{"id":1279,"date":"2016-02-10T22:12:07","date_gmt":"2016-02-11T03:12:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lowerpottsgrovehistoricalsociety.org\/site\/?page_id=1279"},"modified":"2018-02-04T23:58:24","modified_gmt":"2018-02-05T04:58:24","slug":"sanatoga-speedway","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/lowerpottsgrovehistoricalsociety.org\/site\/index.php\/gallery\/sanatoga-speedway\/","title":{"rendered":"SANATOGA SPEEDWAY"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Some<\/a>
SOME SANATOGA SPEEDWAY DRIVERS<\/strong><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

\""Gentlemen<\/a>
“GENTLEMEN, START YOUR ENGINES”<\/strong><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It was 1937 and partners Ed Moll, Johnny Sweetwood, and<\/span> Nicholas <\/span>Pellicotti had leased part of the former Sanatoga Park <\/span>parking lot\u00a0\u00a0from the\u00a0 Pottstown Transit Company the\u00a0 <\/span>owner of the land at that time. \u00a0 Construction of a one fifth mile dirt track began shortly after.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>The track, dirt and slightly banked, was ready for <\/span>midget racing and the inaugural race was scheduled for May 7, 1939.\u00a0 After a calamitous opening event which saw a lot of cars overheating and losing their engines due to the dust and dirt, the promoters Nicholas Pellicotti and Johnny Sweetwood <\/span>cancelled the next race until May 21.\u00a0 During this time the slight banking was removed and the track had an asphalt cover laid on it. \u00a0This was to be the configuration of the track for the rest of its life. \u00a0On May21 it was again decided to postpone the races until Memorial Day (May 30) to be sure the track had hardened enough for racing. \u00a0Midget racing continued until WWII and resumed again in1948 promoted by Carl Spatz.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Destruction<\/a>
DESTRUCTION DERBY<\/strong><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The first stock car race took <\/span>place on June 15, 1949 and was <\/span>won by <\/span>Claude Bitting, of Reading.\u00a0 George Marshman took over promotion of the track in 1951-1958.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Marshman was a promoter <\/span>extraordinaire who did almost anything to attract a crowd and it usually worked. \u00a0Of course the Pottstown Stock Car Racing Club raced on Wednesday and Saturday nights but all other times were open. \u00a0Marshman promoted Joie Chitwood Auto Dare Devils, three-quarter midget races, \u201cThe Sensational Destruction Derby\u201d, \u00a0and a destruction derby featuring a Sherman tank, and even drive-in movies.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Thrills<\/a>
THRILLS<\/strong><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Thrills<\/a>
& SPILLS<\/strong><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In its closing years the Speedway was best known for its stockcar\u00a0racing although some midget events were also presented.\u00a0 After WWII people bought new cars since automobile production <\/span>had been held up during the war.\u00a0 <\/span>As a result a lot of 30\u2019s cars were available for cheap prices.\u00a0\u00a0After removing the fenders and hoods and welding some reinforcing bars on the front end, they were ready to race. \u00a0There were no roll bars, seatbelts or shoulder harnesses. The only protection was a leather football helmet. \u00a0After a few years roll bars became mandatory. \u00a0Racing at this time was best described as \u201cracing for the fun of it\u201d.\u00a0 Small purses of maybe $50.00 were awarded to winners. \u00a0Popular drivers were sometimes paid an \u201cappearance\u201d fee. \u00a0Fifty to sixty miles an hour was about top speed and there was a lot of pushing and shoving on the small track. \u00a0All of which added to the excitement of it.\u00a0 The track closed on September 12, 1958<\/span>.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
THE 4TH TURN<\/strong><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Today the track area is mostly owned by the township and consists\u00a0of a small playground, baseball field, and soccer fields.<\/span> However, if you are adventurous and you take a walk into the weeds and wilderness to the East of the ball field you may find a patch of asphalt that was a part of the fourth turn.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n