Otto Harwi was killed during the modified feature at Victory Speedway (now known as Orange County Fair Speedway) in Middletown NY. My Cub Scout troop held a Pinewood Derby event later that year (1964) and I numbered my racer 999 in Otto's memory. I still have that racer. I have faint memories of watching Otto race his 999 at Harmony Speedway. 

This happened long before the days if the internet and "instant" news.  I remember walking into Nazareth Speedway the very next night not knowing what had happened the night before at Middletown.  There was a military honor guard standing in the middle of the home straight on the start/finish line.  I turned to the lady that sold pictures in the Nazareth "lobby" and asked what was going on.  She told me what had happened.  Something that has stuck with me all of these years like it was yesterday.

I wasn't born yet in 1964 so I never got to see Otto race, but as a young kid I was made aware of who he was. Same for Jackie Mclaughlin. If my racing history before my time is correct Jackie was lost later in 1964.

What I seem to remember from all of this is that there was a poem written about the two tragedies. We didn't venture from the Reading Fairgrounds too often so my gut tells me it was in a program, most likely for the Eastern States 200 (maybe 1974). I do have a faint memory of attending a 4 - 20's or 4 -25's show at Nazareth in the early 70's as a kid that ended early with a huge crash that tore down some fencing on the frontstretch but I dont have a recollection of getting a program for that.

1974 would have been the 10 year anniversary of losing both so it would make sense as a tribute sort of thing.

Does anybody else remember such a poem?

I think that poem might have been in the AARN shortly after Otto's accident.. I also think that there was also one in the AARN after Jackie'S fatal accident at Nazareth in August of 1964....

The poem was titled "Hey, Otto. Wait for me."

Hey Otto, Wait For Me is definitely the poem I'm thinking of.

Be cool if someone had a copy.

Thanks for helping to stir up that memory.

I've sent pics to 3Wide Joe of Otto's poem and Tas's letter re Jackie. Sorry but I can't post them myself with my cell phone. Found them in AARN's Looking at the 60's.

Thanks Greg! No need to apologize. If 3wide decides to post that's great but if not its certainly no big deal.

Honestly I'm just glad I remember the poem existed and that others remember it as well.

Thanks for posting the poem Joe. Much appreciated.

It is definitely what I remember right down to the artwork.