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Nazareth
Speedway | Philly
Region, SCCAThe Final Nazareth Race - A Reflection, an Encouragement Written by: Patrick Weaver - July 15, 2004
Nazareth
Speedway
will be holding it’s last IRL and USAC races August 27, 28 and 29th.
Our members and friends have been volunteering to perform various
tasks of guest services in the infield of the track during the race
weekend dating back to the days that CART called this speedway the
fastest one-mile oval in the world. Volunteering is one of the most rewarding things that we as individuals can do to better ourselves as people. If you add methanol-fueled racecars, the scent of burning rubber, and one of the most unique racetracks in the country, then you will wonder why you waited so long. You have one last chance. Personally, I have
been volunteering for professional level racing events at Nazareth
Speedway since the Craftsman Truck race back in 2001 and have not
missed one event since. I
learned about working professional races when I started autocrossing
with Philly
Region.
They made an announcement that they needed workers and that I
could get as close to the action as even the racing teams.
I had to investigate. I
prepared for the first event by reading about the Truck race in the Spokesman
and found out about a pre-event meeting inside the track.
I was thrilled about going through the tunnel and up the hill
into the paddock itself. I met up with Dale Gogle and Millie Perry and
kept quiet as they went over the weekend’s ins and outs.
Stuff like radio channels and hot and cold passes in the media
center with the track official. I
still could not believe that I was not only going to watch a NASCAR race
from the inside, but I was also going to be a working part of it!
Dale and Millie encouraged my enthusiasm.
They must have noticed the look on my face, like a little kid on
Christmas Eve. After the
goodbyes and the arrangements to meet early on Saturday morning, I was
lucky enough to meet up with a very friendly security guard who told me
to wait a little bit longer because something special was going to
happen. Apparently
it was tradition for the race haulers to do a parade from a local
shopping mall through the town of Nazareth and then finally end up at
the track. The haulers came
in to the track with horns blaring into the Speedway ending in a line
preparing for the weekend’s event. It was already dark, and I still
remember watching those colorful trucks gleaming in the dark with dozens
more in line waiting to get there tiny little space for the weekend. The
morning of the race, Dale introduced me to Martha Ulery, and we worked
what is called the “team gate”. It is the main entrance to the
middle of the track where the team members and drivers usually enter
from their mobile homes. Not a lot of pressure to a new guy and plenty
of time to hear the many stories that Martha had to tell. That day I met
and spoke with Morgan Shepard, walked pit road during the practice, got
grilled food and received race shirts from the # 00 Buyers choice car.
(That’s where I stole my solo # from) and the next day I was in
victory circle with Gregg Biffle. Could it get any better than
that for a new soon to be SCCA member? Oh yeah! In
a three-day weekend the following
May, Indy and USAC cars filled the entire paddock. With an added special
one-hour or 100 lap race from Formula Mazda. Names like Foyt, Dixon,
Penske, Cheever, Ray, and
upcoming stars in the ranks of the United States Auto Club soon to be
champions in other venues walked through that same gate I was working at
before. If
you have never been up close and in person with a methanol burning open
wheel car than you have not lived a full life.
It was after that weekend that I realized that this SCCA thing
was going to be a long ride for me. I
know that I can get involved for a lifetime of motor sports in so many
different ways. Whether it
is driving, working, volunteering or perhaps one day, what I want the
most, is a career building and tuning race suspensions,
I learned anything is
possible if you just get involved. It
is now 2004 and Nazareth Speedway is going to be one of the lost
treasures of American racing history.
Go to the Website www.nazarethspeedway.com
and do a little digging. It’s
all there from back to the days when they ran on dirt. This is it
guys. The final three-day
weekend, and Nazareth will be a thing of the past. Something that
we talk about for many years to come.
History, become a part of it! Please
email me your name, email address, days that you can be involved and
your phone number.
Patrickweaverscca@msn.com
or patrickweaver1983gti@yahoo.com __________________________________________________________________ Nazareth Speedway | Philly Region, SCCA __________________________________________________________________ |
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