Old Peoria Speedway book

[Deleted User]

I purchased today on eBay a book written by Scott Shults of Pekin, Illinois, on stock car racing at the Old Peoria (Illinois) Speedway. This book covers all racing at that speedway starting in 1948. I saw many races there and at other central Illinois tracks from the late 1940's and early 1950's, and there were generally several Hudsons and Terraplanes competing at all those tracks. I e-mailed Scott and asked whether his book contained pictures of Hudson and Terraplane cars and their drivers, and he answered that the book contained a number of photos of those cars and drivers. In fact, his father's race car in 1951 was a 1938 Terraplane coupe. I mentioned some of the drivers I remembered, among them Bud Bevard of Galesburg, Illinois, whose car was a 1939 Hudson Country Club 8 sedan. In his e-mail to me Scott included a Youtube link that shows Bud in action at the Bushnell, Illinois, track in 1949. The footage lasts nearly four minutes and shows Bud in the No. 600 Hudson. If you have sharp eyes, you also will see a youngster in a stepdown pedal car bearing the 600 number. Bud's kid, perhaps?



Now, since I am old and have no clue as to how to get Scott Shults' e-mail containing the Youtube link posted on this forum, I will gladly forward to someone who can. Just e-mail me, and I'll forward Scott's e-mail to you.

Jon B

Would this be the link?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_tVHb9HIlc



(To post the link, merely the link from his e-mail and post it here, using the same procedure you use when posting a message.)

[Deleted User]

Yes, Jon, that is it. I saw Bud Bevard race often in those days and may have been at the Bushnell, Illinois track at this race. Scott Shults, the author of the Peoria Speedway book, says he believes the race was in 1949 or 1950, but I believe it was 1951. If you look closely, you can see the grille of the stepdown pedal car which appears to be a 1951. The little car bears the number 600, that of Bud's car.

hudsontech

Yeah - Now THAT's what I'm talking about. That's stock car racing. No fancy pants drivers - just a bunch of guys out on dirt beating the daylights out of each other.



I saw several incidents in that clip that would, in todays NASCAR rulebook, get you tossed out for "aggressive driving". Unless you were one of NASCAR's golden boys. Then you'd just get a fine and a few points taken away.



Fortunately, the rough and tumble of the early days still lives at many small tracks around the country - take a look around your area and take in a local track race in your area this summer. I guarantee you'll have the time of your life.



Hudsonly,

Alex Burr

Memphis, TN

[Deleted User]

Boy, what memories! Does anyone remember Death Valley Speedway near Peoria IL in the late '40s ? I do. Norm;)

[Deleted User]

Do you recall exactly where near Peoria that Death Valley Speedway was located? I don't recall it. The one I am most familiar with was the Mt. Hawley track which served as Peoria Speedway from 1948-1952. After that the site was switched to the Farmington Road location. I think all of this info is contained in the Peoria Speedway book written by Scott Shults. There are supposed be several pictures of Hudson and Terraplane racecars in the book. Scott's address is 2801 Deveron Circle, Pekin, IL 61554. Book price is around $10 including shipping. Scott is the current Peoria Speedway race announcer and has been since 1990.

[Deleted User]

OLHudson - Death Valley Speedway was off Rt. 150 between East Peoria and Morton. I raced there in the spring of 1949. It was probably about one mile around - more like a motorcycle TT track - up and down hill. The race was put on by the Peoria Stock Car Racing Assn. I dont know how long the track lasted. I know they raced there in 1950. I have a flyer for a race there in Apr. 1950 that my mother saved and gave me years ago. I had a '37 Ford 2 door sedan. I won $15 for third place in a heat race . I was still in high school at the time. Norm

Unknown

Hey Norm,



I'm the Guy that Del is talking about with Peoria Speedway History Book that You can view some of the Coupe Stock Car Racing Photos at my Peoria Oldtimers Racing Club Site Located at :

http://www.freewebs.com/porc/

or Click on "Coupe Racing Page" : http://www.freewebs.com/porcthree/couperacing195058.htm



I also have Photos from the Hofferts "Death Valley" Speedway 1/2 Mile Dirt Track in East Peoria that ran from 1947 to 1952. The City of East Peoria Purchased the Former Site and built a Sports Complex recently there called EastSide Center.



Stock Car and Midget Races were also held in Peoria in the early to Mid 50's at the Half Mile Dirt Track at Exposition Gardens Fairgrounds off University Street where the Heart of Illinois Fair Still Exists.



Glad I found this Forum,

Scott Shults - nouncr@comcast.net



Peoria Speedway Announcer Since 1990

Peoria Oldtimers Racing Club & Hall of Fame - Founder and Owner Since 1981

http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v1942/212/29/1179830217/n1179830217_30067183_1920.jpg

[Deleted User]

I notice that Scott Shults has posted info on his book, and he did a better job of it than I did. He sent me some photos which are not included in the link in his post but which are in his book, I believe. There are several Hudsons and Terraplanes in those pictures, including the #305 1937 Terraplane which was his grandfather's car.



When you click on the link in Scott's post, check out the 1951 season. There is a picture of Don Dunfee, the winner of the 26-hour stock race at Mt. Hawley in Peoria. Several buddies and I attended that race and stayed for the entire time. Everyone crowded around Dunfee at the end of the race, and his car just sat there and idled like it had never run a lap. His car? A 1938 Hudson 6! Only about half a dozen cars finished the race. DK