I was watching the last Riverside International Raceway race this morning on ESPN Classic and I still wanted to see the last few laps, alas, I had to see the dentist only thing I found funny was that one of the racers did a demolition project before the track was razed and I can't remember his name and that driver just hit 2 walls and tore the car to bits.

Riverside Inernational Raceway----------I want to rebuild you bad but you are making women happy by being a shopping mall

Richard, I will try to send some money for RIR ok

Jason Trew

Jason,

If you are speaking of the very last race, the SCCA - Cal Club event of July 1-2 1989, that would have been the tragic crash that took the life of Mark Verbofsky in the Formula C race.

This marred the end of the last event... Just like the first. Perhaps the only time in history that a racing death was associated with the first event, and the last at a track.

I didn't know that one was recorded, as there were a few extensions of that "final" race date by Cal Club. Though I suppose someone must have taped them all.

Thank you for your pledge.

Richard,

I was watching the June 12, 1988 NASCAR Winston Cup Budwiser 400 (was shown on ESPN Classic Yesterday) and saw one of the nascar drivers hit 2 walls on the front strech off 9 and he survived that nasty accident

Jason

The 21 April 2003 print issue of Autoweek and the current online issue contain a wonderful editorial by Dutch Mandel, The Right Courses of Action, on the Riverside and Bridgehampton tracks. Please have a read and thank Mr. Mandel for his support of our effort. The Fund has already benefitted from this article.

Thanks, Dutch.

Sad news,

Riverside International Raceway General Manager Roy Hord, Jr. (was with the Los Angeles Rams as with RIR President Les Ritcher) passed away back in 2002.

here is the link:

http://www.nfl.com/teams/story/NYJ/5841991

http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl/articles/2...028/436062.html

Too bad Roy did not stay with RIR until it closed in 1988, he left in 1983

Thanks for posting that Paul, I did see that in AutoWeek and have written Dutch to thank him for his support.

JT, That's not really 'new' news, but thanks for bringing that to our attention. Sometime ago I spoke with Les and thought that Roy's participation would be a welcome inclusion in the inscriptions and would be a nice tribute to the man. Les concurred wholeheartedly.

I just saw the TV show Knight Rider (you know, with that talking Pontiac Trans Am known as KITT) well I was seeing the racing footage and I was shocked at seeing that it was taped at Riverside so here is a relist of movies and tapes shot at RIR:

Television

Show---------------------------------------------Episode Title

CHiP's---------------------------------------------Drive, Lady, Drive (2 part series)
Knight Rider---------------------------------------Knight Racer


Movies
The Love Bug (1968)
Stacey (1973)
On the beach (1959)
Speedway (1968)
Roadracers (1958)

And that is all I can think of (with the help of Frank Sheffield on a previous post)

I hate to admit that I am so late in discovering this excellent forum.
I moved to California in 1968, watched a race or 2 at Willow Springs, and decided to get involved.
Showed up at a Drivers School at Riverside, and said I wanted to be a corner worker.
One on the Observers was signing in at the time at Registration, and Sylvia suggested I go that way.
What wonderfuler advice. I doubt that I missed more than 3 or 4 events there until the end.
I worked up through the Observers Group, into the Stewards Program, and ended up as the Exec Steward for Southern Pacific Div.
I have so MANY great memories of Riverside I couldn't begin to put them in a single post.
I will try to check back and throw some things out from time to time.
Someone mentioned Roger Mumbower earlier. His wife Patty worked as an Observer for many years. I knew Roger before he had his beard!
Talking about mementos, I have some asphalt from the track, taken at the last SCCA race, and I also happen to know where the #1 shut off marker for T9 is. The idea was to have the back of it signed by people who had been at the last race, but stuff just gets away from us.
As an aside, I think working those observer positions down in the esses could have been the coldest place in the world at a January NASCAR race, and probably the hottest place during a School/Regional in August. Wonder place.
A check will be forthcoming.
Joel Martin

The P.O. Box has been renewed for another 6 months.

Here's hoping we can make up the remaining 91% funding needed to achieve our goal.

Richard,

When I was talking about the person that wrecked at the 1988 Budweiser 400, that was Ruben Garcia and he wrecked on lap 27 coming off T9 and hit the wall next to the grandstands, causing a early demolition project here is his information on the 1988 Riverside Race:

Started 39
Finished 43
Car # 32
Driver: Ruben Garcia
Sponsor: Pick Your Part
Make: Chevrolet
Laps Completed: 27
Money: 3,380
Cause: crash
Laps Led: 0
He Survived the hit @ RIR and 43,000 people were at the Last Race at Riverside 6/12/88

Rusty Wallace won the race
Derrell Waltrip, Richard Petty and Dan Gurney are tied with 5 career wins at the track.
Bobby Allison has 6 wins at RIR

First Time winners at Riverside:
Ricky Rudd and Bill Elliott (1983)
Tim Richmond (1982**) **=Sweeped both races during rookie year

Hope this fills your brain on the NASCAR part of RIR :yawn:

Maybe someone here can help me. I was in contact a few years ago with a guy who had original and reproduction RIR race posters, but I lost the contact information. Does anybody have any idea who it was, where he is, or if anyone else has picked up this opportunity?
also, did anybody "salvage" any of the guardrail, etc from RIR?

Would that have been Tom Farrington ?

Also, Bob Key told me of a fellow that used to produce memorabilia for the track and still has the capacity to make hats, shirts, etc...

I don't know if any single individual took the track hardware under demolition, but I understand that Fritz Duda has quite a bit of the old track's bits. Naturally. :\

I was looking at etracks and noticed the Riverside Motorsports Park, RMP has given the RIR design a MAJOR whacking, here is the link:

http://www.etracksonline.co.uk/News/news_id104.html

I think I will start a poll on here and ask what Riverside design should be used

I think you've got to be realistic and say that given modern safety standards, to rebuild Riverside from scratch today would be near impossible. Add in things like topographical differences in the land etc and you'd have to say you'd never get an exact replica. Consider also the fact that the circuit needs to make money to survive and you end up with differing track designs.

As it happens, I think the 'new' Riverside is a reasonable take on the classic circuit and if you add in the other facilities, it all adds up to a pretty impressive development.

However, it remains to be seen whether the developers are trying to recreate the Riverside racing scene, as was, or are simply trying to 'cash in' on the name. Jury's out on that for now, but I broadly welcome any new circuit development. If nothing else it gives me something to write about!

The new Riverside design is not to bad, the only change I would make is for the T9-T12 area and make it original and I would not add any other parts on the road course and where are the things that made Riverside Riverside:

Grandstands on T6

grandstands on the long course at T7

We will see how the NEW riverside is to the old Riverside

It remains to be seen if they can pull this development off...

The amount of political influence, financial resources, management and getting those all important race dates (the one that pay) are ultra-critical for making this deal work.

I know first hand what an effort of this magnitude takes.

Have you checked out where Merced is?

I wish them the best of luck, they'll need it.

Yes, I have. It is 50 miles NW of Fresno.

If RIR had lasted into the 90's, let alone to current day, I'm sure the first thing that would have gone was the long, unbroken straight leading into Turn 9. No way that would pass anyone's muster. So, I'm not that upset about it. The rest of the main layout is remarkably similar.

For all the talk about it being in Merced, that's also it's greatest strength as being near a de-activated Air Base (in this case Castle AFB) is about as ideal a location as one could come up with.

The biggest problem I see in duplicating RIR is elevation change. Pretty flat near Castle AFB and I don't see how they'll duplicate the slope - unless they plan on major earth movement.


Jim Thurman

My comment regarding Merced was based upon its ability to draw from the largest population base, which would be S.F. - a 2.5 hour drive depending upon traffic. Fresno does have a decent populous of 800,000 (in the entire county) that would contribute to that number however.

As far as selecting a better site up there... its a good enough spot I suppose, adjacent to the Castle AFB, but inside the triangle of the 5, 205 and the 580 would have been better. Though I'd guess that the SF cost may be higher.

My concern also extends to the profitability of such a venture: With Laguna Seca, Infineon Raceway, Thunderhill and to some extent, P.I.R., it would be a tough sell to get major race dates in that area.

Let's look at the costs for a moment.

I found a comp. in the area at $0.23 per SF. Using that figure, the land acquisition alone is 12 million ($10,000 per acre x 1,200 acres).

Approximate development costs would be:

Pre-development/engineering costs at 1.2 million, Permits and Fees, 1.6 million, Interest Expense, 2.3 million. Then there is Grading and site preparation at 2 million (conservatively) Structure development at 6 million and track development around 5 million. Bond Debt is estimated to be 5 -6 million. (These figures were derived from previous data collected in a similar venture and approximated.)

That's roughly a total development cost of 28.5 million. Debt service for that figure is approximately, $177,000 a month / 2.1 million annually. (PLUS, all the Operational Expenses associated with such a venture.)

This is undoubtedly, a difficult IRR to obtain without those significant race dates. I.e. With TV coverage and a decent gate.

Getting back to the competition in that area, there are 3 major road-race facilities with secured dates already. Though I'm sure they'll be using best efforts to get at least one and preferably more.

All I'm saying is, that a venture of this scale is an uphill battle without a major management concern coming on board at some point.

Still, I wish them the best in their venture, we can always use another place to run. Though I know of 800 acres in Riverside County that's still available... And, it's almost a stones throw from the original circuit.

BTW, still hacking away at the monument deal... unfortunately it's slow going due to time constraints and the current economy. But they keep pushing back the grand opening for the community center, so we'll keep at it...

15 years have passed since Riverside International Raceway has died, or has it?? I was looking at the police call CD and wanted to see what the freqeuncy the Towngate Mall was on, Moreno Valley Mall is not listed but RIR is with 154.5400, when I saw this I was in shock . Richard, see if Moreno Valley Mall is in Vol. 9 of Police Call (get it at Radio Shack) and I have not been drinking .

Here is the info from Police Call:

Category: Sports and Statiums
Licensee: Riverside International Raceway
Lic. City: Moreno Valey
TX City: Edgemont
Freqeuncy: 154.5400
TX: BM
State: CA

When the Moreno Valley Mall opened, I think they forget to tell the FCC and it has been listed for the past 15 years as Riverside international Raceway???? Shocking, ain't it??

Richard,

Add 2 more drivers that died at Riverside Raceway:

Tim Willamson in 1980

Billy Foster in 1967

both were NASCAR.

and I just found this on the Riverside Motorsports Park, they have a pothole to deal with:
http://www.mercedsun-star.com/news/newsview.asp?c=76371

What a great thread and what an inspiration as we try to save the memory of the Augusta International Raceway road course. I spoke with Frank Warren last nite who finished 13th in the November 17, 1963 NASCAR race at the old track. It was the beginning of a great career and he has fond memories of the track.

Perhaps one day a memorial such as what Richard has helped produce for Riverside?

Augusta International Raceway has no where near the history of Riverside but the thing that keeps the memory going is that four of the top six finishers that day would die on track before the season ended. Glenn "Fireball" Roberts (the winner), Dave MacDonald would lose his life at Indy in May, Joe Weatherly at Riverside and Jimmy Pardue at Charlotte.

What memories and we must not let them die along with the drivers!

Henry

Jason Trew calls our attention to this confirmation
that the racetrack has been well and truly obliterated:

112K image

If you can detect any vestiges, please show me.

Reference Page

Frank, now with nothing left of Riverside Raceway, only place to find Riverside memoribilia is ebay. I found and bought a Riverside Raceway Patch for only 10 dollars, I was planning on buying a Riverside Raceway shirt, lost the bid at 41 dollars

I've heard from time to time from people who say they know the
guy who did the t-shirts, the mugs, the pennants, etc., and will
let me know when they run them down. Never a second message.

Correspondence recently from G Edward Freeman,
a Riverside, California resident and
area historian who has enhanced his
Orange Empire site by inclusion of a
Gallery of RIR programs and photos and a
WebLog entry

For those who do not know what a "Lowe's" is, there is
a recent photo of the one that now occupies, more or less,
the area west of Turn Six, southeast of the old marquee sign.
First view of the store (on Page Six of the gallery) includes
the last remaining vestiges of the sign.

Sighn.

"Isn't it so depressing how great Motor Sport icons such as Riverside are treated just like wasteland when developers come along. "

It takes two to tangle. The owners including Richter DID sell the track and the land, did not they? Reminds me of that football team owner moaning about after he sold his worthless team for $50 mil to some SOD...

All what's left now are the memories, and there are plenty. I was priviledged to drive in the very, very last racing event, a VARA-organised vintage race. I drove my freshly restored ex-Keke Rosberg Chevron B34 FA there.

But I also was a "regular" from 1973 to 1978, driving in over 50 motorcycle GP races, then from 1984 to 1988 in vintage car racing with various cars, and I just loved that track.
I attended also many races as a spectator from 1970 to 1986, from F5000 to Can-Am to IMSA to NASCAR. I was a witness to some fantastic racing and also to some nasties, like Rolf Stommelen's fatal crash. It was a bit risky out there...
Yes, there were rather large spiders in the toilets, yes there were no facilities, yes it was a bit dusty and sometimes rather hot, but I would give a lot to get it back just the way it was.

T54

I think Bob Key has indicated that the fellow you are referring to is Roger Mumbower (though I don't know if he posted that or notified you). As I understand, Roger is willing to reproduce some selected items as T-shirts, Hats etc. You can drop Bob an email to see what the latest is.

BTW, Recent correspondence with the Fritz Duda Company may accelerate the fundraising. This will happen just after the first of the year. I will advise of any progress - of course.

Richard,

I can make a Yahoo group on Riverside International Raceway, it is not hard for me to do and I can make the link available to anyone that has a Yahoo ID.

this would be the group link:
groups yahoo com/group/RiversideInternationalRaceway

I also found a place that sells the book Riverside Raceway Palace of Speed and that is the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame and Museum in Knoxville, Iowa (not Knoxville, Tennessee, home of the 1982 World's Fair) here is the link if you want to purchase it:
http://www.sprintcarhof.com/shop/product.asp?id=1118

Well I got the book Riverside Raceway, Palace of Speed and had a problem, there was some glue on page 3 and ripped out a piece of page 4, I am sending it back to the Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Museum to get a new one, I don't mind a few days wait to get this problem fixed with Knoxville, Iowa for a book replacement.

The wait will be worthwhile, the Dick Wallen book is rather good but it is too bad that it did not include club racing and motorcycle activity.

T54 :\

I can't wait for the book Riverside Raceway Palace of Speed when it comes back from Knoxville, Iowa (had to send the first one back for glue on page 3 and ripping page 4 a bit) but I don't mind the wait. I found on Ebay a Riverside Raceway patch (just like the one on Frank's website) and won it, hope it will be here soon.

Occasionally I've seen reproduction RIR patches and pins at historic race meets. I've been tempted but don't own anything I could put a patch on, and have lost every single pin I've ever tried to wear on a jacket!
-William

I came across this picture today and I thought it would be fitting for this thread. I think this picture was taken in 1984 and I believe it is at turn 7. My Dad was shaking down the Eagle before taking it to a vintage race in Palm Springs. I thought you guys might get a kick out of it like I did.........

From Justin:


Dan Gurney at Riverside International Raceway

Brought tears to my eyes, 'struth.

Frank S

God Damn, that is a good looking car.
Thanks, Justin.
Anton

wow, that is a nice pic, now if we can bring back the old track

[QUOTE]Originally posted by rdrcr
[B]From Justin:


[size=1]

Great pic there Justin, I moved the pic to the right and put it up as abackground shot on my computer screen it looked the 1st race track on Mars

Justin,

As I emailed Kathy W the other day,

I'm glad that my favorite driver of all time, was driving the most beautiful F/1 car of all time !!

Richard, we should add Sandy Reed's efforts to Riverside since he was the track announcer (whatever happened to him after RIR Closed???? ).

Frank, you forgot about the movies Thunder Alley (1967) and Fireball 500 (1966) that was shot over at Riverside (add movie links on your website ).

The people that did some acting at RIR should bring back memories of that old track and let's not forget the Mears brothers (Rick and Roger) since they raced at the track on both pavement and dirt. Robby Gordon (no relation to Jeff Gordon) also raced at RIR in dirt, he should be added for memories of Riverside.

If we can get enough racers, workers (turn marshalls and employees), actors, and fans to remember the best or worst time at Riverside; the book should be called Riverside Raceway Memories, stories of the old speedplant known as Riverside International Raceway the money raised from the book deal can go to the monument fund (just an idea, ok) :\ .

Jason, That's a good question. I've no idea what happened to Sandy Reed. As for the rest, I'm a bit confused as to what you're on about.

Did you ever create that Yahoo Group? Again, I wonder to what end on a good idea.

BTW, if you really want to recreate RIR, I've got a great spot not 15 miles from the original site. 600 acres between two major freeways with the local municipality ready to give it a go - again.

All we need is 60 million or so and some race contracts with TV dates - just let me know.

Richard, I am getting started on the Yahoo Group so expect it in a second.

I just got it done, here is the link (you have to be a member of Yahoo Groups to join): )

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Riverside_In...ational_Raceway

What I was talking about from my last post, is that we should add those people that made movies at Riverside and get their memories of shooting a great movie on a excellent racetrack.

Richard, if you know the movie Field of Dreams "if you build it, they will come" go do that for RIR and if it is done, I want to be the person to drop the first green flag and the Checkerd Flag at the first event at the new Riverside Raceway.

p.s. Keep it original like it was back in 1988, please, that way I can drive my car on it for 12 laps as a test (4 laps on 3 courses)

Some sad news connected to the recent posts here, I just found out on another racing history group that Sandy Reed passed away Saturday

Jim,

Thank you for passing on that news, unfortunate as it might be. Another of the Raceway's personal characters has passed.

On a brighter note... discussions are underway with Mr. Fritz Duda Sr. and the Petersen Museum management to further the RIR Monument Project.

Keeping fingers crossed.

Jim,

Can you give me the link to that group or copy and paste it here.

Everyone please join the Riverside International Raceway group, the link is posted above and make sure to join Yahoo, it is a free service.

Jason,

It's the Racing History group at Yahoo

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/racinghistory/

Jim, I found Sandy Reed's passing in the LA Times and here is a short part of it:

Sandy Reed, the voice of Ascot Park for all the years J.C. Agajanian ran the Gardena facility, died last Saturday of a massive stroke in an Arcadia hospital while watching the NASCAR Budweiser Shootout on television.

Reed, 83, also was a public-address announcer for NASCAR, USAC and other races at Riverside International Raceway.

He also appeared in a number of racing movies as an announcer.

Services will be private but a memorial service will be held March 6, at 10 a.m., at Michillinda Presbyterian church, 700 S. Rosemead Blvd., Pasadena.

Survivors include wife Suzy, sons Michael and Timothy, his first wife, Janice, and two grandchildren.

Richard, add Sandy Reed's name ot the RIR Memorial now

Another thing, Sandy Reed's name is listed in the Internet Movie Database at the following link:
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0715681/

I really only just "discovered" this thread, but I took the time to read most of the postings. Great loss Riverside. W lost Westwood track here in Vancouver B.C. Canada shorly after and for the same reasons: property prices and urban sprawl.
The surprise for me when I read all the posts was not finding a mention of "The Sound of Speed". Now I don't want to sound like a lecturer, but have any of you guys actually seen this movie? I mentioned it on the thread devoted to "in car footage" and the "only" person to respond was Karl Ludvigsen who was involved in the making of the movie. He agrees with me that it was wonderful. But nobody else even acknowledges it's existence on this forum. Imagine:
The front engined Scarab F1 car, converted to V8 Chevy power, driven by Lance Reventlow and Chuck Daigh with trackside and on-car cameras. No spoken word but all the ambience of Riverside, 1961, poor colour, and great sound. Produced and directed by Bruce Kessler. The car does an honest 170 mph, and Daigh (At least) does a great job of driving. The movie was lost for many years until found by a friend of a friend of mine while clearing out a movie companies warehouse. I have a copy on VHS and I know some others do, including Karl. but is it really unknown otherwise? It would be a great shame if it stayed in the shadows...
David B :\

THAT'S IT!!! I will never, never, never again mention "The Sound of Speed' on this forum.
but your all missing out.