The first summer East
Windsor was operating, my brother, his high school buddy,
and I were present for the first Independence Day racing
weekend. Don Jones had hired a sky diver to jump from an
aircraft carrying a bag of fireworks that he would ignite on
his way to landing in the infield. Was Bill Singer handling
PA then? The announcer turned the mic over to a gentleman
who was with the planned entertainment and was monitoring
the position of the aircraft carrying the skydiver. The
pilot had reported his position to his contact in the PA
booth and the guest announcer relayed to the crowd that the
aircraft was over the track, "I can see him somewhere over
there". Wherever he was pointing, none of us could see. As
the skydiver jumped and pulled the igniter cord in the
fireworks bag, nobody in the bleachers had any idea where to
look for him. We never saw any fireworks and the skydiver
never landed in the infield, but wound up in the field
behind the concession stand.
Bob Pickell turned up
at the track driving a red coach for someone, I do not
recall who. During warmups, while everyone else was packing
down the groove down low, Bob put his tail end up near the
outer guard rail and splattered mud onto the fence. When
Bob's heat race came up, his starting position was in the
rear and some of us knew what to expect. When the green flag
flew, Bob hung his tail end out and passed half the field
using the high groove while the rest of them were fighting
over space on the inside. Ptooo, damn could he drive.
Horace Drake 11.22.16
In 1966 Don Jones ask
me to dress as a women and run in the powder puff so me
being half crazy said OK . Well, the car I had
to run was not my regular ride and Annamae Pouch almost beat
me. Then she pulled my helmet off and said that she
knew it was me. What a fun time. I give Billy Jr. a
picture of that incident.
Horace Drake
Roger L. Grubb 11.09.15
I remember attending
stock car racing at EWS with my buddies back in the 60's. I
can remember stopping by a fish market down toward
Hightstown on Friday evenings, picking up a cooked fish
plate to go, and then heading out to the speedway. My
favorite driver was Bob Pickell out of Flemington. I remember
the 72 Pee Wee and several of the other drivers, but Bob was
my man back then. I also remember the "Indian" Flagman, who
I thought was so cool.
I actually worked for Don Jones and some of his associates
at the speedway for sometime, it was kind of fun to work
there and attend the races. The Jones (y) became familiar
with my ability to ride my bicycle doing "wheelies" back
then (when I was a kid) and I can remember being contacted
years later (when I had my drivers license) by them to come
to the track and perform doing wheelies at a race event. I
had hung up my bicycle riding years earlier, so I declined
the offer.
I moved away from Jersey after I got out of the service, but
I have many fond memories of going to EWS on Friday's and
also going to other speedways in PA, NJ and NY with my Dad.
Thanks so much for the memories, Roger L. Grubb, Alabama and
now Pensacola, FL.
Steve Makocy 10.10.14
I started racing are
Middletown and Nazareth in the mid 80s I went to east
Windsor and went from being a fast driver to learning to be
a fast racer. Don't know if any one realizes how hard
is to beat Doug Billy, Jimmy, Newt and more on the same
night. I have over 50 2nds and 3rds in 4 years
and am more proud of that than winning Syracuse. It
was the best time on my career. Steve Makocy
Fred 07.27.14
I grew up going to
EWS. I also went to other tracks back in the 70's but EWS
was the best. I can remember the night Pee Wee took his race
car and drove it out of the pits and onto the road. EW cops
had a lot to say about that one. The best thing I remember
was the 777 winning like crazy and the next year the rules
were changed because of him.
Lee Taylor 02/13/12
- I remember being right behind Mike Lyons
when he went out of the first turn and into the parking lot. He ran
over a wheel and disappeared. I also remember starting a heat race
behind Brett Hearn and he didn't make 1 lap and was upside down.
I remember thinking, "Welcome to Windsor Brett."
Craig Bastian 04/03/09
- I lived on N. Main St in Hightstown from
68-78, you could hear the cars and the announcer from our house. I
went with my dad when I was young, then with my friends as a teen.
Worked fro Dusty Malsbury for a while, he had old pictures in the
garage of his racing days. We got caught sitting in the trees by
turn three once, cops made our parents come get us, great memories,
sad to see it's gone now.
Mike 02/29/08
- I grew up around East Windsor Speedway with my
brother Bryan. We would sit with my uncle at the front gate,
checking coolers for bottles or with my other uncle at the ticket
window. My father worked at EWS every Friday night and drove the Water
Truck and Load Lugger. I remember my father letting me steer the truck
around the race track while he was watering it before the race and then
venturing over to the concession stand, where my Aunt was working, and
snack on a hamburger and a Mountain Dew. EWS has always been part
of my families life and the friendships that were made will never be
forgotten. Don Jones gave my father and uncles the opportunity to work
for him and we shall always be thankful. In Loving Memory of Uncle
Righty. Thank you EWS!
Ryan 08/27/07
- I'm Ryan- I'm 14, I used to go to East Windsor Speedway every
Friday with my grandma, aunt, and Cousin Jess who posted earlier. I used to
sit in turn 1 with my friend Zach Tilghman back then we were like 8 and we had this little
race track that is still there to this day. I went back and took a whole bunch of
pictures of the speedway, and it made me realize how good it was back then. I
go to NES but and Bridgeport but nothing can top Windsor. I usually got to
walk around the track every night after the races with my grandpop Jack Simmons, and steal
all the car parts and mud plugs thats had fell off cars. It truly is sad to see what
has happened to Windsor knowing that it was part of my childhood and will always be.
Kenneth Hoffman
07/30/07
- My family (the Hoffman's) grew up around East Windsor Speedway.
Seeing the track closed hurts. I Definitely miss the sound of the cars on a Friday night
and being with friends in turn 4. Kids these days only know of going to the movies, mall,
and things like that. Thankfully myself and family including my two brothers grew up
around the speedway. Thanks to my father who was on multiple race teams at EWS (Bob
Hoffman), Hunting Fishing and the races have been passed down to us. East Windsor may be
gone but not forgotten.
Jessica Greczyn
07/20/07
- I'm Jessica Greczyn and my grandfather was Jack Simmons, the
Promoter for EWS. I was raised in a dirt track family who included my father, Steve
Greczyn, and my uncle, John Simmons, and of course my grandfather, Jack Simmons.
From the point where I could go I was going to EWS every Friday night. I met some of
the most amazing people in the world. I have not been there since my grandfather
passed away, and personally I feel that if he was here with us today this would not be
happening to that track. The track was his life as it was our families. My favorite
memories of EWS was always the July 4th fireworks. My grandfather would always come out
and sit in the grand stands with my family and I and watch them which made them very
special to me. I tried to pull in today but I could not do it, it is too emotional
to go there and see what they have done (aka wrecked it) and to think of what my
grandfather would have thought. I am hoping to go there within the next week and get
some clay off of the track and distribute it to my family. As much as NES is a wonderful
track, I believe many will agree with me, its not the same. EWS started a revolution and
although we all knew this day would come, it seemed to come too soon.
JM 03/11/07
- I remember the track when there were nights of 150 cars in the
pits. I guess my favorite memory was of the Fall Daniel Classic 100 lap race they used to
run. For me it was Windsor on Friday, Flemington on Saturday and Nazareth on Sunday. Those
were the days. At the time I don't think any of us realized how lucky we were to have so
many great tracks and drivers. East Windsor will never be forgotten. I saw some of the
best racing there...JM
Chris Bennett
03/11/07
- I would have to say in my era, the best part of east Windsor would
be watching Billy Pauch up against the boards. He was so incredible at that track it would
take your breath away. Many drivers past through the pit gates there but Billy the kid
left an impression on many.
Sarah S. 03/07/07
(Mercerville NJ)
- My cousin and I just turned 17 and are disgusted to see what has
happened to East Windsor speedway. We pretty much grew up at that track. Every
Friday we would go with our parents and meet up with other family members to watch our
Uncle's modified run. In our eyes that was what life was. But never forget the
cheese fries that were still good with a little track dirt on the side! School for
five days ending with a race Friday night. Yes, we go to New Egypt Speedway now but
it is nothing like the time we spent at East Windsor. In our opinion those houses
have no right to be there because the track was there years before they were, but opinions
won't help in this matter. I guess everyone will only have their memories of the track and
new ones to come from other tracks.
John Reuter 02/02/06
- 1) watching a great Len Sammons memorial with Brightbill,
Horton, and Hoffman swapping position on every lap.
- 2) The Syracuse qualifiers in the70's with Cagle,Buzzie,Jack
Johnson.
- 3)The first time going there and seeing
Ploski,Havens,Schnieder,PeeWee,etc.
- 4) Going to the first All Star Sprint Car show there,only 17
cars but the track was blistering fast and I watched Rahmer and Kaufmen go into the first
turn side by side flat out without lifting.
- 5) Stan in the 24,Osmun in the 81,Sammy in the 43,then
Balough came from nowhere and smoked
'em.
- 6) PeeWee always causing controversy.
- 7) Jan Opperman showing up in the Deasey 707, meeting Him,and
thinking He was as larger then life just with the way He talked to You.
- 8) Jan coming to a super sprint race in the 70's and not racing
cause He was being harassed by the State Police.
- 9) Thinking Don Jones was racings best friend and worst enemy
in the same person.
- 10) Some big guy running down and disrupting victory lane
pictures while Les Katona was holding the flag.
Steven 01/04/06
- I have many fond memories of the "bull ring"...the weekly
Friday night trek up the GSP to 539...the wood monster sucking cars in...Chic flipping the
77h down the front stretch... rebirth of the 7a...Hoffman fans fighting with the Pauch
fans...Horton fans saying he's the best ever...everyone hating Johnny Leach
fans...everyone loving Darryl...Horton and Gizmo, well what can I say about
that....victories...the competition between Pauch and Cossaboone to see who could rim ride
the highest... a hair dresser driving a Small Block Modified...no weight limit...twin
twenties...Horton starting mid pack going to the front, then having a flat and going to
rear and winning...paid heat races...$2k to win...Don Jones well being Don Jones. I was
only there for the 86' 87' and 88' seasons.
Bob Hoffman 12/31/05
- Working on the fire jeep and surveying the the wreck when Jimmy
Horton hit the Jeep on the last lap of the feature.
- The great race of Dave Hollenbaugh and Billy Osmon lap after lap
side by side during the feature. Billy coming over after the race and shaking Daves hand
and saying how much he enjoyed the race with both of them running each other clean. Bob
Hoffman
MVCGVC74 12/23/05
- Freddy D in the #303 - I think the longest racing time between East
Windsor and NES. The first racer he ran was numbered 303. It was the cubic in of the
motor, (Oldsmobile). Was a track champ I think two years. Lots of good racing at the
track. Too bad that we must plant new houses.
Bob Hoffman 12/22/05
- Yes, there was a junk yard right where you ember.
- Ridding my bike down to the pit entrance and talking to Don Jones
brother who was at the gate by the road.
- Dons brother taking me in to see my first stock car race and buying
food and drinks for a very happy kid. taking over the pit gate entrance for Don's brother.
- Working the food stand for several years.
- Working on Several race teams.
- Being in the pits and helping my gym coach and one other crew
member keep away every one away from Peewee Griffin's hauler after Pee Wee and Joe Kelly
had problems on the track.
Kevin Mc 12/20/05
- My two heroes Pee Wee and Tex in the early 70s. No last names are
needed.
- Ploski in the yellow #24. My first villain.
- Does anyone recall at one time there being a junkyard in the
parking lot of EWS in the corner nearest to Rt 33?
- watching the racers towing past my house on Old York Rd on Fridays
and bugging dad to get moving cuz the races were gonna start soon.
- Sitting in Don Stives modified when I was maybe 7 or 8 in the pits
after the races one night
- Standing by the gate behind the flagstand at the end of the night
and trying to be the first one on the track to get to the pits.
- Walking there when I was older and couldnt find a ride from
someone.
- Hating Jimmy Horton in the red #3 cuz he won every week in the late
70s.
- Then feeling guilty years later when I saw he was actually a decent
guy.
- Sammy Beavers #33 Cadillac Seville. All time coolest race car
- John Kurowskis Turtle car.
- That guy who ran the souvenir stand that had an asphalt mod painted
on the side of his van
- Howie Cronce winning a feature and destroying the car in a bad
wreck right at the checkered flag
- Mike Lyons going out of the park in turn 1
- The Onka #12 lite weight car. didnt it burn to the ground in hot
laps eventually?
- My first funnel cake was at EWS
- Jack Johnson invading and winning the opener around 1980
- Neighbors getting closer every year.
- That first week with stock mufflers. how weird was that?
- Going there in the late 80s and seeing the place just PACKED every
week. For a time EWS seemed like the must see race track.
- Seeing ALL the heavy hitters there on the same track. Those were
some great features
- Awesome car counts in the 80s. 40, 45 , 50 mods showing up.
- Great fireworks every year
- Richie Cass in the baby blue 75c
- Moving back to NJ and finding EWS in the middle of suburbia..
- Going to races there in 2001 & 2002 watching lackluster shows
with dismally small car counts and thinking every time I went that it may be the last race
I would ever see there. Knowing the end was near and not really caring because mgmt
apparently didnt care so why should I?
- Reading from 3200 miles away that EWS was finally actually going
away and thinking that Ive probably known this was gonna happen eventually as far back as
the early 80s.
- If someone can get their hands on some EWS clay, Id really like a
chunk of it
Robert Stives 12/11/05
- I am not sure if the guy driving the Jeep in the photo (above) was
Jake MacFarland or not. It looks alot like him. Jake gave me a ride home
everyday when I was a junior in high school. We both worked at NAPA store in
Princeton. Jake didn't talk much about racing. Driving the Jeep was simply a
part-time job he had to have to make ends meet. He was killed in a freak accident at EWS
when his Jeep and a racecar collided. The Jeep rolled over ejecting him. He died
from injuries sustained when he landed in the infield as I understand it. He was one of
the many people who played an important, but often unnoticed, part of producing the show
of local stockcar racing every weekend.
Gglenn923 12/08/05
- Stan Ploski driving Deasey's 707 with the Ford 427
"Cammer" motor.
Flemington officials wouldn't allow it, saying it wasn't a stock production motor.
East Windsor did and Stan won something like 18 features in one season at East
Windsor with this car.
Bill Braga Sr.
Pequannock, NJ
12/03/05
- One of the great race tracks in the northeast. I was lucky to
not only be at opening night at the fast half mile, but I was also at the final event, the
first race won by Russ Hoak car no.9 June 11, 1965, and the last race won by Doug Hoffman
in car no. 5 Aug.23 2002. Many great drivers such as Pee Wee Griffin , Doug Hoffman,
Billy Pauch, Jimmy Horton, Sammy Beavers, Kenny Brightbill, Will Cagle, Bob Malzahn, Al
Tasnady, and many others. A total of 452 big block races and 559 small block races
were run at east Windsor and I enjoyed many of them, thanks for the memories......
- My father and I went to East Windsor quite often in the mid to late
70's. I was a big Sammy Beavers fan in those days and watching Sammy muscle the Norcia 81
around the 1/2 mile is something I'll never forget.
- My favorite memory of the speedway actually happened behind the
grandstands. I was around 9 or 10 years old and my dad and I were in our usual seats
between the starters stand and turn 1. I guess I drank too much soda on this
particular night because I kept having to go to the bathroom. It seemed like the 10th time
that I had to go and my dad said go by yourself as long as you can get back here without
getting lost. I assured him I could, so off I went. On the way back from the troths, I
soon realized I didn't know how to get back so I decided to walk up to the announcers
booth. I knocked on the door and Bill Singer was in there with another guy. I told
this other guy my name and that I was lost. Bill Singer let me sit right next to him and
said to me at the next yellow we'll get your dad up here. He gave me his ciger band which
I wore as a ring the rest of the night. At the next yellow Bill announced as only he
could; "Bill Braga Sr. come to the announcers booth, we have Billy up here".
So my dad came up to the booth to find me sitting next to Bill Singer with my
new "ring". When we got back to our seats he pleaded with me not to
tell my mother what had happenend. I kept the secret for many years until I told the
story to my mother. We all had a good laugh over that one.
- It's stories like this that make it such a shame that East Windsor,
Flemington, Nazareth, Reading....... are gone. I have 2 kids of my own now, and I hope all
the time that I'll have the chance to rescue them from an announcers booth at Bridgeport,
New Egypt, Orange County etc..... Thanks for the memories EWS.
Bill Braga Jr.
Skeeter (from Hamilton) 11/27/05
- What about Johnny pullin that heavy cart across those stones
selling his popcorn and other goodies? And the racing? I've seen a lot of great racin at
that track. Too bad it's gone.
John Armbruster 11/26/05
- The Friday night drive there after my dad got home from work and
watching the sun set from the grandstands.
- freezing my butt off there every spring sitting off turn 4.
- an accident that involved Pee Wee Griffin and another car (somebody
help me)that ended up with the cars knocking down the flag stand (before it was raised
up), and Tex Enright running down toward the first turn having to signal the cars to slow
down with his arms because his flags were broken.
- Jimmy Horton and Ken Brenn coming down to the finish side by side
and colliding sending Horton's 3 sliding forever into the infield and hitting one of the
pace jeeps. And then going in the pits later and watching his crew try to load the car up
with the rubrail bent against the right rear tire.
- The pace jeeps and Don Jones' dumpster tow trucks.
- The daisys that grew everywhere in the summer.
- Scavaging below the grandstand and making huge poptop chains.
- Oiled down dirt in the parking lot.
- Walking over to the pit entrance before the races and looking at
the cars
before they came in. One time, I drew a picture of Chesson's #76, and Stan
Ploski signed it while waiting to go in.
- Acella, and all the grandstands being re-painted in earth tones.
- Watching BIlly Osmun in Scamardella's #121 Grant King copy winning
a 100, or 200 lap end of season race, and - specifically - my dad saying nobody could
drive through traffic like Billy O. And he was right.
- The year Lindy took over and the Reading stars came and put on some
of the best racing ever. And sitting in front of the little booth in turn 1 and watching
the guy operate the old Reading lap counter.
- The night my dad got hit with a 3" bolt right in the chest
while sitting in turn 1.
- Going down to the fence before the race started and waving to the
drivers.
- Getting to go in the pits after the races, and making the long walk
from the flag stand gate across the infield pit road. The clay was always tacky on those
humid summer nights.
- The EWS flags that flew on the infield flag poles.
- When the had drivers and their cars park behind the grandstand
before the
races.
- One night, Johnny Leach's girlfriend sat in front of us, and I drew
a picture of his car for her...and he went on to win his first ever race...I remember
giving her the picture and how excited she was. (I wonder, what ever happened to the girl
and the picture).
- My brother and I picking up pieces of clay thrown over the wall,
and molding little race cars out of them.
- Eyes pouring out tears from the alcohol fumes.
- Pillow cases red in the morning with clay from our hair.
- Pee Wee Griffin bringing his car out full of beach balls and
throwing them to the kids over the catch fence.
- Pee Wee winning the race and driving straight out of the race track
and straight back to the garage on 130 without taking off his helmet so he wasn't killed.
- My mom making fried chicken to bring on Friday nights.
- Warren flagging the races
- Making racetracks for our Matchbox cars in the gravel at the bottom
of the grandstands.
Racing Friday and Sundays!
BOBBY FIORELLO K-3 RACING 11/25/05
- SITTING IN THE 4TH TURN WHEN I WAS TOO YOUNG TO EVEN THINK ABOUT
GOING IN THE PITS WITH ALL MY FRIENDS - THEN IAM TOWING AND WORKING ON LES KATONAS K-3 -
MAN HOW THINGS CHANGE
- AS FAR AS THE SURFACE AND THE TIGHT TURNS -WOW
- I'LL MISS ALL THE GREAT SIDE BY SIDE RACING
- THANX FOR THE MEMORIES DON JONES
Rich Pearson (aka Rich from down South)
11/24/05
- (84?) Doug Hoffman/ Fred Rahmer coming off turn 4 side by side with
Fred squeezing Doug into the fence. Doug ultimately wound up cart wheeling down the front
stretch. The big memory here is watching Doug walk from turn 4 all the way to turn 2 where
Fred was parked during the red. Doug was looking for the 60over paint on Freds car.
- (95?) Jimmy Horton muscling himself through traffic 3 times in the
X car after getting caught up in wrecks several times.
- (86?) Kirk Horton going end over end down the front stretch,
hopping the fence nearly taking out the starters stand and landing upside down on the
grass with the motor running wide open.
- Pre steel fence days when the drivers would grease their wheels.
How cool that looked as the tires shined in the lights.
- Announcer- "HERE COME THE MODIFIEDS"
- (92?) The Jet's big debut, on his lid......and not to return.
- Car counts in the eighties (sometimes 60 SBM's)
- How bout that track surface?
- Accella
- Sad but more memory's and friends made.
Tommy Kosch 11/14/05
- 1992 Billy Pauch in the Tabloid Graphics 15 going 5 wide up against
the first turn fence to make the pass.
- 70's Jimmy Horton in the Statewide #3 mod getting caught up in a
wreck and coming from the rear to beat out Billy Osmun in the Ferrriola Bros. #73 at the
line.
- Andy Belmont flipping the length of the back stretch in the 14 and
totally destoying the car.
- The hamburgers were the best, I couldn't wait to get there to have
one. Or my brother filming the water truck in the infield as Ken Carberry flipped out over
turn 1.
God I miss that place. Tommy Kosch
3Wide 11/12/05
-
Al Michalchuk passing 19 cars on the first lap of a
sportsman heat race... Seems most of the guys thought the track was too wet up high
so they all took the conservative approach and only used the bottom two grooves. Al
took the #292 coupe to the high side coming out of turn 2 and had the lead by the time
they came off turn 4!
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