It could trace its roots to just after the Civil War, when Gallups Grove opened as a picnic area in Agawam, nearly across the Connecticut River from the industrial city of Springfield, Mass. The 1998 Riverside Park Modified Champion was Jimmy Broderick, Driving the Pruchnik Motorsports #42 Modified owned By Denis Pruchnik. Veteran drivers like 5 time Riverside Park Speedway Track Champion Bob Polverari and Riversides All Time winningest driver John ("Reggie"/"The Reg") Ruggiero continued to earn wins and championships throughout the decade. Riverside Rides Again will feature fascinating displays dedicated to the proud history of Riverside, complete with race cars from every era, photos, videos, memorabilia and many of the people who raced there. Riverside Park Speedway - The Third Turn The track's last decade, the 1990s, saw more racing stars earn their stripes on the high banks at Riverside Park, including Marquis, who captured 3 consecutive modified championships from 1991 to 1993, Featherlite Modified Series stars Dan Avery and Chris Kopec and NASCAR Winston/Nextel Cup star Steve Park. of my heart, thank you! The teams decision to forgo any changes paid great dividends as the Pontiac Grand Prix ran fast and consistent on long runs throughout the evening. We always seemed hampered by a breakdown in communication, Fiore, of Agawam, said in his acceptance speech. The Carroll family added a speedway, brought in musical acts and added many new rides in the decades that followed. It was common to have up to 60 modifieds in the pits, all vying for spots in a 50-lap feature that started only 20 cars because the track was so small. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. View source. | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Accessibility Statement. Park owner Edward J. Carroll demolished the dance hall that had burned down that year and in its place rose a 1/5 mile nearly flat paved oval track. Paved Oval located in Agawam, MA: Track Status: Razed (Opened: 1948 --- Closed: 1999) TOURING SERIES & MAJOR EVENTS ; Date Sanction Riverside Park. - Gallery - Ron Wetzler | racersreunion.com I went in there and changed practically everything they did, and thats when Ed Carroll Jr. asked me to become the director of auto racing. Six of the eight people inducted Sunday into the New England Auto Racers Hall of Fames class of 2012 had some sort of ties to the old track in Agawam, which closed in 1999. Truex Jr. Ends 54-Race Winless Streak At Dover, WoO LMS Notes: $50,000 To Win In Wisconsin, More Than 60 Hours Of Indy Coverage On NBC Platforms, Perez Leads Red Bull One-Two In Azerbaijan. It was the place to be on Saturday nights, fans would come in and watch the modifieds, and theyd have their favorites to cheer for, said Matt Wiernasz. History By Decade Riverside Park Speedway ("The Park") was built in 1948. Ed Carroll died in 1979. In the grandstands, loyalties to different drivers became fierce, where one sat in the stands was determined by what driver one was rooting for. by ScottKo in RacingIn News, Track Promoters Get FREE Promotion with RacingIn.com's Track Directory and Race Dates Page The Rocky Hill, Conn, driver was a crowd favorite at the old Riverside Park Speedway in Agawam, where he won three track championships (1979, 1984, 1988) and a record 93 feature races over 23. Henry J. Perkins transformed the picnic grove into an amusement park more than 100 years ago with the addition of mechanical rides like The Giant Dip, an early roller coaster. by ScottKo in Profile Tips For Users, Interest in Grassroots Racing Grows 40% in 2014 With Great Opportunities Ahead in 2015 Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. KGM RACING VIDEOS - Tripod May 16, 1983 - Agawam - A newly-constructed Riverside Park roller coaster is shown from a nearby potato Farm. To tell us about track being opened or closed, re-named, or anything else, please, If you know this track to still be in operation or under a different name, please. Racin' with Jason: Mario Fiore and Reggie Ruggiero - masslive All rights reserved (About Us). Six of the eight people inducted Sunday into the New England Auto Racers Hall of Fame's class of 2012 had some sort of ties. The future international sports car star Phil Walters, still racing under his midget pseudonym of Ted Tappett, captured 14 of the 28 features, a record that still stood when Riverside finally closed. Again, thank you for your professionalism and management of K1 Speed in Sacramento. Riverside Park Speedway in Agawam drew in racing fans from throughout the Northeast for about 50 years. Jocko Maggiacomo - Wikipedia With a track championship for the late Richie Evans, named in 1998 as one of NASCAR's 50 greatest drivers of all time. Riverside Park Speedway in Agawam, MA - RacingIn.com You knew Rene Charland was the bad guy and Buddy Krebs was a good guy. Agawam, MA Racing on a tight track for 150 laps with 25 veteran competitors can sometimes be an unmistakable comparison to a championship boxing match, toe-to-toe for 15 rounds. Riverside, both the amusement park and speedway, was an institution in its community. MattWiernasz is an auto racing journalist and photographer himself, and has fond memories of watching the races at Riverside. In a joint announcement, track owner Dennis Fleury and series president Jack Bateman, the principals responsible for the inaugural event, advise the 1st annual Ricky Miller Memorial 100, presented by New England Outdoor Furnaces, will be held on Sunday afternoon Sept.28th as part of the Twin State Speedway Fall Challenge, a two day event. His sons then managed the park and speedway while becoming active in racing themselves, with a new crew of helpers. Agawam, MA Gary J. Michnovetz, 65, died suddenly on Tuesday. This spring, Le Creuset has introduced an exciting new shade thats already selling fast: shallot, a soft lavender with pink and slight gray undertones. Instagram Link Enter your email address to subscribe to this album and receive free notifications of new posts by email. Spawned by the popularity of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, the Teddy Bear Pools Truck division proved to be an instant success in 1998. [1] In 2000 when the park re-opened as Six Flags New England, the race track was demolished and the DC Universe themed area (including the roller coaster Superman The Ride) was built in its place. Under the sanction of the UNITED Stock Car Racing Club, Gene Bergin, Ed Patnode, Danny Galullo, Billy Greco and others emerged as contenders, Krebs and Greco piled up victories. Triad Technologies is an industrial distributor and value added provider. No Reservation Required He was an avid race car fan, a member of NASCAR. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Check out these great suggestions. We had sponsorship for every race. Riverside Park Speedway was a 1/4-mile oval paved race track, located at the present site of Six Flags New England in Agawam, Massachusetts, one mile north of the Massachusetts - Connecticut state line. However, both men chose to set aside their differences on their special day. Party Rooms and Catering Available, Adults and Teens . Matt Wiernasz is an auto racing journalist and photographer himself, and has fond memories . BRINKMANN RECORDS BEST BMARA FINISH OF SEASON . In 1971 the track's configuration was changed to a bigger 1/4 mile oval, with slightly higher banking in the turns. It needed help to survive. Youtube Link The fans streamed, literally, straight from the rides to the bleachers. The first top-5 finish for the Tic-Tac Pontiac Grand Prix team pushed Moore, the 1995 Busch Grand National North Series champion, up 14 spots to 13th in the championship point battle, a mere 88 points out of the top spot.For the 2nd consecutive week Moore was unable to crack the top-10 in qualifying, this evening he was 16th fastest among the 30-car field. Riverside Park Speedway - Wikipedia I was doing things to the very best of my ability.. He simply says the owners decided to go in a different direction, which ultimately proved to be selling out. open to all that raced at riverside park speedway no matter what car-truck demo-enduro-figure 8 & 4 cylinder-strickly-late model-modified ya drove! SITE DESIGN BY. Henry J. Perkins. Vintage photos: Riverside Park in Agawam - masslive.com There will be a host of Riverside events throughout EXPO, including autograph sessions. WITH FRIENDS! When intermission came, you hit your favorite rides, safe in the knowledge that Galon would call you back in plenty of time. Berggren recalls seeing the same stock cars that dotted garages and gas stations in his hometown of Manchester, Conn., flailing away around Riversides diminutive oval. The popular competitor, a one time Florida racer and crew chief for noted car owner/builder Mario Fiore, would also win the last Whelen Modified Tour race at the famed Riverside Park Speedway, Agawam, MA., and claim that tracks final championship for the modified division prior to its 1999 closing. I wouldnt be surprised if you see us renting your facility in the future. Auto Racing Research Assoc. Ted Chalmers, a 35 year racing veteran, wrote his name in the history books as the first ever champion in that division. Agawam, MA Racing on a tight track for 150 laps with 25 veteran competitors can sometimes be an unmistakable comparison to a championship boxing match, toe-to-toe for 15 rounds. Riverside Park Speedway memories never die - masslive.com by ScottKo in Profile Tips For Users, SRW Winternationals Weekend now a Qualifying race for ALL Classes! Racing-reference.info is part of the NASCAR Digital Media Network. RIVERSIDE PARK STADIUM STOCK CAR RACING Agawam MA Admission Ticket 1.25 +.25 tax Pre-Owned $25.00 or Best Offer Free 4 day shipping Sponsored Enjoying The Day At Riverside Park, Agawam, Massachusetts, Posted VTG. If youre thinking of altering your workout routine, youre probably looking for new exercises and equipment to help you reach your fitness goals. navigation, search. Click on the race number to see the results of that race. He stated to me that the race track was no longer holding its own. TRACK INFO UPDATE? West Virginia International Speedway. Rene Charland - AKA "The Champ" - won three NASCAR national Modified titles in the 1960s. Park owner Edward J. Carroll demolished the dance hall that had burned down that year and in its place rose a 1/5 mile nearly flat paved oval track. had a wonderful time. He was born in West Spring-field, son of the late John and Mafalda Mich-novetz and graduated from West Springfield High School Class of 1962. And for decades, Riverside Park Speedway in Agawam, Mass., was exactly that. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. The track's final reconfiguration and repaving to15 degree banking would be added in the mid 1980s. Ladies and gentlemen, tonight, Jocko Maggiacomo has a new engine in his car! I cant think of any race track where the drivers exhibited themselves as well as they did at Riverside.. Jackson County Speedway. Agawam, MA This event marks the tenth annual appearance of the NASCAR Busch North Series at Riverside Park Speedway. TikTok Link. Sign Up For The PRI eNewsletter to get the latest in racing industry news, special events, new product information and more directly to your inbox. David Allio | Racing Photography Archives, Original motorsports photos from historic archives by David Allio, Riverside Park Speedway | Agawam Massachusetts I think I just ran the car too hard and Im very fortunate that I didnt end up in the qualifying race. Moore and his team checked everything on the car after qualifying to ensure that nothing was wrong with the chassis setup. As Berggren recalled, Riverside had an inspired business plan: Getting inside the park was free, you only paid admission for individual rides or to enter the speedway. The United Stock Car Racing Club events drew 6,000-8,000 fans every Saturday night. I came from a little track, Plainville Stadium in Connecticut, a quarter mile, Ruggiero remembered. Our staff cant stop talking about how much fun we had, and they keep asking when we are going to do it again!! The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing began sanctioning events at Riverside Park Speedway in 1976. From seventhto secondTO THE LEAD Dale Nottestad is our featured driver on this weeks Fight For The Flag for his rebound performance at the Big 8 Late Model Spring Classic at Rockford Speedway. It was like going from a Volkswagen to a Cadillac; Riverside Park was like Daytona to me. NASCAR replaced the Tattersalls in 1973, following what future promoter Ben Dodge described as a drivers strike. by KyleBrinkmannRacing in KyleBrinkmanRacing, a racer from Elkhorn, WI, Top Tips For Online Race Track Promotion YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. If there were two worms crawling out of a hole, he could turn it into a race that had you on the edge of your seat. The first full season of "modified" stock car racing was 1949. Many stars of racing exelled at Riverside Park in the 1980s, including the 2000 NASCAR Featherlite Modified Tour Champion and Busch North Series star Jerry Marquis, 7 time NASCAR Featherlite Modified Tour Champion, 4 time NASCAR Busch North Series Champion and 1999 Craftsman Truck Series rookie "Mighty" Mike Stefanik and Featherlite Modified Tour and NASCAR Busch Series star "Magic Shoes" Mike McLaughlin. Miller, a Twin State (Claremont Speedway) standout for many years before moving on to the Whelen Modified Tour and the NASCAR Busch Series died at the age of 34. Thank you, K1 Speed!!!! In both cases, few could argue with the results. Birthdays, Mitvahs, Bachelor(ette), Team Building, Catered Lunches Wisconsin. Organists - Forgotten Roller Rinks of the Past EAST WINDSOR, Conn. The legacy of Riverside Park Speedway lives on. Riverside Park. Glossary Tweet. By the 1950s, modified stock cars had taken hold as the prevalent form of racing in the area, replacing the midgets as the featured division at Riverside Park Speedway. Auto racing legend Rene Charland, of Agawam, dies at 84. much I appreciate everything you and your staff did for our group. |. Stock Car Racing Wiki is a FANDOM TV Community. Bobby Dragon of Milton, Vt. won the first NASCAR Busch North Series event at Riverside Park Speedway on August 29, 1988. and well maintained, and the staff was so nice and very helpful and One unforgettable element of racing at Riverside was the annual 500-lap races for cars competing as two-car teams. Adults and Juniors 48 and Up, Junior Birthday Parties WE MAKE IT EASY TO PLAN We will definitely be back in the future. The Riverside Park track expanded every time Carroll repaved it, first to an almost-quarter with a little banking. When Riverside closed, Eddy Carroll III, the founders grandson, owned four consecutive pro stock championships. Facebook Link He was born in West Spring-field, son of the late John and Mafalda Mich-novetz and graduated from West Springfield High School Class of 1962. The drivers were characterized by maybe the best short-track announcer Ive ever heard, a guy named Tom Galon. RIVERSIDE PARK SPEEDWAY - speedwayandroadracehistory Do you remember Riverside Park Speedway in Agawam? - WWLP Courchesne, Shawn (June 17, 1999) "Final Lap for Riverside Speedway", Last edited on 30 December 2022, at 17:44, Riverside International Speedway (West Memphis, Arkansas), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Riverside_Park_Speedway&oldid=1130538742, This page was last edited on 30 December 2022, at 17:44. YOUR PARTY AND CELEBRATE This scenario was played out Saturday evening at Riverside Park Speedway, where Kelly Moore put on a superb display of racing enroute to a 2nd place finish. Dodge streamlined the modified program, marketed the competitors and started an entry-level street stock division. Use THIS BUTTON to share this track's profile with your friends! The facility is fabulous - lots of space to spread out, clean and well maintained, and the . Things were getting very stagnant at Riverside, so they decided to introduce the pro stocks as the lead division, Dodge explained, adding that the modified seemed a better fit at larger tracks than within Riversides confines. In addition to that, the purses were increased. Legendary Riverside Park - SPEED SPORT Second place finisher Chuck Bown of Portland, Ore. now drives on the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series while third place finisher Dale Shaw of Center Conway, N.H. recently moved to the NASCAR Busch Series. Riverside Park, Agawam, MA - History With Photos Stafford Motor Speedway in Connecticut and Monadnock Speedway in New Hampshire are just some of the local options within driving distance. Riverside Park Speedway | Agawam Massachusetts. They were great with the teens and kept things moving along at a comfortable pace. The New England Antique Racers will host a 15-year reunion of the anniversary of the closing of the old Riverside Park Speedway in Agawam, Massachusetts. Rollie Jacobs (left), former public address announcer at Riverside Park Speedway, inducted legendary car owner Mario Fiore (right) into the New England Auto Racing Hall of Fame on Sunday in East Windsor, Conn. "I would like to Thank You so much for making Carly's 17th birthday party GREAT!!!! The theory was that an entertainer doesnt pay to walk on stage, he explained. Just a heads up, there is a Riverside Park Speedway sponsored car show at Agawam Rotary Club on October 26th, if you're a New Englander like myself. They had a BLAST! While Riverside Park Speedway is gone, local racing fans do have plenty of options to see live racing. He resided in West Springfield and Agawam all his life. Photo courtesy of John Mahoney, USAC. Some of Riverside Park's local stars during the early and mid 1970's included S.J. When amusement park giant Six Flags took over Riverside Park in Agawam, one of the first steps it took was eliminating a local icon - the famed quarter-mile speedway. By admin January 26, 2013 Riverside Park Speedway Charlie Jones, 1941 - 2013 Charles Ernest Jones, 71, lifelong Agawam resident, passed away Wednesday January 23rd at the VA Boston Healthcare in West Roxbury, MA. KGM Video has been the leader in Racing Video Productions since 1981 and has a vast library of videos from 1980's, 1990's to the Present, plus Vintage Videos dating to the 1950's.KGM Video has produced videos of racing action at the Riverside Park Speedway, Stafford Motor Speedway, Thompson Speedway and others. Coordinates: .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}42217.7N 723642.96W / 42.038250N 72.6119333W / 42.038250; -72.6119333. Vintage photos: Riverside Park in Agawam - masslive.com After the Wall Street crash drove Riverside Park into foreclosure, one of New Englands first drive-in theaters opened on the property in 1937. Riverside Speedway was a NASCAR short track that was inside of Riverside Fun Park in Agawam, Massachusetts . Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (updated 4/4/2023), Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 1/26/2023). Dodge, who still announces races and owns race cars, opted to take his leave, saying now that my reign at Riverside Park was such an important part of my life that I believed it was mine. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. The company changed its own name to Six Flags, Inc., and rebranded the park Six Flags: New England for the opening of the 2000 season. Riverside Speedway was a NASCAR short track that was inside of Riverside Fun Park in Agawam, Massachusetts. Ten years ago. Moore, the Busch North Series all-time Pole winner, has yet to display his qualifying expertise thus far in 1998. The first full season of stock car racing was 1949. International sports car racing starPhil Walters, who raced modifieds and midgets under the name "Ted Tappett", won the season championship. It could trace its roots to just after the Civil War, when Gallup's Grove opened as a picnic area in Agawam, nearly across the Connecticut River from the industrial city of Springfield, Mass. Created with Sketch. He started his interest in racing with Leo Matte at. Riverside, both the amusement park and speedway, was an institution in its community. During this time Six Flags permanently closed the track to make way for a spectacular new roller coaster, Superman: Ride of Steel (was Bizarro from 2009-2015). Race Date . Next, widening and steepening the corners to a full quarter-mile. BRINKMANN RECORDS BEST BMARA FINISH OF SEASON, KyleBrinkmanRacing, a racer from Elkhorn, WI. Riverside Park in Agawam was a gathering spot for fun as far back as the late 19th century when it was known as Riverside Grove (and Gallups Grove before that). Looking for Riverside Park Speedway Photos - YankeeRacer.com We had bigger numbers on a Saturday than the amusement park did. He resided in West Springfield and, He was an avid race car fan, a member of NASCAR. NEAR To Host Riverside Park Speedway Reunion, Candidates Named for 2024-25 IMSA Diverse Driver Development Scholarship, Trackhouse Announces Ownership Of NC Karting Motorplex. To be chosen with one of my famous car owners, Mario, was unbelievable, said Ruggiero, who was elected in his first year on the ballot. Our qualifying has been just terrible, Moore admitted. NOTE: ANY RACE DATES POSTED ON THIS PROFILE ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE BASED ON WEATHER, TRACK CONDITIONS, AND MANY OTHER THINGS. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. American Legion Fairgrounds dirtpulltrack, Christian County Fairgrounds dirtkartoval, Christian County Fairgrounds dirtpulltrack, Clark County Speedway dirtmotocrosstrack, Decatur Macon County Fairgrounds dirtpulltrack, Edwards County Fairgrounds dirtpulltrack, Lincoln Trail Motosports dirtmotocrosstracks, Macoupin County Fairgrounds dirtpulltrack, Schuyler County Fairgrounds dirtpulltrack, Montgomery County Fairgrounds motorsportstrack, Northern Kentucky Fairgrounds demolitionderbytrack, Northern Kentucky Fairgrounds dirtpulltrack, Powell Co Lions Club Park dirtpulltrack, Deseret Peak Complex dirtoutdoormotocross, Rocky Mountain Raceways dirtoutdoormotocross, Russell Co Fairgrounds dirtdemolitionderbyoval, Va-Ky District Fair dirtoutdoormotocross, Virginia Motorsports MuseumandHallofFame. Drivers such as Ted Tappet, Benny Germano, Jocko Maggiacomo, Jerry Humiston, Ed Flemke and Buddy Krebs were the drivers to beat throughout the 1950s. West Virginia Motor Speedway. The facility was incredible, the staff was engaging, and our entire group had a blast! The 1960s were popular years for stock car racing at Riverside Park. Jocko Sr. won 31 feature races and multiple championships at Riverside Park Speedway in Agawam, Mass., and won the track's biggest event, the Riverside 500. For the 2nd consecutive week Moore was unable to crack the top-10 in qualifying, this evening he was 16th fastest among the 30-car field. by ScottKo in RacingIn News, Rivalry Renewed: Lanigan & Richards Set To Face Off In 2015 As Richards Returns To Full-Time World of Outlaws Competition Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. In its place laid out a flat 1/5-mile oval track, pit area and grandstand alongside the Connecticut River. Meet. Again, thank you for your professionalism and management of K1 Speed in Sacramento. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Jerry Marquis and ageless Bob Polverari emerged as big winners in the 1990s, with Polverari taking five titles aboard the Bill Pelly No. The track closed at the end of the 1999 season. Twitter Link The 1999 season featured the NAPA Modifieds as the NASCAR Winston Racing Series feature division, along with the Serv-U Auto Supply Pro Stocks, Teddy Bear Pools Trucks, Sportsman, Super Stocks and Figure 8's. First, let me tell you how It was a cant-miss business proposition, until amusement rides became more profitable than packed pits and stands. I think I just ran the, NASCAR Busch North: New England Ford Dealers 125 Notes, Kelly Moore Earns 2nd Place Finish at Riverside Park Speedway. Riverside Park Speedway ("The Park") was built in 1948. Riverside Park Speedway memories abound at . Discussion. by ScottKo in RacingIn News, TRACK INFO UPDATE?

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