"Some people said it went over the fence." I never talked about how brave I was. 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. NASCAR hadnt yet arrived to swallow the sport. A racecar moves around the track at Salem Speedway. Amant. High powered sprint cars accelerate down the straights at speeds reaching nearly 140 miles per hour. In late 1952 his first wife, Marion, started divorce proceedings. Their cars, after months of mutual insult, begin to take on the appearance of crumpled paper. He is buried at Lone Tree Cemetery in Fairview, California.[3]. Josh, 9, and Amanda, 7, sat in the grandstand with their mother, their grandparents and 5-year-old brother, Justin. He was awarded a 40th-place finish (as a "Did Not Start").[6]. During a qualifying heat, a sprint car driven by Jon Johnson lost its tire and rim in a turn. Still others, inured by lap after lap of fan-friendly racing -- and unaware that almost one fan a month on average is killed or seriously injured on U.S. tracks -- think of spectator incidents as mere freak occurrences. Such is what Jeff Mayden believed before his daughter 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. There were no space-age helmets and flame-proof racing suits. Salem Speedway Formerly Known As: Salem Super Speedway, Greater Salem Super Speedway, Hi-Bank Speedway.555 mi./0.893 km. pool that the 500-Mile-Race winner had built for his own children. "Fans are their own worst enemy," says Dickie Gore, owner of Old Dominion Speedway in Manassas, Va. If hed come along a half-century later, Bob Sweikert might have been that lucky young driver. 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. Community See All. Stadium, Arena & Sports Venue in Salem, Indiana. His parents, Foster R Hess and Sarah Ethel Davis were married in Sullivan County, TN in 1928. Although Salem says technicians inspect cars, Mayden, a former driver there, says cars drove often with deficient parts -- especially in the lower classes. Vogler remained motionless for several minutes before being removed by ambulance. 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. win at Indy, Vuky, who was leading when he crashed, would have been tough to 4.3. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. "I could run to the first caution without any problem," Waltrip, a three-time Winston Cup champion, said Saturday. At least 70 have been injured, some suffering life-altering afflictions, including a Florida father of three now living in a New Jersey home for people with brain damage. in a second tragedy yesterday when two small brothers were drowned in the swimming But I'm doing therapy every day.". Last edited on 17 December 2022, at 23:08, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bob_Sweikert&oldid=1128015419, This page was last edited on 17 December 2022, at 23:08. 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. Nobody planned this tragedy, he told them. [4], USAR ran seven races at the track between 2002 and 2008; winners include Brian Ross, Joel Kauffman, Mikey Kile, Jeff Agnew, Gary St. USAC Loctite-Crestliner Vans National Sprint Car Series, USAC Copenhagen-Skoal National Midget Series, USAC Stoops Freightliner National Sprint Car Series, USAC MCI WorldCom National Midget Car Series, USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series, Northern Division, Auto Value Bumper to Bumper Super Sprint Series, USAC Valvoline National Sprint Car Series, USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series, Sears Auto Center Northern Division, ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards, AMSOIL USAC Sprint Car National Championship, CRA JEGS All-Stars Tour presented by Chevrolet Performance, Circle Track Great American Racing Series, Lawrence Towing CRA Street Stock Series Powered by JEGS, USAC Silver Crown Champ Car Series presented by Traxxas, Vores Compact Touring Series powered by Mercer County Electric, Van Hoy Oil CRA Street Stocks Powered by JEGS, Victory Custom Trailers CRA Junior Late Model Series, https://www.thethirdturn.com/w/index.php?title=Salem_Speedway&oldid=657339. Vogler's helmet flew off his head and he suffered severe head injuries that proved to be fatal. 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. In January 1953, Sweikert married his high school sweetheart, divorcee Dorie with her two children, with whom he had recently become reacquainted. Drive. Racing close with Elisian, both cars pushed high. 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. 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 In Charlotte, speedway officials made no changes in the 10 months after the Michigan wreck, then raised their fences from 15 to 21 feet after their own open-wheel racing accident. When they first started to use roll bars, traditionalists thought it was just awful. Your email address will not be published. after the boys were taken from the water. His death prompted another burst of outrage over the sports dangerous side. (key) (Bold Pole position awarded by qualifying time. 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. Sweikert and his wife, Dolores, were the parents of four children She figures it was a combination of factors, but mostly this: It was Bobs time to die, and he died.. IRS delays tax deadline for Bay Area, but California hasnt followed: What should you do? Racing but was replaced posthumously by Ted Musgrave. He would make consecutive starts at Indy from then on, up until 1990. In the 1950s, talent won races, but luck decided who lived and died on the track. "And it gets worse at the end of the night.". 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. 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. He was nicknamed "Rapid Rich". Layton, Utah. No other cars were involved. It was a very scary thing the sound was so frightening, said Dorie Sweikert, now 79 and living in Redding. In late 1944, Sweikert enrolled in the US Army Air Force, but suffered a severe knee injury while training at Lowry Field in Colorado. Bohanon, a Southern Indiana. Bob Sweikert shortly before his fatal crash at Salem Speedway Sweikert himself took the checkers at Indy in the face of tragedy after two-time 500 winner Bill Vukovich cartwheeled over the backstretch wall to his death. Street Funeral Home. Waltrip, preparing to make his 500th NASCAR start in that July 7 race, sustained a slight concussion and broke his left leg the day before in a crash in practice and couldn't start. He was one of the good guys. The first major fund-raiser for the fund has been a Daytona 500 viewing party in Indianapolis, today well-attended with a silent auction and notable names in auto racing in the state as guests. They were dangerous beyond belief, Levinson wrote in an online article for Autoracing1.com. Why, after not eating solids for two weeks because she choked on a grape at school, did Lindsey suddenly want chicken? The likeable, rising superstar, who had just appeared on the front cover of Sports Illustrated, did not survive the crash. Dorie Sweikert never had attended an auto race until she met her future husband. For over 65 years Salem Speedway has enjoyed the recognition of being one of the most unique and renowned racetracks in America. He was about to take the white flag for the final lap. It bounded free down the small-track straightaway and into the pits, slamming off a car's hood and leaping, faster than fright, into the Salem (Ind.) 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. Situated in the scenic hills of southern Indiana, The Salem Speedway roars to life . Eugene Gerber, bishop of Wichita's Roman Catholic diocese and a family friend, tried to console the mournful. Former USAC Midget racer Nick Bohanon has taken over ownership of the iconic Salem Speedway Fueled by the Hoosier Lottery, located in Salem. 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She died five hours later, early the next day. It will be a process of getting those done over the next several years. I had to work very hard at that, not to make it a negative. She went back to California More often, like Lindsey Mayden, spectators die with less publicity at smaller ovals and asphalt drag strips on Friday and Saturday nights. He had secured an overseas drivers license and was planning a racing tour of Europe in 1957. Some neglect even those, conducting superficial prerace walk-throughs or no checks at all. [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. And there were sad ones. Sweikert returned to Hayward and opened his own small business, Sweikert Automotive, an automotive repair shop based out of his parents' garage. That was Bobs favorite of the half-mile tracks, Dorie Sweikert said. History Mystery Man: Historical Storyteller, Small Town Traveler, Auto Racing Icons. This car ran right smack into the cement wall between the track and the pits, and back in the50s, youd have known that young man was dead, she recalled. The season opener is set for April 16. On July 5th, 1970, he was driving for Mauri Amerling, at the Salem, Indiana speedway when. Weeks later, Sweikert's fatal sprint car crash occurred on June 17, 1956, at Salem Speedway. "We don't do checks before races," says Hall. Finishing first among the survivors was a young driver from Pittsboro, Indiana, named Jeff Gordon. tragedy after two-time 500 winner Bill Vukovich cartwheeled over the [2] The ARCA qualifying record is 16.785 seconds/119.035mph by Gary Bradberry in 1994.[6]. A lot of people today have no idea who he is, never heard of him, Davidson said. Salem Speedway will be under new ownership for the 2023 racing season. James Tomlinson, 5 years old, and Anthony Tomlinson, 3, lost A good Sunday was when every driver cheated death and went home alive.. 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 April 1991, Winchester Speedway began the annual season-opening Rich Vogler Classic sprint car race, usually the first race at the track each year. She never saw danger coming. Drivers, nursing accumulated grudges, satisfy them on and off the track. If you are experiencing difficulties logging in or are a subscriber getting a paywall, please try one or more of the following steps. The car hit the guardrail and destroyed a section of protective fencing near the grandstand. Its like Iraq its that kind of grief.. Both tracks also increased their fences' overhang. 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. "There's no way to stay ahead of these drivers.". They were joined by Myron Weinberger, 221 East 70th I didnt even think Id hit 21. Ironically, it was Reece who was standing in the turn one infield on July 17, 1956 and filmed Sweikert's accident. 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. Donald Davidson, historian for the Indianapolis 500, said Sweikert is highly regarded among those familiar with the sports heritage. During 1947 Sweikert began mailing monthly accounts of his life to Veda Orr, through April 1956. Comment * document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a1fe75f612aa39abd4fbfcf156e736a1" );document.getElementById("hc1b4e368d").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. They had a large family wedding in West L.A. Washington Post columnist Shirley Povich wrote, The madness known as speed-car racing now has claimed one more well-known corpse, and there has to be a new revulsion toward the whole senseless business of motorized Roman Holidays for the dues-paying spectators.. priest, took them word that the boys were dead. RACE CAR driver Bob Sweikert celebrates his win in the 1955Indianapolis 500 with his wife, Dorrie. Roger Bruce Hassing. It had been there in my head and in my heart for a long time, she said. As firemen worked, the Rev. ", But: "Everywhere I go, I check out their fence.". hunting for them, to call them to supper. had intended to finish the job the day after the fatal Salem race. Not now. [5], Because of USAC rules on a red flag reverting to the previous completed lap, he was declared the winner of the event following his death, which was his 170th win. Martin took the pole for today's 12:10 p.m. race, qualifying his Ford at 158.264 mph. 2803 Obituaries. Ind. Chevrolet will probably get another win or two before the end of the year, but right now it's hard to imagine a Bowtie driver vying for the championship at Homestead in November. Built in 1946/47, the. The car hit the guardrail and destroyed a section of protective fencing near the grandstand. 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 Pocono race was not his first attempted NASCAR Winston Cup start: two weeks before, he entered the Michigan race but failed to qualify. Their shoes where on the pools rim. He died a week later. three weeks ago to make her home. Marjorie Ann Bitter. The 2023 Salem Speedway tentative schedule: April 8: (3rd Annual Easter Egg Hunt) Open Practice for all divisions, April 16: (Season Opener) GAS, CVBT, CVST, Scrappers, May 7: (Derby Hangover Twin 75s) GAS, CVBT, CVST, 602 Stocks, June 3: ASA/CRA Super Series, JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour, GAS, June 17: (Semis on The High Banks) Semis, CVBT, Scrappers, July 1-2: (Firecracker 200 Weekend) GAS, CVBT, CVST, 602 Stocks, Legends, July 22: (Midwest Street Stock Battle and Late Models) GAS, CRA Street Stocks, CRA Late Model Sportsman, CVBT, Aug. 19: (Dollar Beer and Cruise In) GAS, CVBT, CVST, 602 Stocks, Scrappers, Sept. 9: (End of Summer 100) GAS, CVBT, CVST, Legends, Oct. 21-22: (Halloween 200 Weekend) Halloween 200, CVBT 200, CVST, MF8, 602 Stocks, Scrappers, Bloomington Speedway releases 2023 schedule. Has taken over ownership of the half-mile tracks, Dorie Sweikert said amp ; Sports Venue in.! Hard at that, not to make it a negative problem, Waltrip! 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To life after not eating solids for two weeks because she choked on a grape at school, Lindsey! The survivors was a very scary thing the sound was so frightening, said Dorie Sweikert now... 'S 12:10 p.m. race, qualifying his Ford at 158.264 mph belief, Levinson wrote in online... Being removed by ambulance have been that lucky young driver by Jon Johnson lost tire! After months of mutual insult, begin to take the white flag for the Indianapolis 500, said Sweikert highly!
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