May 15, 2007- Hurrah! The silo has been saved and work is almost completed on the project. The financial goal for the project has been reached, thanks to pledges from many of you Meadowdale supporters and a generous donation from the family of Leonard W. Besinger, Meadowdale Raceways visionary and builder.
The political machinations seem to be behind us, thanks to the support of Carpentersville Mayor Bill Sarto and cooperation from all the different government bodies involved.
The Milken Family Foundation has also provided a grant, through Mr. Gary Swick, environmental instructor at Dundee-Crown High School in Carpentersville. It will be used for graffiti elimination, public education, natural area restoration, and stewardship of the silo area.
January 1, 2007... The structural work on the silo is done. The reinforcement, crack patching and closing of the door and other openings has been completed. Now we are just waiting for warm spring weather to repaint the silo and do the landscaping. more...
November, 2006
April, 2006
1968
May 15, 2007
Artist's rendering of silo project with planning landscaping in place.
The Forest Preserve District has broken out the old barn foundation and the Township has made great strides in clearing the garbage vegetation that had grown to hide the silo.
May 15, 2007 The upper portions of the silo have been repainted to restore the Pure Racing Gasoline/Meadowdale Raceways scheme, while the lower section of the structure now presents a mural tracing the evolution of the property from the glacial ages to the present. Dave Reece was the painter for the bulk of the silo, including the overall finish and the Pure Oil and Meadowdale messages. Dundee-Crown High School and area grade school students applied the murals. Thanks to the Dundee Township Road Commisioner for assistance with clearing and grading.
7-29-07 Bridge over little washout near silo budgeted by county board
Here's a note from Donna Redmer with an update on the silo landscaping and beautification efforts:
"We have made another step forward!! Larry Braasch was at the site on Thursday, July 26. Even though the weather was terrible and the rain turned everything to mud, Larry and his guys still managed to level off the berm on the south side of the silo and level off the front area as it wraps around the silo. We still need steps 2-5 or 6, but this is a major step in the right direction.
"Next, we need permission to fill the hole on the north side of the silo. We would need clean fill plus the permission. Following that, we can plot the path from the parking lot to the track (past the silo) and bring in the base and crushed limestone cover. Landscape cloth will also be required as per Forest Preserve rules & regs.
"Finally, we have about $3,000 reserved for plants and grasses. I would like to see that completed before winter.
"Note, we have a friend in John Fahy, Kane County Board Member, who is championing our cause in developing the Raceway as a good place to visit. John also lobbied the county to provide funds for a bridge that will cross the creek near the silo. This was added to the County Board Budget and was passed.
"The bridge will be constructed off site and brought to the creek area. All the more reason the get the silo project completed."
This bridge will eliminate the short but slippery slide down the washout walls and hopping across the stepping stones in the creek. It will make the hike up to the paddock area and balance of the track much easier, especially for the handicapped and old folks like this writer. It will be just for hiking, biking and horseback riders, not for general vehicle use. How to provide a way across the big washout on the main straight still presents a quandry.
When this Meadowdale Raceway landmark was threatened with demolition in early 2006, these are the citizens and organizations that came to its rescue. Their contributions allowed the patching, painting, and landscaping needed to return the silo to its prominence as a Fox Valley landmark. Their generosity attests to the community interest in preserving the spirit of Meadowdale International Raceway, an American racing icon.
THANK YOU TO:
ABOVE AND BEYOND DONORS
Leonard Besinger Family
Milken Family Foundation
Dundee Township Visitor Center
GRAND PRIX 500 DONORS
Full Throttle Racing Club & SCC of Rockford
North Suburban Sports Car Club
Sports Car Club of Rockford
Donna Redmer
Arne Henriksen, Jr. (Sign maker- A r n e)
Midwestern Council of Sports Car Clubs
SILVER TROPHY DONORS
Jack Redmer
Joseph Sacco
Ed & Sue Harney
Chicagoland Sports Car Club
Ronald Spannraft
Madison Sports Car Club
Peggy Hernandez
Larry Braasch
Ross Fosbender
Michael Kaufmann
Rick Yocum
Keith Dale
Elaine Rathjen
Lotus Corps
Friends for Lauzen - Chris Lauzen
Heritage Festival Booth donations
Herb Beck
Thomas Hart
Citizens for Ruth Munson
Frank's Concrete Company
Bandito Barney's benefit
Solid Axle Corvette Club
CHECKERED FLAG DONORS
Joseph Adamkiewicz
Susan Hirsch
Ruth Sutton
Andrew Rolfe
Matthew Nolan
Historical Race Car LLC
Frederic Schulz
Marilyn Backe
Kristin Weck Farrag
Keith and Halina Hibbing
Ken & Jennifer Schaffer
H. Thomas Powers
GREEN FLAG DONORS
Charles Falk
Anonymous
Peter Justen
Matthew Lagessie
Larry Arnt (Sign maker- A r n t)
Rob Richards
James Kulseth
William Lloyd
Joseph Motyl
James Masi
Michael Kenyon
Peter Mrzlak
James & Marie Markel
Scott McTague
John & Anita Court
Joseph P. Bullard
John & Fran Thomson
GOODS & SERVICES DONORS
Dundee Twp. Road Commissioner
Bill Geister, Cardunal Savings Bank
Dave Reese, Northern Illinois Painting
"Save the Silo" DONORS- This is the proposed bronze plaque to be affixed to the silo. Please check to be sure your name is here and spelled correctly. Corrections to rossf@cognifast.comThanks.
The plaque will be about twice the size shown here. The names within each category are sequenced by the date of their deposit.
Plaque dedicated September 12, 2008, on the 50th anniversary
This will give you a general idea of what the plaque will look like. However, there have been some changes since this was posted. Click here to see the current text.
Thanks.
“SAVE THE SILO”
When this Meadowdale Raceway silo was threatened with demolition in early 2006, these are the citizens and organizations that came to its rescue. Their contributions allowed the patching, painting, and landscaping needed to return the silo to its prominence as a Fox Valley landmark. Their generosity attests to the community interest in preserving the spirit of Meadowdale International Raceway, an American racing icon. THANK YOU TO:
ABOVE AND BEYOND DONORS
Leonard Besinger Family
Milken Family Foundation
Dundee Township Visitors Center
GRAND PRIX 500 DONORS
Jack and Donna Redmer
Full Throttle Racing Club Ltd
North Suburban Sports Car Club
Sports Car Club 0f Rockford
Arne Henriksen, Jr. ( A r n e )
Midwestern Council of Sports Car Clubs
SILVER TROPHY DONORS
Joseph Sacco
Ed & Sue Harney
ChicagoLand Sports Car Club
Ronald Spannraft
Madison Sports Car Club
John and Nadine Hernandez
Larry Braasch
Ross Fosbender
Mike, Tom, & Jeff Kaufmann
Rick Yocum
Keith Dale
Elaine Rathjen
Lotus Corps
Friends for Lauzen - Chris Lauzen
Heritage Festival Booth
Herb Beck
Thomas Hart
Citizens for Ruth Munson
Frank's Concrete Company
Bandito Barney's benefit
Solid Axle Corvette Club
CHECKERED FLAG DONORS
Joseph Adamkiewicz
Susan Hirsch
Andrew and Nigel Rolfe
Ruth Sutton
Matthew Nolan
Historical Race Car LLC
Frederic Schulz
Marilyn Backe
Kristin Weck Farrag
Keith and Halina Hibbing
Ken & Jennifer Schaffer
H. Thomas Powers
GREEN FLAG DONORS
Charles Falk
Anonymous
Peter Justen
Matthew Lagessie
Larry Arnt ( A r n t )
Rob Richards
James Kulseth
William Lloyd
Joseph Motyl
James Masi
Michael Kenyon
Peter Mrzlak
James & Marie Markel
Scott McTague
John & Anita Court
Joseph P. Bullard
John & Fran Thomson
MATERIAL & SERVICE DONORS
Village of Carpentersville
Larry Braasch, Dundee Township Road Commissioner
Bill Geister, Cardunal Savings Bank
Dave Reese, Northern Illinois Painting
Gary Swick and the Dundee Crown
Environmental Science Classes
Dundee Crown Art Classes (get correct class and teacher name?)
? Grade School Art Classes (get exact school and teacher name)
Frank Jureske, Cement Work
Chris Kempf, Bobcat Services
Felipe Marin, Scaffold removal
Plaque dedicated September 14, 2008, on the
50th Anniversary
of the first race at Meadowdale Raceway.
Names will be formatted into two columns. If you spot any errors or you prefer some change in your name, please contact me immediately. The plaque will be ordered over the winter.
This copy is current with notes received through 12-7-07.
