I Remember…..

As a retired senior citizen experiencing all “the joys” of the “Golden Years”, I couldn’t log my day’s activities from two days ago if my life depended on it! However, with a glance into my Alcyon photo album, the events on July 4, 1958, even though a half century has passed, are as vivid as can be.

This Bob Sweeten photo I really enjoy because it includes Lucky and members of his crew, a few I remember talking with as a kid, on a regular bases. Art “Goldie” Goldman, was always a great “go to” person to get the inside poop on what was going on! A public service bus driver by trade, he has always stood out in my mind as a super friendly great guy. On the right end is a young John Miloszar. John, who had a career in law enforcement paralleling his driving career at Bridgeport, East Windsor etc., also worked as a pit crew member and the “gas can” man for Jimmy Horton during Horton’s ARCA racing experience. John’s son is actively involved in his own career driving at New Egypt, I believe.

Back to July 4, 1958. My driving hero Al Tasnady won the 50 lap feature that Friday afternoon. It was a tight race with Otto Harwi in Haold Cope’s 1 turning in a great run. I’m honest enough to admit that Otto started to slow-up on the 42nd lap with some type of suspension problem but still ended in 4th spot. Glenn Guthrie was 3rd and PeeWee Pobletts was 4th in his beautiful number 46. Bob Weisenmeyer finished out the top five.

I have to list the qualifying results, just to “gloat a little” about the quality of drivers who raced at Alcyon!

Heat 1: 07 Henry Johnson, 2nd 57 Vince Conrad, 3rd 210 Bob Becker, 4th 711 Bob Williams, 5th 39 Eddie Adams

Heat 2: 98 Budd Olsen, 2nd 10A Bill Wark, 3rd 88 Ed Lindsay, 4th 141 Jackie McLaughlin, 5th 1 Otto Harwi

Heat 3: 2 Al Tasnady, 2nd 46 PeeWee Pobletts, 3rd 87 Bob Weisenmeyer, 4th 026 Jackie McLaughlin, 5th 300 Freddie Fehr

Consi: 47 Reds Lesher, 2nd 2 Don Stumpf, 3rd 1 Jack Hart, 4th 404 Bob Gemenden, 5th 14 Sal Moschella

Riding to the races with my older brother, we were always close to the front of the line waiting in our pickup for the infield parking gate to open. We wanted to get our favorite spot backed up to the infield fence in the dog-leg. Once we “staked our claim” we went by the infield pit gate and watched the cars pull up and stop. Usually a couple hot dogs and cokes accompanied this activity at $.35 a pop!
By the way the admission for this holiday show was increased from the regular admission price. That July 4th show was “jacked up” to $1.75, I recall. Can you imagine that, a $.75 increase! And how much is it today?

I know this Senior Moment is aimed at a perhaps a small focus group, but I hope you younger guys will forgive this “Oh No! Here we go again stories!’ I hope you have a safe 4th of July weekend you will remember fondly 50 years from now!

Thanks for listening. Senior Moment by Russ Dodge
Race records from Bill Skinner Reference

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