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Topic: Bedford Speedway Email this topic to a friend | Subscribe to this TopicReport this Topic to Moderator
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RodinCanada
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August 29, 2019 at 10:57:55 PM
Joined: 07/24/2016
Posts: 1720
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I see the All Stars are going to Bedford. Their website indicates a lot of history there but I dont recall if I've ever heard it mentioned on hoseheads. Is that just because it doesnt run sprints on the regular schedule? Is it a decent sprint car track or not? Why does it not come up in the list of tracks that should be part of speedweek?


Even though I may not know you, I 
care what most of you think!


fiXXXer
August 30, 2019 at 07:29:39 AM
Joined: 10/26/2014
Posts: 2475
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This message was edited on August 30, 2019 at 07:32:14 AM by fiXXXer
Reply to:
Posted By: RodinCanada on August 29 2019 at 10:57:55 PM

I see the All Stars are going to Bedford. Their website indicates a lot of history there but I dont recall if I've ever heard it mentioned on hoseheads. Is that just because it doesnt run sprints on the regular schedule? Is it a decent sprint car track or not? Why does it not come up in the list of tracks that should be part of speedweek?



Bedford is a rustic old speedway. Not the best racing usually but it's almost worth going just for the experience. It's one of the few tracks left that still has it's old covered grandstand. Due to the covered grandstand, the sound of the sprinters as they roar by is awesome. The town of Bedford is a very historic and beautiful little town with some really neat things to see and do. If you stand in the infield you'll notice something very odd about the speedway. The frontstretch goes downhill and the backstretch goes uphill and not just a little bit, it's very noticeable. In fact drivers who haven't been there before will often overdrive turn 1 in hot laps because they don't account for the grade. As far as it's history with sprint cars, they ran there pretty regular for a short period of time in the early 70's I believe but other than that, late models have been the featured division. Since the early 90's, they've regularly had sprint car specials and were once a part of PA Speedweek.



revjimk
August 30, 2019 at 10:59:57 AM
Joined: 09/14/2010
Posts: 7595
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Reply to:
Posted By: fiXXXer on August 30 2019 at 07:29:39 AM

Bedford is a rustic old speedway. Not the best racing usually but it's almost worth going just for the experience. It's one of the few tracks left that still has it's old covered grandstand. Due to the covered grandstand, the sound of the sprinters as they roar by is awesome. The town of Bedford is a very historic and beautiful little town with some really neat things to see and do. If you stand in the infield you'll notice something very odd about the speedway. The frontstretch goes downhill and the backstretch goes uphill and not just a little bit, it's very noticeable. In fact drivers who haven't been there before will often overdrive turn 1 in hot laps because they don't account for the grade. As far as it's history with sprint cars, they ran there pretty regular for a short period of time in the early 70's I believe but other than that, late models have been the featured division. Since the early 90's, they've regularly had sprint car specials and were once a part of PA Speedweek.



Thats the town where 99 branches off from the Pa. turnpike, right?

If you like the old covered grandstands & you're ever in the Midwest, you should check out Belle Claire Speedway in Illinois. Old covered grandstands, 1/4 mile (maybe 1/5?) PERFECT for POWRi midgets, super competitive




larsonfan
August 30, 2019 at 01:59:51 PM
Joined: 03/24/2013
Posts: 1445
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This message was edited on August 30, 2019 at 02:04:42 PM by larsonfan
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Posted By: revjimk on August 30 2019 at 10:59:57 AM

Thats the town where 99 branches off from the Pa. turnpike, right?

If you like the old covered grandstands & you're ever in the Midwest, you should check out Belle Claire Speedway in Illinois. Old covered grandstands, 1/4 mile (maybe 1/5?) PERFECT for POWRi midgets, super competitive



Right. 99 goes north from Bedford to Altoona and State College, near where I grew up.

Fixxer"s description of Bedford is spot on. Bedford isn't really considered a Central PA track probably, and yet not a Western PA eithe? To me it always seemed bigger than a 1/2 mile. Lots of great memories going there as a kid. That part of PA is so beautiful (all of PA is nice), and I miss it.

The Late Models that ran there a LONG time ago also ran at Hesston Speedway and Jennerstown when it was dirt. Anybody remember Turk Burkett, Kenny Imler, Tom Peck?

Some may not know this, but there used to be a track in nearby Everett too.

Damned, I feel really old all of the sudden.......



railfan33
August 30, 2019 at 02:19:19 PM
Joined: 07/24/2010
Posts: 637
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Posted By: larsonfan on August 30 2019 at 01:59:51 PM

Right. 99 goes north from Bedford to Altoona and State College, near where I grew up.

Fixxer"s description of Bedford is spot on. Bedford isn't really considered a Central PA track probably, and yet not a Western PA eithe? To me it always seemed bigger than a 1/2 mile. Lots of great memories going there as a kid. That part of PA is so beautiful (all of PA is nice), and I miss it.

The Late Models that ran there a LONG time ago also ran at Hesston Speedway and Jennerstown when it was dirt. Anybody remember Turk Burkett, Kenny Imler, Tom Peck?

Some may not know this, but there used to be a track in nearby Everett too.

Damned, I feel really old all of the sudden.......



Turk Burkett sounds familiar. Peck ran a redish# 40 if I remember correctly. Saw them occasionally at Port. Richard Chamberland was from Everett. Real gasser.



HoldenCaulfield
August 30, 2019 at 02:37:05 PM
Joined: 03/22/2008
Posts: 2434
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Tom Peck won a lot of LM races at Selinsgrove and Port Royal mostly in the 80's. I think he ran for a few years on the nascar grand national circuit. Yellow #40 with red flames around the number. Been to Bedford once, XXX description p[retty much nails. It's a neat track to visit once.


A


larsonfan
August 30, 2019 at 02:57:06 PM
Joined: 03/24/2013
Posts: 1445
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Posted By: railfan33 on August 30 2019 at 02:19:19 PM

Turk Burkett sounds familiar. Peck ran a redish# 40 if I remember correctly. Saw them occasionally at Port. Richard Chamberland was from Everett. Real gasser.



Turk ran a #88. 

It's funny, I'm terrible with names, even forgotten my own several times - but that's a different story.....but you always remember the names and numbers of your favorite drivers as a kid.



Johnny Gibson
August 30, 2019 at 05:01:27 PM
Joined: 12/02/2004
Posts: 455
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Bedford is one of the first (if not THE first) places I saw sprint cars--growing up as a late model fan in Western PA, the annual URC weekend of Bedford/Jennerstown was probably my only experience with sprint cars until seeing the World of Outlaws at Lernerville in 1980.  After that (and with wedge cars being phased out), I completely lost interest in late models.   Some other names coming back to me from that era are L.J. Dennis, Fran Gower, Bob Wearing (Sr AND Jr), and, of course, my favorite growing up:  Blackie Watt.



190
August 30, 2019 at 06:50:02 PM
Joined: 02/10/2017
Posts: 20
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Reply to:
Posted By: railfan33 on August 30 2019 at 02:19:19 PM

Turk Burkett sounds familiar. Peck ran a redish# 40 if I remember correctly. Saw them occasionally at Port. Richard Chamberland was from Everett. Real gasser.



Ahh, I remember Turk Burkett in the 88, Tom Peck in his #40 in the good old days of late model racing. They were both gassers. I also remember the Everett Express of Gerald Chamberlin. One hell of a modified shoe. Probably ran late models too!




larsonfan
August 30, 2019 at 07:13:10 PM
Joined: 03/24/2013
Posts: 1445
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This message was edited on August 30, 2019 at 07:14:16 PM by larsonfan
Reply to:
Posted By: 190 on August 30 2019 at 06:50:02 PM

Ahh, I remember Turk Burkett in the 88, Tom Peck in his #40 in the good old days of late model racing. They were both gassers. I also remember the Everett Express of Gerald Chamberlin. One hell of a modified shoe. Probably ran late models too!



Now those (that era's late models) were some race cars! All four tires were about the size of a top fuel car's rear tires nowadays.

Johnny, has the WoO ever ran at Bedford or Jennerstown when it was dirt?

Turk and Keith Kauffman will always be my two favorite drivers. 

 



Hooper31
August 31, 2019 at 12:55:14 AM
Joined: 09/03/2017
Posts: 364
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Reply to:
Posted By: larsonfan on August 30 2019 at 01:59:51 PM

Right. 99 goes north from Bedford to Altoona and State College, near where I grew up.

Fixxer"s description of Bedford is spot on. Bedford isn't really considered a Central PA track probably, and yet not a Western PA eithe? To me it always seemed bigger than a 1/2 mile. Lots of great memories going there as a kid. That part of PA is so beautiful (all of PA is nice), and I miss it.

The Late Models that ran there a LONG time ago also ran at Hesston Speedway and Jennerstown when it was dirt. Anybody remember Turk Burkett, Kenny Imler, Tom Peck?

Some may not know this, but there used to be a track in nearby Everett too.

Damned, I feel really old all of the sudden.......



OMG. I grew up in western PA watching Turk Burkett, Blackie Watt, and Bob Wearing in the late 70s. Dang. That was a looooonnnnng time ago. Crap. Now I feel pretty freakin old. 



Hooper31
August 31, 2019 at 12:56:59 AM
Joined: 09/03/2017
Posts: 364
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I remember Bedford (only got to go there once) as being a huge track. My home track was Marion Center. It recently closed. MC was only a tiny little quarter mile. The sheer size of Bedford blew me away. 




Robm20
September 01, 2019 at 08:47:34 AM
Joined: 09/26/2011
Posts: 106
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This message was edited on September 01, 2019 at 08:49:03 AM by Robm20

wow bedford speedway brings bck some great memories for me.

going to the the fair race.... first time i had ever seen a real sprint car

watching kenny weld beat everyone till some guy named opperman showed up

and lynn paxton winning alot. my neighbor tommy serokman with his yellow number 24

and mighy mouse on the wing. his dad mike little ( his racing name ) took me to alot of races there.

i just sit here and smile when i think of all the racing i got to see because of them. today i take my grandson and my sons with me

to keep the flame burning.....going to be there this week just to enjoy another dirt track race.



Robm20
September 06, 2019 at 11:09:48 AM
Joined: 09/26/2011
Posts: 106
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after going to indiana sprint week

i guess iam spoiled

going to bedford last night it gave me a real insight into what i like about sprint cars and what i don't.

track prep in indiana looked like a science to me. hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of equipment making the track

so nice and almost dust free. i was wondering if they ran out of water in bedford. OMG by feature time the dust was almost unbearable....kind of reminded me of eldora during the 4 crown the year i went....by the end of the race i could barely see the cars passing in front of me

in indiana they groom the tracks so they are perfect for good side by side racing.....not in bedford

and i agree with everyone that says starting the fastest guys on the pole makes for poor racing.

usac uses the invert system so the big guys really need to perform to win

but don't get me wrong iam still going to go to local races.....but there is a better show in indiana.

 

 



BStrawser26
September 06, 2019 at 11:41:40 AM
Joined: 09/12/2013
Posts: 2593
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Reply to:
Posted By: Robm20 on September 06 2019 at 11:09:48 AM

after going to indiana sprint week

i guess iam spoiled

going to bedford last night it gave me a real insight into what i like about sprint cars and what i don't.

track prep in indiana looked like a science to me. hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of equipment making the track

so nice and almost dust free. i was wondering if they ran out of water in bedford. OMG by feature time the dust was almost unbearable....kind of reminded me of eldora during the 4 crown the year i went....by the end of the race i could barely see the cars passing in front of me

in indiana they groom the tracks so they are perfect for good side by side racing.....not in bedford

and i agree with everyone that says starting the fastest guys on the pole makes for poor racing.

usac uses the invert system so the big guys really need to perform to win

but don't get me wrong iam still going to go to local races.....but there is a better show in indiana.

 

 



I have to agree.   One of the drivers said something and then took it back right away....his reply was for ALL PA tracks.  I respect him a lot more today than I did last week!!  I hope he wins some races when he is visiting in PA!

I was cheering him on when I heard those comments.  Maybe one of these days the PA tracks will wake up and realize track prep is where it is at.  No one likes a slip and slide all night long!


Let's go Sprint Car Racing!

Knoxville - Best Track In the USA!
Eldora - 2nd Best Track in the USA!


Johnny Utah
September 06, 2019 at 12:43:20 PM
Joined: 07/15/2014
Posts: 1221
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Reply to:
Posted By: BStrawser26 on September 06 2019 at 11:41:40 AM

I have to agree.   One of the drivers said something and then took it back right away....his reply was for ALL PA tracks.  I respect him a lot more today than I did last week!!  I hope he wins some races when he is visiting in PA!

I was cheering him on when I heard those comments.  Maybe one of these days the PA tracks will wake up and realize track prep is where it is at.  No one likes a slip and slide all night long!



Image result for eyeroll gif



BStrawser26
September 06, 2019 at 12:49:07 PM
Joined: 09/12/2013
Posts: 2593
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This message was edited on September 06, 2019 at 01:15:27 PM by BStrawser26
Reply to:
Posted By: Johnny Utah on September 06 2019 at 12:43:20 PM

Image result for eyeroll gif



Who is ready for some asphalt racing Friday and Saturday in PA?  From the heats to the features.  The feature setups in the heat races.   Now that sounds exciting.....NOT!   And it never will be.


Let's go Sprint Car Racing!

Knoxville - Best Track In the USA!
Eldora - 2nd Best Track in the USA!

Johnny Utah
September 06, 2019 at 01:15:16 PM
Joined: 07/15/2014
Posts: 1221
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Reply to:
Posted By: BStrawser26 on September 06 2019 at 12:49:07 PM

Who is ready for some asphalt racing Friday and Saturday in PA?  From the heats to the features.  The feature setups in the heat races.   Now that sounds exciting.....NOT!   And it never will be.



Related image




Johnny Utah
September 06, 2019 at 01:16:09 PM
Joined: 07/15/2014
Posts: 1221
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Posted By: Johnny Utah on September 06 2019 at 01:15:16 PM

Related image



Related image



frebyrd
September 06, 2019 at 01:16:41 PM
Joined: 07/07/2012
Posts: 90
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Reply to:
Posted By: BStrawser26 on September 06 2019 at 12:49:07 PM

Who is ready for some asphalt racing Friday and Saturday in PA?  From the heats to the features.  The feature setups in the heat races.   Now that sounds exciting.....NOT!   And it never will be.



Guess that why it will be standing room only. Been good racing all yr, who cares if slick? If you wanna see 16 sec laps , hammer down follow the leader. DON"T WATCH!! Seen more 





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