Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. . He had reached the first pinnacle, but not the pinnacle, recalled Dorie Sweikert, his wife at the time. Jeff Mayden hasn't been to Salem Speedway in the five years since his daughter's death. waiting patiently for the boys. The track has 33 degrees of banking in the corners. Fencing, maybe, or car safety. Vogler was the National Alliance of Midget Auto Racing (NAMAR) midget champion in 1973. The sprint car flew over the edge of the track, down the embankment, and landed a hundred feet below, where it briefly burst into flames. In May 1999, three died and eight were injured in Concord when a wheel and parts from a three-car wreck flew into the grandstand during an Indy Racing League event at Lowe's Motor Speedway. That grief gripped the loved ones of dozens of race car drivers in the 1950s. 47K views, 969 likes, 76 loves, 119 comments, 367 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from History Mystery Man: Salem Speedway is one of the most iconic race tracks in America. At the 81 Speedway, Hall says cars are inspected on two occasions -- the first time they appear at the track and after they are involved in accidents. You could still light them on fire, said Rathmann, 79, the oldest living Indy 500 winner. Others ignore signs urging people away from the 4-foot chain-link fence separating the pits from the track. Required fields are marked *. IRS delays tax deadline for Bay Area, but California hasnt followed: What should you do? In the winner's circle, Sweikert and Dorie celebrated with singer-actress Dinah Shore. two months, went home while firemen worked. Forgot account? There over the next couple years, he built his own track roadster. Then came a June 17 sprint car race at Salem Speedway. Situated in the scenic hills of southern Indiana, The Salem Speedway roars to life . "We don't want anybody killed, but we sure don't want our customers killed," says Lanny Edwards, owner of Devil's Bowl Speedway in Mesquite, Texas, one of thousands of small tracks dotting the country. During 1947 Sweikert began mailing monthly accounts of his life to Veda Orr, through April 1956. Former USAC Midget racer Nick Bohanon has taken over ownership of the iconic Salem Speedway Fueled by the Hoosier Lottery, located in Salem. Sam was sitting on the driveway, Their cars, after months of mutual insult, begin to take on the appearance of crumpled paper. There are improvements that I want to make to the pavement, the pit area, lighting, infield concessions, infield restrooms and the scoreboard. office. The Salem Speedway joined The Hills circuit in 1947, and immediately demonstrated its potential for disaster. Follow Ken de . Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. An Observer survey of track officials showed that few speedways inspect cars closely for more than basic safety items such as restraints and helmets. At smaller tracks, insurance companies are the primary arbiters of fence height and design. Coming out of the 4th turn, the two cars started down the straightaway in front of the grandstand. Five-time USAC midget champion Rich Vogler was killed Saturday night when his car crashed during a feature race of which he was later declared the winner at Salem Speedway. "He would be going if it were me that died. Waltrip, preparing to make his 500th NASCAR start in that July 7 race, sustained a slight concussion and broke his left leg the day before in a crash in practice and couldn't start. From age 16 Sweikert worked after school as a mechanic at the local Ford dealership in Hayward. Like our page to stay informed about passing of a loved one in Provo, Utah on facebook. Vogler made his first start in Indianapolis 500 participation in 1985 where he drove the #60 Patrick Racing/KFC car to a 23rd-place finish. Bob Sweikert participated in 5 World Championship races. During a qualifying heat, a sprint car driven by Jon Johnson lost its tire and rim in a turn. "It could have been a nightmare," the track's owner said then. Eugene Gerber, bishop of Wichita's Roman Catholic diocese and a family friend, tried to console the mournful. Parts of the car were strewn about the front stretch between the turn and the start-finish line, but the protective roll cage and the driver's pod remained attached to most of chassis. [2] The ARCA qualifying record is 16.785 seconds/119.035mph by Gary Bradberry in 1994.[6]. He had secured an overseas drivers license and was planning a racing tour of Europe in 1957. A dozen years later, Elisian and Sweikert were engaged in the racing duel that led to Sweikert's fatal crash at Salem Speedway. In May 1956, at his final return to the Indianapolis 500, Sweikert began in the 10th starting position and came in for a 6th-place finish, with the team's D-A Lubricant roadster. The boys, only sons of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Tomlinson, had [2] Major auto racing series that run at Salem are ARCA and USAC . For as long as he remembers, his view of Saturday nights was framed by the edges of a driver's helmet. had intended to finish the job the day after the fatal Salem race. The tire struck Lindsey Mayden, 7 years old. "My stamina's not what it should be. Nobody planned this tragedy, he told them. While completing the third lap, Sweikert was running near the outside wall in 4th place, side by side with his past teenage East Bay streets rival, Ed Elisian, in 5th. It opened in 1947; two drivers were killed on the first lap of the first race. Salem Speedway is a .555 miles (0.893km) long paved oval racetrack in Washington Township, Washington County, near Salem, Indiana, United States, approximately 100 miles (160km) south of Indianapolis. Johnson's car, said C. Ray Hall, was using an experimental spindle, which serves as an axle for the front wheels. We are in the process of finalizing our 2023 schedule and will have that out next week.. The This car ran right smack into the cement wall between the track and the pits, and back in the50s, youd have known that young man was dead, she recalled. Bohanon, a Southern Indiana. His mother had married his stepfather, an electrician for the state of California, when Bob was an infant. The tragic death of Bill Vukovich during the 1955 Indianapolis 500 unfairly cast a long, dark shadow over the career of the winner of that year's race Bob Sweikert. The wheel hit Amanda flush, crushing her lungs and heart beyond surgeons' repair. Now, he says softly, he doesn't know. Not now. firemen drained it before leaving the scene. A naturally gifted mechanic, he frequently won street races throughout the East Bay. Sheriff Robert A. ONeal ordered the pool be drained. That year the family moved briefly to San Francisco, then across the bay to the rural town of Hayward, California. For over 65 years Salem Speedway has enjoyed the recognition of being one of the most unique and renowned racetracks in America. They had a large family wedding in West L.A. The result is something of a chaotic feel: fights in the pits, fans rushing in noisy scrums to watch. Salem Speedway opened in 1947, providing fans with exciting fast paced racing on the .555-mile oval that features imposing 33-degree banked turns that were built strictly for speed! Last edited on 17 December 2022, at 23:08, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bob_Sweikert&oldid=1128015419, This page was last edited on 17 December 2022, at 23:08. His mother Eleanor started a college scholarship fund for aspiring Indiana students as part of Rich's concern over his sons, and the fund was started by USAC officials and sponsor Valvoline. He was scheduled to make his NASCAR Winston Cup (now NASCAR Cup Series) series debut at Pocono Raceway the day after his fatal crash. He gained his first racing sponsorship in July 1947, when he became a track roadster race driver for Hubbard Auto Parts of Oakland. Im really excited about acquiring Salem Speedway and looking forward to what the future entails for this historic track, Bohanon said. So what does Sabres GM Kevyn Adams do this week? On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. rescue squad rushed to the pool. With the deaths have come questions -- about track fencing, about uninspected cars, about supervision in restricted areas. The boys 33-year-old father arrived at the pool shortly After Sweikert was buried in California his widow returned He entered at the 32nd starting position and ran for 77 laps in the McNamara Special car. For over 65 years Salem Speedway Fueled by the Hoosier Lottery has enjoyed the recognition of being one of the most unique and renowned race tracks in America. I never talked about how brave I was. Bob was raised through his early teen years with his older stepbrother, Ed, who enlisted in the US Navy, and then soon died in 1942, at the onset of World War II. Vogler's helmet flew off his head and he suffered severe head injuries that proved to be fatal. In 2018, Kody Swanson broke the all-time USAC Silvercrown record with his 24th series win at Salem. Fifteen were gone within just seven years. Lindsey, who liked her daddy to play Pretty, Pretty Princess with her at night, and who, on this day in 1996, kissed him and waited while he worked as a spotter for his brother in the afternoon's last race. Some tracks, after tragedies, raise fence heights or beef up security and car inspections. There, Dawn Mayden and her daughter had left their lawn chairs for some barbecued chicken at a concession stand. 4.3. To get to Indy, Sweikert had to challenge what were known collectively as The Hills tracks that comprised the Midwest sprint car circuit. Street Funeral Home. hunting for them, to call them to supper. Michaels Catholic Church, arrived and gave last rites. Lindsey, who wanted to be a veterinarian and a midget car racer. Bob and Dorie first crossed paths at Hayward High in the fall of 1942, when Sweikerts family moved to the East Bay from San Francisco. 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