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). 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. I was given two years to run the race track, produce a positive bottom line and show growth.. 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. I had some AWESOME comments about your facility. 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. Rt 305, 307 and 322 streets will detour due to an event in Forest Park. The tiny, flat confines forced drivers to bump and bang their way to the front, which often triggered fisticuffs in the pit area, jammed between the backstretch and the river. Other tracks in the area - Century Stadium in Springfield, Mass. Riverside, both the amusement park and speedway, was an institution in its community. Dodge streamlined the modified program, marketed the competitors and started an entry-level street stock division. "I would like to Thank You so much for making Carlys 17th birthday party GREAT!!!! All rights reserved (About Us). Racing-reference.info is part of the NASCAR Digital Media Network. In the United States, speedways have been variously located next to junkyards, jammed next to suburban sprawl and occasionally plopped in the middle of their hometowns. Ted Chalmers, a 35 year racing veteran, wrote his name in the history books as the first ever champion in that division. It was exactly what youd hope to have in an announcer. While Riverside Park Speedway is gone, local racing fans do have plenty of options to see live racing. And for decades, Riverside Park Speedway in Agawam, Mass., was exactly that. 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. History By Decade Riverside Park Speedway ("The Park") was built in 1948. by ScottKo in RacingIn News, Bay Area Modifieds bringing IMCA Racing back to Emerald Coast 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. 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. 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. Twitter Link The facility was incredible, the staff was engaging, and our entire group had a blast! This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. . In no way deterred, Carroll simply brought in stock cars for Riverside Parks first full season in 1949. We had bigger numbers on a Saturday than the amusement park did. 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. Matts father, Mark Wiernasz was a track announcer there, in addition to working for decades as our assignment manager here at 22News. A / V Equipped Rooms, Franchise Info| Partner Program|Corporate Partnerships|Fundraisers & Donations|Contact|Employees, 2023 K1Speed Inc. All rights reserved. It was more like an adventure.. But it's been 15 years since Riverside Park Speedway disappeared from the Southern New England Racing landscape. I came from a little track, Plainville Stadium in Connecticut, a quarter mile, Ruggiero remembered. WWLP-22News 57.9K subscribers Subscribe 2.9K views 4 years ago Riverside Park Speedway in Agawam drew in racing fans from throughout the. Enter your email address to subscribe to this album and receive free notifications of new posts by email. It was quite a ride for Fiore, who got into ownership in 1969, when he put $300 into a car purchased by a friend. And just that quickly, the track was gone, along with a significant chunk of New Englands stock car history. 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. He was an avid race car fan, a member of NASCAR. This page is not available in other languages. best birthday ever!!! much I appreciate everything you and your staff did for our group. MattWiernasz is an auto racing journalist and photographer himself, and has fond memories of watching the races at Riverside. Kanawha Valley Dragway. The natural athlete, Gene Bergin, was another star. 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. Riverside, both the amusement park and speedway, was an institution in its community. Later years were with Tom Rosati, Rene Charland, Bob Polverari, Reggie Ruggerio and Jerry Marquis. 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. Ten years ago. Drivers such as Ted Tappet, Benny Germano, Jocko Maggiacomo, Jerry Humiston, Ed Flemke and Buddy Krebs were the drivers to beat throughout the 1950s. Sprintcarstats. Reigning AFT Singles champion Kody Kopp is trying to hit a grand slam this season. Before 1900, most visitors reached the park by steamboat. 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. Stock Car Racing Wiki is a FANDOM TV Community. 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. Moore, the Busch North Series all-time Pole winner, has yet to display his qualifying expertise thus far in 1998. That was when midgets raced seven nights a week in New England. We always seemed hampered by a breakdown in communication, Fiore, of Agawam, said in his acceptance speech. Matt Wiernasz is an auto racing journalist and photographer himself, and has fond memories . Spawned by the popularity of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, the Teddy Bear Pools Truck division proved to be an instant success in 1998. 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 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. In both cases, few could argue with the results. (Republican file photo) Staff-Shot 20 / 28 Republican file photo Vintage photos:. 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.. 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. The great Reggie Ruggiero closed the books with 98 modified feature wins, about a quarter of his career total, leading all drivers. Of those six, two will never be more closely linked to one another than the driver-owner combination of Reggie Ruggiero and Mario Fiore. 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. 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. Facebook Link No Reservation Required Moore, the Busch North Series all-time Pole winner, has yet to display his qualifying expertise thus far in 1998. |. 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). 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. He is a member of the New England Auto Racers Hall of Fame . Rene Charland - AKA "The Champ" - won three NASCAR national Modified titles in the 1960s. EAST WINDSOR, Conn. The legacy of Riverside Park Speedway lives on. Ruggiero had four separate stints driving Fiores No. Sun, 01/30/2022 . 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. 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! There was no back gate fee. The track closed in 1999 to make. In addition to that, the purses were increased. ", "We had what I would call one of the most successful team events at K1 Speed Austin just last night. Riverside Park Speedway Agawam, MA. 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. 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 Speedway was a NASCAR short track that was inside of Riverside Fun Park in Agawam, Massachusetts . What a year as we transition onto dirt racing! 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. View source. by ScottKo in RacingIn News, Track Promoters Get FREE Promotion with RacingIn.com's Track Directory and Race Dates Page 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. SPEED SPORTs Alan Cavanna catches you up on that and more in this weeks edition of Sealed Under Pressure Spotlight presented by Cometic Gasket. It would grow to attract the Northeast's best drivers. BRINKMANN RECORDS BEST BMARA FINISH OF SEASON of my heart, thank you! 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. We were there last Wednesday, with 25 teenagers, and they all Despite the gathering fiscal clouds, the Dodge era at Riverside was spectacular, with Stan Greger, John Rosati and Mike Stefanik capturing track titles in the modifieds. 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. I was just a kid and my favorite was Art Rousseau out of Keene, N.H.. Gary worked for many years at Germano Auto Sales before owning Garys Service Center in Agawam, which he sold two years ago. May 16, 1983 - Agawam - A newly-constructed Riverside Park roller coaster is shown from a nearby potato Farm. . The bleacher seating surrounding the track was also removed to make way for the 6,200 chair back seats. EAST WINDSOR, Conn. - The legacy of Riverside Park Speedway lives on. Created with Sketch. . We will definitely be back in the future. 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. 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. 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. Bobby Dragon of Milton, Vt. won the first NASCAR Busch North Series event at Riverside Park Speedway on August 29, 1988. Riverside Park Speedway in Agawam drew in racing fans from throughout the Northeast for about 50 years. 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. 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. The first full season of "modified" stock car racing was 1949. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. SITE DESIGN BY. Galons excited monologue kept fans filling Riverside Parks 7,200 bleacher seats, creating a cast of white hats and villains that variously included Bill Greco, Dick Dixon and Danny Gallulo. Riverside was a fifth back then. Following the park's 1999 season, Premier Parks, Inc. made several major changes that directly affected the speedway. The 1960s were popular years for stock car racing at Riverside Park. 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. Meet. Auto Racing Research Assoc. The 1980s arrived! Paved Oval located in Agawam, MA: Track Status: Razed (Opened: 1948 --- Closed: 1999) TOURING SERIES & MAJOR EVENTS ; Date Sanction 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. The Riverside Park track expanded every time Carroll repaved it, first to an almost-quarter with a little banking. It was a great experience., SPEEDSPORT.com is a part of the NASCAR Digital Media Network, The cars line up for the Riverside 500. First, let me tell you how NASCAR North Tour Race Recaps. Evonsion, Bob Polverari, Reggie Ruggiero and others. Postcard Pre-Owned $16.50 Was: $22.00 25% off or Best Offer +$4.50 shipping Sponsored He declined, citing his growing family, and the seat was offered to an up-and-comer from Missouri named Rusty Wallace. He resided in West Springfield and, He was an avid race car fan, a member of NASCAR. by KyleBrinkmannRacing in KyleBrinkmanRacing, a racer from Elkhorn, WI, Top Tips For Online Race Track Promotion Our qualifying has been just terrible, Moore admitted. Ruggiero told a story that some knew, but others didnt, about a decision that might have changed the face of NASCAR history. 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. navigation, search. Jerry Marquis and ageless Bob Polverari emerged as big winners in the 1990s, with Polverari taking five titles aboard the Bill Pelly No. 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. Instagram Link WITH FRIENDS! The fans streamed, literally, straight from the rides to the bleachers. 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. Joys assistant was Dodge, who took over as promoter in 1982. Riverside Park Speedway ("The Park") was built in 1948. Did you miss a thrilling Four-Wide Nationals in Charlotte, or David Gravels Tri-City triumph? accommodating. The 1998 Riverside Park Modified Champion was Jimmy Broderick, Driving the Pruchnik Motorsports #42 Modified owned By Denis Pruchnik. 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. 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. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Accessibility Statement. We carry brands such as Parker, Enerpac, NoShok, Daman, Hiwin, UR Robot, Robotiq, Schunk, Rechner Sensors, SICK sensors, Weidmuller, Dixon and many more! 1960's. The drivers are as listed: #12 Skip Barna, #111 Ronnie Mayer,#2x Charlie Brayton, #20 Jack Lecuyer, #98 Ray Sharron, #83 Al Jansing. Riverside Park Speedway Formerly Known As: Riverside Park Stadium.250 mi./0.402 km. While the Daytona 500 took place in Florida Sunday, racing fans in western Massachusetts remembered when racing took place on a much shorter track in Agawam at the Riverside Park Speedway. - hosted events on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, making it possible for some of Riverside Park's early stars to race in the area almost every night of the week. History. You have set the bar pretty high, and the fun factor is off the charts!! FEEL FREE TO LET US KNOW! He was currently employed at Boardwalk Auto Sales in South Windsor, CT. SPEED SPORTs Alan Cavanna catches you up on that and more in this weeks edition of Sealed Under Pressure Spotlight presented by Cometic Gasket. by ScottKo in RacingIn News, Fans of Fast Name Their Favorite Track of 2014 Internal Link . Others inducted in the ceremony at La Renaissance were 1950s legend Moe Moneybags Gherzi, 1960s Riverside star Jerry The Springfield Rifle Humiston, Eastern Mass. The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing began sanctioning events at Riverside Park Speedway in 1976. He was part of a championship crew with Barry Kuhnel, Bill Pelley and Bob Polverari in the 80s and 90s. 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. 1948 - RIVERSIDE PARK SPEEDWAY To capitalize on the nations new found attraction to Auto Racing following the 2nd World War, Riverside Amusement Park owner Richard J Caroll demolished a dance hall in 1948. The winner of the first NASCAR-sanctioned event was Bob Polverari. 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. "I would like to Thank You so much for making Carly's 17th birthday party GREAT!!!! 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. Use THIS BUTTON to share this track's profile with your friends! His sons then managed the park and speedway while becoming active in racing themselves, with a new crew of helpers. Jocko Jr., followed a different path, racing sportscars with the SCCA. 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. You knew Rene Charland was the bad guy and Buddy Krebs was a good guy. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. 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. Before I had my license, my dad would drive me to the races and the big deal on my birthday was when I would have my friends over to the house for my moms spaghetti and meatballs, and then wed go to Riverside Park and cheer for our favorites, Berggren said. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Do you remember Riverside Park Speedway in Agawam? Rights Managed (RM) original photography 1983 David Allio. 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. Riverside Park Speedway in Agawam drew in racing fans from throughout the Northeast for about 50 years. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. 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. 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. Discussion. NASCAR adopted the tour-type format and Riverside was a regular stop for 200-lap modified mains. 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 In 1983, he was offered a ride in what is now the NASCAR Nationwide Series. 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. In the grandstands, loyalties to different drivers became fierce, where one sat in the stands was determined by what driver one was rooting for. 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. and the Exposition Fairgrounds in West Springfield, Mass. Riverside Park Speedway memories abound at . Party Rooms and Catering Available, Adults and Teens The United Stock Car Racing Club events drew 6,000-8,000 fans every Saturday night. Western Mass. 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. YOUR PARTY AND CELEBRATE WE MAKE IT EASY TO PLAN Galex Fox, left, and Dave Darland, right. 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 79-year-old Agawam, MA native began his career at the old. The picnic grove was repurposed as an amusement park and opened its first roller coaster in 1912. West Virginia Motor Speedway. Stafford Motor Speedway in Connecticut and Monadnock Speedway in New Hampshire are just some of the local options within driving distance. 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. Thank you, K1 Speed!!!! THE (Riverside) ROLLAWAY, Agawam, Massachusetts Blunk, Bill RIP 1924-2003 Oaks Park Skating Rink, Portland, Oregon Viking Roller Rink, Astoria, Oregon (1960's) . and well maintained, and the staff was so nice and very helpful and The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. North Riverside Park Mall, Broadview Village Square Shopping Center, Immaculate Heart of Mary High School, St. Joseph High School, Oakbrook Center and Yorktown Center. Fiore shared stories of how his team would often struggle to get back home after races they had won, since most payouts were made by check and no banks were open late at night. He is eighth on the track's all-time win list. TikTok Link. Riverside Park in Agawam, Massachusetts began as a trolley park in 1840. 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. All rights reserved (About Us). by ScottKo in Profile Tips For Users, SRW Winternationals Weekend now a Qualifying race for ALL Classes!
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