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Do you have a favorite opening day story?  if so, please share.....

1975 opener at Nazareth. Frankie powers under Stan Ploski coming through turn four on last lap to win the feature. Fans went crazy! 

Now opening days are convoluted. Now you see most of the cars on faceboob, or at a mall show, or Motorsports, somewhere. Today, with Flo and the events in Florida, an April or May opening day is three months out. Used to love to go to Wall Stadium in the 70's, late April after Easter and get there early to see who got a new car, a new paint job, a new driver or just good to see the same old from the previous season. Days are lonnnnng gone, but still remember it like it was yesterday.

Kevin, I hear ya on the firesuit. I hated new suits, especially when you are sitting in the car opening day and that stink filling your helmet!

Completely agree with Mr. Eyres. I was a looong time between Turkey Derby and opening night in April at Wall.

One year I recall piles of snow along the inside of the turns.

The Stives/Kremer race opening night in '79(?) was one of the best.

'78 Siscone won the opener coming off his first Mod win at Wall in '77 in the radical pinto Ransom 0. The car owner past away the following week.

'80 Siscone won opening night at Wall in another radical pinto the Barney 14. He ended up winning the first 3 weeks of the season. He also won early season events(perhaps openers) at Evergreen and New Egypt leading Charlie Roberts to tag him Tony Sizzlecone. Later in the season Wall had them raise the roof of the pinto.

Ahh opening night - new cars, new colors....the good ole days.

79 is that the nite the finish line was down near the first turn ? only two guys know who won. after all thees years i can still smell it !

Greg i was there that sunday  ( COLD !!) as well..remember it well !

I too was there as a crew member on the Ploski car.  Can't say I was as excited as the majority of the fans.

It's 1969 and I'm a junior in high school. Just got my license so took my Mom's 67 camaro to Naz. national in March to see warm ups the day before a big race there. Had cheered for Whip in Meme's 14, but did not see it there. Did see a neat 73 flying around the 1 1/8 mile oval but had no idea who was in it. The next day at the real race I find out it was Whip and he was fastest the previous day.  Had to get a 73 sweatshirt the next time I went to Reading --needed a pic but the guy painted the 73 well and even spelled Ferraiuolo right--wish I still had the sweatshirt. Whip had his best year ever and that visit started it.

Remeber when Dad drove us to Reading opener that was snowed out. We begged him to keep driving the 2.5 hours even as snow was all over the place. Really wanted to see the first race of the season, but got to get a sneak peak at some new paint schemes on race cars. Trip sure beat sitting at home!  

Allen

Ed, I was young but remember that weekend of 3/29-30/1969. Race day on Sunday was the coldest I've ever been at the track. It's a great opening day memory. This picture is from the day before you mentioned.

Thanks Anthony, remember the weekend like it was yesterday.  Cold day Sunday and Rags beat Whip in the Dick Meals 44. Whip went on to dominate at Flemington and Nazareth.

Ed & Anthony - Those early #73 coupes with Whip behind the wheel caught my eye too.  The first photo I ever bought at the racetrack: http://www.3widespicturevault.com/70spics&vitals/08.21.02_073_MUL_FLM_0070_1.htm

Good memory right there Joe. Thanks. 

Bridgeport's new configuration opening day for me........everyone had alot of good memories of the big ole 5/8........and many worried some about things moving backwards. 5 or 6 warmup laps later all those worried faces had grins on them. I gotta say I don't miss the 5/8 at all anymore.  The lighting, the cars are alot more visible in the turns and backstretch, the high banks, and last but not least the sliders lap afer lap all night long in most of the divisions.

That t-shirt you had made was probably made by Jimmy Grbac.

All I know is that in the late 1960's, there was a talented guy at Reading every Friday who hand painted (sprayed) sweatshirts and funky hats with whatever you wanted--the hats usually included only a number and name, but the sweatshirts included the car. He was very busy and probably made some real $, but if he messed up a sweatshirt, it was his "loss".

Here you go Ed:

http://www.3widespicturevault.com/FACES_pics_vitals/J01.09.13_GRB_ART_UNK_0060F_1.htm

I can't remember the details, but I remember being real excited about opening day 1974.  You guys know that I was an Al Michalchuk fan, and he was moving up to the modifieds that year, and had a ride in the Matt McMann #4 Gremlin.  I think that was a year when a lot of modified teams changed from a coupe or sedan body to a Gremlin, Pinto, Mustang or other newer style body.

Looking back, it really was the end of an era as there were fewer and fewer coupe and sedan bodied modifieds, and it is kind of sad looking back now, but at the time, it was neat to see the "new offering" that the team had put together over the off season for the 1974 season.  New bodies... new paint jobs... and who was in what car....

That year, as mentioned, the McMann #4 sedan now had a Gremlin body with Al Michalchuk behind the wheel.  The Norcia #81 had a Mustang body with Stan Ploski behind the wheel.  The Ken Brenn #24 modified was now a Gremlin.....  There were quite a few others too that made the switch to newer style bodies.

Williams Grove opening day 1987. Forecast was for unseasonably warm. Already fairly warm when we left home, normally a 1 1/2 hour drive. So much traffic that it took us nearly an hour to get from route 15 to track, normally 5 minutes. It seems everybody on the East coast decided to go. Every seat filled an hour before warmups, we stood shoulder to shoulder in the infield. A young guy named Cris Eash won the feature, his first career win. When asked in victory lane if he realized what he just accomplished, Cris replied:"Yep, I just won a race at the Grove!"

All opening days were great but one I remember as my favorite is Reading 1972 (correct me if wrong date) Brenn has two #24's built by Floyd Trevis of open wheel fame. Everyone could feel the change coming to Modified racing. I've never been to a Reading opening day that wasn't electric.

I also remember the 72 opener, but for a different teason. The first heat had Jimmy Winks and Dizzy Dean on the front row. Jimmy inside and Dizzy outside. At the drop of the green these two took off side by side, and for the next 10 laps stayed that way. At the checker, Diz won by inches. After the race Jimmy comes over to Diz with a BIG smile on his face to shake Diz's hand and say " wasn't that fun" ( you know what, I bet it was )

Opening day 72 if I rember correctly Taz in the K46