Comments on: Champaign County Fairgrounds – Oval

By: Randy Lewis

Randy Lewis — Tue, 05 Mar 2019 20:04:40 +0000

In reply to Larry morgan. Hi Larry, Thanks for taking the time to write. Yes, those were the good old days! I grew up in nearby Peoria and was doing the same thing you were doing in Champaign. Sometimes I ask myself if those times were really that great or are our memories of what we saw what makes those times seem great? We were all much younger then! Upon further reflection we never would have gone back week after week if it wasn't fantastic fun!!!

By: Larry morgan

Larry morgan — Tue, 05 Mar 2019 19:51:26 +0000

Oh no…big error! Sorry for the name mistake. Make that RANDY !!

By: Larry morgan

Larry morgan — Tue, 05 Mar 2019 19:46:56 +0000

Hi Ed…I have just read your piece concerning the C-U Speedway in Urbana and found it quite entertaining. Since I spent much of my early childhood living in Champaign /Urbana it seemed natural I gravitated to the “Speedway” early in my life. In fact I can remember hearing the mighty midgets as a 3 or 4 year old prior to WW2 living maybe a mile or so from the track. By the end of the war we were living in Champaign and racing began after having been shut down due to the war. And they couldn’t keep me away! Every Friday night found me finding one way or another getting to the track. I was hooked but good. After moving to nearby Rantoul (15 miles) I still found ways to get there. I remember only great memories of that track, even after the midgets began to fade and stock cars (jalopy’s) took over, I was a steady fan until leaving for the Army in ’54. And most every time, that big ole’ grandstand was full. It’s a shame the times have changed so much as you have reported. Having moved to California 1960 I lost all contact with the track but not with racing altogether, still as a fan at this point. By the way we’re practically neighbors as I’m just up the 405 in Santa Ana since 1960. Thanks again for your fine report.
Larry

By: Randy Lewis

Randy Lewis — Thu, 11 Feb 2016 00:34:49 +0000

Hi Matt, Thanks for taking the time to comment. Also thanks for the heads up on the planned racing for the Pecatonica Speedway. Yes, I have been there. The track was my 505th lifetime track to see. That visit, all the way back on August 8, 2001, had a very well-known feature winner….Scott Bloomquist. I wonder how many people know that Scott Bloomquist raced at the little Pecatonica Speedway? I noticed they were considering a possible enduro race in 2016. I’m not sure if that type of race would be all that entertaining on a big 1/2-mile track. Most enduros are run on tracks of a quarter-mile in length or smaller.

By: Matt Record

Matt Record — Wed, 10 Feb 2016 22:51:31 +0000

In reply to Matt Record.

The facebook page for Pecatonica is https://www.facebook.com/pecatonicaspeedway/. Theres talk that they might do a enduro and a run whatcha brung event this year. Check that for updates.

By: Matt Record

Matt Record — Wed, 10 Feb 2016 07:48:54 +0000

Thanks for posting this story and experience for this race event. I didn’t go to this race event but was curious about how it went and your the only person I have seen talk about it. I also hate when race events drag on with no much waisted in between races. By the way I heard that Pecatonica Speedway (Winnebago County Fairgrounds) might be doing racing again in the future. Might be another track to add to your list if you haven’t already been there.

By: DT

DT — Wed, 02 Dec 2015 03:44:20 +0000

I lived in Champaign ’67 – ’69, and never heard of CCF. Checked http://www.champaigncountyfair.cc/ and it’s written up as a World’s Fair or better, incl. video of a hornet roll over and demo derby action.