August 2012 - Eastern Museum of Motor Racing

EMMR TIMES
The
A quarterly publication of the Eastern Museum of Motor Racing
Located at 100 Baltimore Road, York Springs, PA
2012 Issue No. 3 • published in August 2012
It’s been a great year so far!
The Gettysburg Region AACA had a
good turn out for their car show in
June. By the way, does anyone know
who won the famous Model T race Friday evening?
Lynn Paxton
The weather cooperated for our 28th
President,
EMMR
Latimore Valley Fair and the change in
the schedule, with the Sunday Car show on Sunday,
brought a lot of new people to the fairgrounds.
The museum numbers are up over last year. We
had a lot of compliments on our new displays and the
new addition.
Darwin Doll brought many new faces to the museum during his Muscle Car Madness show by way of
busing people to the museum for tours that weekend. Thanks Darwin for your work toward the cause.
A special thanks to Amanda, our Administrative
Coordinator, for all the hard work she has put in. She
keeps us on track, has great ideas, and gets the job
done!
Thanks to all our members for keeping our fairgrounds in great shape and for volunteering to work
in the museum. Keep up the great work.
Events this summer:
July 19
Sprint Car Spectacular at Lincoln Speedway to benefit EMMR
July 27
Williams Grove Speedway – Photo Shoot
July 28
Jalopy Showdown Invitational– Larry
Garland. EMMR Vintage Race Car Track
time!
Coming Events:
Aug. 17–19 38th Annual EMMR/WGOT Convention
Oct 7-8
NEW EVENT! EMMR 1st Annual Flea
Market/Sunday & Car Auction/Monday
Oct 13
Fall Harvest Festival & Car Cruise of
Hope – Benefits the Make a Wish Foundation & Concerns of Police Survivors.
(This is not our event but we would like
our member to support it)
Hope to see you at all of our events.
—Lynn Paxton
2012 Issue No. 3
nual
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A
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7
3
EMMR/WGOT
CONVENTION
at:
Latimore Valley Fairgrounds and
Eastern Museum of Motor Racing
Jack Frazier is to the left of the flag in front of the #11 car.
Gary Wolford is on far left in this photo from the mid-1950s.
JACK FRAZIER
MEMORIAL
HONORING:
Grand Marshalls
TED SEIDERS & DIZZY DEAN
Please attend if you worked on any of their race cars
or any of the cars they owned!
AUGUST 17–19
2012
PRESIDENT
2012
Parking and Admission
E
E
R
F
held at the historic and beautiful
Latimore Valley Fairgrounds
Convention info continued on page 2
OCT. 7 & 8
FROM
THE
The EMMR Times
EMMR’s 1st Annual
Car Auction and Flea Market
AT LATIMORE VALLEY FAIRGROUNDS
Sunday October 7 is the Flea Market
Monday October 8 is the Auction
John Marks 717-645-0440 jtm64@comcast.net
Junior Kelly 717-630-0776 jalopyjunior@comcast.net
1
2012 EMMR / WGOT
JACK
FRAZIER
CONVENTION
Meet race car drivers from the past and hear
MEMORIAL
their stories of racing during the last 60 years!
View antique and vintage race cars then hear the
engines roar to life for laps on the historic dirt track!
FRIDAY AUGUST 17, 2012:
9a–9p
Eastern Museum of Motor Racing
(EMMR) open to the public for extended hours. Race Cars on display.
10:30a Remembering Ray Tilley, Smokey
Snellbaker, Johnny Grumm, Milt
Miller, Frank Sagi, Jim Seidel,
Johnny Mackison Sr., Lee
Parthemore. Hosted by Lynn
Paxton and Dizzy Dean.
12p–9p Refreshments in museum.
6p
EMMR/WGOT at Williams Grove
Speedway for Tracktime and
Vintage Race Car display. Cars
must arrive 2:00–4:00p. In case of
rain the Museum will be open.
6p-9p Cruise-in at the museum,
featuring the huge new addition to
EMMR. Refreshments.
EASTERN MUSEUM of MOTOR RACING
EMMR and Latimore Valley Fairgrounds is a
Living History Museum! www.EMMR.org
The Fairgrounds are 60+ acres including a 1/2-mile
Dirt Track that originally operated in the 1930s. At
the other end of the fairgrounds is the 18,000-sq.-ft.
Eastern Museum of Motor Racing (EMMR), which
showcases 80+ vintage race cars, a Research Library,
Book Store, and Gift Shop. Phone 717-528-8279.
The Museum’s regular hours are 10 am to 4 pm on
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from April to October.
Maintained by dedicated volunteers, admission to
the EMMR is free but donations appreciated.
8a–10a Coffee and Donuts in the Infield of
Latimore Valley Racetrack.
9a–9p Eastern Museum of Motor Racing
(EMMR) open to the public for extended hours. Race Cars on display.
11a–3p Refreshment Stand open in the
infield of Latimore Valley Racetrack.
11:30a Drivers Meeting at the flagstand.
12p–3p Vintage Race Car Track Time Exhibition at Latimore Valley Racetrack.
5p
EMMR/WGOT Night at the Races at
Lincoln Speedway. Tracktime and
Vintage Race Car display. Contact:
Joe Heisler 3rd 410-303-4428.
6p–9p Activities at EMMR if Lincoln
Speedway rained out.
NEW
Expansion
DIRECTIONS:
The Latimore Valley
Fairgrounds and EMMR
are located
½ mile east of US 15;
just 1-1/2 miles north of
MUSEUM
York Springs; Halfway
between the PA
Turnpike & Gettysburg; Watch for the EMMR signs;
Turn east onto Latimore Valley Rd. Follow signs.
EMMR PHYSICAL ADDRESS is located at:
100 Baltimore Road ,York Springs, PA
MAILING ADDRESS:
PO Box 688, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055
MEMBERSHIPS to Eastern Museum of Motor Racing:
Annual $20 or Life $200 (Mail Info & Check to PO Box above)
Some working officials are well-known as they announce the
thrills and spills at race tracks every week—their booming voices informing the crowd and helping to create the excitement of being at a
racetrack. But other working officials are unseen and unheard, yet
their contributions are vital to the continued success of race tracks
and the sport of motor racing. Being at the track week after week, officials have some incredible and funny stories to relate.
At this year’s EMMR/WGOT Convention, legends such as Chris
Economaki, the “Dean of Auto Racing Announcers” and Frank Sagi,
the “Voice of Hagerstown Speedway”—will be honored.
Chris Economaki started race track announcing in the 1930s and
his career highlights included working in TV as an announcer for
Wide World of Sports. Mr. Economaki generously donated his entire
racing library to EMMR.
Announcing plus interviewing winners at Hagerstown Speedway
for 39 years, amazingly Frank Sagi only ever missed one day at the
races: he attended a funeral for a relative.
Also being remembered is Jerry Reigle, who was a columnist for
Harrisburg’s Patriot-News and for Area Auto Racing News. Reigle unfortunately passed at a young
age—EMMR’s research area
is named for him.
www.EMMR.org
2
Jack Frazier (on left) receives an
award from Alan Kreitzer in 2008.
SATURDAY AUGUST 18, 2012:
EMMR’s Convention ANNOUNCERS
Celebrates the & WORKING
history of: OFFICIALS
Jack Frazier (on left) and Dale Earnhardt Sr.
at NASCAR Days in York, Pa. in late 1990s.
SUNDAY AUGUST 19, 2012:
8a–10a Coffee and Donuts in the Infield
of Latimore Valley Racetrack.
9a
Church Service in Infield.
10a
WGOT/EMMR Annual Membership Meeting in Infield. Elections
and “The State of WGOT/ EMMR.”
All welcome, please attend.
11a
Introduction of 2012 Grand
Marshalls TED SEIDERS and
DIZZY DEAN, plus Honorees.
11:15a Tributes to Jack Frazier
and Frank Sagi.
12p-4p Eastern Museum of Motor Racing (EMMR) open to the public.
12p-3p Refreshment Stand open in
the infield.
12:30p Drivers’ Meeting at flagstand.
1p-4p Vintage Race Car Track Time
Exhibition at Latimore Valley
Racetrack.
METALSHAPERS MEET
Saturday & Sunday: There will be “hands-on”
demonstrations of working sheetmetal. Visitors are
urged to bring along a project to show or get technical advice on. Techniques, tools, and equipment can
be shared, swapped, sold, etc. The projects are not
limited to only automotive applications. Contact
John Sokolovich (717) 968-0759. jjsoko@comcast.net
JACK FRAZIER
Over 55 years in
dirt track racing
Jack Frazier got his start in racing in the mid-1950s when
Will Kreitzer encouraged him to come to Silver Spring Speedway. Jack, along with several others, built and maintained an
old flathead ‘34 Ford Sedan #353 driven by “Pickle” Wilson.
Later this group owned the #11 driven by Hoppy Fissel. After
Hoppie’s death, Gary Wolford became the driver for their car.
Jack became an official at Silver Spring Speedway, and in
1970 he became the announcer. The “Voice of Silver Spring
Speedway,” Jack was not new to announcing—he had announced at the Fredricksburg Speedway from about 1965–1969.
He was the unofficial voice of the Williams Grove Old Timers,
the emcee at YCRC Banquets, plus Dirt Trackin’ events. Having
been a race fan since the early 1940s, his love of the sport continued until his death in May 2010. Jack’s kind words of encouragement and good deeds will be forever remembered.
Eastern Museum of Motor Racing
100 Baltimore Rd, York Springs, PA
www.EMMR.org • 717-528-8279
Like us on Facebook
Volunteer newsletter editor, design, and production:
Kay Diehl Melchi c: 717.669.2710 esetter@ptd.net
The EMMR Times
2012 Issue No. 3
EMMR race cars travel to
Maryland’s Hagerstown
Speedway on July 4 for
Display plus Track Time
All photos
courtesy of
Rick
Mandelson
Thanks to EMMR volunteer Rick
Mandelson for coordination.
What’s New at the Gift Shop at EMMR
The winter jackets are in and very nice with the
EMMR logo embroidered on the front. It’s hard to
think about a jacket as hot as it has been this summer
but the will make GREAT gifts
for the Holidays!
I did a reorder on the
white drag shirts and the
black “Lets Race.” If you
have not picked one up do it
now. These will probably be
the last of these designs and
SHOULD last us the rest of
the season.
Women’s winter jacket
2012 Issue No. 3
Already working new ideas for next season’s shirt
design, plus working on locating some new kid’s
items. I would like to thank Amanda for letting me
help with the much-needed
overhaul of the museum
brochure. Also thanks to Darwin for the mini field trips
from his US 30 Reunion show
in York to the EMMR. Both
days I heard nothing but
great things from those that
made the trip.
—Larry Garland
Men’s winter jacket
The EMMR Times
3
28th Annual
Latimore Valley
was held on
FAIR
A Country Festival and
Antique Race Car,
Drag Race Car,
& Muscle Car Exhibit
June 22, 23, 24, 2012
It’s here and gone! Our attendance was the
most I’ve seen in a long time. That might have
had to do with the weather and our new schedule on Sunday.
Darwin and Junior came through with a great
car show on Sunday. This pulled in new people
who have never been or ever heard of us. Thanks
guys, we’re going to do it again next year.
If you missed the wedding between Brandon
(The Rocket Man) and Rose (The Duck Lady) on
Saturday, you missed a unique ceremony. It was,
Barb Paxton
as they say, “priceless”, right down to the words
Chairman,
in the exchanging of the vows. The wedding
Latimore Valley Fair
party was hauled around in the rocket, while
Brandon and Rose rode in the Model T “bouncing car.” Congrats to you two. It was perfect.
There is so much to do to get
ready for the fair. This year we had
great help setting up and tearing
down. Thanks to all who helped!!!!
I could not, and would not do it
without you! God Bless…
—Barb Paxton
York County Racing Club’s display
All photos courtesy of Rick Mandelson,
except as noted. Thanks, Rick!
BELOW: Chaplain Mike Nickle, “The Faster Pastor,” conducted the marriage ceremony for
Rose and Brandon Bell on Saturday morning of the 2012 Latimore Valley Fair.
Rose and Brandon’s families
Brandon and Rose in “bouncing” Model T
4
Lynn Paxton,
chauffeur
The bridal party
was seated in the
Rocket Ride for a ride
through Fairgrounds.
The EMMR Times
2012 Issue No. 3
The Ultra
Kings, one of 3
different bands.
PHOTO BY KAY MELCHI
Bruce Larson’s
funny car
PHOTO BY BARRY MELCHI
FAIR
All photos courtesy
of Rick Mandelson,
except as noted.
Thanks, Rick!
PHOTO BY BARRY MELCHI
Latimore Valley
Fun in
Latimore
Creek
Antique and vintage race cars
plus antique cars were on display
during the beautiful weather.
Antique
Tractor Parade
held every day
during the Fair.
Miniature steam engine
PHOTO BY KAY MELCHI
A Farmall
fording
Latimore
Creek
during
Tractor
Parade.
Reeves & Co. made
this 100 years ago
and the engine is
still steaming.
Russel engine
Visitors from Musclecar Madness and York Reunion enjoy Eastern Museum of Motor Racing
The Eastern Museum of Motor Racing had a commanding presence at the 11th Annual Musclecar Madness at the York Reunion on July 13–14th, 2012.
A shuttle van was operating from the show to the
museum with the first shuttle making a trip at 10
a.m. Friday morning with a load of personalities
which included “Miss Hurst Golden Shifter” Linda
Vaughn, Arnie “The Farmer” Beswick, “Miss Mighty
Mopar” Judy Lilly, and a host of personalities and the
2012 Issue No. 3
S & S Racing Team. We have received accolades from
all that made the trip and a special thank you to Lynn
Paxton for his outstanding tours.
Donations of $1595.00 in the name of Bill
“Grumpy” Jenkins were made for a special auction,
Jenkins Competition t-shirt sales, and Jenkin’s arm
bands. The weekend brought countless favorable
comments on the museum.
—Darwin Doll
The EMMR Times
5
Shippensburg Speedway
Hosts EMMR Race Cars
on July 13 for Display
plus Track Time
Thanks to EMMR volunteer Nancy
Miller for coordinating this event.
All photos courtesy of Rick Mandelson
EMMR race cars travel to
Winchester Speedway
in Virginia on May 30 for
Display plus Track Time
Thanks to EMMR volunteer Bobby
Lowery for coordination.
All photos courtesy of Bobby Lowery
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The EMMR Times
2012 Issue No. 3
CORNER
CRAIG’s
The momentum I spoke of
in last issue’s column continues to build. The recently comCraig Agan
pleted 28th Annual Latimore
Development,
EMMR
Valley Fair was one of the best
ever and finished with a BANG!
The bands were great. The antique and
classic race cars were beautiful on display
and exciting when they were on track. The
wedding of Brandon and Rose was memorable. The
rocket ride was fun and truly the best buy of the
weekend, unless you consider all of the free activities.
The food concessions were tasty as usual and we have
to thank all of the folks who make that happen. The
antique tractor parades were colorful, and the tractor
pulls were amazing! The gas engines and steam engines are an educational link to the past.
The vendors and swap meet folks add a reality to
the fair by hawking
their items. The petting zoo is fun for the
kids thanks to York
Springs 4H and also
adds a “fair” feel.The
Sunday Cruise was
another opportunity for folks to enjoy the fairground’s 60+ acres of green grass to display on.
The Saturday morning “Silver Mile” Relay for Life
offers everyone involved a chance to give back to a
wonderful organization, The American Cancer Society.
However, the “BANG” that we closed with that I
spoke of earlier was the special drag racing display
that was new to the Fair this year. On Sunday there
were vintage drag cars on display, drag racing legends
autograph sessions, drivers’ interviews, and “Cackling
Thunder.” Yes, Cackling Thunder, is the name for the
portion of the event when drivers fire up the highpowered, sometimes blown, sometimes injected—but
always LOUD—drag cars just for us to have a chance
to hear them again. All we can say is WOW! This drag
racing event brought many new fans to our Fair and
we welcome them to the Latimore Valley Fair and the
Eastern Museum of Motor Racing!
By the time you read this the July 28th Jalopy
Showdown Invitational will be history, but we hope
you were all a part of that history! This will be my
first time to one of the very popular Jalopy Showdown
events produced by Larry and Kim Garland, and I am
sincerely looking forward to it.
Don't forget the October 7–8 First Annual Car Auction and Flea Market at Latimore Valley Fairgrounds.
Hope to see you there!
—Craig
2012 Issue No. 3
Racing Around
the Museum
“Racing Around the Museum” has
a great ring to it (Thanks Kay!) and
fits me like a glove if you have seen
Amanda
me in action running all over the
Chmiola-Eshenour
Admin. Coordinator., museum and the fairgrounds the past
EMMR
couple of months. I can’t believe it is
almost August, wow how times flies when you are
having fun. Everyone has been great to work with and
I just want to say “Thank you” for making me feel
right at home. I appreciate everyone’s help in getting
me organized and helping me figure out what-iswhat. I am loving every minute of it!!
I have worked on revamping the museums
brochure to include the Drag Car exhibit and the new
expansion. Keep your eyes out for it in a few short
weeks.
Coming in August we will have our new Point of
Sales (POS) cash register up and running in the Gift
Shop. I have spent many, many hours getting the inventory updated and writing out easy-to-use instructions. I would like to have a training session on the
computer Wednesday, August 15th from 6–8 pm. The
system will be up and running for Convention on the
17th so I want to make sure everyone is trained on it
that will be working that weekend. There will be refreshments so please mark your calendar to attend. A
big thank you to Larry Garland for all his assistance
with the new brochure and the new POS.
We have a great group of volunteers that comes in
if not weekly, but monthly to help run the cash register or talk with visitors throughout the museum. But
we need more hands on deck!!! I am asking the same
people over and over again and I don’t want to stretch
them thin. Here’s where you come in… please look at
your calendar and let me know if you can help one
day in August and one day in September. I have a
signup sheet in my office or just email me at
admin@emmr.org. The museum is open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm. The first 10
new volunteers to sign up will get a special “thank
you” gift from me. If the weather keeps up being hot
and humid this is a great way of staying cool and
meeting new people. I hope to hear from your soon!
—Amanda
Thank You
Chuck Miller
The EMMR Times
The former volunteer editor of
EMMR newsletter, Chuck Miller,
has passed his duties onto volunteer Kay Melchi, who beginning
with this issue will be doing editing and production.
7
NONPROFIT ORG
US POSTAGE
PAID
LANCASTER PA
PERMIT NO 810
MUSEUM ADDRESS:
100 Baltimore Road
York Springs, Penna.
0.5 miles east of Route 15,
12 miles south of Pa. Turnpike
Mailing address:
PO Box 688
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055
Join
EMMR
Today!
2013 Membership
due Dec. 31, 2012
Join the
BLOCK
PARTY!
We are expanding ONE BLOCK AT A TIME.
You can help pay for the addition to the
Museum and at the same time
permanently have
your family’s name…
or a business name…
or a friend’s name…
enshrined at the Museum. It is an excellent
way to honor famous racing personalities
of the past and to show your support for
their contributions to motor racing.
Blocks on the Phase 3 wall.
You can purchase an actual 8” x 16” building block.
Either: OUTSIDE on the Phase 4 Porch for $1,000 or INSIDE on the twostory Phase 3 Wall for $500 (plus $50 engraving each) and tell us how
you want it inscribed.
Your tax deductible contribution for the building block is a meaningful
and affordable way to participate in the expansion and future growth
of the Eastern Museum of Motor Racing.
Also inside: Corporate / Business blocks are also available for $1,050,
including a framed wall display about who you are honoring with your
block for use in your place of business.
Due to the amount of dust generated and the general disruption, blocks will
only be engraved once a year between mid-December and the end of March
while EMMR is closed.
For more information on EMMR’s “One Block at a Time” contact:
Joe Heisler III
8
p
(410) 303-4428
p
jlh3@erols.com
The EMMR Times
Grand Opening of Phase 4, March 31, 2012
2012 Issue No. 3