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Memorial Day weekend stirs up memories of ” the good old days”. I’m not sure they were really better, but some of us like to think so. Auto racing media coverage consisted of radio and print coverage for the most part. Announcers and reporters had to be descriptive crafting their stories because they were the only link unless you were there in person. Out of that came the Indianapolis 500 radio broadcasts anchored by Sid Collins. Radio was the perfect way to enjoy a race. Collins made a person feel like they were there in person. Few did it any better. The Indy 500 tradition continues with local station WKVA being one of the longest continuous broadcasters of the event.
The Indy 500 wasn’t the only racing broadcast on radio. It happened here at home in the 1950’s & 60’s.
Penn State Football was much the same way as auto racing. In the early Paterno years many relied on the PSU radio network and newspapers to provide coverage. Fran Fisher anchored much of that radio coverage. Fisher performed well and became to Penn State what Bob Prince was to the Pittsburgh Pirates or Harry Kalas was to the Phillies. Fisher was versatile and did a lot of things well. By now you may be wondering what the point is to my story. As the late Paul Harvey said, ” now the rest of the story.”
WMRF radio in Lewistown broadcast racing from Port Royal Speedway at times in the 1950’s. Some time in the early 1960’s WKVA radio broadcast racing from the Juniata County oval. The year1963 was successful for the station because a new broadcaster was in the area and he was exciting. Family members from Huntingdon County told me that if they couldn’t afford to drive to Port Royal and attend the race, they would load the car with food and drink, drive into the WKVA coverage area and listen to Fran Fisher call the night’s action from Port Royal Speedway. I’m told that Fisher was just as good calling auto racing as he was with Penn State football. I wouldn’t doubt that for a minute. I’m continuing to search for tape of those broadcasts in hope I too can enjoy a trip back in time. Fisher influenced many during his time on earth. He will not be forgotten.
I also learned another tid bit this week concerning David Letterman. Many of you know Letterman ended his career Wednesday night after 33 years on late night television. Do you know what Letterman’s first network TV job was? Letterman served as a pit reporter during the 1971 Indianapolis 500 interviewing Mario Andretti after an accident on ABC. That telecast was delayed until evening. Out of that a career followed. Letterman’s race coverage can be viewed on Youtube. Letterman is from Indy and remains true to the sport. Letterman, Bobby Rahal and others own a two-car Indy car team competing in tomorrow’s 500. Letterman will start his retirement attending the 500.
Jeff Gordon could have ended up racing Indy cars after a successful start in sprint cars and dirt championship cars. NASCAR came calling and the rest is history. Gordon is remembered fondly in the state of Indiana for his open wheel success, so much that he will drive the pace car for at least part of the race before heading off to compete later in the Coca Cola 600 at Charlotte. The Indy folks felt it important to honor Gordon before his retirement.
As for local racing most tracks have plenty of it including a special 410 sprint car show tomorrow at Selinsgrove. Check your favorite track for race details.
Don’t forget the All Star Circuit of Champions sprint cars invade the Bedford Speedway June 6.
Bedford and Lincoln Speedway announced this week some of their special events will be available on internet pay per view coverage this season. The Bedford All-Star race is one of them. I hope to have more details on that next week.
Have a happy and safe holiday week end. Please drive safely!