Langhorne

[misbehavin]

Grew up in Philly and saw my first Langhorne race in 1958. Champ cars on the big oval. Don Freeland in the Bob Estes spl sat on the pole at a speed of 115 plus. Pretty fantastic for the times when you consider 255 ci and really skinny tires. Don Branson on the outside pole in the Hoover Motor express. Johnny Thomson had won this race the year before averaging over 100mph including a pit stop to change a rt rear tire, started third. A collision right after the green flag caused thomson to pit for a new lf front tire and on his haste to make up for lost time spun into the infield basically existing the pits. Eddie Sachs in the Pete Schmidt spl took command early on and won going away, Branson falling back after 60 laps as he was prone to do before the advent of power steering. (He was what everybody suspected of low blood pressure and just couldn't follow through in the long haul, don't know for a fact but seemed that way. Always fast in qualifying and early, maybe just coincidence...) Eddie became known as the King of Puke Hollow" after this win. (that was the name of the rough section around turn 2). Even then most of the big names avoided Langhorne,fearful of its treachery. Ward, Rathman, Amick would not run that year evn though the points race was tight. Fields tended to be light.

If you didn't see it you really missed something, cars sideways for the entire lap, and a post race look of the spectators appearing like coal miners with oiled dirt on their faces.

Wish it was still an operative venue!!!

[slinger]

I only saw it after it was paved.I loved the place.It was great for spectators because the sightlines were so good.I always liked it better than Trenton.I was very sad when it closed.

[misbehavin]

The only good seat at Trenton was the top row of the bleachers. The Grand stand was a remnant of the old dirt track and pointed in the wrong direction. Saw all the races of champ cars there from 1957(autum) through 1966. The 100 milers were a true test of drivers skill. Pat O'conner won the 57 race by inches over Johnny Thomson and averaged over 100mph for the race. Bryan finished 6th. Incredible for the times and conditions.

[misbehavin]

The only good seat at Trenton was the top row of the bleachers. The Grand stand was a remnant of the old dirt track and pointed in the wrong direction. Saw all the races of champ cars there from 1957(autum) through 1966. The 100 milers were a true test of drivers skill. Pat O'conner won the 57 race by inches over Johnny Thomson and averaged over 100mph for the race. Bryan finished 6th. Incredible for the times and conditions.

[misbehavin]

By the by, Dick Ralstin has a great picture of Parnelli Passing Herk on the last lap of the 61 race on his web site. Jones thought it was for the win, Foyt had been out of line of sight for too long for him to know, or I doubt he would have gone for it, even though Rufus was a charger the pay off had to be there.

[RacerRoy]

Hi Gang,

One of my favorite subjects. Does anyone out there remember seeing film on TV many years ago of Tony Bettenhausen in the Belanger#99 running at Langhorne about 1951? What was so great about it was the camera was located high on the front stretch and had a telescopic lens. As the car circled the track, the camera zoomed in on the cockpit and showed Tony in all his glory really working at it! Great stuff! Anyone remember it?

[ July 13, 2001: Message edited by: RacerRoy ]

[KnockOff]

Haven't seen that one, but Speedvision just showed a vintage film of Langhorne with about 100(!) stock cars entered on the dirt.

Don't think anyone was hurt badly, but the carnage was incredible. They finally red-flagged the race after a multicar wreck and several fires.

Anyone else see that one?

[RacerRoy]

KnockOff,

Yes, I've seen that one too. I don't remember all the details but wasn't it in the late forties? and close to 100 cars started? Terrible wreck at the end. Have you seen the film from the fifties of Charlie Musscleman (sp) sprint car wreck and Johnny Thomson flipping the Schmidt Spl. in a champ car race??? Someday I'll get back there and visit that sacred ground and also Ted Horn's grave in NJ.

[johnny_c_storm]

The Langhorne NASCAR Modified-Sportsman race, which has been seen on Speedvision, was staged on October 14, 1951.....A field of 106 cars took the green flag.......Dick Eagan, driving in relief of Hully Bunn, was declared the winner after the terrible crash in the 83rd lap......In that mishap, Don Black of Mt. Tabor, NJ, suffered "compound fractures of his right leg & ankle, skull injuries & severe cuts in the crash" -- according to a report in National Speed Sport News.....Black was taken to Mercer Hospital in Trenton with critical injuries....He was able to recover from those injuries....

The incredible crash lasted for over one full minute.....Cars kept rounding the corner & piling into the disabled cars......Officials determined that a setting sun, which blinded the drivers, was responsible for the large number of cars involved.....Bill Tuthill, NASCAR's executive secretary in 1951, said drivers told him "the sun smacks you right at the eyes & at that part of the track."

Frank Holzhauer of Lakewood, NJ, suffered horrible burns earlier in the 100-mile race......His car burst into flames in the 48th lap after striking a pit wall.....Holzhauer suffered 2nd & 3rd degree burns over most of his body......His recuperation took several months......

Interesting footnote....That was Russ Catlin, noted auto racing historian, who clumsily conducted the pre-race interviews with Preston Niblett, Pepper Cunningham & Wally Campbell......