Pennsylvania

All-Time Favorite Pennsylvania Track:

Empty Jug

Best Memories:

It has been said that Pennsylvania is really just Philadelphia and Pittsburg with Alabama in the middle. Yes, it is one of the most rural and picturesque states I have visited. Pennsylvania, along with maybe New York, is home to the most ardent racing fans I have ever seen. It almost seems as if that is the only interest in the state!

I have a lot of trackchasing memories from Pennsylvania. I am not a deer hunter. That’s what made my visit to the Empty Jug racetrack so much fun. Here were a bunch of deer hunters who used their lodge and associated grounds for a racetrack in the summer. I couldn’t have been any different from these guys than if the man in the moon had visited. Nevertheless, they invited me into their “secret” lodge and told me stories and we all drank some beer. Fun. Then I remember my visit to Big Al’s Racetrack. “Big Al” (above) is actually sort of a little guy. I am not a coal miner. Big Al is a coal miner. He has invited to take me down into the coal mines 300 feet below ground when I make my next stop there. I don’t know if I can take him up on that. I am “minorly” claustrophobic.

My first Pennsylvania trackchasing visit was to the venerable Reading Fairgrounds Speedway back in the 70s. To be honest I fell asleep. That had nothing to do with the racing. I was just so tired from a work visit I couldn’t keep my eyes open. I didn’t want to go to sleep because this was a special visit but I was just so tired. I saw some really good Worlds of Outlaws sprint car racing at the Lernerville Speedway back in the early 80s. I recall my buddy Jim Sabo leaving his sunglasses in the outhouse at Lernerville! I told you Pennsylvania was rural.

My visit to the Latrobe Speedway was most memorable not because of the racing but because I got to play golf at Arnold Palmer’s famous Latrobe Country Club. This was one of my top five most memorable rounds of golf ever. I’ve seen some of the best winged kart racing in the Keystone state. On the other hand, Pocono is one of my least favorite NASCAR Cup tracks. A major Pennsylvania highlight was getting an up close and personal tour of the Paul Weisel led Eastern Auto Racing Historical Society racing car museum.

If you see a track link in the above list simply click on it to be transferred to my Trackchaser Report. Here you will be able to read about my adventure at this particular track. Not only will you learn about my time at the track but you’ll hear about all of the interesting people, places and things I encountered during the entire trip, coming and going, to that speedway. Most of my Trackchaser Reports will also include a photo album and YouTube video. Check it all out. Don’t be afraid to use the “search” box in the upper right corner of my website’s home page. Just type in the track name or whatever and you’ll be directed to the place you want to be.

Below is a key to surface types and track configurations so you can understand the above list just a little bit easier.

Surface types:  D-dirt; P-paved; M-mixed

Configuration types:  O-oval; RC-road course; F8-figure 8 track