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Sprints At Bedford

admin — Tue, 15 May 2012 20:29:21 +0000

The powerful 410 Sprint Cars will make their annual appearance at the Bedford Fairgrounds in Bedford Pennsylvania, on Sunday evening June 3rd. The event will be dedicated to the memory of former Bedford Speedway promoter and longtime car owner Roy Morral. Sprints will be racing for a $3500 to win, $300 to start purse. The show will feature time trials, heat races and the 30 lap feature event.

The annual visit of sprint cars to the historic fairgrounds has been a tradition since 1993, when they returned after a long absence from the track. Keith Kauffman claimed the victory in that event. In their most recent visit to the fairgrounds Daryn Pittman claimed the victory in the event last June.

Roy Morral instituted weekly Friday night racing at the track when he became Bedford promoter in 1965. Morral also installed the first lighting system at the speedway during his tenure. Notable drivers at Bedford during the Morral era included Kenny Weld, Gerald Chamberlain, Boyd Arnold, Milt Miller, Muss Weyant, Elmer Ruby, Mitch Smith, Bob Elbin, Jim Kennedy, Bryan Osgood, Junior Ritchey as well as many other legends. Turk Burket, Larry Wright, Miles Chamberlain and Jim Nave all began their careers during this time.

After retiring from promoting, Morral concentrated on being a car owner with many drivers racing his cars through the years, including Junior Ritchey, Smokey Snellbaker, Gary Howsare and Keith Kauffman.

Standard Central PA car rules will be in effect. This will be an open tire event.

Gates will open at 4:00, Warmups at 6:00 followed by time trials for the sprints with racing beginning at 7:00. Also on hand that night will be the Late Model Sportsman and Four Cylinders. General Admission will be $20, with kids 12 and under free. Pit admission will be $25.

Purse for Bedford Feature- 30 Laps

$3500, 1800, 1200, 1000, 900, 800, 600, 550, 500, 450, 400, 350, 340, 330, 325, 320, 315, 310, 305, 300, 300, 300, 300, 300, 300.

admin — Tue, 15 May 2012 10:52:41 +0000

Second Saturday Recycling…

admin — Wed, 09 May 2012 19:07:38 +0000

Milt Miller

admin — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 22:37:38 +0000

By Eric Zembower

BEDFORD,PA.Former Super Modified, Sprint car and Late Model stand out,Milton“Milt” Miller, ofBedford,Pa.passed away Sunday April 15, 2012 at the age of 79.

Miller began his driving career in 1964, quickly became a winning contender and by 1966 won the super modified championship at the South Penn and Hesston Speedways. In 1967, he was named driver of the Orville F. Conner Motor Transportation #49 “Hemi Hummer” Super Modified and went on to several feature wins that year.

Greater success would follow in 1968 when Conner named future Hall of Fame car builder and driver, Gary Martz, as crew chief.

The combination of Miller and Martz found victory lane 12 times atHagerstown, Jennerstown, South Penn, Williams Grove and Port Royal and was crowned champion atHagerstownand Jennerstown. Miller established a 10 lap qualifying record that stood for several years at Williams Grove and was one of the first to conduct tire tests on the new Pocono Raceway in 1968.

When Conner elected to switch to the lower cost late models at the end of the decade, Miller was without a ride. He drove several years for the Kosier Brothers #8 team and made a start or two in Roy Morral’s 880 as teammate to Smokey Snellbaker.

After setting out for several years, Miller decided to give a Late Model a try forCumberlandMd.car owners Dick Duckworth and Sonny Michaels and their #S76 Camaro in 1975. Miller quickly adapted and found success atBedford, Jennerstown, Williams Grove, Hesston,Hagerstown, Port Royal andClearfieldtracks. He retired for good after the 1976 season.

Over his career, he also raced at Pennsylvania speedways located in Huntingdon, Windber, Ebensburg, Mt Zion, Selinsgrove, New Oxford, Hershey and out of state tracks in Cumberland Md, Frostburg, Md, Ft Ashby W,Va, and Winchester Va,

In 1997, Miller was named honorary starter and trophy presenter for the first race held at the newly constructed Thunder Valley Raceway inCentral CityPa. He was inducted to the Bedford Speedway Hall of Fame in 2002 and the Jennerstown Speedway Hall of Fame in 2006.

Mr. Miller was born on January 26, 1933 inAltoona,Pa.and is survived by wife Shirley, daughter Beth, son John, two grandchildren and one great-grandchild. He was retired as a franchised dealer with Snap-On Tools after 35 years, servicingBedfordandSomersetCounties. Funeral services were held Wednesday April 18 at the Bedford Presbyterian Church with burial at BedfordCountyMemorial Park.

On line condolences can be made at www.berkebilefuneralhome.com

Sprints At Bedford….

admin — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 01:48:23 +0000

The Pennsylvania Posse 410 Sprint Cars will make their annual visit to the Fairgrounds on Sunday Night June 3^rd. They will race in a 30 lap main event featuring a $3500 to win, $300 to start purse. The event will be dedicated to the memory of longtime car owner and former Bedford promoter Roy Morral. Also racing that evening will be the Late Model Sportsman and Four Cylinders.

Test And Tune Day- Sunday April 15th

admin — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 13:44:43 +0000

We will be having a practice session open to all racers on Sunday Afternoon April 15th. Gates open at 1pm and practice begins at 2pm and will continue until dark. Grandstand Admission will be free and Pit Admission will be $18….

Bedford Speedway Car Show Kicks Off 2012 Race Season

admin — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 10:00:33 +0000

Help kick off the 2012 season with the Bedford Speedway Race Car Show, Sunday April 1st, at the Fairgrounds Jordan Hall. This event will be held during the final day of the Bedford County Home Show.

Teams: This is your opportunity to show case your sponsors and 2012 racer. All classes are welcome. Vintage racers too! Be unloaded and parked at the south side of Jordan Hall by 10:30 am. Enter at the main gate and follow around to south side of Jordan Hall. Speedway and show officials will guide
you in to the unloading area and to the hauler parking area on the midway. You are encouraged to bring pictures and handouts for the fans. They’ll appreciate it. Be ready to conduct interviews for the press. The Bedford Gazette is planning a pre-season racing edition special and will want the opportunity to take pictures and get driver comments.

Fans: This is your chance to meet the drivers and see the cars up close. Bring your cameras, lawn chairs and spend the day. Food will be available. We would like to thank the Bedford County Home Show for being a gracious host for the car show.

Pure Stock and Four Cylinder Sponsors….

admin — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 10:31:21 +0000

We are pleased to announce the addition of TC Race Cars as the title sponsor for the Pure Stock Division at Bedford and Thunder Valley this season. Also coming aboard this year is Platt & Son Inc. as the title sponsor of the Four Cylinder Division. Sponsorship opportunities are still available for the Late Model, LM Sportsman and Semi Late divisions, please contact the track office for more information.

Preperations Continue for 2012 Racing Season….

admin — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 13:30:49 +0000

The first event of the season at the Bedford Fairgrounds will be the annual car show on Sunday April 1st held in conjunction with the Bedford County Home Show. The show will be held at the Fairgrounds’ Jordan Hall Exhibition Center. Sunday afternoon, April 15th will feature a test and tune session, open to all divisions.

The 2012 racing season officially commences at the Bedford Fairgrounds on Friday night April 20th, with a full program featuring the Super Late Models. Racing will continue to be a weekly Friday night tradition at the Fairgrounds. This will be the 76th anniversary of racing at the Historic track, a milestone that will be celebrated on Friday night June 29th. The Three State Flyers Late Model series will make two visits at the speedway, the first on Memorial Day and also on Friday August 31st for the Labor Day 55. The UFo race championship Late Models will make an appearance on July 4th for the Independence Day Tribute.

The Pennsylvania Posse 410 Sprint Cars will also return this year for their annual appearance in June.

There will be a meeting for drivers and owners who wish to race at Bedford and Thunder Valley this year will be held at the Bedford Fairgrounds at 2pm on Saturday March 3rd. The agenda for this meeting will be to discuss our plans and expectations for this coming racing season.

For more information about the local racing please continue to check this website throughout the spring for more updates.

Pic from the Past…

admin — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 21:21:31 +0000

It’s a small world! Lou Blaney, father of NASCAR driver, Dave Blaney, is pictured after winning at the Bedford Speedway in 1966. The Blaney family, from Hartford Ohio, raced and traveled together throughout the northeast, first with father Lou and later with sons Dave and Dale. At the time, 4 year old Dave, most likely was in attendance this night at Bedford, came close to winning the Daytona 500 this past Monday.

John Pittman photo submitted by Eric Zembower