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The Classics approach the starting line. |
Uh oh, spinout
As a young man my friends and I spent most of our summer Saturday nights at Holland International Speedway. Holland, New York, not the Netherlands. And, international because most weekends one guy brought a car down from his home in Canada. The first race I saw this night was for what are called moderns. I couldn't recognize any of the cars and as I sat in the stands I realized the "moderns" featured in those long-ago races I watched were 1965 Chevys.
I arrived late but still saw several races. In one the driver of a beautiful light blue model ran a beauty
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Baby Grands approach the starting line. Note the light blue car, the eventual winner driven by Tonya Klayum. |
Lance Mackey operates his milkshake maker. Be sure to turn up the sound.
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Over the evening I let the roar of the engines, the colorful race cars, the trip through the pits and, yes, the snowcapped mountain, in the background transport me into an atmosphere that opened up in the 1960s and never really went away. Even the smoky haze from wildfires on the Kenai Peninsula 200 miles away couldn't spoil the experience. The only thing missing was the dirt. This track is paved. Nevertheless I am going to have to go over there more often.
Dirt Track Saturday night
#alaskaracewaypark Web Site
Tonya Klayum
A comment on facebook from a friend who had been there too:
Peter Leitzke Holland was a fun raceway to watch. One third of a mile dirt with 18 foot high banked turns. New comers would sit in the front seats closest to first turn , , , until the first lap of the first race bombarded them with clumps of wet clay. First lap of one race, a car bad wrecked on front straight at starting line blocking the track so the race couldn't resume. Before the wrecker could tow it away, his crew took their truck out there and they welded him back together and he restarted with the rest of the field. Top treat was hot fresh made French fries with vinegar and salt.
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