Gone but not forgotten is the famed Trenton International
Speedway which was located on the former New Jersey State
Fairgrounds in the capital city.
The track, which closed in 1980, offered everything from
Indianapolis Cars, NASCAR Grand National (now Sprint Cup),
Modified stock car, Midget and Sprint Car competition.
But, when the Motorsports 2009 Race Car & Trade Show is
presented at the Atlantic City, NJ Convention Center, January 16
& 17th, Trenton International Speedway will again be in the
spotlight as one of the key attractions of the weekend.
“In my younger years I spent a lot of time at the speedway.
My family operated the souvenir concession,” said Motorsports
2009 produced Len Sammons. “It is a shame that there has been
little or nothing done to remember what a great speedway it was.
We are going to try to change that with our trip down ‘memory
lane’ at our show.”
For the Motorsports 2009 weekend, many of the race cars that
were seen in action at Trenton International Speedway will be on
view. And, plans are in the works to have a number of the
drivers and team members who participated there at the show to
meet the fans.
Fans and racers are encouraged to bring Trenton-related
memorabilia such as scrapbooks, photos and raceday programs.
And, the many vintage racing clubs that annually participate in
the show will have Trenton Speedway as the theme for their
displays.
Originally a dirt oval, Trenton became a one-mile paved track
in the mid-fifties. By the 1970s, until its final race, Trenton
Speedway was a peanut shaped one and one-half mile track.
Overall, it produced some exciting racing events throughout the
years. Notable organizations such as NASCAR, USAC, ARDC and URC
sanctioned the events.
The final race run at Trenton was for the asphalt Modified
stock cars, in June, 1980. That scheduled 134-lap event, which
was called official after 79 circuits due to rain, was won by
Geoff Bodine. Many time NASCAR Modified champion Richie Evans
finished close behind with N.J.’s John Blewett Jr. third. Bodine
ultimately became a Daytona 500 winner.
“Having worked there as the public relations director for
several years I have a lot of fond memories and great stories,”
said Motorsports 2009 public relations director Ernie Saxton.
“It was indeed a great racing facility. I remember Jimmy Clark
racing there and Janet Guthrie making what I believe was her
initial run in an Indianapolis car at Trenton. It will be
exciting to get a chance to see some of the old cars and the old
timers that participated in events at Trenton.”
The fairgrounds and speedway location has since been turned
into an industrial complex and is also the site of the New
Jersey Sculpture Gardens and the very classy Ratz Restaurant.
More details on just how Trenton International Speedway will
be remembered at Motorsports 2009 will be released in the very
near future.
The Motorsports 2009 Race Car & Trade Show will fill close to
300,000 square feet of the Atlantic City Convention Center and
will offer just about everything imaginable in motorsports.
Attendees will have the opportunity to collect autographs from a
variety of national and regional racing figures.
And as Motorsports 2009 takes place during the day on January
16th and 17th, the Gamblers Classic Indoor Auto Races will be
take place at night at Atlantic City’s famous Boardwalk Hall.
Information on both events can be had at
www.aarn.com. Ticket information is also available at the
site or by telephoning 609.888.3618.
Source:
Ernie Saxton/Ernie Saxton Communications
Posted:
November 22, 2008
