SHAMOKIN, Pa. — Sometimes, some of the best “racing” doesn’t take place on the track. Such is the case with the growing popularity of the vintage racing organizations and museums scattered throughout the United States and the huge crowds that attend “old-timer” festivals.
So, we’re dedicating this column to vintage racing organizations everywhere, wherever that may be.
Each has its own distinct character of how it goes about preserving the past, but one ingredient is similar to all: constant attention and monetary support. Without it, future fans will never receive the opportunity to see, hear and feel how it used to be.
Recently, I attended Gary Wolford’s Fish Fry and Silver Springs Speedway Reunion, which was held at the Latimore Valley Fairgrounds in York Springs, Pa. Wolford is a prominent supporter of vintage groups, a two-time Silver Springs champion and the now-closed track’s all-time leading feature winner with 86. (Yes, the fish fry was great.)
Purchased in 1982 by the non-profit Eastern Museum of Motor Racing (EMMR), Latimore Valley’s 40-acre fairground and speedway is home to the EMMR museum, a 14,000-square-foot, two-story complex where an extensive collection of historic race cars sit in waiting. The restored half-mile dirt track is used for on-track exhibitions, a very popular attraction indeed.
Even our “Dean of Motorsports,” Chris Economaki, is donating all of his extensive and prestigious library collection to EMMR, where an already outstanding collection of Economaki artifacts are housed in a separate research library room. The library also includes other rare books, documents, photos and press memorabilia pertaining to all types of auto racing.  
While the EMMR museum reflects the popularity of open-wheel dirt tracking, visitors will enjoy a wide variety of racing machines from all types of racing.
These include everything from sprint cars, midgets and stock cars to motorcycles, Indy cars, drag cars and more.
Visitors will take pleasure in countless display cases, memorabilia and cars associated with drivers the likes of Lynn Paxton, Ted Horn, Paul Pitzer, Pappy Hough, Bill Schindler or Bobby Marshman — to name a few. You’ll see old-style trophies, helmets, driver suits, racer jackets, uniforms and many other items. 
Other displays feature miniature tracks and numerous racing engines that powered cars from the 1930s to the present day. On the second floor, you’ll see Junie Donlavey’s Truxmore-sponsored No. 90 Ford, a Chevy Dave Marcis crashed (we think at Pocono) and a beautiful Tide-sponsored No. 10 Ford Cup car driven by Ricky Rudd.
The Tommy Hinnershitz replica “garage” is a highlight, complete with the famous Miracle Power Special race car, as is a dedication to Hiram Hillegas, who built open-wheel cars near Allentown, Pa., in the 1940s and 1950s.  
Close by, visitors will see a scale model of Paterson, N.J.’s Gasoline Alley, where a youngster by the name of Economaki started his career in racing working as a “stoogie” for the many drivers he would befriend. 
EMMR is open every Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. through October 28. The two big events include the Latimore Valley Fair & County Festival, set for June 22-24, and the 33rd annual EMMR/Williams Grove Old-timers Convention the weekend of Aug. 17-19.
Full information is available at www.emmr.org, and make sure you take the virtual tour at http://www.emmr.org/virtual_tour1.htm.  Latimore Valley is close to Williams Grove Speedway and just 15 miles from Gettysburg’s battlefields, so adding a visit to your itinerary is easy for out-of-towners. Notable is EMMR’s gift shop where visitors find many great books, apparel, videotapes, photos, artist prints and souvenirs.
Becoming a member of a vintage racing organization in your area of the country is a great way to help preserve the sport we all love so much.
I had a great time at the Gary Wolford event, and I can vividly remember EMMR’s groundbreaking ceremonies just over 25 years ago at Latimore Valley. This proves that everyone, sooner or later, becomes an “old-timer.”
Find your state’s organization, join it, support it and attend the events. You’ll be glad you did.