SPRINGFIELD SPEEDWAY REUNION Sunday August 16, 2015
Midwest Speed, Inc., and Terry Young in conjunction with Lincoln Speedway, Kenny Dobson and Norm and Yvonne Horn is pleased to announce the upcoming "Springfield Speedway Reunion - Reliving the Good Times" event which will take place on Sunday August 16th, 2015 at the Lincoln Speedway in Lincoln, Illinois.
In 2012 Young produced a reunion to commemorate the 25th Anniversary of the closing of the Springfield Speedway and was overwhelmingly supported with over 800 people attending the festivities at the Illinois State Fairgrounds. It was so much fun visiting with people who were reuniting for the first time in years in many cases. Old friendships were rekindled, people had a chance to get caught up with each other and many spent hours looking over all of the old racing memorabilia that people brought to display.
This years event will be highlighted by an evening of racing at the always pristine Central Illinois track. The night will include Non-Wing Sprints, Lightning Sprints, Pro Crate Late Model, Modified and Hornet divisions competing. In addition to the normal payoff, each division will see the A-Main events pay a bonus $20.00 per lap to the leader of each lap made possible by sponsors. Additionally, a beautiful trophy will be presented to each winner.
The event will also include many of the drivers who raced at the Speedway, along with some of the actual restored cars that turned laps on the famous track built by Joe Shaheen and known across the country as one of the fastest and finest in the United States.
Event coordinator Terry Young encourages all former competitors, their families and fans to attend the free event and bring with them any old memorabilia they might like to display and share for others to look at. If someone brings something to display, they will keep possession of it and when they leave will take it with them, so bring out your old helmets, pictures, scrap books, firesuits, etc..
Many of the former drivers have already expressed their excitement at the prospect of reuniting once again with old friends they haven't seen for a while and reminiscing and remembering some of our friends whom we have lost over the years. Al Thomas, Jeff Moe, Bill Morris, Dean Shirley, (not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word) Trout, "Jungle Jim" Davison, Ed Bauman, (not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word) Taylor, Tony Merrick, Jim Moughan, Jr., Mark Hart, Jeff Mackay, Gary Clark, Rick, Randy, Ron and Rob Standridge, Rick Pennell, Steve Sheppard and many others have all expressed their intent to attend the extravaganza,
The reunion is free to attend and begins at Noon, if you choose to stay for the evenings races, there will be a ticket purchase required for grandstand admission. Tickets for the races will be $12.00 for Adults, Children Ages 11-18 are $7.00 and 10 and under are free.
There will be several Lifetime Achievement Awards that will be given at the event to honor several individuals for their achievements at the Springfield track.
If you have any questions you can contact the event coordinator Terry Young at (217) 553-1963 or by e-mail at hoosieris1@aol.com . You can also like our page on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SpringfieldSpeedwayReunion .
Lincoln Speedway is located on the Logan County Fairgrounds at 1408 Short 11th St., Lincoln, IL. 62656 (217) 735-1833.
Young has joined forces with Nationally renowned racing author Joyce Standridge in producing a book of Fast Memories remembering the Springfield Speedway 1947 - 1987 that will be available for purchase at the event. The book contains stories written by Standridge and hundreds of photos from the Marv Scattergood Collection, Horcher Brothers Photos, Chuck Lynch, Jeff Moe and others who contributed photos from their personal collections. The book will also be available from the premier auto racing publisher Coastal 181.
