Remembering The Pagoda

A search into my albums for some photos of grandstands produced this photo by Bob Farlee of the pagoda at Flemington Fairgrounds Speedway in 1962. No, it's not a grandstand but it started the "old mind" wondering about how much the pagoda served in that time period as the "control center" of racing at Flemington.

Arriving early to the fairgrounds and exchanging our ticket for the upgrade to the covered grandstand was a necessity for starting a night of "pure heaven". After securing our favorite seats, time was allowed for a visit to the novelty stand to check out new photos or "must have" items that were added during the past week. Then back to our viewing location as we would identify each arrival, sort of trying to see if you could be the first to "call it out".

The pit area was smaller and the selection of cars with the two basic divisions, allowed you to scope in the who deal. Things started to come together when you saw Nat Klienfield, the voice of Flemington prior to the Bill Singer era, carrying his clip board, walking from car to car, getting information used for color commentary later in the program.

When Nat and the scorers made to the pagoda you knew warm-ups were about to begin. Those familiar Flemington words "close the gates please" meant the cars would be coming out. It was "comforting", which may sound crazy to say, but with Nat, it was really like having a friend with you. He did his homework and it was reflected in the information he passed along. He made you feel you were the only one who knew or heard the information he passed along. Drivers, owners, hometowns, occupations, hobbies, families and other "tidbits" of information were welcome additions to your "memory bank" each week.

During the program a periodic check was made on the pagoda to see if any personalities had joined the regular occupants. Paul Whiteman, a notable name in the "Big Band" period in music was a frequent visitor to Flemington. Sometimes you would catch a driver checking on information with the scorers along with special presentations which were sometimes made there.

I believe the opening of the 1963 season marked the start of real change at the fairgrounds. Trees that were on the outside of the chain link fence in the first turn and down the side straight had been remove and the open bleachers wrapped the turn and extended towards turn two. The inside first turn guard rail which had always defined the inside of the "square" and separated the "those and the those could not", had been removed for issues of safety.

I wasn't a regular at Flemington when the announcer and officials were moved to the roof of the grandstand and the pagoda removed. I was always thankful it wasn't destroyed but relocated to a horse pasture near the back of the property. Each time I saw it I could not help but mentally reflect on its role it played in " My Flemington".

Senior Moment By: Russ Dodge

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