(Dick Berggren photo), The Motorsports Authority - Copyright 2014-2023 - Turn 3 Media, LLC All Rights Reserved. You grabbed food from the concessions and stopped by Shany Lorenzets photo booth before heading inside. First, let me tell you how The arrival of NASCAR established Riverside as one of NASCARs big three modified speedways in New England, along with Stafford and Thompson in Connecticut. racing fans remember Riverside Park Speedway WWLP-22News 58.1K subscribers 12 2.4K views 4 years ago While the Daytona 500 took place in Florida Sunday, racing fans in western. Pace Bus - Route 322 and well maintained, and the staff was so nice and very helpful and Riverside Park, Agawam, MA - History With Photos The track's last decade, the 1990s, saw more racing stars earn their stripes on the high banks at Riverside Park, including Marquis, who captured 3 consecutive modified championships from 1991 to 1993, Featherlite Modified Series stars Dan Avery and Chris Kopec and NASCAR Winston/Nextel Cup star Steve Park. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (updated 4/4/2023), Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 1/26/2023). May 16, 1983 - Agawam - A newly-constructed Riverside Park roller coaster is shown from a nearby potato Farm. As Riverside Park Speedway joined NASCAR to celebrate the past 50 years of auto racing in 1998, a new division was rolled out onto the Speedway. With his good history at the Sacramento Mile, his eyes are set on the May 13th race for another win. legend Roland Pappy Lapierre Sr., car and engine builder Jim Jorgenson, 1987 Busch North Series champion Joey Kid Kourafas and Irene Venditti, widow of Seekonk Speedway founder D. Anthony Venditti. "Wow!!! There will be a host of Riverside events throughout EXPO, including autograph sessions. Meet. Riverside Park Speedway - YankeeRacer.com Beckley Speedway USA. He later was a crew member with Bill Pelley and Reggie Ruggerio before moving on to 44 racing with Jerry Marquis and Mari Fiore and was part of their National Modified Championship of 2000. All rights reserved (About Us). RIVERSIDE PARK STADIUM STOCK CAR RACING Agawam MA Admission Ticket 1.25 +.25 tax Pre-Owned $25.00 or Best Offer Free 4 day shipping Sponsored Enjoying The Day At Riverside Park, Agawam, Massachusetts, Posted VTG. However, both men chose to set aside their differences on their special day. Enter your email address to subscribe to this album and receive free notifications of new posts by email. The Park was what got me noticed everywhere. Agawam, MA Racing on a tight track for 150 laps with 25 veteran competitors can sometimes be an unmistakable comparison to a championship boxing match, toe-to-toe for 15 rounds. by ScottKo in RacingIn News, TRACK INFO UPDATE? As Berggren recalled, Riverside had an inspired business plan: Getting inside the park was free, you only paid admission for individual rides or to enter the speedway. To capitalize on the nation's new attraction to auto racing following World War II, park owner Edward J. Carroll demolished the dance hall that had burned down in 1948. Riverside, both the amusement park and speedway, was an institution in its community. Riverside Park Speedway - David Allio | Racing Photography Archives NASCAR replaced the Tattersalls in 1973, following what future promoter Ben Dodge described as a drivers strike. Other tracks in the area - Century Stadium in Springfield, Mass. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. After the Wall Street crash drove Riverside Park into foreclosure, one of New Englands first drive-in theaters opened on the property in 1937. In the United States, speedways have been variously located next to junkyards, jammed next to suburban sprawl and occasionally plopped in the middle of their hometowns. by ScottKo in RacingIn News, Fans of Fast Name Their Favorite Track of 2014 You knew Rene Charland was the bad guy and Buddy Krebs was a good guy. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. I had some AWESOME comments about your facility. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (updated 4/4/2023), Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 1/26/2023). The 1960s were popular years for stock car racing at Riverside Park. Riverside Speedway was a NASCAR short track that was inside of Riverside Fun Park in Agawam, Massachusetts. Jocko Maggiacomo - Wikipedia Internal Link . The fans streamed, literally, straight from the rides to the bleachers. He resided in West Springfield and, He was an avid race car fan, a member of NASCAR. Spawned by the popularity of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, the Teddy Bear Pools Truck division proved to be an instant success in 1998. 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It was like going from a Volkswagen to a Cadillac; Riverside Park was like Daytona to me. It would grow to attract the Northeast's best drivers. It was largely used for picknicking and steamboat excursions along the Connecticut R. S Sharon DiAmore 1k followers More information Riverside Park, Agawam, MA - History With Photos - YouTube Chicopee Riverside Park Golden Oldies Service Trip Amusement Parks Back In The Day Under the sanction of the UNITED Stock Car Racing Club, Gene Bergin, Ed Patnode, Danny Galullo, Billy Greco and others emerged as contenders, Krebs and Greco piled up victories. Six of the eight people inducted Sunday into the New England Auto Racers Hall of Fame's class of 2012 had some sort of ties. We had sponsorship for every race. The tiny, flat confines forced drivers to bump and bang their way to the front, which often triggered fisticuffs in the pit area, jammed between the backstretch and the river. Auto racing legend Rene Charland, of Agawam, dies at 84. Due to this variability, ALWAYS check with the tracks DIRECTLY via their individual websites to confirm actual racing before you travel! While the Daytona 500 took place in Florida Sunday, racing fans in western Massachusetts remembered when racing took place on a much shorter track in Agawam at the Riverside Park Speedway. I was doing things to the very best of my ability.. With a track championship for the late Richie Evans, named in 1998 as one of NASCAR's 50 greatest drivers of all time. Dodge streamlined the modified program, marketed the competitors and started an entry-level street stock division. The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Riverside Park Speedway was a 1/4-mile oval paved race track, located at the present site of Six Flags New England in Agawam, Massachusetts, one mile north of the Massachusetts - Connecticut state line. Bobby Dragon of Milton, Vt. won the first NASCAR Busch North Series event at Riverside Park Speedway on August 29, 1988. The reunion will be held on Aug. 31 at the Polish Club in Agawam. Looking for something special to get your mom for Mothers Day? It was exactly what youd hope to have in an announcer. SITE DESIGN BY. Riverside Park in Agawam, Massachusetts began as a trolley park in 1840. If youre thinking of altering your workout routine, youre probably looking for new exercises and equipment to help you reach your fitness goals. The United Stock Car Racing Club events drew 6,000-8,000 fans every Saturday night. The first full season of "modified" stock car racing was 1949. . Gary worked for many years at Germano Auto Sales before owning Garys Service Center in Agawam, which he sold two years ago. Use THIS BUTTON to share this track's profile with your friends! 01001 (413) 786-3876. Six of the eight people inducted Sunday into the New England Auto Racers Hall of Fames class of 2012 had some sort of ties to the old track in Agawam, which closed in 1999. Riverside Park in Agawam was a gathering spot for fun as far back as the late 19th century when it was known as Riverside Grove (and Gallup's Grove before that). What a year as we transition onto dirt racing! Race Date . Agawam, MA Gary J. Michnovetz, 65, died suddenly on Tuesday. The 1980s arrived! Dodge is credited with improving the payout to Riversides racers during the same time when the year-round profitability of amusement rides was increasingly threatening the future of auto racing. Riverside Park Speedway memories never die - masslive.com I had my own groove, right on the bottom. Auto Racing Research Assoc. It was common to have up to 60 modifieds in the pits, all vying for spots in a 50-lap feature that started only 20 cars because the track was so small. Riverside Park Speedway was built in 1948 at Riverside Park, now the site of Six Flags New England. Sign Up For The PRI eNewsletter to get the latest in racing industry news, special events, new product information and more directly to your inbox. Birthdays, Mitvahs, Bachelor(ette), Team Building, Catered Lunches History. NASCAR North Tour Race Recaps. Ruggiero, who drove for 19 different car owners in a career that began in the late 1960s, noted the special bond the two will have as driver and owner and as Hall of Famers. Riverside Speedway was a NASCAR short track that was inside of Riverside Fun Park in Agawam, Massachusetts . Later years were with Tom Rosati, Rene Charland, Bob Polverari, Reggie Ruggerio and Jerry Marquis. When Riverside closed, Eddy Carroll III, the founders grandson, owned four consecutive pro stock championships. The speedway was closed, and razed, after Polverari copped the final modified feature in 1999. I was just a kid and my favorite was Art Rousseau out of Keene, N.H.. Rene Charland - AKA "The Champ" - won three NASCAR national Modified titles in the 1960s. When intermission came, you hit your favorite rides, safe in the knowledge that Galon would call you back in plenty of time. Stafford Motor Speedway in Connecticut and Monadnock Speedway in New Hampshire are just some of the local options within driving distance. Photo courtesy of John Mahoney, USAC. 1948 - RIVERSIDE PARK SPEEDWAY To capitalize on the nations new found attraction to Auto Racing following the 2nd World War, Riverside Amusement Park owner Richard J Caroll demolished a dance hall in 1948. For $1.25 admission, you got to watch battles pitting Moe Moneybags Gherzi against Charland, driving a decidedly non-villainous coupe adorned with pink polka dots. 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NEAR To Host Riverside Park Speedway Reunion, Candidates Named for 2024-25 IMSA Diverse Driver Development Scholarship, Trackhouse Announces Ownership Of NC Karting Motorplex. A team rich in winning was, as he said, cash poor.. KGM RACING VIDEOS - Tripod Stock Car Racing Wiki is a FANDOM TV Community. Party Rooms and Catering Available, Adults and Teens It needed help to survive. In 1971 the track's configuration was changed to a bigger 1/4 mile oval, with slightly higher banking in the turns. The Serv-U Auto Supply Pro Stocks were also a feature division in the NASCAR's Winston Shortrack Series in 1999. Riverside Park in Agawam was a gathering spot for fun as far back as the late 19th century when it was known as Riverside Grove (and Gallups Grove before that). ", "We had what I would call one of the most successful team events at K1 Speed Austin just last night. The winner of the first NASCAR-sanctioned event was Bob Polverari. by ScottKo in RacingIn News, Rivalry Renewed: Lanigan & Richards Set To Face Off In 2015 As Richards Returns To Full-Time World of Outlaws Competition Invaders that raced at "The Park" seeking NASCAR National Modified Championship points included Richie Evans, Jerry Cook, Geoff Bodine, Jim Spencer, John Blewitt Jr and "Captain Sizzle" Mark Malcuit from Ohio, some would go on to become champions in several of NASCAR's top series. While the focus of the auto racing world will be on Daytona Beach, Florida this weekend, there is plenty of racing heritage here in western Massachusetts. Western Mass. racing fans remember Riverside Park Speedway The park was shuttered during the Great Depression, but was reopened by Edward Carroll in 1940. I was given two years to run the race track, produce a positive bottom line and show growth.. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Kanawha Valley Dragway. The 1999 season featured the NAPA Modifieds as the NASCAR Winston Racing Series feature division, along with the Serv-U Auto Supply Pro Stocks, Teddy Bear Pools Trucks, Sportsman, Super Stocks and Figure 8's. He was currently employed at Boardwalk Auto Sales in South Windsor, CT. Riverside Park Speedway memories abound at New England Auto - masslive While Riverside Park Speedway is gone, local racing fans do have plenty of options to see live racing. He stated to me that the race track was no longer holding its own. The great Reggie Ruggiero closed the books with 98 modified feature wins, about a quarter of his career total, leading all drivers. The first top-5 finish for the Tic-Tac Pontiac Grand Prix team pushed Moore, the 1995 Busch Grand National North Series champion, up 14 spots to 13th in the championship point battle, a mere 88 points out of the top spot. In both cases, few could argue with the results. Road to Daytona: Meet Riverside Park Racing Legend Bob Polverari It was more like an adventure.. Rene Charland, affectionately known to many racing fans simply as The Champ could use some well-wishes from his fans. by KyleBrinkmannRacing in KyleBrinkmanRacing, a racer from Elkhorn, WI, What a year as we transition onto dirt racing! The Rocky Hill, Conn, driver was a crowd favorite at the old Riverside Park Speedway in Agawam, where he won three track championships (1979, 1984, 1988) and a record 93 feature races over 23. Riverside Park Speedway in Agawam drew in racing fans from throughout the Northeast for about 50 years. navigation, search. Galex Fox, left, and Dave Darland, right. Riverside Park Speedway Demolition Derby & Figure 8 Racing Agawam Mass has 514 members. Five-time track champion Bob Polverari won the final race, after which participants started digging up pieces of the track asphalt for souvenirs. Riverside Park Speedway memories abound at . | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Accessibility Statement. Others inducted in the ceremony at La Renaissance were 1950s legend Moe Moneybags Gherzi, 1960s Riverside star Jerry The Springfield Rifle Humiston, Eastern Mass. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. In addition to that, the purses were increased. Riverside Park Speedway - The Third Turn By admin January 26, 2013 Riverside Park Speedway Charlie Jones, 1941 - 2013 Charles Ernest Jones, 71, lifelong Agawam resident, passed away Wednesday January 23rd at the VA Boston Healthcare in West Roxbury, MA. The pit area was alongside theConnecticut River with large Grandstands being built on the hill leading from the amusement park down to the race track. The first top-5 finish for the Tic-Tac Pontiac Grand Prix team pushed Moore, the 1995 Busch Grand National North Series champion, up 14 spots to 13th in the championship point battle, a mere 88 points out of the top spot.For the 2nd consecutive week Moore was unable to crack the top-10 in qualifying, this evening he was 16th fastest among the 30-car field. accommodating. Agawam, MA This event marks the tenth annual appearance of the NASCAR Busch North Series at Riverside Park Speedway. It could trace its roots to just after the Civil War, when Gallup's Grove opened as a picnic area in Agawam, nearly across the Connecticut River from the industrial city of Springfield, Mass. The teams decision to forgo any changes paid great dividends as the Pontiac Grand Prix ran fast and consistent on long runs throughout the evening. You have set the bar pretty high, and the fun factor is off the charts!! If there were two worms crawling out of a hole, he could turn it into a race that had you on the edge of your seat. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. It was quite a ride for Fiore, who got into ownership in 1969, when he put $300 into a car purchased by a friend. His sons then managed the park and speedway while becoming active in racing themselves, with a new crew of helpers. Riverside, both the amusement park and speedway, was an institution in its community. Henry J. Perkins. One of them was future FOX Sports broadcaster Mike Joy, who announced at Riverside while still in college. The theory was that an entertainer doesnt pay to walk on stage, he explained. The bleacher seating surrounding the track was also removed to make way for the 6,200 chair back seats. "I would like to Thank You so much for making Carlys 17th birthday party GREAT!!!! In 1983, he was offered a ride in what is now the NASCAR Nationwide Series. YOUR PARTY AND CELEBRATE Gary J. Michnovetz, 65, died suddenly on Tuesday. This spring, Le Creuset has introduced an exciting new shade thats already selling fast: shallot, a soft lavender with pink and slight gray undertones. We hope that this is just the first of many events we will have with K1 Speed. Rollie Jacobs (left), former public address announcer at Riverside Park Speedway, inducted legendary car owner Mario Fiore (right) into the New England Auto Racing Hall of Fame on Sunday in East Windsor, Conn. much I appreciate everything you and your staff did for our group. "I would like to Thank You so much for making Carly's 17th birthday party GREAT!!!! 44 Modified, much like Martin was fired four times as Steinbrenners New York Yankees manager. best birthday ever!!! Riverside Park Speedway Formerly Known As: Riverside Park Stadium.250 mi./0.402 km. Again, thank you for your professionalism and management of K1 Speed in Sacramento. The future international sports car star Phil Walters, still racing under his midget pseudonym of Ted Tappett, captured 14 of the 28 features, a record that still stood when Riverside finally closed. Before 1900, most visitors reached the park by steamboat.

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