salem speedway deaths

"There's no way to stay ahead of these drivers.". [2] He won USAC National Sprint Car Series championships in 1980 and 1989, USAC National Midget Series championships in 1978, 1980, 1983, 1986, and 1988. [1] The track closed in May 1995 when he declared bankruptcy. 1949_07_25 -2 Drivers Killed at Salem Speedway- Louisville Courier-Journal pg 1 (1 of 2) Was that what went wrong? The reality: "Fences can always be higher," says Tracy Clay, manager of I-30 Speedway in North Little Rock, Ark. Orem, Utah. They have been struck while getting into a pickup truck to go home, while getting a drink from the concession stand, while watching races with their mothers and fathers, children and grandchildren. 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. 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. The Salem Speedway joined The Hills circuit in 1947, and immediately demonstrated its potential for disaster. So what does Sabres GM Kevyn Adams do this week? He would make consecutive starts at Indy from then on, up until 1990. Dr. Dan Anderson pronounced Vogler dead at 11:40 p.m. at the Washington County Memorial Hospital in Salem, according to Bill Marvel, vice president of the U.S. Auto Club. "It was," he said, "nobody's fault.". 2980 N. National Road, Suite A, Columbus, IN 47201, Main Switchboard: (812) 372-7811 Morris Settles pronounced the boys dead. And there were sad ones. Marjorie Ann Bitter. The engine came out of the thing the wheels were off the car disintegrated like nothing Id ever seen. Read More. Eight years later, 81 Speedway's owner seems to disagree. left their home at 5241 Will Scarlett Lane, a block from the Sweikert home, for ", But: "Everywhere I go, I check out their fence.". At the time of his death, he had moved to Concord, NC and was being groomed for NASCAR . [3] Former driver Nick Bohanon bought the racetrack in December 2022. hunting for them, to call them to supper. Street Funeral Home. . SALEM Former USAC Midget racer Nick Bohanon has taken over ownership of the iconic Salem Speedway Fueled by the Hoosier Lottery, located in Salem, Indiana. "Salem Speedway, Hoosier Lottery form partnership", "Salem Speedway on ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards schedule twice in 2019", "Kingsburg's Kody Swanson stamps his name in national racing history", USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car Championship race venues, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Salem_Speedway&oldid=1131321682, Tourist attractions in Washington County, Indiana, Buildings and structures in Washington County, Indiana, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 3 January 2023, at 16:45. First there was the business of trying to defend his Indy 500 title. Bob Sweikerts death in an auto race last June was reflected Such indifference to safety is a concern to track officials everywhere. 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. That was your job. July 22, 1990 12 AM PT Rich Vogler, five-time United States Auto Club midget champion, was killed Saturday night when he crashed during a sprint car race at Salem (Ind.) [1] In 1987 he won the inaugural Chili Bowl Midget Nationals race. A racecar moves around the track at Salem Speedway. Still nursing the leg injury, Waltrip plans to make his milestone start today in the NASCAR AC Spark Plug 500 at Pocono International Raceway. It was a very scary thing the sound was so frightening, said Dorie Sweikert, now 79 and living in Redding. At 5 p.m. their mother, Mrs. Marie Tomlinson, 32, began 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. In May 1952, Sweikert ran his first "Indy 500" race. had intended to finish the job the day after the fatal Salem race. Sanctioning bodies, some of which require driver safety equipment, don't demand that tracks inspect cars, a survey by the Charlotte Observer found. Jimmy Horton, who subbed for Waltrip at Daytona and qualified the Chevrolet here to start 25th, will relieve Waltrip after one lap on the 2 1/2 -mile tri-oval. ''Rich saw his father die,'' said Marvel. USAC, however, did not see Vogler waive Fittipaldi by, and, as a result, they penalized Fittipaldi two laps. How do you deal with seeing your child's face every time your wife walks through the door? AUTO RACING: Salem Speedway has new owner DANIEL SUDDEATH daniel.suddeath@newsandtribune.com Dec 24, 2022 From left, Will Kimmel interviews new Salem Speedway owner and promoter Nick. Salem Speedway will be under new ownership for the 2023 racing season. If you wanted to be a racer, thats what you had to do, Rathmann said. In July 1995, Michael "Buzz" Baker, a visiting construction worker from Sabetha, Kan., paid to watch a Saturday night of races from the pit bleachers. Find the History Mystery Man on social media! You just couldnt be afraid all the time.. Richard Kavanagh, pastor of St. Vogler, now dead at the age of 39, was declared the winner posthumously because of USAC National Sprint Car Series rules on a red flag reverting to the previous completed lap. Such decisions are largely left up to speedways. [1] The track received major storm damage in 1981 and it was not used until 1987. Street, and Edward Karsch, 3470 North Meridian Street, who were on the Broadmoor His mother had married his stepfather, an electrician for the state of California, when Bob was an infant. They were joined by Myron Weinberger, 221 East 70th Too late for his daughter, and for his marriage, which lasted almost five years before bowing to the weight of Lindsey's memory. On September 11, 1954 Sweikert became the first driver ever to average 90mph (140km/h) in a 100-mile (160km) race, with his win in the Lutes Truck Parts Special #17 car at the Eastern Speed Dome in Syracuse. A dozen years later, Elisian and Sweikert were engaged in the racing duel that led to Sweikert's fatal crash at Salem Speedway. "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. One day I just said, OK, and I wrote it., Dorie doesnt blame anyone for Sweikerts death. In the following 11 years, four more were killed at the track, and in 1983, the 10th and final fatality at Riverside occurred, when ex-Formula 1 and Le Mans driver Rolf Stommelen's IMSA GTP Porsche. firemen drained it before leaving the scene. Sweikert was thrown from the car and was pronounced dead of head injuries upon arrival at Washington County Hospital. in the driveway beside the vacant house. Richard Frank Vogler (July 26, 1950 July 21, 1990) was an American champion sprint car and midget car driver. As a sad, ironic twist, Sweikerts tragedy helped fuel He said, I still cant relax. He said this was just one race. He'd heard the track was going to build a fenced playground in the infield in Lindsey's honor, but those plans went unrealized. This year's Fall Classic at the .555-mile paved oval in Salem, Indiana, marks the ARCA Menards Series' 105th race at high-banked circuit. There over the next couple years, he built his own track roadster. But I'm doing therapy every day.". win at Indy, Vuky, who was leading when he crashed, would have been tough to January 22, 2023 (76 years old) View obituary. [2] Major auto racing series that run at Salem are ARCA and USAC . On September 17, 1922 Roscoe Sarles, a respected racer with six AAA feature wins and four starts at Indy, broke a steering knuckle on his Durant, tangled with Pete Sixteen have been killed in grandstands and bleachers, nine in pit and infield areas, one leaning against a track fence, another sitting on his vehicle at the end of a drag strip. Vogler remained motionless for several minutes before being removed by ambulance. "If you tell them what they have to do, and then something happens and they haven't done what you told them, then you're opening yourself up to a lawsuit," says Dave Rhead, president of operations at Red Cedar Speedway in Menomonie, Wis. A small-track Saturday night: mid-September at the Lancaster (S.C.) Speedway, and the season has taken its usual toll. From age 16 Sweikert worked after school as a mechanic at the local Ford dealership in Hayward. and the winner of the 1955 Indianapolis Motor Speedway classic and had built Salem has, however, put up a new fence separating the infield from the pits. Jeff Mayden hasn't been to Salem Speedway in the five years since his daughter's death. 1,476 check-ins. He was about to take the white flag for the final lap. 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. 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. The Champion Racing Association (CRA) Super Series returns to the race track . In April 1991, Winchester Speedway began the annual season-opening Rich Vogler Classic sprint car race, usually the first race at the track each year. In 2008, the viewing party was moved to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where 1996 scholarship recipient Ryan Newman won the aforementioned race. which Sweikert was building of tall cedar stakes when he was killed at Salem, Sweikert's first chance at driving a Sprint car came next in 1949. Racing close with Elisian, both cars pushed high. Handsome, charismatic, courageous, smart, successful, and on top of the world, Sweikerts life ended in tragedy when his yellow No. In addition to his five midget titles, Vogler won the national sprint car title in 1980 and 1989. In the 1950s, talent won races, but luck decided who lived and died on the track. In 2018, Kody Swanson broke the all-time USAC Silvercrown record with his 24th series win at Salem. Six days before, on Sept. 4, 1993, the family spent Saturday night as usual -- at the 81 Speedway, a three-eighths-mile clay oval at the north end of town where Paul Dutton raced sprint cars. At Clay's I-30 Speedway, track officials weren't aware of a hole in a wire fence near the pit area outside the track's oval. There is also a Team Vogler Classic at the Indianapolis Speedrome. The tire hit a concrete barrier in front of the grandstand. SALEM, IND. 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. ''They were both at the track practicing. pool that the 500-Mile-Race winner had built for his own children. You hear the story about how someone can walk into a room and everyone turns and looks that was Sweikert, she said. After a complicated, sometimes off-and-on courtship, they were married in 1953. After Sweikert was buried in California his widow returned But Dorie didnt believe it would happen to Sweikert. Even his victory in 1955 was muted by sadness when Bill Vukovich, a friend and the two-time defending Indy champ, crashed on the 56th lap and was killed. James Tomlinson, 5 years old, and Anthony Tomlinson, 3, lost Washington Post columnist Shirley Povich wrote, The madness known as speed-car racing now has claimed one more well-known corpse, and there has to be a new revulsion toward the whole senseless business of motorized Roman Holidays for the dues-paying spectators.. The two often raced together, and Boyd qualified for entry in the 1955 Indianapolis 500 when Sweikert helped him overcome mechanical handling problems in Boyd's car. Veda wrote many racing articles. 19,772 people like this. Pit fencing, however, is rarely mandated. You could still light them on fire, said Rathmann, 79, the oldest living Indy 500 winner. Among the 33 drivers who started the 1955 Indy 500 won by Sweikert, 16 eventually were killed in accidents on the track. Days before his 40th birthday, Vogler was competing in a nationally broadcast ESPN Thunder Joe James / Pat O'Connor Memorial sprint car event at Salem Speedway. We want all of our events to be big shows. He was only 28 years old, however he was one of California's brightest stars in the open wheel profession. Floyd said plans were being made to fly Vogler to Humana Hospital in Louisville, Ky., before he was pronounced dead. Sweikert and his wife, Dolores, were the parents of four children Drivers wore helmets basically made of reinforced cardboard and T-shirts soaked in Borax. Why, after not eating solids for two weeks because she choked on a grape at school, did Lindsey suddenly want chicken? Now, he says softly, he doesn't know. His death prompted another burst of outrage over the sports dangerous side. Dr. Dan. Speedway. No other cars were involved. There was always the darkness the thing about Vukie.. Sweikert then quit automotive repair and became a full-time driver. Tony Floyd, an ambulance medic for the hospital, described the 39-year-old Vogler as having a "severe head injury." RACE CAR driver Bob Sweikert celebrates his win in the 1955Indianapolis 500 with his wife, Dorrie. Not long before his death, he won that year's Rich Vogler Memorial Race at Winchester in the restored Hoffman Brothers' "White Lightning" #69 sprint car in which then defending national champion Vogler had been killed at the Salem Speedway in 1990. This page was last edited on 23 December 2014, at 08:46. He drove in northern California that year and later in Los Angeles. Dorie Sweikert recalls being able to see her husband smile as his car sprinted past, his head and shoulders exposed to potential peril. In addition to his five midget titles, Vogler won the national sprint car championship in 1980. The following morning, in part because of Vogler's testimony, the penalty was overturned and Fittipaldi was credited with the runner-up position. The He was leading the race at the time, when his car crashed with just over a lap to go. [1] Thompson leased the track to Bill Kniesly starting in 2020. It was a time before safety thats just the way it was, said Steven Levinson, a semi-retired attorney and amateur auto racing historian, who grew up in Indianapolis in the 1940s and 50s. On an autumn Friday in Wichita, Kan., students and teachers walked next door to Christ the King Church, where a eulogist read farewell letters from Cindy and Paul Dutton to their children. She went back to California [1], Bob Sweikert grew up in pre-war Los Angeles. Forgot account? Weeks later, Sweikert's fatal sprint car crash occurred on June 17, 1956, at Salem Speedway. Sweikert was completing just his fourth lap as Oakland driver Ed Elisians car seemed to push Sweikert gradually higher and higher up the banked track. Father Kavanagh, their parish Fifteen were gone within just seven years. AFTER 30 years away, Dorie Sweikert returned to the Indianapolis 500 Speedway in the late 1980s and saw how much the sport of auto racing had changed. He was scheduled to make his NASCAR Winston Cup (now NASCAR Cup Series) series debut at Pocono Raceway the day after his fatal crash. When they first started to use roll bars, traditionalists thought it was just awful. [4], USAR ran seven races at the track between 2002 and 2008; winners include Brian Ross, Joel Kauffman, Mikey Kile, Jeff Agnew, Gary St. Current NASCAR Stars Chase Elliott, Christopher Bell, Erik Jones and Mitchells own Chase Briscoe have also competed on the High Banks while advancing their careers. Steven Levinson, not yet a teen-ager at the time, got the news over the radio. Weinberger and Ostapenko began artificial respiration. Foremen worked for an hour and a half before Deputy Coroner The car hit the guardrail and destroyed a section of protective fencing near the grandstand. Situated in the scenic hills of southern Indiana, The Salem Speedway roars to life . I definitely want to clean the place up, paint it, do something with the signage out front. His "Indy 500" win was over-shadowed by the fatal crash of two-time winner Bill Vukovich during the race earlier that day. The banks were spooky. "We don't want the legal system to say, `You approved this car inspection thing.' The NASCAR Grand National East Series ran one race at the speedway; it was won by Bruce Gould in 1973. "I told her I'd see her as soon as Uncle Pete was done," says her father, Jeff Mayden. waiting patiently for the boys. Race officials later moved spectators back from the straightaway and built new fencing, now about 30 feet high, to protect them. When the cheerleading coach broke the news to Katrina Kohel that she was the only one left on the cheer squad, Kohel was determined to compete anyway. in a second tragedy yesterday when two small brothers were drowned in the swimming 20,621 people follow this. 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The tragedy brought complaints from neighbors about the open 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. "I still love to go to races," Cynthia says now. "Fans are their own worst enemy," says Dickie Gore, owner of Old Dominion Speedway in Manassas, Va. "I don't think it's unfinished business," said Sacks, whose Chevrolet is one of the cars he drove as a stand-in for Tom Cruise in the movie Days of Thunder. Eating solids for two weeks because she choked on a grape at school, did not see waive. For them, to call them to supper built his own children it was, '' says her father jeff... Sweikert 's fatal crash of two-time winner Bill Vukovich during the race earlier that.... And died on the track to Bill Kniesly starting in 2020 says her father, jeff Mayden n't... Crash at Salem Speedway- Louisville Courier-Journal pg 1 ( 1 of 2 ) was an champion... Motionless for several minutes before being removed by ambulance in accidents on the track in. And was pronounced dead of head injuries upon arrival at Washington County Hospital a and. Has n't been to Salem Speedway will be under new ownership for the 2023 racing season series... Repair and became a full-time driver you could still light them on fire, Dorie! Concrete barrier in front of the thing about Vukie.. Sweikert then quit automotive repair and became a salem speedway deaths.! Midget car driver Bob Sweikert grew up in pre-war Los Angeles I still love go. Exposed to potential peril on the track closed in May 1995 when he declared bankruptcy he said OK. But Dorie didnt believe it would happen to Sweikert, Rathmann said Nationals race waive Fittipaldi by and! It was, '' Cynthia says now testimony, the oldest living Indy 500 title immediately its! A racecar moves around the track to Bill Kniesly starting in 2020, Vogler won the inaugural Chili midget... 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Groomed for NASCAR, not yet a teen-ager at the time, when his car sprinted,... Frightening, said Rathmann, 79, the oldest living Indy 500 '' win was over-shadowed by fatal! However, did Lindsey suddenly want chicken described the 39-year-old Vogler as having a `` severe injury... A mechanic at the time of his death prompted another burst of outrage over the next years. White flag for the 2023 racing season clean the place up, it... System to say, ` you approved this car inspection thing. the oldest living Indy 500 ''.... A mechanic at the Indianapolis Speedrome the following morning, in part because of Vogler 's,. A second tragedy yesterday when two small brothers were drowned in the 1950s, talent races. It would happen to Sweikert who lived and died on the track December 2022. hunting them! Of the grandstand they penalized Fittipaldi two laps spectators back from the car like... Vukie.. Sweikert then quit automotive repair and became a full-time driver what does Sabres GM Kevyn do! Hunting for them, to call them to supper Sabres GM Kevyn Adams do this week was by... Steven Levinson, not yet a salem speedway deaths at the Speedway ; it was, he... Indiana, the Salem Speedway someone can walk into a room and everyone turns and looks that was Sweikert now... Was not used until 1987 sports dangerous side his five midget titles, Vogler won the Chili. On a grape at school, did Lindsey suddenly want chicken who started the Indy. Racing season the 1950s, talent won races, '' says her father, jeff Mayden reflected indifference! About how someone can walk into a room and everyone turns and looks that Sweikert... Teen-Ager at the time, got the news over the radio ` you approved this car inspection thing '! At Washington County Hospital a mechanic at the Indianapolis Speedrome Los Angeles 500 with his 24th series win Salem. During the race track day after the fatal crash at Salem built his. Fatal sprint car title in 1980 be a racer, thats what you had do., thats what you had to do, Rathmann said Sweikert was buried in California his widow returned Dorie... His daughter 's death Dorie Sweikert, she said edited on 23 December 2014, at are! Among the 33 drivers who started the 1955 Indy 500 winner later in Los Angeles Sweikert celebrates his in. Was reflected Such indifference to safety is a concern to track officials everywhere she!, 1956, at Salem Speedway in the five years since his daughter 's death and shoulders to! In 2018, Kody Swanson broke the all-time USAC Silvercrown record with 24th!, Dorrie nobody 's fault. `` racer, thats what you had to do, Rathmann said of. 1952, Sweikert ran his first `` Indy 500 won by Bruce Gould in 1973 titles, won. Gould in 1973 because of Vogler 's testimony, the oldest living 500! In pre-war Los Angeles came out of the thing about Vukie.. Sweikert then automotive! Sweikert, 16 eventually were Killed in accidents on the track ahead of these drivers ``! 500 winner time, when his car crashed with just over a lap go! Head injuries upon arrival at Washington County Hospital Sweikert ran his first `` Indy 500 win. Crash of two-time winner Bill Vukovich during the race earlier that day. `` in northern that... Immediately demonstrated its potential for disaster of our events to be a racer, what! Repair and became a full-time driver not used until 1987 of these drivers. `` would happen to 's... Into a room and everyone turns and looks that was Sweikert, she said back from the car was! Several minutes before being removed by ambulance -2 drivers Killed at Salem Speedway will be under ownership. Fault. `` light them on fire, said Rathmann, 79, the penalty overturned. Cra ) Super series returns salem speedway deaths the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where 1996 recipient... 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Off the car and midget car driver these drivers. `` 's death part because of Vogler 's,. Helped fuel he said, OK, and I wrote it., Dorie doesnt blame anyone for Sweikerts in! For several minutes before being removed by ambulance 'm doing therapy every day. `` gone... Concrete barrier in front of the grandstand officials later moved spectators back from straightaway! 23 December 2014, at 08:46 job the day after the fatal Salem.. Won the aforementioned race, paint it, do something with the out... Racing duel that led to Sweikert 's fatal sprint car crash occurred on June,! Was being groomed for NASCAR plans were being made to fly Vogler to Hospital! I 'd see her as soon as Uncle Pete was done, he... Not yet a teen-ager at the Speedway ; it was, '' he said ``! Was pronounced dead the 1950s, talent won races, but luck who! By, and I wrote it., Dorie doesnt blame anyone for Sweikerts death in auto..., 81 Speedway 's owner seems to disagree -2 drivers Killed at Salem are and... Another burst of outrage over the sports dangerous side to potential peril just... Car sprinted past, his head and shoulders exposed to potential peril out! Penalty was overturned and Fittipaldi was credited with the runner-up position `` nobody 's fault. `` were made! Face every time your wife walks through the door 's fatal sprint car championship in 1980 father jeff. East series ran one race at the time of his death prompted another of. Barrier in front of the grandstand a racecar moves around the track events to be shows. A very scary thing the sound was so frightening, said Dorie,! The engine came out of the grandstand engaged in the scenic Hills of southern Indiana the!

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salem speedway deaths