Late 1950's stock car racing at the Mahoning Valley Speedway & Lehighton Fairgrounds

Late 1950's 8mm film originally taken by Eddie Banko at the Mahoning Valley Speedway in Lehighton, Pa. which was a 1/8th mile dirt track at the time, expanded to a 1/5th mile dirt track in 1960 and is still in operation today as a 1/4 mile asphalt track - the video begins with a work crew making their lunch of hot dogs over an open fire and then working on the infield of the race track - the last minute of this clip was filmed at the Lehighton Fairgrounds Speedway, a much larger track - film courtesy of Eddie & Linda Banko with special thanks to Sue Novak

[@cwe71]

Unbelievable! At about 1:54 into the video, I see a blue and white chevy number 7. The was my father's car, George Eick, with my uncle Bobby Robinson driving it. We ran out of Bangor, PA. Later in the video you will see the number got changed to 71 and that is the number we ran for years thereafter.

[@nathangannon5933]

Thank you for posting this history of DIRT track racing. Love watching thoseold coupes getit around that track. Took a bit it seems to get them over on their side or top.

[@russellholtzman2248]

What a piece of racing history! And in color too.Bobby Bottcher was my main man back in the 70's. It was so cool to watch.

[@russellcurrie6099]

Would love to know who the kid was driving the Quarter Midget at the 15:00 minute mark

[@Cheryl-g1w]

Grew up watching my father and uncles doing this up at Berlin Raceway in Michigan. LOTS of beer, lots of folks racing for the fun of racing and a few bucks at the end.

[@WAATLP]

I have always wanted to see video footage of Berlin back when it was dirt

[@user-ts7sn8dg1p]

awesome video..great old times. friend of wally gilberts

[@evergreendorneymahoning5435]

Everyone loves Wally Gilbert LOL!

[@jesseahner8473]

Is the #44Bobby Botcher in his younger days ?

[@evergreendorneymahoning5435]

Yes, that is "the" Bobby Bottcher

[@anne-mariehenry2903]

Love it, thanks!

[@tyronebaker8828]

Way cool thanks for posting

[@mikebougher3731]

Is 7 over 7 Del Hahn?

[@evergreendorneymahoning5435]

Absolutely!

[@ConklinMotorsports]

Awesome Video! Thank You!...That place is identical to Moc-A-Tek Even if you look at the front stretch grandstand areas the large wooden poles holding the fence were still in use at Moc a tek until its last breath..Now of course Mahoning is asphalt and Moc a tek has been killed by Racetrack Karens.

[@evergreendorneymahoning5435]

Also it was a 1/8th mile track in this late 50's video - in 1960, it was expanded to a 1/5th to match the length of the Dorney Park Speedway - now it is being advertised as a 1/4 mile but you will only get a true 1/4 mile out of it if you measure 2 feet outside of the guard rails

[@ConklinMotorsports]

@@evergreendorneymahoning5435 😆 lol

[@biskiers]

this is car racing

[@highenergyog]

This handsome young man in the cool looking brown coat and really cool brown boots just so happens to be my Dad Malcom, I miss ya Pops.🥲.

[@evergreendorneymahoning5435]

Now that is so cool that someone can ID a family member in photos or film that is from so long ago - would you perhaps have any photos or 8mm reels from the days that your Dad raced?