Preserving the History of the Dirt Tracks of Schuylkill County, PA
One of the best racing artists of any era suddenly passed away. Emerson Freese died of a massive heart attack on January 26, 2019. He was only 57. Mr Freese's incredible racing art work has been seen by countless numbers of race fans through the years. The Anthracite Raceway Memorial Reunion artwork as well as our recent Coal Region Racing tee shirt artwork were both of his creations.
When the photographs and other details for the Coal Region Racing tee shirts were dropped off at his art studio business, Out of the Blue II in Jim Thorpe, he related stories of his friendship with the late legendary Sprint Car pioneer racer, Tommy Hinnershitz.
From all of us at Coal Region Racing our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.
The Coal Region Racing Hall of Fame Inductees for 2019.
Our mission statement will be presented by Scott Herring, "The Last Anthracite Photographer". Scott has more than 40 years documenting every aspect of the coal region of Schuylkill County.
Also, we have another upcoming event.
We are tentatively planning a reunion of the surviving members of the Orwigsburg Racing Association to be held at the Orwigsburg Historical Society. This event will be held sometime after the Hall of Fame Reunion on April 6, 2019.
We are tentatively planning a reunion of the surviving members of the Orwigsburg Racing Association to be held at the Orwigsburg Historical Society. This event will be held sometime after the Hall of Fame Reunion on April 6, 2019.
The possibility of at least 2 additional race tracks in Schuylkill County has recently come to light.
In the upper photo from August 28, 1958 shows the outline of a small dirt track located along Sweet Arrow Lake Road about 1 1/2 miles from Cressona.
In the second photo from August 12, 1971 shows the outline of a small dirt track located along Stone Mountain Road just off Sweet Arrow Lake Road just south of the first image.
These 2 possible little facilities were approximately 1/4 mile about. The second one may have been built to replace the first one.
If anyone has any information on either or both of these possible race tracks, please contact me directly at coalregionracing@gmail.com.
Today, February 5, 2019, JoAnn Roehrig would have been 75.
The local racing community of the coal region lost one of its most prominent people. JoAnn Roehrig lost her long and brave fight with cancer on Saturday August 4th, 2018. She was 74.
From the day the gates at Big Diamond first swung open for its inaugural race on August 27, 1972, JoAnn was a fixture at the track and in the main concession stand. With her love of cooking, she and her very capable staff made and served some of the best race track food found anywhere. Because of JoAnn, Big Diamond was known for having some of the best french fries money could buy. Not only did she oversee the feeding of the fans and competitors, she also made sure the cash payout for the purses was completed by the end of the night's racing activities.
Devoted to her children, there was nothing she wouldn't do for them. From coaching their bowling team, leading the Minersville High School band parents association, chaperoning them for 2 school trips to Germany, to any other event they may be involved in, Mrs. Roehrig was never far from their side ready to do whatever was needed. Her adoration for her family continued with her grandchildren. And somehow she found time for various community groups.
JoAnn Roehrig could laugh and joke with the best of them or be stern and direct when she needed to be. Admired and respected by many fans and racers alike, the list of people who would call her a friend might be endless.
After the 2005 closure of Big Diamond Raceway, JoAnn would eventually move out of Minersville and resettle in the northern Berks county borough of Hamburg. There, with her long-time companion, Wilmer Weiss, she enjoyed many years with her children, grandchildren and friends. She was also a very good friend to Coal Region Racing. Without her foresight to save many items from the early years of Big Diamond Raceway, from 8mm movies, hats, and even match books, much of these articles and additional information has been invaluable to the preservation of this local racing establishment.
To her many family members, friends and those countless number of people whose lives she touched and enriched, we send our deepest condolences...
From the day the gates at Big Diamond first swung open for its inaugural race on August 27, 1972, JoAnn was a fixture at the track and in the main concession stand. With her love of cooking, she and her very capable staff made and served some of the best race track food found anywhere. Because of JoAnn, Big Diamond was known for having some of the best french fries money could buy. Not only did she oversee the feeding of the fans and competitors, she also made sure the cash payout for the purses was completed by the end of the night's racing activities.
Devoted to her children, there was nothing she wouldn't do for them. From coaching their bowling team, leading the Minersville High School band parents association, chaperoning them for 2 school trips to Germany, to any other event they may be involved in, Mrs. Roehrig was never far from their side ready to do whatever was needed. Her adoration for her family continued with her grandchildren. And somehow she found time for various community groups.
JoAnn Roehrig could laugh and joke with the best of them or be stern and direct when she needed to be. Admired and respected by many fans and racers alike, the list of people who would call her a friend might be endless.
After the 2005 closure of Big Diamond Raceway, JoAnn would eventually move out of Minersville and resettle in the northern Berks county borough of Hamburg. There, with her long-time companion, Wilmer Weiss, she enjoyed many years with her children, grandchildren and friends. She was also a very good friend to Coal Region Racing. Without her foresight to save many items from the early years of Big Diamond Raceway, from 8mm movies, hats, and even match books, much of these articles and additional information has been invaluable to the preservation of this local racing establishment.
To her many family members, friends and those countless number of people whose lives she touched and enriched, we send our deepest condolences...
Our long awaited display of local racing history is now open to the public. Thanks to the Orwigsburg Historical Society, artifacts from the archives of Coal Region Racing will be accessible during the society's regularly scheduled hours.
The story of the12th county race track at Lakeside is now posted as is the story of the 15th track, Little Diamond.
All race track updates are now complete!
And, our website, Facebook and email are now linked for easier access.
This undated image is courtesy of Irv Yeict sent to us by Dennis Somers.
These are the earliest forms of race cars to compete in Schuylkill County. This photograph is from the Schuylkill County Fairgrounds in Cressona, PA. In the very beginning of automobile racing, machines such as these were common at county fairgrounds tracks across the country. As you can see, they lacked even the most basic safety equipment. Many a driver was injured or killed because of this. Two fatalities were recorded here, the very first casulty on July 4th and the second on August 4th, 1935.
Irv Yeict was the owner of S & Y Paints in Pottsville, PA and was a huge supporter of local dirt track racing by sponsoring dozens of race cars of all types through the years.
Many thanks to both Irv and Dennis for sharing this priceless photograph with Coal Region Racing
These are the earliest forms of race cars to compete in Schuylkill County. This photograph is from the Schuylkill County Fairgrounds in Cressona, PA. In the very beginning of automobile racing, machines such as these were common at county fairgrounds tracks across the country. As you can see, they lacked even the most basic safety equipment. Many a driver was injured or killed because of this. Two fatalities were recorded here, the very first casulty on July 4th and the second on August 4th, 1935.
Irv Yeict was the owner of S & Y Paints in Pottsville, PA and was a huge supporter of local dirt track racing by sponsoring dozens of race cars of all types through the years.
Many thanks to both Irv and Dennis for sharing this priceless photograph with Coal Region Racing
Gold Mine Speedway 1953
Here are two examples of what early sprint car racers appeared as in the 1950's and 1960's at such tracks as Brandonville, Ringtown and the inner oval at Mount Carbon. Since photographs from those tracks seem to be non-exsistant, these two photographs from the Circle M Ranch Speedway Reunion held on September 23, 2017 show what the sprint cars from that era really looked like.
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Brandonville raced what were known then as "Big Cars", early forms of what we have come to know as today's modern sprint cars before the wings. This is what those cars had evolved into during the 1950' and '60's that competed at the big, flat Brandonville 1/2 mile dirt track.
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Mount Carbon was known to have an inner oval that hosted midget racing and early forms of micro-sprints during it's tenure. Circle M Ranch hosted at least one event in 1955 while Mahanoy City, Ringtown, and possibly Brandonville and Sparky's also raced these early racing machines.
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Anthracite Raceway circa 1968.
Aerial Views of the Dirt Tracks of Schuylkill County
Please be sure to check out these historical racing websites
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www.readingfairgroundsracing.com
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Please support the businesses that help support Coal Region Racing.
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Thank you to Mark's Service Center for all the help and support in preserving the history of racing in Schuylkill County. |
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Big Diamond Raceway 1985
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