User:JLG 2701/spfld

Start of a new project on the now defunct Springfield Speedway.

History
Roberts Garners Opening Honors at Springfield, Ill. By Paul Borchert - Springfield, Illinois - June 7, 1947 (National Speed Sport News) Joe Shaheen saw his dream realized tonite as an overflow crowd filled all available seats and stood around the track to watch 35 Midgets qualify and then put on a top show, Plans are already made to increase the capacity and to remedy the small defects found on opening nite.

Bert Bridgeman was Starter, and George Miller was Timer. Johnny Roberts in the Nowicki Offy took the track record award of $50 for his time of 14.27. Harry Meeks received $25 for the flat-head time of 14.66. It stalled on the high banks once and had to be helped out by the two Jeep wreckers, who did a good job of starting the Midgets.

Gene Weyant, his brother, also a driver for Shaheen, threw a wheel while time trialing, but took over the Beebout V-8 and came in second in the $100 added race for non money winners. In the third heat race, Steve Orme another local, hit the grandstand and washed out the front end of his V-8. The race was stopped at seven laps, Ray Knepper winning. This was Kneppers first race since his wreck at Macon early in the season. 1st. Heat - 10 Laps - Kladis, Fox, Kingbiel - 2:26:86 2nd. Heat - 10 Laps - Easton, Marshall, St. John - 2:27:54 3rd. Heat - 7 Laps - Knepper, Ross, Meeks - 1:48:36 4th. Heat - 10 Laps - Erwin, Myers, Branson - 2:35:92 Trophy Dash - 6 Laps - Noeth, Hamilton, Cummings - 1:28:58 Add $100 Heat - 8 Laps - Spicer, Weyant, Wildhaver - 2:06:36 Semi-Final - 15 Laps - Meeks, Myers, Knepper - 3:48:24 Feature Race - 25 Laps - Roberts, Turner, Cummings, Noeth, Fox - 6:09:70