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Preserving the History of the Dirt Tracks of Schuylkill County, PA

Don Zerbe brought The Tommy Doyle Special under the checkered flag first and was greeted by Head Flagman, the late Warren Thomas. Mr. Thomas met many feature winners during his tenure during the 1970's at both Anthracite Raceway and Big Diamond Raceway.

Coal Region Racing lost another one of its family. Warren Thomas of Port Carbon passed away. Warren was just 75.

After serving his country as a Sargent in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War, he returned home and worked as an electrician for the Reading Railroad. He wanted to be involved in racing even though he couldn't afford to own his own race car. So he did the next best thing. He took a job at Anthracite Raceway as did his wife Judy. While his wife was working in the scoring tower, as a fireman in 1968, he stood on top of a large chunk of coal in the middle of the infield pit area. If there was an accident, it was his job to run out on to the track with a fire extinguisher.

Then the opportunity arose that he became the assistant flagman to Babe Womer. It wasn't long before Warren became the head flagman. With the opening of Big Diamond Raceway in 1972, Warren would soon become the head flagman after that track's first head starter, Red Lesher, left that position at the end of that inaugural season. Beginning in 1973, he was the head flagman. Warren flagged at Anthracite Raceway until that track closed at the conclusion of the 1975 season. He remained in the flagstand until the end of the season in 1980 when he rolled up his flags for the final time and retired from flagging.

Through the years, Warren never seemed far from his racing family and friends. He and Judy were greeted warmly at Anthracite Raceway reunions. During an interview session for Coal Region Racing, he mentioned how during "the oil days" of track prep, he would have to go home and take 2 separate baths to try and get oil, dirt and grime off! He also mentioned when the pits were in the infield at Schoentown and it rained, it was rather entertaining watching the race car haulers being pulled out of the muddy mess, up the track and into the parking lot. Although intimidating in stature, Warren was like a big teddy bear with an extremely pleasant disposition. This undoubtedly helped make him many friends throughout the pit area even after a long night at the races. Long nights that commonly involved a few cold beers.

Many race fans like to think that racers that pass on are reunited with their old racing buddies and are turning laps again. If that's true, that big race track in the afterlife has one of the best flag men to ever wave a set of flags.

Coal Region Racing would like to thank Shane Frank for his winning bid of $225 for the DVD set. And Coal Region Racing is matching that winning bid. We will be presenting Phil a check for $450. Thank you again to Shane Frank for his winning bid.

We at Coal Region Racing would like to try and help a member of our racing family. Phil Long of Auburn, PA is experiencing some serious health issues at this time.

We have decided to create a fundraiser with all the proceeds donated to Phil. Coal Region Racing is going to auction off a full set of our DVDs with the latest, Volume 9 from the Hall of Fame banquet, now included. The bidding starts at $180. The auction closes with the highest bidder on August 17, 2020.

If you prefer to make a financial donation instead, it can be sent to:
Mike Clay, Sr.
417 New Castle St.
Minersville, PA 17954

Again, all money raised will be sent directly to Phil.
Thank you.

Below is a brief look at Phil Long's racing career.

Phil began his driving career at Big Diamond in this red Camaro in the Late Model division. He would move up a class quickly.

In 1981, Phil would purchase a former Tommy Long Small Block Modified at the very young age of 17 years old.

Next, in 1983 he bought a former Dave Schoffstall Mustang bodied Tobias chassis Modified from Bill Arndt, Jr.

By 1987, Phil made the successful transition into the Winged Super Sportsman and made a stop in Big Diamond's Victory Lane.

Phil also has the Facebook page
Vintage Dirt Modified Models

Here are a few examples of the 1/25th scale model kits he turned into miniature replicas of the Sportsman race cars that 4 Coal Region Racing Hall of Fame members raced at one point in their respective careers.
It was difficult to just choose 4 pictures.
Don't take my word for it, visit his page and see for yourself!

Drick Hendricks - 11x

Hal Lord - 89

Russ Smith - 11

Roy Wiest - 123

Nominations are currently open for Coal Region Racing's next Hall of Fame inductions. Nominations are open to anyone who were involved in the racing activities at any of the tracks in Schuylkill County, PA.
Please read the posting above carefully and remember to include the reasons why you feel the individuals you choose should be considered for the Hall of Fame and the years of eligibility of 1900 to 1985.

Our friend, Bill Yerger, is the mastermind behind the recreation of the Drick Hendricks 13x that has been shown at various race car reunions and Coal Region Racing functions. This car he masterfully constructed as close as possible to the original is a perfect example of what local race cars of this era appeared as.

On May 7, 2016, an official presentation was made at the Circle M Ranch Reunion. It was during this event that Bill entrusted this incredible machine to Coal Region Racing. From left to right are Dolly Hendricks, Kate Bretz (sister to Dolly), Bonnie Mates, Bill Yerger and his wife Dale Yerger.

Bill wasn't going to let Dick Maberry have all the fun. He got to fulfill a long-time dream, to turn some laps on the same race track the original car competed on. The same track Bill attended in the mid 1950's and Dick's father Ears competed on during that era.

Bill poses proudly in front of his beautiful recreation with Dolly Hendricks, wife of the late Drick Hendricks. The original turned laps here over 50 years prior to him donating this identical duplicate to Coal Region Racing. Making his final preparations before taking the 13x on the racing surface is Dick Maberry.

Here's Bill cruising around the track on the back stretch at Circle M Ranch where the fans were able to view not just the 13x but watch all the activities of the various types of race cars that helped turn this event into one the must-see reunions of the year.

At this time, everyone at Coal Region Racing would like you to keep Bill in your thoughts and prayers as he experiencing some health issues at this time.

Schuylkill County Commissioner Frank Staudenmeier passed away while on vacation in Florida on February 29th at the age of 69. Mr. Staudenmeier was instrumental in helping create the County Proclamations for the first group of inductees into the Coal Region Racing Hall of Fame. His support in our endeavor ensures that this first group of members will be included in the county's official historical record.

I remember his comment to me after the induction ceremony that he couldn't believe how many people attended the banquet to honor this first group of inductees.

Thank you for all your years of service to our county and for supporting our efforts.

Coal Region Racing would like to thank everyone who stopped at the Reading Fairgrounds Nostalgia Race Car Show and Reunion at the Classic Auto Mall in Morgantown, PA February 21, 22, and 23. Also a huge thank you to Dave Dissinger for hauling the replica of the Drick Hendricks 13x to the show.

Coal Region Racing would like to thank everyone who stopped by our display at the Schuylkill County History Faire at the Fairlane Village Mall on Saturday February 8th. We want to especially thank Mr. George Lord for allowing us to scan many of his family's personal collection of photographs and memorabilia of Hal and Bill Lord. It is greatly appreciated and is an invaluable help in our quest to preserve our local racing history.

The local racing community has lost another member. On Thursday evening, Coal Region Racing Hall of Fame inductee, Rick Huff passed away at the age of 69.

Rick got his love of auto racing from his father and uncle who were very involved in local racing. They supplied portable light trucks for Shenandoah Speedway and Mount Carbon Speedway. It only was natural that he would follow in their footsteps. When outgoing Anthracite Raceway photographer Wild Bill Hess would give him his first camera, little did he know the impact that gift would have.

Along with his father and uncle, they would capture the priceless moments in time at Anthracite Raceway that became iconic in the history of that track. Those images added to the legacy of the dirt track known to many as Schoentown. We owe Rick and his family an enormous amount of gratitude for the images they created that are so cherished by the Anthracite Raceway faithful. He would also create the track's racing program and all the press release for the various racing papers and publications.

Rick and his family didn't confine themselves to just one track. When Big Diamond Raceway opened, they were there to record the racing action and continued for a number of years. They also photographed and recorded the racing at the Reading Fairgrounds, Penn National, Nazareth, Susquehanna, Pocono and Daytona to name a few. He also was the General Manager and photographer at Fredericksburg.

Rick would then change coarse and become a car owner along the Wilhelm brothers with the late Jim Steele steering their 51 jr. Jim Somers then became the new driver wheeling their well prepared Chevelles. Then, in 1979, they arrived at Big Diamond with a brand new creation, a Camaro. That new Late Model would earn them the 1979 Late Model Point Championship.

After his induction into the Coal Region Racing Hall of Fame on April 6, 2019, Rick was almost overwhelmed with pride and emotion upon being honored. We truly lost a good friend in racing.

From all of us at Coal Region Racing we extend our deepest condolences to his family and many friends.

This recently discovered newspaper clipping form the Shenandoah Evening Herald shows the drive-in movie theater built inside the Brandonville race track. Located 3 miles northeast of Shenandoah, the racing surface can be seen around the edge of the photograph. This image shows just how wide the track was with long sweeping turns and short straightaways.

Today, all signs of the race track and drive-in movie theater have been erased from view.

The Coal Region Racing Hall of Fame Inductees for 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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.