Celebrating 50 years of racing at 34 Raceway

Celebrating 50 years of racing at 34 Raceway

WEST BURLINGTON – 50 years ago this season, 34 Raceway, originally known as 34 Raceways park, was born. 34 Raceway celebrated that accomplishment with a special Blast from the Past Saturday night July 18, There was memorabilia on display, vintage race cars taking to the track, admission price roll back to 1966 to $1.50 and plenty of reminiscing along with their regular classes of 305 sprints, IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Stock Cars and IMCA Sport Mods.

History – the Beginning

The visionary for the track began in the early 1960’s from local racing enthusiasts Melvin “Sox” Jackson, his brother Richard, Melvin’s sons Ken and Gene, as well as Al Samberg. After many of the Saturday night races in the area, they would ride in a line of cars nearly two miles long all the way back to Burlington. That got them to thinking, with this many fans traveling to the races every night, why not build a track near Burlington?

The winters of 1964 & 1965 were spent discussing plans to build a track in the Burlington area. In the summer of 1965, they each invested $5000 in their newly formed SANJAC Inc., but had to finance the rest of the $60,000 needed to build the track. The 20 acres of land the track would be built on was originally leased for 99 years from Don Gugeler for approximately $1000 per season.

Construction on the raceway began. The track would be a 3/8 mile semi-banked oval. The track was completed mid May 1966, just in time to start the season. The first ever race at the then-named 34 Raceways Park was held on May 14, 1966. Gene Jackson was in charge of the office and concessions, Ken Jackson was the flagman, Sox and Richard Jackson were pit stewards and All Samberg ws the announcer/boss. There were 2300 spectators with just two classes of cars, modifieids and cadets.

The first modified feature winner was Dick McClure and the first cadet feature winner was John Rodder. Jack Pearson, Burlington, purchased the first ticket numbered 050001 for $1.50. Pit passes for $5.

The track was owned and operated by SAMJACK for three seasons before selling in the fall of 1968 to Bill Kelley, Jim Magorian and Larry Shipley for $125,000, doubling their initial investment. The group owned and operated the race track from 1969 to 1975. Each year, the fan base gradually grew and by 1970 the average attendance was in excess of 2500 race fans per night.

34 Raceway – 2015

In 2015 the track has now been owned by Jeff and Amy Laue, Scott & Lorrie Parish and Tom & Sue Bowling for the past nine years. The classes of cars has changed several times throughout the years and currently race 305 Sprints, IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sport Mods, IMCA Stock Cars, on a weekly basis and this year the IMRA Midgets and STARS Mod Lites alternate.  The season usually includes around 28-30 races per season. The average car count in 2015 has been 105 competing weekly. The grandstands and suites hold approximately 4400 people with the average attendance of approximately 2200 between the grandstands and the pits on an average night. The track currently employs 65 workers nightly.

Since 1965 improvements have included  aluminum grandstands, MUSCO Lighting, safer concrete barriers around the perimeter of the race track as well as strategic rules governing safety to the drivers and crew in the pit area.

If you haven’t been to 34 Raceway check it out as the tradition continues. The 2015 season continues through October 3.

Previous 34 Raceway Owners

SAMJACK Inc – Al Samberg, Melvin, Rich * Gene Jackson; Dunblazier, Magorian  &  Kelly; Gabeline, Hill, Grandinetti; Gegner, Lekander, Johnson; Johnny Johnson; Larry Kemp, Ron Pallister, Johnny Johnson; and present owners Jeff & Amy Laue, Scott and Lorrie Parish and Tom & Sue Bowling.

34 Raceway Hall of Famers

Bobby Jacks, Kenny Jackson, Bob Lamb, Zip Lekander, Dick McClure, Truman McDowell, Fibber McGee, John McClure, Bill Newman, Gary Bosco Roberts, Al Samberg, Bill Schubert, Duane & Dick Stoneking, Harvy Starman, Jerry Blundy, Bob Lane, Ron Jackson, Wayne Hummer, Ken Haley, Gene Jackson, Bob Lamm, Mike Niffenegger, Gene Williamson, Johnny Johnson, Sonny Smyser, Larry Beckman, Larry Kemp, Conrad Olson, Charlie Pindell, Charles Jim Dillon, Melvon Socks Jackson, Lem Blankenship, Bob Ensminger, George Fielty, Jim Hollenbeck.

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