Happily the rain date, September 27, was much kinder. Warm temperatures and gentle breezes made it seem as if the weather gods were making up for the trashy hand they had dealt us two weeks earlier.
Many of the cars promised for the earlier date showed up again. A few of the commercial booths fell away due to prior commitments, but the remaining food and soda vendors appeared to be doing a brisk business. We were sorry to lose several of our out-of-town guests, Augie Pabst, Harry Heuer. and Peter Hylton, among them, due to the date change.
Most important, the people came out. It was estimated that several thousand visitors from the surrounding towns, and some from great distances, came to see the displays and cars, rekindle memories, and meet old friends.
New continuation Scarab being built in Kansas was on display. It is a fine piece of workmanship.
Clubs brought a number of vintage racers to celebrate their Meadowdale history and promote their current events.
Speakers, displays of racing memorabilia and videos provided active information (and a chance to rest your feet).
Another part of the display area was open for pre-'70 street cars, as might have been seen in the Meadowdale spectator parking lots.
This early '50s Lincoln has been racing in the Mexican Road Race for the past several years.
Pretty '56-'57 Corvette looked almost too fine to race.
"The front row" - Iso Grifo, continuation Scarab, Shelby factory team Cobra raced here during 1964 United States Road Racing Championship series.
An original honest-to-goodness Shelby Cobra factory team race car that raced at Meadowdale in 1964.
As the afternoon dwindled, the exhibit cars began to fade away, but this front straight of the old track was lined solidly with a quarter mile of parked
show cars an hour earlier.
Thank you to all who contributed prizes, time, and effort to make the Meadowdale 50th Anniversary Reunion and Festival a great success. We particularly wish to thank the bands who provided live music continuously throught the day,
More photos and copy to come. If you have some good shots to share, e-mail them to 50thwebmaster. Thank you.
Meadowdale Raceway 50th Anniversary Reunion & Festival Report 27
September 13-14, 2008
September 13-14 - Meadowdale Raceway Reunion Weekend. Saturday morning the skies opened and nearby OHare Airport reported the largest one-day rainfall since they had kept records! Water was ankle deep on the main straight, where cars were to be displayed, and the chipped paths we had planned to use as access roads had turned into mud bogs. And the forecast for Sunday was no better. Regretfully we made the decision to postpone the event until Saturday, September 27.
Bruce Weatherston of Chicagoland SCC, was one of several who were there Sept. 13-14, ready to display his Alexis Formula Ford, come hell or high water. (I guess the high water is the better alternative.)
MEADOWDALE RACEWAY 50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
DRAWING WINNERS OF SEPTEMBER 27, 2008
1. George Kletecka
Artist Signed Print – Monza Wall w/Scarabs
West Dundee, Il
2. Tom Kaufmann
Racetrack Ashtray – Besinger Family Donation
R oselle, IL
3. Mark Barrett
Racetrack Ashtray – Besinger Family Donation
4. Dan Pareski
Napa Model
Cary
5. Randy Deutsch
Hat & Oil Change Pkg.
Batavia, Il
6. Milt Hirsch
Hat & Oil Change Pkg.
Dundee, IL
7. Rick Daniel
Hat & Oil Change Pkg.
8. Randy Turek
Hat & Oil Change Pkg.
9. Verlyn Strollner
Hat & Oil Change Pkg.
Highland Park, IL
10. Michael Schimmel
Oil Change & Other
Carpentersville, IL