AFTER 55 YEARS OF BEING INVOLVED ERNIE SAXTON RETIRES FROM GRANDVIEW SPEEDWAY

BECHTELSVILLE, PA OCTOBER 14, 2021 . . . Eight years ago, I retired as the NASCAR sanctioned Grandview Speedway announcer after 45 years in the booth.  The plan had been to retire from everything.  At that time, Bruce and Theresa Rogers asked me to stick around as their PR person until they could find someone else to step into that position.  Now, After 55 years of public relations, marketing and announcing work at NASCAR sanctioned Grandview Speedway, at age 79, it seems it is time to retire.

 From the first day I walked through the front gate at Grandview, working for the Rogers family has been a wonderful experience. They helped me become better at what I do and I think I helped make Grandview Speedway become more successful.  My wife Marilyn and I became very close with Bruce and Theresa Rogers. We traveled together and had homes in the Sunshine State that we enjoyed. It was like family.

 Future plans, as many know, include writing a book about my 63 years of experiences in motorsports. It is more difficult than I thought it would be but the work goes on. I will continue to write columns for Area Auto Racing News, Lansdale, PA Reporter, Inside Track Motorsports News and PennSports.Live. I expect to  continue to do PR work for Len Sammons Motorsports Productions which include indoor auto racing events and the PPB Motorsports Trade and Race Car Show. When time and energy allows, I will take on consultation with those needing help with sponsorship and PR work.

 Thank goodness for a wonderful wife, Marilyn, who has been a driving and supportive force behind my efforts. One person in particular that has been very helpful with my Grandview work is Vicki Gehris. A huge thank you goes out to her. And I cannot forget to thank all of those great folks that I have worked with over those many years.  I surely would not have been able to continue on for so many years without their help and support.

 I wish the Rogers family and others involved with Grandview Speedway the very best. Thanks for allowing me to be part of it all. And thanks to those in the media who have been supportive of our efforts over the years.

Best wishes in the future!  Keep working on the book and keep us posted on it.

joel

You did a great job all those years working with Grandview. Your 55 years there is more then most peoples regular careers. Grandview is going to really miss you. Good luck getting the book finished. Will be looking for a copy when it goes on sale. 

Congrats Ernie 

Congratulations Ernie.  Enjoy the extra free time.  Now you have more time to go see Midi at Duck Donuts.

Thanks Ernie.  Good luck with the book.  And thanks for your culinary advise that we see occasionally in Area.  We tried one of your suggestions near Ormond Beach (name escapes me) and the wife and I were blown away.

Ernie - Thanks for the decades of dedication to the sport and the decades of enjoyment and knowledge that I have had over that time reading your columns, listening to you on the mic at Grandview back in the 90's... I even sat in on a seminar that you offered in Daytona Beach during Speedweeks a long time ago.

I'm not sure how you first got involved in racing, and if you want, we'll wait for the book to find all that out, but I do remember visiting the late Dick Ivin's at his house (2002?), and he had a lot of pictures and clippings up on the walls of his garage, and one was of a very young Ernie Saxton with a camera in his hands.

Thanks also for always being supportive of our site.  Seems some print guys like to bitch and moan about the internet and I've watched how some lump us in there (guilt by association because we're on the web I guess) too since they never point out that there are a few signs of intelligent life out here after all!  You have always found a way to keep your column interested without throwing everything found on the web on the trash pile, and I notice, and I appreciate that.

You have made it easy for us to be supportive of your promotional efforts by providing your timely/professional press releases in a consistent manner... (not just when convenient as is a common mistake made by others who try to do what you have been doing all these years.)

...and finally, thanks for being a visitor to our site who has offered thoughts and comments over the years as a member of the media here, but also as a fan.... "one of the guys" that make up whatever it is that we do here.  I know I appreciate that, and I also know that the guys reading this do as well, and hope to do so for many more years.

God luck Ernie and thank you!  Enjoy!!!

congrats !!

never met you , but been reading you in the AARN for many years--

thanks for all the "two cents's " !!

After 40+(?) years, your column is still the first one I turm to every week.  I have always enjoyed your honesty and insights on current issues.  I still carry many of your quotes in my wallet and phone.  Thank you for all you have done and continue to do.  DGray 

Thanks Ernie!  Enjoy the retirment.

WOW!! After all those years, all good things must come to an end.  THANK YOU for all your hard work. Can't wait for the book. GOOD LUCK.

Click on youtube link below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-FK9HYgBGc&ab_channel=LennySwider

Ernie-  Enjoy your retirement, although it sounds like you're still gonna have "a lot on your plate".  Unlike some announcers you always added to Grandview's racing events, not detract from them.  Looking at that photo of you and "some friends" in front of Ryan Godown's #26, are you sure you weren't part of the Rat Pack?  Looking forward to your book.  I always think of you when I'm dropping off my dogs for grooming in Langhorne, right around the corner from the Langhorne Hotel.  Scott Ely