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Photo ID # L02.17.15_REA_AER_REA_1937R_1
Car #: #NA
Driver (s) : NA
Location: Reading Fairgrounds
Date: 1937 (left) and 2008 (right)
Photographer:

1937 image source is: http://www.pennpilot.psu.edu/

2008 image source is: http://www.pasda.psu.edu/

Photo provided by: Larry Haines
Comments: Comment from Larry:  I just wanted to offer this photo I put together a few years ago that shows the location of the long gone Reading track in relation to the current Fairgrounds Square Mall. Thank - Larry Haines
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Date: Visitor's  Name:

Comment:

11.26.16

Fick

This is a ghost story so I send it for your amusement only.   Post at your own peril. 

I went to high school with a girl named Deborah Eaken.  Her dad owned a chemical company in Reading.  Later she owned a craft store in an old barn at the end of Reading Crest Avenue (the street I grew up on) and 61 and a card shop in the Fairgrounds Square Mall, the shopping center built on the site of the Fastest Half Mile in the East. 

Red Reigal died just off turn two in 1966.  When his funeral procession went down 222 past the track my mother had a conniption (PA Dutch) fit.  She thought it was terrible that they passed the place he died.  I was only 12 or 13 when this happened, but I believe mom knew Reigal personally, I am not sure about Pop.   

This was the point in time when I expressed an interest in driving and suddenly any contact with racing was absolutely forbidden.  You have no idea the abuse I faced.  I was not allowed to attend, read newspaper accounts, or listen any radio coverage of any racing.  I was not in the stands when this happened. 

Years later this story comes from my mom who says was told to her by Debbie. 

Debbie was working late one night after the mall closed, the only person in the card shop.  She heard a man moaning.  Frightened she searched her shop for the source of the moaning.  She found nothing and the moaning ceased so she went back to work. 

The card shop sat on the exact location where Reigal's car stopped

A short time later the moaning resumed.  Debbie was really scared at this point but still went through her small store to find the source.  She did not find a man but did notice that her cash register, which was turned off at closing, was now on displaying Reigal's car number, I believe 2 (but this was a long time ago).  

At the least a very good tale. 

     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

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