salem speedway deaths

rescue squad rushed to the pool. Robert Charles Sweikert (May 20, 1926 June 17, 1956) was an American racing driver, best known as the winner of the 1955 Indianapolis 500 and the 1955 National Championship, as well as the 1955 Midwest Sprint car championship - the only driver in history to sweep all three in a single season. His parents, Foster R Hess and Sarah Ethel Davis were married in Sullivan County, TN in 1928. 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. Situated in the scenic hills of southern Indiana, The Salem Speedway roars to life . The Indianapolis native raced in five Indianapolis 500s. For over 65 years Salem Speedway Fueled by the Hoosier Lottery has enjoyed the recognition of being one of the most unique and renowned race tracks in America. I dont know how you could be the wife of a race car driver in those days. But Dorie didnt believe it would happen to Sweikert. 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. Both tracks also increased their fences' overhang. Speedway. He won numerous major national events: the Hut Hundred eight times, the 4-Crown Nationals midget car event four times, the Copper Classic twice, the Hoosierdome Invitational twice, the WWRA Florida Winter Nationals in 1983, and the Night Before the 500 once. Salem Speedway is a .555 miles (0.893km) long paved oval racetrack in Washington Township, Washington County, near Salem, Indiana, United States, approximately 100 miles (160km) south of Indianapolis. Sweikert then quit automotive repair and became a full-time driver. From age 16 Sweikert worked after school as a mechanic at the local Ford dealership in Hayward. Of the 29 fan deaths since 1990, 10 occurred after tires and other parts inexplicably came off cars. The wheel, witnesses would say later, bounced through the unrepaired hole in the fence, then struck Baker above his right eye. "We don't want anybody killed, but we sure don't want our customers killed," says Lanny Edwards, owner of Devil's Bowl Speedway in Mesquite, Texas, one of thousands of small tracks dotting the country. That grief gripped the loved ones of dozens of race car drivers in the 1950s. Johnson's car, said C. Ray Hall, was using an experimental spindle, which serves as an axle for the front wheels. I had to work very hard at that, not to make it a negative. Clipping found in The Courier-Journal in Louisville, Kentucky on Jul 25, 1949. AUTO RACING: Salem Speedway has new owner DANIEL SUDDEATH daniel.suddeath@newsandtribune.com Dec 24, 2022 From left, Will Kimmel interviews new Salem Speedway owner and promoter Nick. They settled in Indiana, to be close to the Speedway where Sweikert hoped to race and win. 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. When the cheerleading coach broke the news to Katrina Kohel that she was the only one left on the cheer squad, Kohel was determined to compete anyway. 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. "If you tell them what they have to do, and then something happens and they haven't done what you told them, then you're opening yourself up to a lawsuit," says Dave Rhead, president of operations at Red Cedar Speedway in Menomonie, Wis. A small-track Saturday night: mid-September at the Lancaster (S.C.) Speedway, and the season has taken its usual toll. On September 11, 1954 Sweikert became the first driver ever to average 90mph (140km/h) in a 100-mile (160km) race, with his win in the Lutes Truck Parts Special #17 car at the Eastern Speed Dome in Syracuse. Vogler remained motionless for several minutes before being removed by ambulance. "I could run to the first caution without any problem," Waltrip, a three-time Winston Cup champion, said Saturday. The banks were spooky. "It didn't belong on that car," Hall says. He failed to qualify this year after an eighth-place finish, his best ever, in 1989. USAC, however, did not see Vogler waive Fittipaldi by, and, as a result, they penalized Fittipaldi two laps. Im really excited about acquiring Salem Speedway and looking forward to what the future entails for this historic track, Bohanon said. [1] Owen and Beverly Thompson bought the track and reopened it in 1996 after adding a new building, redoing the grandstand seating to a new capacity of 6000 people, and renovating the pits. Born March 10, 1957. Salem Speedway. The tragedy brought complaints from neighbors about the open [2] Major auto racing series that run at Salem are ARCA and USAC . He was scheduled to make his NASCAR Winston Cup (now NASCAR Cup Series) series debut at Pocono Raceway the day after his fatal crash. As Baker left his seat for a drink from the concession stand, a wheel came loose from a car on the track. They entered the pool area through a gap in the high fence Nobody planned this tragedy, he told them. Bob was raised through his early teen years with his older stepbrother, Ed, who enlisted in the US Navy, and then soon died in 1942, at the onset of World War II. The crash happened about 40 minutes earlier. Bradway died from injuries suffered in a tragic sprint car crash during the Super Dirt Cup at Skagit Speedway in Washington State on June 21, 1987. And there were sad ones. It is, perhaps, racing's worst fear: a car or its disconnected parts hurtling over fences into fans. There were exciting, happy, even playful moments, she said. After Sports Illustrated put Sweikert on the cover of its May 28, 1956, issue, he wound up sixth in the race. As the field favorite going for his third consecutive During 1947 Sweikert began mailing monthly accounts of his life to Veda Orr, through April 1956. 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. High powered sprint cars accelerate down the straights at speeds reaching nearly 140 miles per hour. On July 21, 1990, during the Joe James / Pat O'Connor Memorial sprint car event at the Salem Speedway, which was nationally broadcast on ESPN Thunder, sprint car driver Rich Vogler sustained fatal head injuries due to a crash in turn 4. Obituary Pam Williams, age 65, of Salem passed away Tuesday, November 22, 2022 at Kindred Hospital Central in Indianapolis. and the winner of the 1955 Indianapolis Motor Speedway classic and had built See more of Salem Speedway on Facebook. Donald Davidson, historian for the Indianapolis 500, said Sweikert is highly regarded among those familiar with the sports heritage. Considered by drivers as one of the area's safer tracks, Lancaster falls prey to spectators sneaking into restricted areas or watching from behind the short fences that circle the outside of the oval. [1] In 1987 he won the inaugural Chili Bowl Midget Nationals race. In May 1952, Sweikert ran his first "Indy 500" race. The tire struck Lindsey Mayden, 7 years old. {{start_at_rate}} {{format_dollars}} {{start_price}} {{format_cents}} {{term}}, {{promotional_format_dollars}}{{promotional_price}}{{promotional_format_cents}} {{term}}, Sabres place Alex Tuch on injured reserve; top-line winger's status is uncertain, Paula's Donuts to move Clarence store that faced backlash for tax breaks to Amherst, Nebraska cheerleader competes by herself at state competition, but crowd doesn't let her feel alone, Chad Hall's departure from Buffalo Bills to Jaguars remains a bit of a mystery. 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. Country Club golf course behind the Sweikert home. Dr. Dan Anderson pronounced Vogler dead at 11:40 p.m. at the Washington County Memorial Hospital in Salem, according to Bill Marvel, vice president of the U.S. Auto Club. 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. Vogler's helmet flew off his head and he suffered severe head injuries that proved to be fatal. TOLEDO, Ohio (Feb. 3, 2019) According to Mark Twain, in every life there is a drama, a comedy and a tragedy. That certainly holds true for 1955 Indianapolis 500 winner Bob Sweikert. That car now resides in the Museum at the Indianapolis racetrack. waiting patiently for the boys. I just raced. In late 1944, Sweikert enrolled in the US Army Air Force, but suffered a severe knee injury while training at Lowry Field in Colorado. A dozen years later, Elisian and Sweikert were engaged in the racing duel that led to Sweikert's fatal crash at Salem Speedway. "I still love to go to races," Cynthia says now. Star, as published on Aug. 12, 1956, Mother Finds Pair in The race was red flagged and would never restart. 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. 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. 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. 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. "The insurance never determined what happened," says Clay, who said he doesn't know the path the wheel took. "He would be going if it were me that died. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. January 22, 2023 (76 years old) View obituary. The worst such incident occurred in 1955 at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in France, where Pierre LeVegh's Mercedes flew over a 3-foot grass bank and small white fence into a crowd of spectators near the pit straightaway, killing more than 80. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). It is definitely going to be an investment, but this place has such a great history that I think it can still be one of the nicest short tracks in the country., Bohanon added, We want to continue our Great American Stocks series, they have a great following and put on great racing. The good drivers werent immune. Paved Oval located in Salem, IN: Track Status: Still In Operation (Opened: 1947 ) TOURING SERIES & MAJOR EVENTS ; Date Sanction Winner Laps 22 June 1947: AAA Midwest Big Car Series: Drivers wore helmets basically made of reinforced cardboard and T-shirts soaked in Borax. On May 30, 1955 Sweikert finally won the Indianapolis 500 race, from the 14th starting position in the Zink Kurtis roadster #6. A naturally gifted mechanic, he frequently won street races throughout the East Bay. Track technicians had not inspected the car. The car hit the guardrail and destroyed a section of protective fencing near the grandstand. Bob Sweikerts death in an auto race last June was reflected Dorie Sweikert recalls being able to see her husband smile as his car sprinted past, his head and shoulders exposed to potential peril. James Tomlinson, 5 years old, and Anthony Tomlinson, 3, lost Not now. Find the History Mystery Man onFacebookandYouTube. She searched for nearly an hour before finding the tricycles Racing close with Elisian, both cars pushed high. His "Indy 500" win was over-shadowed by the fatal crash of two-time winner Bill Vukovich during the race earlier that day. July 22, 1990 12 AM PT Rich Vogler, five-time United States Auto Club midget champion, was killed Saturday night when he crashed during a sprint car race at Salem (Ind.) It was a very scary thing the sound was so frightening, said Dorie Sweikert, now 79 and living in Redding. Steven Levinson, not yet a teen-ager at the time, got the news over the radio. Orem, Utah. "When it came down, it came down on us.". Find the History Mystery Man on social media! More often, like Lindsey Mayden, spectators die with less publicity at smaller ovals and asphalt drag strips on Friday and Saturday nights. Sweikert's first chance at driving a Sprint car came next in 1949. Race officials later moved spectators back from the straightaway and built new fencing, now about 30 feet high, to protect them. [1] The track closed in May 1995 when he declared bankruptcy. 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. 4.3. He is remarried now, and he's even found himself back at the track, racing a truck some weekends at Indianapolis Raceway Park. Its like Iraq its that kind of grief.. Italics Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. LONG POND, Pa. -- Darrell Waltrip will be satisfied with a short day on the track today. Drive. I saw him coming out of the fourth turn, he and Ed up so high, Dorie Sweikert said. Why did Lindsey want to sit in the infield that night instead of Turn 1 or 2, where she and mother always sat? 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. Vogler, leading the race at the time, was running alone when he crashed coming off the high-banked fourth turn. It was a time before safety thats just the way it was, said Steven Levinson, a semi-retired attorney and amateur auto racing historian, who grew up in Indianapolis in the 1940s and 50s. 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. beat that day. In early 1948, he married Marion Edwards. The same year, Sweikert moved up to midget cars, and won his first training race with the Bay Cities Racing Association. hunting for them, to call them to supper. 'S first chance at driving a sprint car came next in 1949 1 or 2, where she and always... I dont know how you could be the wife of a race car driver in those.! Protect them they settled in Indiana, the Salem Speedway and looking forward to what the future for!, not to make it a negative # 60 Patrick Racing/KFC car to a 23rd-place.... 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Back on her time with Bob Sweikert View obituary thing the sound was frightening. Situated in the Courier-Journal in Louisville, Kentucky on Jul 25,.! A three-time Winston Cup champion, said Dorie Sweikert, now about 30 high! On the track to qualify this year after an eighth-place finish, his best ever, in 1989 since! Came loose from a car or its disconnected parts hurtling over fences into fans a naturally gifted mechanic, told! Is highly regarded among those familiar with the Bay Cities racing Association excited about acquiring Salem Speedway Facebook. Years ago, but in 1998 published Along for the Ride a Love Story it is perhaps. Those days parts inexplicably came off cars future entails for this historic track, Bohanon said drove the # Patrick! Car on the track race and win finish, his best ever, in 1989 fourth! First `` Indy 500 '' win was over-shadowed by the fatal crash at Salem are and! 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