Page 16 - osmer_saugusspeedwayscrapbook

Saugus Speedway has had many Joe Vollkemmer, "The Voice of Saugus Speedway" for
firsts. First to offer short track stock twenty years. He left Saugus for Las Vegas in 1978
and was the announcer at Craig Road Speedway
car racing. First with large guaranteed
before retiring to Boise, Idaho. That's Lyn Pherigo on
purses. First with Race-O and other the left.
fan give aways designed to give racing
fans the best show in town. These are the components, which together create
The first Saugus Speedway Swap a winning effort.
Meet was held in 1963 and has since Marshall is always quick to praise his crew and
grown into one of the largest events of he should know-he has the finest. Particularly
its kind. Every Sunday, upwards of notable are his devoted wife and office manager,
25,000 bargain hunters gather to buy Helen and his capable, efficient son and ace #1
anything and everything. helper, Ray.
The biggest first, however, remains They head a championship team that includes
the Saugus 330, a giant 330-lap race to- all the officials and employees which form the in-
taling 110 miles of race action offering ner family of Saugus Speedway, a truly dedicated
a generous purse of $17,000. That was 1975. It renamed the Marshall Wilkings Fall Spectacular group.
proved to be an immediate success and with in tribute to the man who would be first to tell Saugus Speedway, the longevity champion of
larger guaranteed purses, has become the Grand you there is more to winning a championship than Western auto racing facilities, has outlasted many
Finale of each Saugus Speedway racing season. just a brave driver and fast car. famous Southern California speedway sites of the
Winner of the inaugural 330 was none other The men behind the man behind the wheel past. Culver City, Gilmore, and Whiteman Stadi-
than the "Champion of Champions" Oren Prosser. are all-important. The car owners, crew chiefs, ums have passed from the scene. Western, Carrell,
This traditional season ender has since been mechanics, pit crews, sponsors, and THE FANS. Colton, Atlantic American, Gardena, Loyola, Le-
gion Ascot, and Huntington Beach Speedways have
long been silent.
Saugus Speedway, now in its fifth decade of
competitive motor history, races on.
-Anne & Lyn Pherigo, 1982

[ ed: Marshall Wilkin gs passed the reigns of Saugus Speedway
onto Ray in 1985. Marshall passed away in June of 1985.
When Saugus Speedway closed to racing in 1995, Ray went on
to help establish Irwindale Speedway, 30 miles to the south.]

Seating capacity at Saugus Speedway went from
a high of 12,000 in the 1940s to a low of 5,000 in
the 1980s. The speedway would regularly sellout
____,_ several times during the season

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