The track has 33 degrees of banking in the corners. He had that charisma.. In May 1952, Sweikert ran his first "Indy 500" race. Pac-12 media rights: Our (final) predictions for the revenue, media partners, expansion decisions and more, Alameda County supervisors allow eviction moratorium to remain until end of April, Antioch: Homicide suspect arrested in Brentwood home, Tech, restaurant, logistics layoffs trigger more than 300 Bay Area job cuts, Denver gang member gave 14-year-old permission to open fire on woman with AR-15 after fender-bender, DA alleges, In 4 years, Lori Lightfoot went from breakout political star to divisive mayor of a Chicago beset by pandemic and crime, Florida lawmakers to consider expansion of so-called dont say gay law, Drone crashes at Disneyland after hovering over visitors heads See video, Rapper Travis Scott wanted for assaulting Manhattan club sound engineer, destroying $12K in equipment, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. Vogler was declared the winner when officials decided not to complete the the 30-lap event. Your email address will not be published. About. After Sweikert was buried in California his widow returned Of course, it saved a lot of lives.. I didnt even think Id hit 21. waiting patiently for the boys. "My stamina's not what it should be. Im really excited about acquiring Salem Speedway and looking forward to what the future entails for this historic track, Bohanon said. IRS delays tax deadline for Bay Area, but California hasnt followed: What should you do? A 37-year-old Buffalo firefighter died while fighting a four-alarm blaze on Main Street downtown that may have been sparked by work being done, While Amherst police were on the scene, a number of fights started among groups within the crowd in the mall lot on Alberta and in the Wegmans, The new renderings released by the Bills include an up-close view from the field level, three exterior stadium views with more detail than has. Bob Sweikerts death in an auto race last June was reflected Times you just didnt want to look., Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Alameda County DAs new policy will reduce prison sentences through widespread elimination of sentencing enhancements. Keep reading with unlimited digital access. 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. The reality: "Fences can always be higher," says Tracy Clay, manager of I-30 Speedway in North Little Rock, Ark. The fencing had been laid in position on the ground and Sweikert While completing the third lap, Sweikert was running near the outside wall in 4th place, side by side with his past teenage East Bay streets rival, Ed Elisian, in 5th. Insurers wait as much as three years between track visits, leaving opportunity for repairs and maintenance to lag. Ostapenko and Karsch removed the boys from the water. The same year, Sweikert moved up to midget cars, and won his first training race with the Bay Cities Racing Association. From age 16 Sweikert worked after school as a mechanic at the local Ford dealership in Hayward. Coming out of the 4th turn, the two cars started down the straightaway in front of the grandstand. pool and its lure for children. 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. On September 26, 1953 Sweikert won the Hoosier Hundred, at the Indiana State Fairgrounds, a race which is chronicled by many as "the greatest race ever" run. Sweikert returned to Hayward and opened his own small business, Sweikert Automotive, an automotive repair shop based out of his parents' garage. Salem Speedway opened in 1947, providing fans with exciting fast paced racing on the .555-mile oval that features imposing 33-degree banked turns that were built strictly for speed! In 1988, Vogler was running 20+ laps down in the race when he waived his position to former Formula 1 champion Emerson Fittipaldi. If you are experiencing difficulties logging in or are a subscriber getting a paywall, please try one or more of the following steps. Prior to this season, he had 122 victories in sprints, midgets and dirt cars. Tragically, Reece would lose his life on the last lap of the 100 Mile USAC National Championship race at Trenton Speedway on September 28, 1958. A grim reminder of the darkness of the board-track era of the 1920s. firemen drained it before leaving the scene. "There's no way to stay ahead of these drivers.". There was always the darkness the thing about Vukie.. For over 65 years Salem Speedway has enjoyed the recognition of being one of the most unique and renowned racetracks in America. And for each spectator killed, there are tales of others spared when cars or wheels flew over fences and through pits, striking no one. The Champion Racing Association (CRA) Super Series returns to the race track . Saturday's sponsor is Crosleybrands.com. His "Indy 500" win was over-shadowed by the fatal crash of two-time winner Bill Vukovich during the race earlier that day. We will keep the other local divisions that have been running at the track and plan to continue to bring in some additional outside touring series to keep fans interested in coming to all our events. after the boys were taken from the water. Racing close with Elisian, both cars pushed high. Amant. Steven Levinson, not yet a teen-ager at the time, got the news over the radio. 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. [4], USAR ran seven races at the track between 2002 and 2008; winners include Brian Ross, Joel Kauffman, Mikey Kile, Jeff Agnew, Gary St. Star, as published on Aug. 12, 1956, Mother Finds Pair in Wife of popular Wild 94.9 radio host JV says new information suggests he will not be coming back, Bay Area federal judge orders extradition of woman suspected of killing MSU student in hit-and-run, Santa Rosa high school student stabbed to death in classroom, Harry, Meghan asked to vacate Frogmore, their UK home, East Bay lawmaker blasts open sore at BART, resigns from Senate committee, United Dumplings' fare in Rockridge 'meant to be enjoyed together', Three Bay Area men, including justice reform activist, plead guilty in Norteo RICO murder case, Walnut Creeks Shake Shack is finally opening this weekend. in the driveway beside the vacant house. Some tracks, after tragedies, raise fence heights or beef up security and car inspections. He is thankful only that Lindsey had her back to the track when the tire bounced toward her. [1] Don Gettelfinger Sr. bought the track in 1987 and he replaced the fence with concrete. January 22, 2023 (76 years old) View obituary. Vogler made his first start in Indianapolis 500 participation in 1985 where he drove the #60 Patrick Racing/KFC car to a 23rd-place finish. SALEM, IND. Pit fencing, however, is rarely mandated. "A good Sunday was when every driver cheated death and went home alive." The Salem Speedway joined "The Hills" circuit in 1947, and immediately demonstrated its potential for disaster. "I always thought she was probably in more danger driving to the racetrack than being in the infield," he says. Among the 33 drivers who started the 1955 Indy 500 won by Sweikert, 16 eventually were killed in accidents on the track. Five-time USAC midget champion Rich Vogler was killed Saturday night when his car crashed during a feature race of which he was later declared the winner at Salem Speedway. The wheel hit Amanda flush, crushing her lungs and heart beyond surgeons' repair. Speedway infield. In late 1952 his first wife, Marion, started divorce proceedings. The boys 33-year-old father arrived at the pool shortly As Baker left his seat for a drink from the concession stand, a wheel came loose from a car on the track. She died five hours later, early the next day. Sweikert's car, on the outside, brushed a piece of metal . All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! Drivers sit so low in modern cars, nestled safely into a protective cockpit, that you can hardly see them. With months to heal and the war over, he was honorably discharged in September 1945. Ironically, it was Reece who was standing in the turn one infield on July 17, 1956 and filmed Sweikert's accident. 1949_07_25 -2 Drivers Killed at Salem Speedway- Louisville Courier-Journal pg 1 (1 of 2) NASCAR hadnt yet arrived to swallow the sport. Weeks later, Sweikert's fatal sprint car crash occurred on June 17, 1956, at Salem Speedway. They had a large family wedding in West L.A. I had to work very hard at that, not to make it a negative. None of todays safeguards existed then. On July 5th, 1970, he was driving for Mauri Amerling, at the Salem, Indiana speedway when. 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. Find the History Mystery Man on social media! In September 1955 Sweikert became the only driver in history to win the original American motor sports Triple Crown, by sweeping the Indianapolis 500, the AAA big car National Championship, and the Midwest sprint car championship. That car now resides in the Museum at the Indianapolis racetrack. The Winston Cup season leader easily beat Schrader's 157.219 mph in qualifying Friday. "And it gets worse at the end of the night.". February 27, 2023 (100 years old) View obituary. His parents, Foster R Hess and Sarah Ethel Davis were married in Sullivan County, TN in 1928. "He would be going if it were me that died. They were joined by Myron Weinberger, 221 East 70th Perhaps in part because Bob Sweikert refused to accept fear, Dorie convinced herself he was safe from harm. "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. The Pocono race was not his first attempted NASCAR Winston Cup start: two weeks before, he entered the Michigan race but failed to qualify. The likeable, rising superstar, who had just appeared on the front cover of Sports Illustrated, did not survive the crash. Search Provo obituaries and condolences, hosted by Echovita.com. "We have to be very careful what we ask them to do," says George Knight of George Knight Associates in Tulsa, Okla., a small-track insurance provider. office. 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. Sweikert, who graduated from Hayward High in 1944, won the Indy 500 at age 29, the first and only Bay Area racer to capture the event. Vogler, who would have been 40 on Thursday, raced in five Indianapolis 500s. "He was a true professional who served his community with pride every day for over 32 years," the Amherst Police Department said in a statement. In late 1944, Sweikert enrolled in the US Army Air Force, but suffered a severe knee injury while training at Lowry Field in Colorado. The event at one of the iconic short tracks in the county is being . 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. Just 12 days after Sweikerts bitter-sweet win at Indianapolis, the sport suffered its worst tragedy when a car at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in France went off the track and into the crowd, killing 80 spectators. Before this season, he had 122 victories in sprints, midgets and dirt cars. Drivers competing at Indy during those years were credited with World Championship points and participation. Lindsey, who wanted to be a veterinarian and a midget car racer. Country Club golf course behind the Sweikert home. Classes at Christ the King School were canceled for Josh and Amanda Dutton's funeral. 2803 Obituaries. He walked over to his father`s car, looked in and then walked away. Racing but was replaced posthumously by Ted Musgrave. [1] The track closed in May 1995 when he declared bankruptcy. Sweikert was thrown from the car and was pronounced dead of head injuries upon arrival at Washington County Hospital. Tony Floyd, an ambulance medic for the hospital, described the 39-year-old Vogler as having a "severe head injury." [2] Major auto racing series that run at Salem are ARCA and USAC . [1] Thompson leased the track to Bill Kniesly starting in 2020. The 2023 Salem Speedway tentative schedule: March 18: Riverside Drift Clinic April 8: (3rd Annual Easter Egg Hunt) Open Practice for all divisions April 16: (Season Opener) GAS, CVBT, CVST,. Their cars, after months of mutual insult, begin to take on the appearance of crumpled paper. With the deaths have come questions -- about track fencing, about uninspected cars, about supervision in restricted areas. LONG POND, Pa. -- Darrell Waltrip will be satisfied with a short day on the track today. Why, after not eating solids for two weeks because she choked on a grape at school, did Lindsey suddenly want chicken? Hayward's Bob Sweikert was one of 16 driversamong the 33 who started the 1955 Indianapolis500 who would be killed in racetrack accidentsover the next 11 years. 4.3. 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. At smaller tracks, insurance companies are the primary arbiters of fence height and design. USAC, however, did not see Vogler waive Fittipaldi by, and, as a result, they penalized Fittipaldi two laps. The result is something of a chaotic feel: fights in the pits, fans rushing in noisy scrums to watch. Eugene Gerber, bishop of Wichita's Roman Catholic diocese and a family friend, tried to console the mournful. pool that the 500-Mile-Race winner had built for his own children. another. Toll Free: (800) 876-7811, Salem Speedway has new ownership for 2023, Two conservation uses for live-cut Christmas trees, Family Of Coaching: Hausers Moorhead is third generational coach in his family, Hall-of-Famer, NFL executive talks to North students, Prep sports notebook: Stahl named to IBCA Supreme 15. Martin took the pole for today's 12:10 p.m. race, qualifying his Ford at 158.264 mph. The following paragraphs have been transcribed from the Indianapolis The boys, only sons of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Tomlinson, had The series has visited Salem more than any other track in its almost 70-year history. Race officials later moved spectators back from the straightaway and built new fencing, now about 30 feet high, to protect them. 2894 Gallahad Drive, around the corner from the Sweikert house, ran to her aid. A good Sunday was when every driver cheated death and went home alive.. More information on Salem Speedway and the 2023 season will be posted on the tracks website at salemspeedway.com and with social media posts on the tracks Facebook page. Their shoes where on the pools rim. The beat that day. James Tomlinson, 5 years old, and Anthony Tomlinson, 3, lost Michaels Catholic Church, arrived and gave last rites. His mother had married his stepfather, an electrician for the state of California, when Bob was an infant. You go to Salem, and you go home a widow. At 5 p.m. their mother, Mrs. Marie Tomlinson, 32, began In May 1956, at his final return to the Indianapolis 500, Sweikert began in the 10th starting position and came in for a 6th-place finish, with the team's D-A Lubricant roadster. A naturally gifted mechanic, he frequently won street races throughout the East Bay. Veda wrote many racing articles. SALEM - Salem Speedway is set to host the 33rd Halloween 200 from Oct. 22-24. See more of Salem Speedway on Facebook. Now his dream was not just to win Indy, but to be the best in the world. They were dangerous beyond belief, Levinson wrote in an online article for Autoracing1.com. hunting for them, to call them to supper. Roger Bruce Hassing. [2] A thunderstorm had ripped the roof off the grandstands and fences were damaged. He was leading the race at the time, when his car crashed with just over a lap to go. She attended most of his races, and even had the unthinkable chore of informing the wife of another driver that her husband had been killed. This event be an action packed weekend full of racing and fun. Speedway. History [ edit] Dr. Dan. He had secured an overseas drivers license and was planning a racing tour of Europe in 1957. Most prominently, three spectators were killed and six injured by a flying wheel and debris in June 1998 when driver Adrian Hernandez hit the Turn 4 wall during a Championship Auto Racing Teams race at Michigan Speedway. The engine came out of the thing the wheels were off the car disintegrated like nothing Id ever seen. I didnt see him airborne.. The NASCAR Grand National East Series ran one race at the speedway; it was won by Bruce Gould in 1973. Bohanon, a Southern Indiana. On September 12, 1953 Sweikert became the first driver ever to break 100mph (160km/h) on a one-mile (1.6km) oval track, at the Eastern Speed Dome, Syracuse, New York. Sweikert himself took the checkers at Indy in the face of Fifteen were gone within just seven years. "I ask myself every night if something could have been different," Mayden says. Required fields are marked *. It would do no good for anyone to tell Bob Sweikert to quit racing. Mrs. Sweikerts last order before leaving Indianapolis, the neighbors said, was that the fence be completed at once. Karl & Veda Orr built & operated their own race cars. She figures it was a combination of factors, but mostly this: It was Bobs time to die, and he died.. Added to the dangerous equation were tracks of all variety that drivers had to tackle in order to reach their primary destination Indianapolis. Your email address will not be published. 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. The .555-Mile oval that features imposing 33-degree banked turns was built strictly for speed. The names, logos, and other source identifying features of newspapers depicted in our database are the trademarks of their respective owners, and our use of newspaper content in the public domain or by private agreement does not imply any affiliation with, or endorsement from, the publishers of the newspaper titles that appear on our site. Drivers wore helmets basically made of reinforced cardboard and T-shirts soaked in Borax. And with good reason; with 33-degree banking in the corners, Salem Speedway was built in 1947 with all out speed in mind. Most race fans don't. But he liked to race on them.. He'd heard the track was going to build a fenced playground in the infield in Lindsey's honor, but those plans went unrealized. A year later, on June 17, 1956, Sweikert, just turned 30, was killed when his sprint car shot over the edge of the high-banked, half-mile track at Salem, Ind. 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. Find an obituary, get service details, leave condolence messages or send flowers or gifts in memory of a loved one. She married again six years ago, but in 1998 published Along for the Ride A Love Story. The book is a personal, poignant and sometimes painful look back on her time with Bob Sweikert. Sacks, who will start third on today behind Mark Martin and Ken Schrader, ran a strong seventh here in June after leading late in the race. They were high-banked tracks in Dayton, Ohio, Winchester, Ind., and Fort Wayne, Ind. You hear the story about how someone can walk into a room and everyone turns and looks that was Sweikert, she said. If you wanted to be a racer, thats what you had to do, Rathmann said. This was his 170th win. Jeff Mayden hasn't been to Salem Speedway in the five years since his daughter's death. His death prompted another burst of outrage over the sports dangerous side. The six tracks with the most driver deaths Many people, including drivers, crew members, officials and spectators, have been killed in crashes related to the sport of auto racing, in races, in qualifying, in practice or in private testing sessions. He actually maintained his sprint car, even after he won (Indy).. 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. Such indifference to safety is a concern to track officials everywhere. Michigan Speedway raised its fences from 14 1/2 to 17 feet after its 1998 CART crash. Layton, Utah. There is also a Team Vogler Classic at the Indianapolis Speedrome. 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. Not all would race The Hills. Six-time Indy 500 entrant Jimmy Reece refused, calling it the idiot circuit., For most drivers, the Midwest sprint car series was a necessary proving ground. 20,621 people follow this. Parts of the car were strewn about the front stretch between the turn and the start-finish line, but the protective roll cage and the driver's pod remained attached to most of chassis. [3], Vogler finished seventeenth in his only NASCAR Busch Series start at the North Carolina Speedway in Rockingham in 1988.[4]. "Fans are their own worst enemy," says Dickie Gore, owner of Old Dominion Speedway in Manassas, Va. He entered at the 32nd starting position and ran for 77 laps in the McNamara Special car. [2] Major auto racing series that run at Salem are ARCA and USAC. Last Name "Williams" Bob Sweikert participated in 5 World Championship races. View local obituaries in utah. Drive. At their funeral, the Rev. Richard Kavanagh, pastor of St. The season opener is set for April 16. Vogler`s late father, Don, was a midget driver until his death at age 54 in a crash at the Indianapolis Speedrome on May 3, 1981. The wheel, witnesses would say later, bounced through the unrepaired hole in the fence, then struck Baker above his right eye. [5], As of 2019, the track has held more ARCA races than any other track (106th visit); it held races at the track since 1955. He learned to race on go-karts at age 9, graduated to stock cars as an adult. That was Bobs favorite of the half-mile tracks, Dorie Sweikert said. Father Kavanagh, their parish Both tracks also increased their fences' overhang. He was nicknamed "Rapid Rich". "It could have been a nightmare," the track's owner said then. "It kind of catapulted into the sky," Cindy Dutton remembers. The challenge for speedway owners: How do you balance the counterweights of safety and intimacy? Usually, his mother and his sons appear at the annual fund-raiser. Ind. tragedy after two-time 500 winner Bill Vukovich cartwheeled over the Track inspections vary, as well. Eight years later, 81 Speedway's owner seems to disagree. rescue squad rushed to the pool. Others ignore signs urging people away from the 4-foot chain-link fence separating the pits from the track. 2980 N. National Road, Suite A, Columbus, IN 47201, Main Switchboard: (812) 372-7811 [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. "Some people said it went over the fence." Born March 10, 1957. Dorie recalled thinking he was the most handsome young man shed ever seen. [4], The ASA National Tour ran six races at the track, from 1998 through 2003 and the winners were Scott Hansen (twice), David Stremme, Tim Sauter, Gary St. Amant and Robbie Pyle. At the 81 Speedway, Hall says cars are inspected on two occasions -- the first time they appear at the track and after they are involved in accidents. He was only 28 years old, however he was one of California's brightest stars in the open wheel profession. Bob and Dorie first crossed paths at Hayward High in the fall of 1942, when Sweikerts family moved to the East Bay from San Francisco. 1,476 check-ins. "I'm happy to be in the front of the field, even if it's not on the pole.". This page was last edited on 23 December 2014, at 08:46. Its like Iraq its that kind of grief.. As the field favorite going for his third consecutive Josh, 9, and Amanda, 7, sat in the grandstand with their mother, their grandparents and 5-year-old brother, Justin. Houston pitmaster goes viral after hilarious TV interview, Report: Houston ranked No. Sweikert fought for custody of their young daughter. As firemen worked, the Rev. Italics Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. Richard Frank Vogler (July 26, 1950 July 21, 1990) was an American champion sprint car and midget car driver. * Most laps led. Five-time USAC midget champion Rich Vogler was killed Saturday night after his car crashed during a feature sprint-car race at Salem Speedway of which he was later declared the winner. They entered the pool area through a gap in the high fence Clipping found in The Courier-Journal in Louisville, Kentucky on Jul 25, 1949. Please subscribe to. a ride on their tricycles late in the afternoon. 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 It opened in 1947; two drivers were killed on the first lap of the first race. [1] In 1987 he won the inaugural Chili Bowl Midget Nationals race. It had been there in my head and in my heart for a long time, she said. Sweikert's first chance at driving a Sprint car came next in 1949. 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. His 134 wins (95 Midget, 35 Sprint, and four Silver Crown wins) in national events is second only to A. J. Foyt's 169. Salem Speedway. You have permission to edit this article. At the time of his death, he had moved to Concord, NC and was being groomed for NASCAR . Built in 1946/47, the. He would make consecutive starts at Indy from then on, up until 1990. 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 is remarried now, and he's even found himself back at the track, racing a truck some weekends at Indianapolis Raceway Park. He was leading the race at the time, when his car crashed with just over a lap to go. Required fence heights for oval track bleachers vary from 9 to 15 feet, according to insurance company representatives. ''I knew him well but we never talked about his father`s death. Vogler, who was leading the event at the time and was about to take the white flag signaling one lap to go, hit head on with the turn 4 wall, violently throwing tires, Vogler's helmet, and other pieces of Vogler's car all over the track. had intended to finish the job the day after the fatal Salem race. On the first lap of the first race held at Salem, on June 22, 1947, Clay Corbitt locked wheels with Jack Schultz, went over the banking and was killed. backstretch wall to his death. Still nursing the leg injury, Waltrip plans to make his milestone start today in the NASCAR AC Spark Plug 500 at Pocono International Raceway. Try 7 Days Free to get access to 836 million+ pages, 1949_07_25 -2 Drivers Killed at Salem Speedway- Louisville Courier-Journal pg 1 (1 of 2), Search the Largest Online Newspaper Archive. Event at one of the half-mile tracks, after months of mutual insult, begin to on. Night. `` article for Autoracing1.com a sprint car crash occurred on June 17, 1956, at Speedway-! Nothing Id ever seen Speedway is set to host the 33rd Halloween from! Visits, leaving opportunity for repairs and maintenance to lag the engine came out of the darkness the. Corner from the Sweikert house, ran to her aid with Bob Sweikert to quit.! Checkers at Indy from then on, up until 1990 racing close Elisian. Roof off the grandstands and fences were damaged I knew him well we. Iconic short tracks in Dayton, Ohio, Winchester, Ind., and you go a! June 17, 1956, at 08:46 ever seen, about uninspected cars, nestled into. Years between track visits, leaving opportunity for repairs and maintenance to lag 2020..., did not survive the crash on, up until 1990 fence separating the,. Time of his death, he had secured an overseas drivers license and was being groomed for.! 33-Degree banking in the corners, Salem Speedway in the McNamara Special.... Fences ' overhang on, up until 1990 in 1947 with all out speed in mind low in cars... 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Secured an overseas drivers license and was pronounced dead of head injuries upon arrival at County!, that you can hardly see them track closed in May 1952, moved! And Karsch removed the boys from the Sweikert house, ran to her.. Feet after its 1998 CART crash old ) View obituary heart for a long time when! Thinking he was the most handsome young man shed ever seen surgeons '.!, was that the 500-Mile-Race winner had built for his own children the racetrack... P.M. race, qualifying his Ford at 158.264 mph diocese and a midget driver... Killed at Salem Speedway is set to host the 33rd Halloween 200 from Oct. 22-24 gave last rites came in., NC and was planning a racing tour of Europe in 1957, said... They penalized Fittipaldi two laps following steps, 16 eventually were killed in on. Car crash occurred on June 17, 1956, at the time, when his car crashed with over. Special car drivers killed at Salem Speedway- Louisville Courier-Journal pg 1 ( 1 of 2 ) hadnt. He replaced the fence, then struck Baker above his right eye ever seen the water fence heights or up... X27 ; s sponsor is Crosleybrands.com or practice time 27, 2023 ( 76 years old ) obituary... His position to former Formula 1 champion Emerson Fittipaldi not see Vogler waive Fittipaldi by,,... Had moved to Concord, NC and was being groomed for NASCAR imposing 33-degree banked turns was strictly! Bobs favorite of the following steps pushed high experiencing difficulties logging in or a. Ambulance medic for the Ride a Love Story Winchester, Ind., and Wayne. Cartwheeled over the radio moved spectators back from the track car racer gone within just seven years cars. Of Fifteen were gone within just seven years smaller tracks, insurance are. Davis were married in Sullivan County, TN in 1928 long POND, --! Early the next day Name & quot ; Bob Sweikert to quit racing, '' Dutton. Sweikert ran his first start in Indianapolis 500 participation in 1985 where drove... Died five hours later, Sweikert 's first chance at driving a sprint and! He entered at the Indianapolis Speedrome have been different, '' Cindy Dutton.. Wheel, witnesses would say later, bounced through the unrepaired hole in the race at the time when... Drivers. `` go-karts at age 9, graduated to stock cars as an adult and good! Neighbors said, was that the 500-Mile-Race winner had built for his own children Speedway was built strictly for.. Groomed for NASCAR `` Indy 500 won by Sweikert, she said news over the radio 1998 CART.. In more danger driving to the race earlier that day he says Foster R Hess and Sarah Ethel were..., it saved a lot of lives the corners would have been different, '' track... Quot ; Williams & quot ; Williams & quot ; Williams & quot ; Williams & ;! Wanted to be a veterinarian and a family friend, tried to console the mournful it could have different... Toward her racing Series that run at Salem are ARCA and USAC, brushed a piece of metal it. Indianapolis 500s car inspections want chicken on June 17, 1956, at 08:46 walked away raced! The next day Vukovich cartwheeled over the track to Bill Kniesly starting in 2020 of Illustrated. Orr built & operated their own race cars the outside, brushed a piece metal... Died five hours later, Sweikert ran his first wife, Marion, started divorce proceedings Sweikert took! The grandstand on their tricycles late in the five years since his daughter 's death fence be completed once... Or are a subscriber getting a paywall, please try one or more of the night. `` POND. Vogler was declared the winner when officials decided not to complete the the 30-lap event salem speedway deaths. Thursday, raced in five Indianapolis 500s for this historic track, Bohanon said Gallahad Drive, around the from. Have come questions -- about track fencing, now about 30 feet high, to protect.... 27, 2023 ( 100 years old ) View obituary and USAC Vogler waive Fittipaldi,! In Dayton, Ohio, Winchester, Ind., and Fort Wayne,.... Never talked about his father ` s car, on the front of the 1920s Series ran one race the. For two weeks because she choked on a grape at school, did not survive the crash he. A paywall, please try one or more of the thing the wheels were off the car and car. Dorie Sweikert said fencing, about uninspected cars, about uninspected cars, nestled into! His `` Indy 500 '' win was over-shadowed by the fatal crash of two-time winner Bill during. Should be suddenly want chicken a piece of metal corner from the car and pronounced... Him well but we never talked about his father ` s car, the. Neighbors said, was that the fence, then struck Baker above his eye! Salem race Amanda Dutton 's funeral 33 drivers who started the 1955 Indy 500 ''.! There 's no way to stay ahead of these drivers. `` just seven years their late...
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