Why is Pennsboro remembered so fondly?

[DennisErbFan]

I never had the opportunity to attend a race there, but I hear it's a legendary track. What made it so great and why did it shut down?

[nc mudcat]

The track was terrible, the racing was terrible, the facilities were terrible, IMO. I can't wait to go again! It was all about the fans and the fun. The money drew the drivers, the drivers drew the fans, the atmsophere drew the fans, the do-what-you-want attitude drew the fans, on and on.

[Pennsboro23]

The atmosphere. Sort of like Fairbury is today in regards to atmosphere and fans. It was magical, you could literally feel how special the place was. Old school place, horrible facilities. Big money races, all the drivers like mentioned above.

[bleedblue55]

I fondly remember every track I've been to that is not racing or has disappeared. Unfortunately that includes the 3 closest to me, Pennsboro, Interstate-I79, and Morgantown.

[MontanaMagic1619*]

What an interesting question !

The " mystique " of the place for starters. It was out in the boondocks; a word my compadres always like using, it always drew the very best drivers of those days, purses were dammed good for that time, and I agree the facilities sucked, the food was terrible, but the beer and whiskey was plentiful, but most of all it was the women for me. It wouldn't surprise me one bit that lots of babies were conceived at that place as well......it reminded me so many times of " a racing Woodstock " although I wasn't fortunate enough to be there at the 'Stock, the atmosphere was electric, and the racing was so dammed good !

Dam, when's the next race there

[PennDirt]

" a racing Woodstock "

That's possibly the best takeaway I've ever read about Pennsboro. It sure fits. I'm not even gonna bust into my own diatribe about the 'Boro after that MM gem. He said it all.

[MI Dirt Fan]

" a racing Woodstock "

Been to a few of those. Almost makes you forget that you actually went there for the racing and not the party.

Some places that have been around for 50-60 yrs just have that nostalgia. So many guys have come through there and raced, won races, won championship(s). Some moved on to bigger opportunities and some didn't. Some of the rare tracks are the ones still open that have switched back and forth between dirt and asphalt over the years.

[oldfart50]

Because everyone was drunk and dont remember what a real shthole it was...

[jr1216]

definitely not the nicest facilities but the car count was great. I would go in a heartbeat if they had a big race again. I went several times in the middle 80s.

[jlacey]

I went a few years in a row in the mid to late 90s for the DTWC. As I've said before the place was a sh1t hole but we loved it. Have a few good stories from that place but it would probably take 30 min + to read em all on here. Ill just never forget parking outside of turn 1 and Lynn Geislers primary sponsor joining me with their coolers, most of the day was a blur and ended with a trip to the hospital

[Krooser]

Went once... Kinda on par with Eldora of the same vintage. Those were the drivers raced anywhere anytime if the money was right... Not many cry babies back then. Can't wait to go again.

[weatherman85]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GICUbQwatk

[weatherman85]

I've always often heard that the racing at this track sucked but thought this heat race was pretty darn good.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=heH7i72vVTY

[Phatdaddy]

I went in '94. I remember wondering where everyone parked. Then I heard that vehicles parked along the road to Hwy 150 were ticketed in the last year of the DTWC. That would have been a super bummer for those paying fans.
In response to the question, I get the whole nostalgia aspect (Eldora has that too), but I wish the ones making $$$$ from the event would have put some of it back in the racing surface.

[Aces&Eights]

I never had the opportunity to attend a race there, but I hear it's a legendary track. What made it so great and why did it shut down?

Great Purse.
Best Drivers.
Fairy tale ending for first ever DTWC.
(Guys hauler wouldn't start, so he stayed, started last and won $50K.)
The track was horrible almost every year except 96' and it was rain/day light shortened.(No track lights)
They actually came over PA and asked campers to stop riding 4 wheelers in cemetery after dark.
The bleechers were cut into side of hill.(grass)
a creek ran through infield and under track at both ends.
It was originally a horse racing track at turn of century.