Forum: Oklahomatidbits.com General Forum (go)
Moderators:  /  David Smith Jr

Silver Spring Speedway in PA being razed in the name of progress and developement. Did it go under due to poor promotion? Lack of car count? Or could it not compete with Williams Grove Speedway just a few miles away?

You can see bull dozer tracks all over and all that remains are turns three and four. This was once a proud track that has alot of history. I got to attend races there on several occasions. It's sad to see it go.

It's not HOW fast you go, but how you GO fast.

www.myspace.com/bucky65c

UH , This is old news Silver Springs has been closed for about 4 yrs. now, closed due to progress of Harrisburg/Carlisle area ,built a Mall in its place, not for lack of Management/Promotion , the place averged (Easy CCC) 50 + Super Sportsmans (similar to the old 100" cars around here) and some 40 + Late Models every week , the place was packed from what I have heard with people weekly, It had no direct competition with Williams Grove, as the Grove ran on Fridays and SS ran on Saturdays , and both ran different classes , both were promoted by the same promoter when it was open, have been to the place when it was a race track and was by the place in 06 and a very large Mall now stands where the facility once was. Williams Grove now runs the Super Sportsmans on Saturday nights now and is considered their home track since Susqehanna Speedway Park dropped them in 06, seen the Super Sportsmans run at Lincoln Speedway in Hanover , Pa. and they put on a really good show.

Just shows how much we need to be glad we still have SFS. There will be no more in town racetracks and the ones that are still around are a dying breed. I was at one of the last races at Ascot in the 80s.

What other in-town tracks are still active? Is Manzanita still going?

I can think of 3 tracks right off hand that are in the middle of town or city limit, be it a small town but still in town . Port Royal Speedway in Port Royal Pa. and Lincoln Speedway in Abbotstown , Pa. as well as Selinsgrove Speedway in Selinsgrove,Pa. but it is a little different up there as the people of the towns embrace the facilities as they see what economic impact they have on convience stores as well as hotels some 8 months out of the year.

Isn't Tri-State Speedway in Haubstadt,IN in the middle of town too?

Terre Haute is. It is about a mile and a half off of I70 and you have to go though at least 3 to 4 stoplights to get there.

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands 
in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he 
stands at times of challenge and controversy." 
Martin Luther King, Jr. 

Erich Petersen 

How about Belleville and Knoxville.

Old news or not, it's still a sad sight. I can only imagine how many drivers and fans alike called this place "Home".

It's not HOW fast you go, but how you GO fast.

www.myspace.com/bucky65c

in town tracks? Knoxville of course, and OKC too, I-30 in Lil rock may as well be b/c of all its surroundings along I-30. Heart O Texas in Waco is from the looks of aerial views. Could Enid be considered in town?

the list of closed down in town tracks would be too long to put in a post.

How much would could a wouldchuck chuck if a 
wouldchuck could chuck would

Just stating a SIMPLE FACT, It closed 4 yrs. ago , Lot's of tracks have closed in this country since Silver Springs and those folks called them "Home" too, It happens everywhere.

In that case, next time I need simple facts, I'll consult you. Since you seem to be the Wikipeadea at large and keep up with the goings on of our nations tracks.

My post wasn't to break a news flash as you so strongly believe. But to invoke thought and provide an image of what can happen and does happen no matter how valued or revered a track is.

There are people in he world who just sit and bitch about things from the safety of their keyboards and do nothing meaningful. And there are others who think it's his or her job to try to correct others when they have no idea of what's going on outside their narrow world nor can see a bigger picture.

Thanks again for the simple facts.

It's not HOW fast you go, but how you GO fast.

www.myspace.com/bucky65c

Thanks jd,

I got a chance to go back to good ole PA a couple years back. Relived my childhood days in a few nights while attending the race action at Williams Grove and Lincoln. I remember when, back in the 60's and 70's, going to Lincoln, both Groves and The Port on numerous occasions for the great racing they had. Guess the still tout Lincoln as being in Hanover, Abbottstown and New Oxford. Depends on which direction you come in from, LOL. I still wish we could send our "great announcer" Brian Ward back east to Lincoln and let him experience what a REAL announcer sounds like.

Sounded like breaking news to me with a pic and all, LIGHTEN UP there Bucky, I did not correct you as you seem to state in your testy response above, just stated that they closed 4 yrs. ago and that "Statement" NOT a Correction seemed to of made you a little angry , so I WON'T do that again , I'll just say this Bucky , I'll just stay away from interacting with any of your posts and that way you can state it and then I won't be accused of correcting you or not doing something meaningful on this here board . Will that work for ya.

Wingin It , Get back to Central Pa. once a year and it is some great racing at those places, Lincoln is even better now that they pit on the back stretch , I sure like the facility , built into a side of a mountain and yes your correct just depends on which direction you come from as to what town you go through to get to the place, but a Lady last year at a Sheetz Convience Store by the track says it is now considered in Abbotstown,Pa. , but Willams Grove can top them all with the history and lore about the place ,plus they have the best seasoned French Fries along with Ice Tea and carrying that Right Front and a Vapor Trail off the Top Wing on the Sprint Cars while eating those tasty fries and drinkin that Ice Tea is some good stuff.

Amen to that!!!

Heart O Texas is right on the Highway and it is much like I-30 and where it sits in relation to town.

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands 
in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he 
stands at times of challenge and controversy." 
Martin Luther King, Jr. 

Erich Petersen 

I havn't been to PA in probably 5 years when I got sent there by my company to fill in for some personnel shortages. I went to races at Silver Spring, the Grove, and Lincoln. I have been to sprint car races all over the country and have been around sprints since 1978.

That being said, I'll have to agree with you on the sights, sounds, and smell of the Grove. I was impressed right away with the skills of most of the drivers in the 410 class and had never before seen a sprint carry the front wheels off the corners and all the way down the straight. Not at any other track, by any other class of drivers. Meaning locals, pros or WoO. At first I thought it was weird, but if that's the set up, wheelie up! It takes brass to drive into the corners there and not lift. If you saw Jason Solwald set fast time there on TV last week, you'll agree. It looked fast even on TV which usually takes away from speed. I frlt good for him setting fast time. I remember him his rookie year at Skagit in a Econo sprint sponsored by his fathers company. The vapor trails off the wings are cool whether it's at the Grove, Eldora or Skagit Speedway in WA. As long as you have humid night air and fast cars, you'll get 'em.

Anyways..... me angry? Nah.

It's not HOW fast you go, but how you GO fast.

www.myspace.com/bucky65c

I think because you started by saying..UH..this is old news, as if everyone knew it. Sometimes that can be taken the wrong way. I think you could've put it a little nicer, I mean what are you tryin to do, piss everyone off? lol

"They're steering them sum bi***es with their right 
foot!"

You from the WA area? Cause you mentioned Skagit.

OK, SFS fan , guess I need to choose my words a little more carefully then, my bad, guess it's just a touchy world today.

Hey Bucky I heard through The grapevine That You Are Going sprint car racing? Is this true? And Is it 2 barrel Or Super Srint?

The Deeper The Better. GO DEEP!

Yes, when I was a kid we lived in Everett. And then later on then I got out of the service I lived in Anacortes and Mt. Vernon. Skagit is where I got my first taste of dirt and sprint cars when the newly formed World of Outlaws came to town. Later on it's where I turned my first laps racing in the late model division. A couple years later, I tried my luck in the Wash State Econo Sprints, but had soon run out of money and had to quit. Jason Solwald and I were both sprint rookies that year. Kasey Kane was 10 or 11 at the time........ LOL

It's not HOW fast you go, but how you GO fast.

www.myspace.com/bucky65c