to race our bikes after school! It was a given, we would end up at the track when we got older. ;) When Sunday night racing ws added, my Dad and I would be among many sitting on wire cable guard rail on 5th Street just south on the Muhlenberg Shopping Center. Except for the 1st and 2nd turns, you could see the whole track!
The Spring RSCA reunions are still held in the mall before the local racing season gets started. Here you go and enjoy the article... http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=198139
This entry was edited by DRTrack on Tuesday, 27 August 2013 at 05:30:30 UTC.