Photo ID # e02.07.08_083_McL_ALL_0060_1
Car #: #83
Driver (s) : Jackie McLaughlin
Location: Allentown, PA
Date: 1960's
Photographer: Roger Kofroth
Photo provided by: Roger Kofroth
Comments: Comment from Roger:   I think Jackie McLaughlin was really great in this car. Bob Malzahn won the 50 lap race that day.  I was just a teenager and my friend and I went from Reading to Allentown by Trailways bus to the race. Our parents never knew.
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Comment:

02/07/08 John Hanna THANK YOU ROGER FOR POSTING THIS . (YOU SURE WOULDN'T DARE GET ON A BUS TODAY AND DO THAT !)

AS A YOUNGSTER JACKIE McLAUGHLIN WAS MY FAVORITE , ALTHOUGH I DID NOT SEE HIM DRIVE THE 83 TO OFTEN , I DID SEE HIM DRIVE THE 026 AND 111 AND THE LUCKY JORDAN # 2.

I WILL NEVER FORGET THE NIGHT THE WING WAS ON THE # 2 AND HE DEVASTATED THE FIELD AT FLEMINGTON I THINK THE FEATURES WERE 25 LAPS THEN IF I RECALL CORRECTLY (GETTIN OLD NOW!), HE LAPPED ALL BUT 1 OR 2 CARS AND TAS WAS ONE OF THEM.

WHEN HE DIED A PART OF ME DIED FOR AWHILE I REALLY DIDN'T CARE TO GO TO RACES FOR A TIME . BUT I GOT BACK TO IT . HE WAS SO POPULAR . I WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER HIM
02/07/08 Kevin Budden Great picture of the way it should be!!
02/07/08 3Wide This is the only photo that I have ever seen of Jackie in the #83.  I have mixed feelings looking at this photo as it's a great photo of one of the sports all time favorites (some will say easily THE all time favorite), however I'm pretty sure that this is the car that Jackie lost his life in, so it's hard to look at it and not think about that very sad day for so many.

I never got to see him race.  I was 4 yr's old in 1964.

It is a great photo.  It shows a young man at his prime, doing what he loved.  Doing what thrilled so many... Doing what so many other's wished they could do, but never did. 

And although I never got to see him race, I'm sure that's how those who knew him, and those who got to see him race, would like to remember him.
02/08/08 George Pavlisko Jackie was a gentleman and a great driver. The car was from his Brother-in-law Bud Olson and Jackie always gave it a good ride.

This is a Happy photo showing what may have become the greatest ever in a Modified but his life was cut short.

RIP Jackie.
02/08/08 Rich Reinhart I was too young to see Jackie race, but my Mother always spoke of him with such fondness I always thought I missed something special. He lost his life
right in front of her that day at Nazareth and she never let us forget about him.
  Larry Dascenzo I remember seeing Jackie in this car which was built by his brother in law Budd Olsen. If you guys remember one Friday evening at Reading, Jackie got caught up in a tangle on the front stretch on got on his roof. Was sitting in the bleachers in front of the old french fries stand towards the first turn when the car came to a halt on its roof and Jackie climbed out. Was 9 years old at
the time.

Also saw Jackie compete in this car for the last time during the day at Trenton Speedway. If you look closely at those Bill Slater pit fire pictures from that day you will see the 83 loaded on the trailer parked in the background. FYI, Those pictures were posted on several racing web sites.

It was later that evening that Jackie went to Nazareth and had the accident in this car.

I was fortunate to be at the races in those early days of Modified racing of the mid 60's to see such talent like Jackie.

You had to be there.....
02/10/08 Larry Dascenzo Thought I would share this with the Vault.
 

The above is a very rare image of the M2 from Illustrated Speedway News which was to be Jackie's next car after the 83. It was also built by Budd Olsen.

Jackie never got the chance to drive it, so as the story goes Budd had asked Tas to drive it one night at Reading. The results were not favorable as Tas rolled it between the first and second turn's at Reading.

I believe this to be the only picture of Jackie's M2.
02/12/08 Ned Stites III Thank you Roger for your wonderful pictures. They capture a time when I was having the most fun that I ever would have. I never got to meet Bob Malzahn but he always remains one of my favorite drivers. I did get to meet Jackie McLaughlin and that day is still as clear as it was then. He was one of the greatest and kindest drivers I ever met.

Watching Tas and Jackie move through the field at Flemington side by side was the best it ever would get for me. I saw Pete Corey at all of the long distance races. My dad told me about him and that he was one of the best.

Thank you again.
Ned Stites III
02/18/08 Gary Eck I remember one nite at Reading, maybe 4th of July,for some reason, under a caution, Jackie parked [spun] the 83 in front of Rudy [starter] ,things were said & sent to the rear. He raced to the lead, LAPPED the entire field and WON !!! Top That.
Gary Eck Reading PA
12.26.14 Anthony Fichera Here is the car that Jackie's life was cut short in 50yrs ago.  I never liked the 83
12.26.14 Bill Katinowsky

I was also at the Reading race that he spun “stopped” in front of the flag stand.  Was sitting in the 4th turn with my pop (that was his favorite spot to sit).  I was only 8 so not sure what was going on and what he was arguing about, but I remember my dad pointing at him and saying that’s who is going to win.  He did.  I believe that was the only race I saw him win.  I remember a few weeks later, sitting in the same area when drivers went through the stands with their helmets collecting for him.

     
     
     
     
     

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