If you have any more please post.. Spent alot of time at Heidelburg and Greater Pitt speedways while growing up.. Saw alot of dirt then asphalt races at both.. Parents took me to my first race at the tender age of 16 months (52 now).. John
Give this link a try. The PCTC is having their annual banquet soon, and that's a great place to go. Although we lost Dave Burt a few weeks back and he had a HUGE collection of local dirt track memorabilia and would have many of his pictures at the banquet. http://www.speedwayproductions.biz/
Here's a few more. I'll be adding more. I just have to find them and scan them. #43 is Bob James car in pits at Heidelberg. Others are ones I took at various times at heidelberg.
95 Jim Cushman also 99 ****ie Thomas Towing car on the hook.. 98 Mustang Jody Ridley.. Also see 5 Bill Konzos and see Jimmy Bickerstaff in the 24 in back next to 44 ?? also 4 Harold Smith.. Think I see the 84 of Bud Middaugh is in there along with the 40 of Tom Collala.. Please keep them coming!! Thanks.. John
Great shots! But in the very first picture there's a couple of intriguing little details that I noticed. First, the twin roof scoops. I would have guessed that there would have been plenty of air circulation inside this car, or is there some other function for these? And the single windshield wiper on the driver's side? Can't imagine that being very functional for very long, or maybe it was just some sort of an "in" joke. Heidelberg looks like it was one hell of nice speedway. Still around, or has it been "developed"?
About the scoops on the roof . . . Buddy was no kid at this time (1966) and was beginning to have some trouble breathing with all the fumes in the car. The more air he could get, the better. As for the windshield wiper . . . I really don't know. Knowing Buddy (he was my uncle) I would say if it was there he must have used it. Heidelberg was a great track. A 1/4 mile dirt inside of a 1/2 mile dirt. I think it was paved around 1968. Many people felt it was one of the best 1/2 miles in the east. As with many great tracks it is now a shopping center. I attached a photo showing it in it's heyday.
Heidelburg closed after the 1973 season If you look real hard at that pic I am seated next to the press box!! LOL!! John
Try: TheVintageRacer.com , then select Historians Corner from the menu on the left. Way down on the bottom left you'll find ...remembers the PRA and Penn Western. I posted most of the 1958 PRA yearbook there. john
I'll check that out. I have been to the Vintage Racer site but just briefly. Never really got past the top part of the site. Thanks for the tip ! Tom
Here's a few more pics I dug out. #1 is Heidelberg front straight in 1967 (check out the old ambulance in the 4th turn - a dark blue Cadillac if I remember correctly). #2 is Tom Colella's car at Heidelberg. #3 is Buddy O'Connors 55 chevy in pits at Heidelberg. #4 is Buddy in his #38 coupe at Claridge Speedway in 1955 (notice how far away from the front row seats the front straight was - I'm sure the insurance company appreciated this) (also, the cleared area with a few trees at the top of the photo is the Bushy Run Battlefield).
Hello , You Say Your Buddys Uncle, Are You Related To Bruce Ward, He Is Buddys Nephew Also, Bruce & I Were Buddies Growing Up At The Races . Would Like To Get Ahold Of Bruce? Deek Scott
Hi Deek. I don't know if you remember me. I'm Tommy Miller. First of all let me say how sorry I was to hear about your dad. I saw him at Lernerville Old Timers night last year. He remembered me. I used to be at all the tracks growing up. I don't see Bruce that much anymore. Basically just at family functions (weddings, funerals, etc.). Let me know your email address. I'll get Bruce's phone number and email it to you. It's probably not a good idea to put it on here. My email is tlmpg@aol.com.
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