hal keck in a lister huh? . harold later ended up being a co-driver of one
of the daytona cobras that won the 24hrs of daytona. most people remember
his #88 oarnge hellertown ford 289 cobra and later the blue with white
stripes big block one#88. he later went on to campagin one of the factory
light weight javlin amx's. he still resides in hellertown pa. he is one of
the more"colorfull " drivers that i spent time visiting with my father as a
child. his garage was always full of neat stuff! just never ask harold to
speak publically!!!!! his mastery of the english blankety-blank
expletive-expletive-expletive language was quite impressive to say the
least! i had my mouth washed out with soap as a child for repeating
something i had over heard him say in his garage(by my mom)(dad was probably
laughing about it out of sight somewhere). this was what i thought was a
normal childhood! and penskie. dad threw him out of our garage back when
he was a lehigh universtiy student. i now know this afliction my father had
for going fast in sports cars has had an effect on my brain(my excuse even
if it is a poor one). lol!
it was a dangerous time and a wonderfull time! i could never thank my
father enough for the things he exposed me to as a child.
chuck.
----- Original Message -----
From: <LMR356@aol.com>
To: <JXLmail@aol.com>; <vintage-race@autox.team.net>;
<healeys@autox.team.net>
Sent: Tuesday, May 30, 2000 2:21 AM
Subject: Experiences racing at Marlboro Maryland in the 60s
> Jim L, 56BN2 wrote: I would appreciate .....listeners sharing experiences
> they had racing during the '60s at the SCCA track located at Marlboro,
> Maryland.
>
>
> Maybe some history on Marlboro will carry this thread a little further
along
> in the right direction...if you are interested. Marboro Park Speedway was
> located in Upper Marlboro, Maryland....15 miles east of Washington, D.C.
on
> Rt.301. It was the center of early SCCA racing in the Mid-Atlantic
> area...serving as the track for SCCA driving schools, regional, national
and
> FIA-sanctioned races. Marlboro was originally an oval track and in
1955,
> thanks to the "Lavender Hill Gang" of racing enthusiasts, it was expanded
to
> a 1.8 mile road course with tight, twisty turns that were both counter and
> clockwise, along with a long 2,500 foot straight. There was a section
> closest to the highway..that appropriately was referred to as the "heel
and
> toe" of the boot.
>
> Marlboro became home to the annual Governor's Cup, The Marlboro Cup, the
> Thanksgiving "Turkey Bowl", the Refrigerator Bowl races...as well as some
> famous six and twelve hour endurance races. Over the years, there was one
> particular character that became synonymous with Marlboro...that was
Richard
> "Tex" Hopkins....the man in the lavender suit with that long cigar.. who
had
> patented his own style for "jump starting" each race. If you ever saw him
in
> action.. you know what I mean. Later on, in 1967 and 1968, two Trans-Am
> races were held at MPS...attracting some of the largest crowds to Marlboro
to
> watch a new dimension of motorsports.. which would in turn would propel
the
> enthusiasm for sedan racing to new heights in America as well as abroad.
>
> Threats of safety, noise pollution, zoning issues, and
residential/commercial
> growth in Prince Georges County all added to the sudden demise of Marlboro
> Park Speedway in 1969. Ironically, old MPS sits practically undisturbed
> ...over 30 years later...undeveloped and perpetually in the midst of a
flood
> plain! I recently drove past Marlboro ...and from the highway, I could
see
> the remnants of the grandstands and what looked like the toe of the boot
> sticking out!
>
> Back to the past. Looking over the entry list from an April, 1962
Governor's
> Cup National SCCA race, here are a few of the cars and nationally known
> stars: Duncan Black ( Daimler SP250), Bruce Jennings ( King Carrera 356
> Speedsters), Bob Tullius ( Group 44 Triumph and Dodge Dart), Bob Holbert
(
> Porsche Spyder), Joe Buzzetta ( Porsche Spyder), Bob Grossman ( Ferrari) ,
> Roger Penske ( Cooper FJ and Tellar Spl), Mark Donahue, (Elva FJ) , Ed
> Lowther (Lister), Dr. Dick Thompson, (Corvette), Don Yenko (Corvette/Yenko
> Stinger), George Alderman (Cooper FJ), Chuck and Suzy Dietrich
> ( Elva FJs), Hal Keck ( Lister), Art Tweedale (Elva), Charlie Kolb
> (Maserati)...and many more...sorry if I overlooked some of you out there!
>
> I attended this particular Governor's Cup race in 1962.. as a junior in high
> school. I hitch hiked 50 miles from Baltimore... when my friends opted to go
> to the Orioles' game instead of to the races. I suspect that was a bold
> thing to do.. but it was the early sixties and "hitching" was a still
> relatively safe! I never, ever forgot what I saw....some great cars and
> great drivers....some of which/whom I would reconnect with as I became a
> vintage driver 25+ years later.
>
> Marlboro....like Cumberland were two wonderful race courses in Maryland that
> didn't survive....as other venues of motorsports did elsewhere. But the
> Marlboro memories and the distant scent of castor oil are still recognizable.
> Perhaps some of you will also share some stories as well....
>
> Lee Raskin, Brooklandville, Maryland ( Arnolt-Bristol and 356er)
>
>
|