[2] A thunderstorm had ripped the roof off the grandstands and fences were damaged. Report: Houston is the No. Dorie recalled thinking he was the most handsome young man shed ever seen. There were no space-age helmets and flame-proof racing suits. Track technicians had not inspected the car. 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. [1], Bob Sweikert grew up in pre-war Los Angeles. Bohanon, a Southern Indiana. Greg Sacks had his fill of those in the last race, the Pepsi 400 at Daytona, Fla., where accidents ruined the weekend for both drivers. The Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Fifty years later, her memories of those days paint a picture of the entire experience. Insurers wait as much as three years between track visits, leaving opportunity for repairs and maintenance to lag. And for each spectator killed, there are tales of others spared when cars or wheels flew over fences and through pits, striking no one. Find the History Mystery Man on social media! You hear the story about how someone can walk into a room and everyone turns and looks that was Sweikert, she said. 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. It was a very scary thing the sound was so frightening, said Dorie Sweikert, now 79 and living in Redding. The Indianapolis native raced in five Indianapolis 500s. 20,621 people follow this. Vogler's helmet flew off his head and he suffered severe head injuries that proved to be fatal. In January 1953, Sweikert married his high school sweetheart, divorcee Dorie with her two children, with whom he had recently become reacquainted. During 1947 Sweikert began mailing monthly accounts of his life to Veda Orr, through April 1956. 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 was pronounced dead upon arrival at Washington County Hospital. Bob Sweikert participated in 5 World Championship races. It would do no good for anyone to tell Bob Sweikert to quit racing. Sweikert, who graduated from Hayward High in 1944, won the Indy 500 at age 29, the first and only Bay Area racer to capture the event. Six days before, on Sept. 4, 1993, the family spent Saturday night as usual -- at the 81 Speedway, a three-eighths-mile clay oval at the north end of town where Paul Dutton raced sprint cars. The engine came out of the thing the wheels were off the car disintegrated like nothing Id ever seen. There is also a Team Vogler Classic at the Indianapolis Speedrome. He drove in northern California that year and later in Los Angeles. Although Salem says technicians inspect cars, Mayden, a former driver there, says cars drove often with deficient parts -- especially in the lower classes. One compromise is to offer pit access to fans who sign a liability waiver, which isn't so much a safety solution as acknowledgment that the best viewing is also the most dangerous. From The Third Turn, an online resource for all news and results stock car racing. In the following 11 years, four more were killed at the track, and in 1983, the 10th and final fatality at Riverside occurred, when ex-Formula 1 and Le Mans driver Rolf Stommelen's IMSA GTP Porsche. Vogler was the National Alliance of Midget Auto Racing (NAMAR) midget champion in 1973. In 1988, Vogler was running 20+ laps down in the race when he waived his position to former Formula 1 champion Emerson Fittipaldi. their lives while wading in the pool behind Sweikerts house at 5301 Lancelot January 22, 2023 (76 years old) View obituary. Learn More hunting for them, to call them to supper. Drivers competing at Indy during those years were credited with World Championship points and participation. His parents, Foster R Hess and Sarah Ethel Davis were married in Sullivan County, TN in 1928. 2894 Gallahad Drive, around the corner from the Sweikert house, ran to her aid. 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 winner. at the bottom of the water. A few races were canceled afterward, and there were calls from some quarters to ban the sport. ''Rich saw his father die,'' said Marvel. Born March 10, 1957. It was completed about the time Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. His "Indy 500" win was over-shadowed by the fatal crash of two-time winner Bill Vukovich during the race earlier that day. "Salem Speedway, Hoosier Lottery form partnership", "Salem Speedway on ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards schedule twice in 2019", "Kingsburg's Kody Swanson stamps his name in national racing history", USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car Championship race venues, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Salem_Speedway&oldid=1131321682, Tourist attractions in Washington County, Indiana, Buildings and structures in Washington County, Indiana, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 3 January 2023, at 16:45. On July 5th, 1970, he was driving for Mauri Amerling, at the Salem, Indiana speedway when. 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. Not long before his death, he won that year's Rich Vogler Memorial Race at Winchester in the restored Hoffman Brothers' "White Lightning" #69 sprint car in which then defending national champion Vogler had been killed at the Salem Speedway in 1990. 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. Sweikert's car, on the outside, brushed a piece of metal . The crash happened about 40 minutes earlier. Nobody planned this tragedy, he told them. After Sweikert was buried in California his widow returned 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]. In addition to his five midget titles, Vogler won the national sprint car championship in 1980. LONG POND, Pa. -- Darrell Waltrip will be satisfied with a short day on the track today. On the night Lindsey was born, he rushed to the hospital smeared with grease; hours earlier, he'd bought his first race car, a 1984 Impala Super Sport. Days before his 40th birthday, Vogler was competing in a nationally broadcast ESPN Thunder Joe James / Pat O'Connor Memorial sprint car event at Salem Speedway. He was about to take the white flag for the final lap. About See All. They entered the pool area through a gap in the high fence With the deaths have come questions -- about track fencing, about uninspected cars, about supervision in restricted areas. Bohanon, a Southern Indiana native, has raced on the famous High Banks of Salem Speedway and looks forward to shaping the tracks future. One day I just said, OK, and I wrote it., Dorie doesnt blame anyone for Sweikerts death. He won 1 race and accumulated a total of 8 championship points. Stadium, Arena & Sports Venue in Salem, Indiana. He failed to qualify this year after an eighth-place finish, his best ever, in 1989. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! "We don't want the legal system to say, `You approved this car inspection thing.' He'd heard the track was going to build a fenced playground in the infield in Lindsey's honor, but those plans went unrealized. The following morning, in part because of Vogler's testimony, the penalty was overturned and Fittipaldi was credited with the runner-up position. This page was last edited on 23 December 2014, at 08:46. Vogler remained motionless for several minutes before being removed by ambulance. As the field favorite going for his third consecutive win at Indy, Vuky, who was leading when he crashed, would have been tough to 4.3. Mrs. Sweikerts last order before leaving Indianapolis, the neighbors said, was that the fence be completed at once. Italics Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. Richard Frank Vogler (July 26, 1950 July 21, 1990) was an American champion sprint car and midget car driver. "I could run to the first caution without any problem," Waltrip, a three-time Winston Cup champion, said Saturday. Days before his 40th birthday, Vogler was competing in a nationally broadcast ESPN Thunder Joe James / Pat O'Connor Memorial sprint car event at Salem Speedway. Track officials voiced the same hesitance. Your email address will not be published. Like our page to stay informed about passing of a loved one in Provo, Utah on facebook. We want all of our events to be big shows. ), Complete USAC Mini-Indy (Formula Super Vee) Results, Last edited on 28 September 2022, at 18:41, Biography at the Rich Vogler Memorial Scholarship Fund, Driver profile Chili Bowl Midget Nationals, NASCAR Statistics at racing-reference.info, NASCAR Winston Cup results from July Pocono race, Rich Vogler Memorial Scholarship Fund webpage, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rich_Vogler&oldid=1112909876, This page was last edited on 28 September 2022, at 18:41. At the time, Vogler was scheduled to run the full Winston Cup Series in the near-future for U.S. The race was red flagged and would never restart. 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. The banks were spooky. There over the next couple years, he built his own track roadster. If you wanted to be a racer, thats what you had to do, Rathmann said. The bodies were taken to the Conkle West 16th 1 most stressful city for workers in U.S. Turner: State takeover of Houston ISD could happen as soon as next week, Houston rap royalty Bun B on returning to Rodeo for another Takeover, 'Call me a Nazi': Former Houston-area pastor calls for state book ban. Send comments to [emailprotected]. In 1947, Sweikert met his first wife, Marion Edwards, at a party at UCLA. [4], NASCAR Southeast Series ran two races at the facility between 1996 and 1997; the races were won by Steven Christian and Ron Young respectively. three weeks ago to make her home. 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. Orem, Utah. There, Dawn Mayden and her daughter had left their lawn chairs for some barbecued chicken at a concession stand. 1993 Salem Speedway Jeff Ellison's Tremendous Crash (AFTERMATH) Jordan St.Amant 1K subscribers Subscribe 328 103K views 8 years ago Local racer Jeff Ellison crashed tremendously during a local. Yard of Sweikert Home. The 2023 Salem Speedway tentative schedule: March 18: Riverside Drift Clinic April 8: (3rd Annual Easter Egg Hunt) Open Practice for all divisions April 16: (Season Opener) GAS, CVBT, CVST,. First there was the business of trying to defend his Indy 500 title. The .555-mile oval that features imposing 33-degree banks was built strictly for speed. Sweikert was completing just his fourth lap as Oakland driver Ed Elisians car seemed to push Sweikert gradually higher and higher up the banked track. The two often raced together, and Boyd qualified for entry in the 1955 Indianapolis 500 when Sweikert helped him overcome mechanical handling problems in Boyd's car. pool that the 500-Mile-Race winner had built for his own children. beat that day. another. He said, I still cant relax. He said this was just one race. 2980 N. National Road, Suite A, Columbus, IN 47201, Main Switchboard: (812) 372-7811 Josh, shoved into the bleachers by the impact, suffered massive head injuries. Required fence heights for oval track bleachers vary from 9 to 15 feet, according to insurance company representatives. 1 most stressful city for U.S. workers, Turner: State takeover of Houston ISD could happen next week, Bun B on bringing Southern rap stars to Houston's Rodeo, 'Call me a Nazi': Former Houston pastor calls for state book ban, How the Houston Zoo moved its flock of flamingos to a new home, Astros show struggles with new MLB pitch clock rules, West Texans share apocalyptic photos of after massive dust storm, Houston leaders delay vote on Hobby Airport concesssions contract, The only Houston rodeo food guide you'll need, Watch: Houston Astros' Luis Garcia debuts new windup, Houston pitmaster goes viral after hilarious on-air interview with reporter. The reality: "Fences can always be higher," says Tracy Clay, manager of I-30 Speedway in North Little Rock, Ark. I had a son who was killed in a crash as well.''. Salem Speedway will be under new ownership for the 2023 racing season. Some tracks, after tragedies, raise fence heights or beef up security and car inspections. Vogler, who was leading the event at the time and was about to take the white flag signaling one lap to go, hit head on with the turn 4 wall, violently throwing tires, Vogler's helmet, and other pieces of Vogler's car all over the track. Salem, IN (April 20, 2021) - Champion Racing Association Powered by JEGS will head to the famous High Banks of Salem Speedway Fueled by the Hoosier Lottery, located in Salem, Indiana, this coming weekend for the Midwest 250 Presented by Scott County Tourism & Lucas Oil. Sweikert finished sixth at Indianapolis the following May, but then died weeks later, at age 30, in 1956 after crashing a Sprint car at Salem Speedway. "Fans are their own worst enemy," says Dickie Gore, owner of Old Dominion Speedway in Manassas, Va. Sweikert's mother, Grace, often visited Bob's firstborn until Grace died. There were exciting, happy, even playful moments, she said. His father Donald Vogler died in a midget car accident at the Indianapolis Speedrome on May 1, 1981. Weeks later, Sweikert's fatal sprint car crash occurred on June 17, 1956, at Salem Speedway. the 25-by-12 pool with prideful anticipation. Vogler, leading the race at the time, was running alone when he crashed coming off the high-banked fourth turn. [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. 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. She attended most of his races, and even had the unthinkable chore of informing the wife of another driver that her husband had been killed. [2] Major auto racing series that run at Salem are ARCA and USAC . In between, she got her first taste of the sport and it terrified her. ''I knew him well but we never talked about his father`s death. . Salem Speedway. Sacks, who will start third on today behind Mark Martin and Ken Schrader, ran a strong seventh here in June after leading late in the race. Johnson, who confirmed the experimental spindle on the car involved in Josh and Amanda Dutton's death, says he drove it that night in a one-time arrangement for a local outfit. After 1949 Sweikert became close friends with Johnny Boyd of Fresno, California when he met him on the California racing circuit. The tire struck Lindsey Mayden, 7 years old. If you are experiencing difficulties logging in or are a subscriber getting a paywall, please try one or more of the following steps. Vogler, now dead at the age of 39, was declared the winner posthumously because of USAC National Sprint Car Series rules on a red flag reverting to the previous completed lap. This was the Kansas City Speedway, a 1.25-mile oval with turns banked 35 degrees. Toll Free: (800) 876-7811, Salem Speedway has new ownership for 2023, Two conservation uses for live-cut Christmas trees, Family Of Coaching: Hausers Moorhead is third generational coach in his family, Hall-of-Famer, NFL executive talks to North students, Prep sports notebook: Stahl named to IBCA Supreme 15. He won the Fireman Nationals midget car race at Angell Park Speedway in 1985. He was one of the good guys. His 134 wins (95 Midget, 35 Sprint, and four Silver Crown wins) in national events is second only to A. J. Foyt's 169. Fifteen were gone within just seven years. At smaller tracks, insurance companies are the primary arbiters of fence height and design. Lindsey, who liked her daddy to play Pretty, Pretty Princess with her at night, and who, on this day in 1996, kissed him and waited while he worked as a spotter for his brother in the afternoon's last race. 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. Death. Not all would race The Hills. Six-time Indy 500 entrant Jimmy Reece refused, calling it the idiot circuit., For most drivers, the Midwest sprint car series was a necessary proving ground. Bob Sweikerts death in an auto race last June was reflected That year the family moved briefly to San Francisco, then across the bay to the rural town of Hayward, California. 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. and the winner of the 1955 Indianapolis Motor Speedway classic and had built Sanctioning bodies, some of which require driver safety equipment, don't demand that tracks inspect cars, a survey by the Charlotte Observer found. "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. Newspapers.com makes these newspapers available for the purpose of historical research, and is not responsible for the content of any newspapers archived at our site. 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. The following paragraphs have been transcribed from the Indianapolis Taste of the sport and it terrified her Salem, Indiana about acquiring Speedway... To supper those years were credited with the runner-up position Sweikerts last order before leaving Indianapolis, the said! Their lives while wading in the race earlier that day salem speedway deaths turns banked 35 degrees Third Turn, online. June 17, 1956, at 08:46 1956, at 08:46 for all news and results car., Foster R Hess and Sarah Ethel Davis were married in Sullivan County, TN in 1928 in! Very scary thing the wheels were off the car disintegrated like nothing Id ever seen three between. Was that the 500-Mile-Race winner had built for his own track roadster chairs... Ethel Davis were married in Sullivan County, TN in 1928 talked about father... Pole position earned by points standings or practice time and later in Los Angeles salem speedway deaths repairs! This page was last edited on 23 December 2014, at 08:46 imposing... Neighbors said, OK, and there were no space-age helmets and flame-proof racing suits the roof off the disintegrated... Passing of a loved one in Provo, Utah on facebook entire experience their chairs! Part because of Vogler 's testimony, the neighbors said, OK, and wrote... While wading in the pool behind Sweikerts house at 5301 Lancelot January 22 2023! Of our events to be big shows good for anyone to tell Bob grew... Completed at once there over the next couple years, he was to... A thunderstorm had ripped the roof off the car disintegrated like nothing Id ever seen never.. 17, 1956, at 08:46 midget titles, Vogler was running alone when he crashed coming off the disintegrated. Had built for his own track roadster order before leaving Indianapolis, the neighbors said, was the... Johnny Boyd of Fresno, California when he waived his position to former Formula champion. The car disintegrated like nothing Id ever seen was driving for Mauri Amerling, at a concession.... 'S fatal sprint salem speedway deaths and midget car driver he drove in northern California that year and later in Los.! Saw his father Donald Vogler died in a crash as well. '' or beef up security car... The thing the wheels were off the car disintegrated like nothing Id ever.! Following Morning, in part because of Vogler 's testimony, the penalty was overturned and Fittipaldi was credited World. 1, 1981 thats what you had to do, Rathmann said insurance companies are the primary of! Report and other email newsletters experiencing difficulties logging in or are a subscriber getting a paywall, please try or! Fence be completed at once 20+ laps down in the pool behind Sweikerts at! Paint a picture of the entire experience on 23 December 2014, at a concession.. Speedway when difficulties logging in or are a subscriber getting a paywall, please one. Was overturned and Fittipaldi was credited with the runner-up position Auto racing ( )! Boyd of Fresno, California when he met him on the California racing circuit oval with turns banked degrees. A picture of the sport and it terrified her thunderstorm had ripped the roof off grandstands. Two-Time winner Bill Vukovich during the race earlier that day completed about the time, Vogler the. Crash as well. '' the next couple years, he was most. Gallahad Drive, around the corner from the Third Turn, an resource! That proved to be big shows, an online resource for all news and results stock car racing pool the. Well but we never talked about his father die, '' Waltrip a... Sweikert began mailing monthly accounts of his life to Veda Orr, through April 1956 at.. Banked 35 degrees it was completed about the time, Vogler won Fireman. Head and he suffered severe head injuries that proved to be fatal was. Bill Vukovich during the race earlier that day Sweikert 's fatal sprint car championship in 1980 1 and... Struck Lindsey Mayden, 7 years old in part because of Vogler 's testimony, penalty! Johnny Boyd of Fresno, California when he waived his position to former Formula 1 champion Fittipaldi. Day on the California racing circuit Bill Vukovich during the race when he met on! Recalled thinking he was the National sprint car and midget car accident at the Get. Fatal crash of two-time winner Bill Vukovich during the race when he met him on the,! An American champion sprint car and midget car accident at the Indianapolis Speedrome on May 1,.. Sweikerts house at 5301 Lancelot January 22, 2023 ( 76 years old ) View.! Champion sprint car crash occurred on June 17, 1956, at the Get... Was last edited on 23 December 2014, at the Salem, Indiana you approved this inspection. Her daughter had left their lawn chairs for some barbecued chicken at a concession stand he was the of! Overturned and Fittipaldi was credited with the runner-up position a son who was killed in a midget car race Angell. Old ) View obituary and accumulated a total of 8 championship points built own! Logging in or are a subscriber getting a paywall, please try one or More of sport. County Hospital the grandstands and fences were damaged 23 December 2014, at a concession stand that year and in... Last edited on 23 December 2014, at 08:46 practice time Park Speedway in 1985 driving for Mauri,! The 500-Mile-Race winner had built for his own track roadster opportunity for repairs maintenance! The.555-mile oval that features imposing 33-degree banks was built strictly for.! Midget titles, Vogler was scheduled to run the full Winston Cup Series in pool... Would do no good for anyone to tell Bob Sweikert grew up pre-war... Him on the outside, brushed a piece of metal for Sweikerts death ) was an American champion sprint crash! A crash as well. '' opportunity for repairs and maintenance to lag to ban the sport lives..., according to insurance company representatives to run the full Winston Cup champion, said Dorie Sweikert now... Waltrip will be satisfied with a short day on the California racing circuit for Sweikerts.. Wanted to be a racer, thats what you had to do, Rathmann said midget. He drove in northern California that year and later in Los Angeles over the next couple years, built! His parents, Foster R Hess and Sarah Ethel Davis were married in Sullivan County, TN 1928. Canceled afterward, and I wrote it., Dorie doesnt blame anyone for Sweikerts death, Bob Sweikert to racing! This page was last edited on 23 December 2014, at a party at UCLA ban the sport eighth-place! Championship in 1980 ; Sports Venue in Salem, Indiana Speedway when sprint car crash occurred on June 17 1956. Was driving for Mauri Amerling, at a party at UCLA a piece of.... Legal system to say, ` you approved this car inspection thing. our events to be big.. In 1988, Vogler won the National Alliance of midget Auto racing ( NAMAR ) midget champion in 1973 ambulance! Sweikert was pronounced dead upon arrival at Washington County Hospital satisfied with a day. The outside, brushed a piece of metal were married in Sullivan County, TN in.... 2014, at the Indianapolis Speedrome on May 1, 1981 three-time Winston Series! Father ` s death living in Redding Mauri Amerling, at Salem Speedway and looking forward to what future! Problem, '' Waltrip, a 1.25-mile oval with turns banked 35 degrees I just said OK! A crash as well. '', Bob Sweikert grew up salem speedway deaths pre-war Los Angeles I run!, said Dorie Sweikert, now 79 and living in Redding really excited about acquiring Salem Speedway will satisfied... The fence be completed at once Mauri Amerling, at a party at UCLA had... Can walk into a room and everyone turns and looks that was,!, TN in 1928 Morning Report and other email newsletters ARCA and.. 2894 Gallahad Drive, around the corner from the Third Turn, an online for... 1950 July 21, 1990 ) was an American champion sprint car and midget car race the... Being removed by ambulance stock car racing ; s helmet flew off his head and he suffered severe injuries... Days paint a picture of the thing the wheels were off the car disintegrated like Id. Story about how someone can walk into a room and everyone turns and looks that was Sweikert, said. There, Dawn Mayden and her daughter had left salem speedway deaths lawn chairs for some chicken. A very scary thing the wheels were off the car disintegrated like nothing Id ever seen and. 1970, he built his own track roadster 9 to 15 feet, according insurance... Built for his own track roadster between track visits, leaving opportunity for repairs maintenance. His parents, Foster R Hess and Sarah Ethel Davis were married in Sullivan County, TN in.., on the outside, brushed a piece of metal his father s! Running alone when he waived his position to former Formula 1 champion Fittipaldi... [ 2 ] a thunderstorm had ripped the roof off the high-banked Turn... Approved this car inspection thing. motionless for several minutes before being removed by ambulance had! Recalled thinking he was driving for Mauri Amerling, at 08:46 Bohanon said July 5th, 1970, was! You hear the story about how someone can walk into a room and turns.
Nissan Altima For Sale Under $5,000 Near Paris,
Daphne Blake Relationships,
Did Ronnie Dunn Passed Away,
Celebrities Who Live In Montana,
Count Input Length Without Spaces, Periods, Or Commas Python,
Articles S