Page 9 - osmer_saugusspeedwayscrapbook

Saugus Speedway Scrapbook

Hello From Lyn Pherigo!
February of 1952 was the first time I ever saw Saugus
Speedway. At that time it was known as Bonelli Stadium. Little
did I know that two decades later Saugus would become a very
important part of my life.
I had just completed a (our-month noncommissioned
officers training class at Fort Benning, Georgia, and was driving
from Pekin, Illinois, my hometown, to Camp Cook, North of
Santa Barbara. It later became Vandenburg Air Force Base.
After a tour of duty in Korea and visitation to such "exotic"
places as Heartbreak Ridge, Luke the Gook's castle, Wachon
Reservoir, Christmas Hill and Sand bag Castle I returned to
California and settled down in the coastal town of Ventura.
Lyn Pherigo
In 1970, I relocated to Saugus where I lived only a few
blocks from Tony Coldewey who started Stock Car Racing at I coordinated many special events with Marshall, and later
Saugus in 1959. He was seriously injured in a 1972 auto accident with his son Ray. Those I'm especially proud of include the Salute
th
which ended his tenure at Saugus Speedway. to Champions Night in 1982, staging a 70 Birthday Party for
Marshall Wilkings became Promoter and General Manager Gabby Garrison in 1986, creation of the Saugus Speedway
and I was hired by him to be assistant announcer for the 1973 coloring book, and the publication of my 400 Saugus Speedway
th
season. Every Saturday night for the next five years, I sat next to Program in September of 1990.
Joe Vollkommer, the longtime "Voice of Saugus Speedway." Every Life has been good to me! Yes, I've had the up as well as the
few weeks Joe would advise me to be ready to do "the whole down times. In 1973 when I became involved with Saugus
show" next week because he was going to be out of town. But Joe Speedway, my life was in turmoil. In addition to marital and
never missed a night in those five years! business problems, I lost my youngest daughter in an auto
During some personnel changes in 1978, I becamePublicity accident. Fortunately for me, I got the assistant announcers job at
& Program Director. The following year I purchased the souvenir Saugus Speedway. It didn't seem like much at the time but now I
facilities. My six hour a night assistant announcers job soon know that it certainly changed the direction of my life.
became a seven day a week marathon. In reality, Saugus Speedway was my life saver! I am very
Along with the public relations job came the added duties proud of this book and am glad to be able to preserve so many
of driving the pace car. I loved those added duties! Always memories for those of you who were there and the others who
wanting to be a race car driver, this was a dream come true! I keep hearing the stories.
drove the pace car the final 13 years of my time at Saugus. It's My resignation in 1990 was a very difficult decision. With
something I'll never forget! My only regret is that I didn't keep a the "workaholic" schedule I guess I just ran out of gas! My wife,
guest log of all the drivers and celebrities that rode with me, and Anne, and I now reside in Whitehall, Pennsylvania.
of course, the great race fans of Saugus Speedway! Warmest Regards, Lyn Pherigo, 2001

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