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. 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. Paved Oval located in Agawam, MA: Track Status: Razed (Opened: 1948 --- Closed: 1999) TOURING SERIES & MAJOR EVENTS ; Date Sanction SPEED SPORTs Alan Cavanna catches you up on that and more in this weeks edition of Sealed Under Pressure Spotlight presented by Cometic Gasket. 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. legend Roland Pappy Lapierre Sr., car and engine builder Jim Jorgenson, 1987 Busch North Series champion Joey Kid Kourafas and Irene Venditti, widow of Seekonk Speedway founder D. Anthony Venditti. Jackson County Speedway. The theory was that an entertainer doesnt pay to walk on stage, he explained. Rene Charland, affectionately known to many racing fans simply as The Champ could use some well-wishes from his fans. But it's been 15 years since Riverside Park Speedway disappeared from the Southern New England Racing landscape. In the grandstands, loyalties to different drivers became fierce, where one sat in the stands was determined by what driver one was rooting for. As Riverside Park Speedway joined NASCAR to celebrate the past 50 years of auto racing in 1998, a new division was rolled out onto the Speedway. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. We carry brands such as Parker, Enerpac, NoShok, Daman, Hiwin, UR Robot, Robotiq, Schunk, Rechner Sensors, SICK sensors, Weidmuller, Dixon and many more! "Wow!!! Enter your email address to subscribe to this album and receive free notifications of new posts by email. I had my own groove, right on the bottom. 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. They had a BLAST! I was doing things to the very best of my ability.. (Dick Berggren photo), The Motorsports Authority - Copyright 2014-2023 - Turn 3 Media, LLC All Rights Reserved. When intermission came, you hit your favorite rides, safe in the knowledge that Galon would call you back in plenty of time. He simply says the owners decided to go in a different direction, which ultimately proved to be selling out. Riverside Parks stock car era essentially existed in three phases, the first promoted by Harvey Tattersall, senior and junior, through their United Stock Car Racing Club that sanctioned tracks across New England and New York through the 1960s. Western Mass. racing fans remember Riverside Park Speedway 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. 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. 77 Peros Dr., Agawam, Mass. The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. had a wonderful time. He stated to me that the race track was no longer holding its own. 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 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 MassachusettsConnecticut state line. 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. riverside park speedway - masslive.com All rights reserved (About Us). 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. best birthday ever!!! 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. EAST WINDSOR, Conn. - The legacy of Riverside Park Speedway lives on. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. After a rowdy drivers' strike, it became clear that UNITED could no longer hold its own at Riverside Park, and that organization cleared the path for another popular organization to take charge of the track. It was more like an adventure.. Due to this variability, ALWAYS check with the tracks DIRECTLY via their individual websites to confirm actual racing before you travel! The winner of the first NASCAR-sanctioned event was Bob Polverari. 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. 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. What a year as we transition onto dirt racing! Invaders that raced at "The Park" seeking NASCAR National Modified Championship points included Richie Evans, Jerry Cook, Geoff Bodine, Jim Spencer, John Blewitt Jr and "Captain Sizzle" Mark Malcuit from Ohio, some would go on to become champions in several of NASCAR's top series. Riverside Park Speedway memories abound at New England Auto - masslive Did you miss Kyle Buschs dramatic win at Talladega, or Brandon Overtons $50,000 triumph? Legendary Riverside Park - SPEED SPORT 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. Other tracks in the area - Century Stadium in Springfield, Mass. He was currently employed at Boardwalk Auto Sales in South Windsor, CT. He was an avid race car fan, a member of NASCAR. Created with Sketch. Do you remember Riverside Park Speedway in Agawam? - YouTube 711. We always seemed hampered by a breakdown in communication, Fiore, of Agawam, said in his acceptance speech. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. His sons then managed the park and speedway while becoming active in racing themselves, with a new crew of helpers. Gary worked for many years at Germano Auto Sales before owning Garys Service Center in Agawam, which he sold two years ago. We Thank You Very Much for making this Carlys Riverside Park Speedway in Agawam, MA - RacingIn.com NOTE: ANY RACE DATES POSTED ON THIS PROFILE ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE BASED ON WEATHER, TRACK CONDITIONS, AND MANY OTHER THINGS. TRACK INFO UPDATE? Another exciting development in 1997 was the acquisition of the park by Oklahoma-based Premier Parks, Inc., parent company of Six Flags, the world's largest regional theme park company. Birthdays, Mitvahs, Bachelor(ette), Team Building, Catered Lunches To capitalize on the nation's new attraction to auto racing following World War II, park owner Edward J. Carroll demolished the dance hall that had burned down in 1948. 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. . I was given two years to run the race track, produce a positive bottom line and show growth.. Riverside Park Speedway ("The Park") was built in 1948. Racin' with Jason: Mario Fiore and Reggie Ruggiero - masslive 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. I wouldnt be surprised if you see us renting your facility in the future. Do you remember Riverside Park Speedway in Agawam? - WWLP Our qualifying has been just terrible, Moore admitted. The track closed in 1999 to make. The 1998 Riverside Park Modified Champion was Jimmy Broderick, Driving the Pruchnik Motorsports #42 Modified owned By Denis Pruchnik. Spawned by the popularity of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, the Teddy Bear Pools Truck division proved to be an instant success in 1998. Tracks - Racing-Reference This page is not available in other languages. History By Decade Riverside Park Speedway ("The Park") was built in 1948. Private group 6,043 Members. A / V Equipped Rooms, Franchise Info| Partner Program|Corporate Partnerships|Fundraisers & Donations|Contact|Employees, 2023 K1Speed Inc. All rights reserved. Everything was perfect and from the bottom Riverside Park. 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. The facility was incredible, the staff was engaging, and our entire group had a blast! One of them was future FOX Sports broadcaster Mike Joy, who announced at Riverside while still in college. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. May 16, 1983 - Agawam - A newly-constructed Riverside Park roller coaster is shown from a nearby potato Farm. West Virginia International Speedway. The Carroll family sold out to the Six Flags chain in 1998, two years after Dodge departed and NASCARs Dave Deery became Riverside Parks final promoter. [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. WITH FRIENDS! The picnic grove was repurposed as an amusement park and opened its first roller coaster in 1912. 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). Riverside Park Speedway in Agawam, MA - RacingIn.com 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. much I appreciate everything you and your staff did for our group. 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. The 1980s arrived! YOUR PARTY AND CELEBRATE 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 Our staff cant stop talking about how much fun we had, and they keep asking when we are going to do it again!! David Allio | Racing Photography Archives, Original motorsports photos from historic archives by David Allio, Riverside Park Speedway | Agawam Massachusetts We had bigger numbers on a Saturday than the amusement park did. BRINKMANN RECORDS BEST BMARA FINISH OF SEASON, KyleBrinkmanRacing, a racer from Elkhorn, WI. You have set the bar pretty high, and the fun factor is off the charts!! You grabbed food from the concessions and stopped by Shany Lorenzets photo booth before heading inside. Before 1900, most visitors reached the park by steamboat. He is eighth on the track's all-time win list. THE (Riverside) ROLLAWAY, Agawam, Massachusetts Blunk, Bill RIP 1924-2003 Oaks Park Skating Rink, Portland, Oregon Viking Roller Rink, Astoria, Oregon (1960's) . 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. Indoor Kart Racing | K1 Speed 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. by KyleBrinkmannRacing in KyleBrinkmanRacing, a racer from Elkhorn, WI, What a year as we transition onto dirt racing! He resided in West Springfield and, He was an avid race car fan, a member of NASCAR. Rights Managed (RM) original photography 1983 David Allio. Agawam, MA This event marks the tenth annual appearance of the NASCAR Busch North Series at Riverside Park Speedway. 44 Modified, much like Martin was fired four times as Steinbrenners New York Yankees manager. Beckley Speedway USA. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. (Mass Appeal) - Built in 1948, Riverside Park Speedway in Agawam was home to some of the most exciting local auto racing for more than 50 years before the track closed down in 1999. 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. Kanawha Valley Dragway. Auto Racing Research Assoc. Road to Daytona: Meet Riverside Park Racing Legend Bob Polverari After the Wall Street crash drove Riverside Park into foreclosure, one of New Englands first drive-in theaters opened on the property in 1937. In its place laid out a flat 1/5-mile oval track, pit area and grandstand alongside the Connecticut River. 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. Riverside Park. - Gallery - Ron Wetzler | racersreunion.com Riverside, both the amusement park and speedway, was an institution in its community. RIVERSIDE PARK SPEEDWAY - speedwayandroadracehistory NEAR To Host Riverside Park Speedway ReunionPerformance Racing Industry Race Date . Adults and Juniors 48 and Up, Junior Birthday Parties of my heart, thank you! The pit area was alongside theConnecticut River with large Grandstands being built on the hill leading from the amusement park down to the race track. It was a cant-miss business proposition, until amusement rides became more profitable than packed pits and stands. 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. The drivers were characterized by maybe the best short-track announcer Ive ever heard, a guy named Tom Galon. It would grow to attract the Northeast's best drivers. (Republican file photo) Staff-Shot 20 / 28 Republican file photo Vintage photos:. There was no back gate fee. Riverside Park Speedway Demolition Derby & Figure 8 Racing Agawam Mass View NASCAR North Tour driver stats at this track. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Rights Managed (RM) original photography 1983 David Allio. The flathead-powered stock cars evolved into modifieds; Berggren recalls the great Eddie Flemke gunning down a field of overheads with his flathead during this period. Again, thank you for your professionalism and management of K1 Speed in Sacramento. However, both men chose to set aside their differences on their special day. That place was just so exciting and so dramatic, Dr. Dick Berggren, a longtime attendee and recipient of the NASCAR Hall of Fames Squier-Hall Award, remembered. NOTE: ANY RACE DATES POSTED ON THIS PROFILE ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE BASED ON WEATHER, TRACK CONDITIONS, AND MANY OTHER THINGS. by ScottKo in RacingIn News, Track Promoters Get FREE Promotion with RacingIn.com's Track Directory and Race Dates Page 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 1970s were a decade of change for the facility, as physical and managerial changes were put into place that made the track what it was until its final season. 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. Party Rooms and Catering Available, Adults and Teens Photo courtesy of John Mahoney, USAC. 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. 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. I was just a kid and my favorite was Art Rousseau out of Keene, N.H.. Agawam, MA Gary J. Michnovetz, 65, died suddenly on Tuesday. All rights reserved (About Us). Veteran NASCAR driver and current spotter Tim Fedewa joined this weeks episode of Fast Car 2 NASCAR with Mike Wallace to talk more about his current role. It was largely used for picknicking and steamboat excursions along the Connecticut R. S Sharon DiAmore 1k followers More information Riverside Park, Agawam, MA - History With Photos - YouTube Chicopee Riverside Park Golden Oldies Service Trip Amusement Parks Back In The Day Evonsion, Bob Polverari, Reggie Ruggiero and others. The park was shuttered during the Great Depression, but was reopened by Edward Carroll in 1940. Discussion. 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. MattWiernasz is an auto racing journalist and photographer himself, and has fond memories of watching the races at Riverside. Triad Technologies is an industrial distributor and value added provider. Thank you, K1 Speed!!!! And just that quickly, the track was gone, along with a significant chunk of New Englands stock car history.
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