Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. He was born in West Spring-field, son of the late John and Mafalda Mich-novetz and graduated from West Springfield High School Class of 1962. It could trace its roots to just after the Civil War, when Gallup's Grove opened as a picnic area in Agawam, nearly across the Connecticut River from the industrial city of Springfield, Mass. Again, thank you for your professionalism and management of K1 Speed in Sacramento. Beckley Speedway USA. and the Exposition Fairgrounds in West Springfield, Mass. Our qualifying has been just terrible, Moore admitted. While Riverside Park Speedway is gone, local racing fans do have plenty of options to see live racing. First, let me tell you how Auto racing legend Rene Charland, of Agawam, dies at 84. Birthdays, Mitvahs, Bachelor(ette), Team Building, Catered Lunches If there were two worms crawling out of a hole, he could turn it into a race that had you on the edge of your seat. . We had sponsorship for every race. Agawam, MA Racing on a tight track for 150 laps with 25 veteran competitors can sometimes be an unmistakable comparison to a championship boxing match, toe-to-toe for 15 rounds. Rollie Jacobs (left), former public address announcer at Riverside Park Speedway, inducted legendary car owner Mario Fiore (right) into the New England Auto Racing Hall of Fame on Sunday in East Windsor, Conn. Ruggiero had four separate stints driving Fiores No. Many stars of racing exelled at Riverside Park in the 1980s, including the 2000 NASCAR Featherlite Modified Tour Champion and Busch North Series star Jerry Marquis, 7 time NASCAR Featherlite Modified Tour Champion, 4 time NASCAR Busch North Series Champion and 1999 Craftsman Truck Series rookie "Mighty" Mike Stefanik and Featherlite Modified Tour and NASCAR Busch Series star "Magic Shoes" Mike McLaughlin. Ladies and gentlemen, tonight, Jocko Maggiacomo has a new engine in his car! I cant think of any race track where the drivers exhibited themselves as well as they did at Riverside.. When amusement park giant Six Flags took over Riverside Park in Agawam, one of the first steps it took was eliminating a local icon - the famed quarter-mile speedway. Meet. Riverside was a fifth back then. It would grow to attract the Northeast's best drivers. You have set the bar pretty high, and the fun factor is off the charts!! The park was shuttered during the Great Depression, but was reopened by Edward Carroll in 1940. Riverside Park Speedway was a 1/4-mile oval paved race track, located at the present site of Six Flags New England in Agawam, Massachusetts, one mile north of the Massachusetts - Connecticut state line. The natural athlete, Gene Bergin, was another star. Riverside Park in Agawam was a gathering spot for fun as far back as the late 19th century when it was known as Riverside Grove (and Gallups Grove before that). by ScottKo in RacingIn News, Rivalry Renewed: Lanigan & Richards Set To Face Off In 2015 As Richards Returns To Full-Time World of Outlaws Competition by ScottKo in RacingIn News, Fans of Fast Name Their Favorite Track of 2014 The facility is fabulous lots of space to spread out, clean He was part of a championship crew with Barry Kuhnel, Bill Pelley and Bob Polverari in the 80s and 90s. He later was a crew member with Bill Pelley and Reggie Ruggerio before moving on to 44 racing with Jerry Marquis and Mari Fiore and was part of their National Modified Championship of 2000. This would have been around 1984. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Fiore shared stories of how his team would often struggle to get back home after races they had won, since most payouts were made by check and no banks were open late at night. But it's been 15 years since Riverside Park Speedway disappeared from the Southern New England Racing landscape. With a track championship for the late Richie Evans, named in 1998 as one of NASCAR's 50 greatest drivers of all time. Agawam, MA Racing on a tight track for 150 laps with 25 veteran competitors can sometimes be an unmistakable comparison to a championship boxing match, toe-to-toe for 15 rounds. This scenario was played out Saturday evening at Riverside Park Speedway, where Kelly Moore put on a superb display of racing enroute to a 2nd place finish. WE MAKE IT EASY TO PLAN Thank you, K1 Speed!!!! Private group 6,043 Members. Matt Wiernasz is an auto racing journalist and photographer himself, and has fond memories . Rene Charland - AKA "The Champ" - won three NASCAR national Modified titles in the 1960s. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (updated 4/4/2023), Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 1/26/2023). 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Following the park's 1999 season, Premier Parks, Inc. made several major changes that directly affected the speedway. 1960's. The drivers are as listed: #12 Skip Barna, #111 Ronnie Mayer,#2x Charlie Brayton, #20 Jack Lecuyer, #98 Ray Sharron, #83 Al Jansing. Due to this variability, ALWAYS check with the tracks DIRECTLY via their individual websites to confirm actual racing before you travel! What a year as we transition onto dirt racing! TRACK INFO UPDATE? The first top-5 finish for the Tic-Tac Pontiac Grand Prix team pushed Moore, the 1995 Busch Grand National North Series champion, up 14 spots to 13th in the championship point battle, a mere 88 points out of the top spot.For the 2nd consecutive week Moore was unable to crack the top-10 in qualifying, this evening he was 16th fastest among the 30-car field. Invaders that raced at "The Park" seeking NASCAR National Modified Championship points included Richie Evans, Jerry Cook, Geoff Bodine, Jim Spencer, John Blewitt Jr and "Captain Sizzle" Mark Malcuit from Ohio, some would go on to become champions in several of NASCAR's top series. BRINKMANN RECORDS BEST BMARA FINISH OF SEASON As Berggren recalled, Riverside had an inspired business plan: Getting inside the park was free, you only paid admission for individual rides or to enter the speedway. In 1971 the track's configuration was changed to a bigger 1/4 mile oval, with slightly higher banking in the turns. Riverside Park Speedway ("The Park") was built in 1948. In the United States, speedways have been variously located next to junkyards, jammed next to suburban sprawl and occasionally plopped in the middle of their hometowns. The Serv-U Auto Supply Pro Stocks were also a feature division in the NASCAR's Winston Shortrack Series in 1999. It was the place to be on Saturday nights, fans would come in and watch the modifieds, and theyd have their favorites to cheer for, said Matt Wiernasz. The 1980s arrived! View source. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Six of the eight people inducted Sunday into the New England Auto Racers Hall of Fames class of 2012 had some sort of ties to the old track in Agawam, which closed in 1999. Reigning AFT Singles champion Kody Kopp is trying to hit a grand slam this season. While the focus of the auto racing world will be on Daytona Beach, Florida this weekend, there is plenty of racing heritage here in western Massachusetts. by KyleBrinkmannRacing in KyleBrinkmanRacing, a racer from Elkhorn, WI, What a year as we transition onto dirt racing! by ScottKo in Profile Tips For Users, SRW Winternationals Weekend now a Qualifying race for ALL Classes! The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing began sanctioning events at Riverside Park Speedway in 1976. Check out these great suggestions. Gary worked for many years at Germano Auto Sales before owning Garys Service Center in Agawam, which he sold two years ago. The winner of the first NASCAR-sanctioned event was Bob Polverari. The facility is fabulous - lots of space to spread out, clean and well maintained, and the . Of those six, two will never be more closely linked to one another than the driver-owner combination of Reggie Ruggiero and Mario Fiore. Photo courtesy of John Mahoney, USAC. We paid qualifying heat money. Joys assistant was Dodge, who took over as promoter in 1982. We were there last Wednesday, with 25 teenagers, and they all had a wonderful time. Again, thank you for your professionalism and management of K1 Speed in Sacramento. It was exactly what youd hope to have in an announcer. RIVERSIDE PARK STADIUM STOCK CAR RACING Agawam MA Admission Ticket 1.25 +.25 tax Pre-Owned $25.00 or Best Offer Free 4 day shipping Sponsored Enjoying The Day At Riverside Park, Agawam, Massachusetts, Posted VTG. History By Decade Riverside Park Speedway ("The Park") was built in 1948. Dodge, who still announces races and owns race cars, opted to take his leave, saying now that my reign at Riverside Park was such an important part of my life that I believed it was mine. The Rocky Hill, Conn, driver was a crowd favorite at the old Riverside Park Speedway in Agawam, where he won three track championships (1979, 1984, 1988) and a record 93 feature races over 23. American Legion Fairgrounds dirtpulltrack, Christian County Fairgrounds dirtkartoval, Christian County Fairgrounds dirtpulltrack, Clark County Speedway dirtmotocrosstrack, Decatur Macon County Fairgrounds dirtpulltrack, Edwards County Fairgrounds dirtpulltrack, Lincoln Trail Motosports dirtmotocrosstracks, Macoupin County Fairgrounds dirtpulltrack, Schuyler County Fairgrounds dirtpulltrack, Montgomery County Fairgrounds motorsportstrack, Northern Kentucky Fairgrounds demolitionderbytrack, Northern Kentucky Fairgrounds dirtpulltrack, Powell Co Lions Club Park dirtpulltrack, Deseret Peak Complex dirtoutdoormotocross, Rocky Mountain Raceways dirtoutdoormotocross, Russell Co Fairgrounds dirtdemolitionderbyoval, Va-Ky District Fair dirtoutdoormotocross, Virginia Motorsports MuseumandHallofFame. And just that quickly, the track was gone, along with a significant chunk of New Englands stock car history. Route 322 Detour Update. Bay Area Modifieds bringing IMCA Racing back to Emerald Coast, Rivalry Renewed: Lanigan & Richards Set To Face Off In 2015 As Richards Returns To Full-Time World of Outlaws Competition, Track Promoters Get FREE Promotion with RacingIn.com's Track Directory and Race Dates Page, Interest in Grassroots Racing Grows 40% in 2014 With Great Opportunities Ahead in 2015, Fans of Fast Name Their Favorite Track of 2014. Park owner Edward J. Carroll demolished the dance hall that had burned down that year and in its place rose a 1/5 mile nearly flat paved oval track. Riverside Park Speedway in Agawam drew in racing fans from throughout the Northeast for about 50 years. navigation, search. Henry J. Perkins. In a joint announcement, track owner Dennis Fleury and series president Jack Bateman, the principals responsible for the inaugural event, advise the 1st annual Ricky Miller Memorial 100, presented by New England Outdoor Furnaces, will be held on Sunday afternoon Sept.28th as part of the Twin State Speedway Fall Challenge, a two day event. That place was just so exciting and so dramatic, Dr. Dick Berggren, a longtime attendee and recipient of the NASCAR Hall of Fames Squier-Hall Award, remembered. EAST WINDSOR, Conn. The legacy of Riverside Park Speedway lives on. Next, widening and steepening the corners to a full quarter-mile. Truex Jr. Ends 54-Race Winless Streak At Dover, WoO LMS Notes: $50,000 To Win In Wisconsin, More Than 60 Hours Of Indy Coverage On NBC Platforms, Perez Leads Red Bull One-Two In Azerbaijan. 01001 (413) 786-3876. FEEL FREE TO LET US KNOW! In both cases, few could argue with the results. I went in there and changed practically everything they did, and thats when Ed Carroll Jr. asked me to become the director of auto racing. accommodating. We had bigger numbers on a Saturday than the amusement park did. 711. The Park was what got me noticed everywhere. I came from a little track, Plainville Stadium in Connecticut, a quarter mile, Ruggiero remembered. By the 1950s, modified stock cars had taken hold as the prevalent form of racing in the area, replacing the midgets as the featured division at Riverside Park Speedway. The popular competitor, a one time Florida racer and crew chief for noted car owner/builder Mario Fiore, would also win the last Whelen Modified Tour race at the famed Riverside Park Speedway, Agawam, MA., and claim that tracks final championship for the modified division prior to its 1999 closing. The theory was that an entertainer doesnt pay to walk on stage, he explained. Miller, a Twin State (Claremont Speedway) standout for many years before moving on to the Whelen Modified Tour and the NASCAR Busch Series died at the age of 34. Moore, the Busch North Series all-time Pole winner, has yet to display his qualifying expertise thus far in 1998. WWLP-22News 57.9K subscribers Subscribe 2.9K views 4 years ago Riverside Park Speedway in Agawam drew in racing fans from throughout the. It could trace its roots to just after the Civil War, when Gallups Grove opened as a picnic area in Agawam, nearly across the Connecticut River from the industrial city of Springfield, Mass. This page is not available in other languages. Things were getting very stagnant at Riverside, so they decided to introduce the pro stocks as the lead division, Dodge explained, adding that the modified seemed a better fit at larger tracks than within Riversides confines. NEAR To Host Riverside Park Speedway Reunion, Candidates Named for 2024-25 IMSA Diverse Driver Development Scholarship, Trackhouse Announces Ownership Of NC Karting Motorplex. David Allio | Racing Photography Archives, Original motorsports photos from historic archives by David Allio, Riverside Park Speedway | Agawam Massachusetts YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Due to this variability, ALWAYS check with the tracks DIRECTLY via their individual websites to confirm actual racing before you travel! Some of Riverside Park's local stars during the early and mid 1970's included S.J. "I would like to Thank You so much for making Carlys 17th birthday party GREAT!!!! However, both men chose to set aside their differences on their special day. Spawned by the popularity of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, the Teddy Bear Pools Truck division proved to be an instant success in 1998. A team rich in winning was, as he said, cash poor.. In the grandstands, loyalties to different drivers became fierce, where one sat in the stands was determined by what driver one was rooting for. Facebook Link Courchesne, Shawn (June 17, 1999) "Final Lap for Riverside Speedway", Last edited on 30 December 2022, at 17:44, Riverside International Speedway (West Memphis, Arkansas), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Riverside_Park_Speedway&oldid=1130538742, This page was last edited on 30 December 2022, at 17:44. Sprintcarstats. Paved Oval located in Agawam, MA: Track Status: Razed (Opened: 1948 --- Closed: 1999) TOURING SERIES & MAJOR EVENTS ; Date Sanction He resided in West Springfield and, He was an avid race car fan, a member of NASCAR. 44 Modified, much like Martin was fired four times as Steinbrenners New York Yankees manager. It was a cant-miss business proposition, until amusement rides became more profitable than packed pits and stands. legend Roland Pappy Lapierre Sr., car and engine builder Jim Jorgenson, 1987 Busch North Series champion Joey Kid Kourafas and Irene Venditti, widow of Seekonk Speedway founder D. Anthony Venditti. We always seemed hampered by a breakdown in communication, Fiore, of Agawam, said in his acceptance speech. Ted Chalmers, a 35 year racing veteran, wrote his name in the history books as the first ever champion in that division. The first full season of stock car racing was 1949. International sports car racing starPhil Walters, who raced modifieds and midgets under the name "Ted Tappett", won the season championship. Riverside Park Speedway was built in 1948 at Riverside Park, now the site of Six Flags New England. When intermission came, you hit your favorite rides, safe in the knowledge that Galon would call you back in plenty of time. Born in Ludlow to Read more Barbara (Cimino) Stefanik Passes at 69 By admin December 21, 2012 Riverside Park Speedway |. The 1970s were a decade of change for the facility, as physical and managerial changes were put into place that made the track what it was until its final season. You knew Rene Charland was the bad guy and Buddy Krebs was a good guy. by KyleBrinkmannRacing in KyleBrinkmanRacing, a racer from Elkhorn, WI, Top Tips For Online Race Track Promotion Under the sanction of the UNITED Stock Car Racing Club, Gene Bergin, Ed Patnode, Danny Galullo, Billy Greco and others emerged as contenders, Krebs and Greco piled up victories. Rt 305, 307 and 322 streets will detour due to an event in Forest Park. Riverside Parks stock car era essentially existed in three phases, the first promoted by Harvey Tattersall, senior and junior, through their United Stock Car Racing Club that sanctioned tracks across New England and New York through the 1960s. Riverside, both the amusement park and speedway, was an institution in its community. Riverside Park. For the 2nd consecutive week Moore was unable to crack the top-10 in qualifying, this evening he was 16th fastest among the 30-car field. Gary J. Michnovetz, 65, died suddenly on Tuesday.

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