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Traditional Sprint Car FanSite |
See You At The Races!!! |
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RETURN
TO THE MIDWEST by Norm Bogan |
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After
a Sunday night show at Grandview Speedway, we traveled back about eighty miles
to York for our drowsy time. Monday
morning found us with our first break of the tour, with a couple of days to
return to the Midwest for a Wednesday show at Godfrey, Illinois, near St. Louis. Starting with a leisurely breakfast, we then headed west on US 30 toward Gettysburg for a visit of this historic site. At the National Park visitor’s center, there are displays of much of the equipment and possessions used by the soldiers on both sides. There is an amphitheater with a “Big Map” of the Gettysburg area. Using lights to indicate positions of the Union and Confederate troops, you can see the battle unfold and see how this battle played out over its three-day run. Completing the map presentation, you travel into the area of the battlefield on an auto tour where the loss of life was 51,000 men in just three days. This is about the same as the ten-year total for the Vietnam War. There are accounts of the creeks running red with blood and of brother fighting against brother. Along the route you see many monuments commemorating the different units that participated in the battle. It is a very moving experience to stop and ponder the carnage and emotion that was one of America’s lowest points. Departing Gettysburg, we traveled the scenic old highways on to Chambersburg, before turning south to Hagerstown, Maryland, where there just happens to be a fine racing facility. Approaching the track, we noted the gate was open, an invitation for a look see. This is a large track, nearly 5/8 mile with an orange clay surface and right away, my mind was saying, “how about we run here next year”. There are plenty of grandstands and parking, with a number of concession facilities. The track is also near some major Interstate routes, making access easy for the traveling racers. Back on the road, we traveled west on I-70 and later on I-68 into West Virginia and Pennsylvania, before once again joining I-70 and entering Ohio. We traveled to Zanesville and settled in for the night. The old clothing shuffle was performed, as our travel bag was refilled with clean clothes and the soiled items relegated a burgeoning laundry bag. Tuesday morning found us passing through Columbus and Dayton, before reaching Richmond, Indiana, where once again we veered off I-70 onto US 40, known as the National Road, which was established as part of the national highway program by a young soldier named Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1919. My sidekick, Carey Davis was getting antsy now, as we neared his boyhood home and also the hallmark of his auto-racing quest, Union County Speedway, traveling down the country roads toward the metropolis of Connersville and on to the hamlet of Harrisburg. Stopping to survey the speedway enroute, we found a track that would be a throwback to the fifties, with plank seating, including assorted splinters, overlooking a 3/8 mile dirt track. The track was typical of many throughout the heartland, where many of the later heroes first turned a lap at speed. CRA had raced at this venue back in 1991. Proceeding on down the road, we soon arrived at the home of Carey’s parents and received a warm welcome. Carey’s mom had been preparing a feast in anticipation of our arrival. With an entrée of pork roast and side dishes taken from the garden out back, we enjoyed creamed corn, string beans, sliced tomatoes and topped it off with blackberry cobbler. What a great meal and for those of us living in the fast lane, eating meals at a variety of fast food restaurants, this was like going back to our roots, when you ate what you grew. It was a very enjoyable experience, followed by a lot of reminiscing with Carey, his folks and his brothers Marvin and Larry, who stopped by to check out the brother who had strayed west. At the Cinderella hour, we finally turned in, as tomorrow we would return to our primary objective, another race at 67 Speedway in Godfrey, Illinois. |
