Page 8 - osmer_saugusspeedwayscrapbook

Greetings!

What you now hold in your hands is as much a matter of
circumstance as anything ever could be. The Saugus Speedway
Scrapbook came about because one man, Ray Wilkings, talked to
another, Doug Stokes, before simply tossing out his private
collection of Saugus Speedway photographs, programs, and
information.
Ray wondered aloud one day about what to do with this
obscure, unique historical record. Fortunately, he wondered in
the relative proximity of Doug Stokes, who suggested he pass it
along to me.
Racing folks somehow heard that this transaction had taken
place and the pressure to produce something in memory of the
Harold Osmer
grand old speedway began soon after. I had heard that former
publicist Lyn Pherigo had been collecting data and photos in this Suffice to say that along with Spider, the talents of Gary
very same vein. A simple phone call launch_ed the project. Thornhill, Rob Parker, Lyn Pherigo, and Bill Coleman are most
The Saugus Speedway Scrapbook is a work of passion, prominently displayed. Other project contributors include Yagel
reflecting directly upon Saugus Speedway itself. Saugus Speedway Berkovitz, Gabby Garrison, Marv Keller, Mark Parrish, Kirk
was the type of place that people went to on a given Saturday Rockwell, Ken Sapper, and Ray Wilkings.
night simply because it was Saturday night. Somewhere between The race records and season standings were culled from
your friend's house and the speedway, it might have occured to official race reports, press releases, and programs. Several driver
one of you to ask the other what was running that night. But it names appeared with a variety of spellings and we've done what
didn't really matter. So long as you were at Saugus Speedway, all we could to correct them. Still, adding those variations to our
was right with the world. own occasional errors may leave some drivers with misspelled
This edition covers the Later Years of 1979-1995. We are names. These are regrettable and no offense is intended.
attempting to collect enough data and photos to create a second Special thanks are due Neil Nissing, who worked his magic
volume for the Early Years. The Saugus Speedway Archive would on every one of the 1400+ images and to Tom Fritz for his
provide a good home for your dusty old box of photos. original oil painting of Blue Flash, now on our cover.
Most of the photos we used in this book bear no indication There is very little text in the following 280 pages because if
of who the original photographer was. Thus, no specific credits you were ever at Saugus Speedway, you have your own stories to
appear in the book. Track photographer John "Spider" Hruska tell. I hope this book brings back many pleasant memories for
generously opened his entire collection of photographs to us. you, your friends, and family.
Best Always, Harold 0.

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