DRIVERS

9/12/2013

A place to comment, share stories or ask questions about the drivers of Vallejo Speedway.

Mike Haney

11/2/2012 02:00:47 am

l watched the race the other day,l saw how protected the drivers arefor example,state of the art full face custom made helmets,neck and head restraints,tailored nomex fire suits,elbow length fire retardant racing gloves and made to fit fire proof racing shoes,form fitting custom made seats with side head protection and 5 and in some cases 7 point racing harness.l know racing at these speeds all these preventive measures are necessary,it really doesn't matter what series,track length,paved or dirt safety first,and that is as it must be,all the above mentioned safety items are required to compete in those various racing series and that brings me to my original thought,l remember Vallejo Speedway on those many saturday nights many years ago,"the daring men in those magnificent Vallejo Speedway Hardtops" and the safety equipment they had at their disposal,maybe l should say"the lack thereof",the helmets were barely crush or crash proof,they used hankerchiefs over their noses ans mouths,or didn't,goggles over their eyes,usually wore white t-shirts,white Levi's (a requirement)and wellington style boots or something similarr and maybe a few wore off the wall work style leather gloves but most raced bare handed,homemade racing seats with a lap belt only in most cases and more times than not they would have oil and grease on their hands during and after the races,dirty hands,dirty faces,dirty greasy t-shirts and jeans,because they were not just drivers but mechanics,welders,owners,crew chiefs,do it alls as well as drivers,but they were royalty,kings,hero"s,idols superstars and 10 feet tall and bullet proof to a fanatic like me,these men,their machines,the era and the place was magic,perfect,at least to me it was perfect.
Mike Haney

Mike Haney

1/18/2013 01:38:50 am

Hey everybody,l have an idea, take a few minutes to write and tell your favorite driver, why is he your favorite,some memories of them,the favorite car they raced etc,l think this would be interesting and a lot of fun,how about it,what say you?
Thanx for taking time from your busy schedule to read this and reply.
Mike

Cheri Hill (Richardson)

7/29/2013 04:39:09 pm

Hey Mike,
I thought I would take a minute to join you in remembering Vallejo Speedway. I grew up there. Who was my favorite driver? Gil Richardson, my dad. My mom and I this last week have been going through all my mom's photos of dad's racing at Vallejo Speedway. My mom is LuAnn Richardson, who won 3 out of the 4 women's destruction derbies at Vallejo Speedway. She also won almost all the powder puff races she was in.
We have over 8 albums of photos that I've been scanning to preserve. I hope to have them posted soon. She has an amazing memory of all the drivers, car numbers, etc. She also has tons of newspaper articles. One of interest was that Vallejo Speedway had to do their timing for qualifying by hand because their device was sent to Vietnam by request of the government. The article talks about how the device is coming back finally to use for qualifying.
My dad was a truck-driving, hard-charging, never-give-up driver. Many years he would drive for other people, and many years he would build his own cars. We would always have a hardtop in the backyard gutted out ready to be built into a racecar if dad needed it. We used to make a playhouse out of it until he needed it.
I remember being the trophy girl at the age of 10 for Phil Pedlar. My dad was in the trophy dash that night with Phil. They dueled it out and I was sitting on the back of a convertible waiting off of turn 4 praying my dad would win.
Well, he didn't. He placed 2nd. I did not like Phil Pedlar at that age, and my dad came over to the car and told me, "You go give that man his trophy, he earned it. By the way, Smile about it!" I hated that, lol.
I was always in the garage with dad working on his cars. He taught me to weld at the age of 10.
Back in those days racing was such a family affair. Every year they had the CARF Club picnics for all the families. These were some of my fondest memories. Tons of bench racing, kids' games, and food all day. They used to be held at Castle Rock Park in Walnut Creek. I remember so many nights after the races going to the China Barn in Vallejo. They would have to put 8 or 9 tables together to accommodate everyone. My dad was a very well-liked driver. It was so hard when he quit racing for my mom. After 30 years of racing, all their friends were racers.
In 2000 there was a Vallejo Speedway Reunion. My family and I attended to receive an award for my dad. So many memories. Unfortunately my dad passed away in 1995 at the age of 63. His sense of humor had carried on with me and my kids. One of his complaints was, "If I knew I would live this long, I wouldn't have used up my body that fast."
He left the hardtops for sprint cars in 1968, and raced at Calistoga Speedway with his dad and him running the "Pop's Pension" No. 17 sprint car. Bolt-on roll cages, no less. I still have his goggles, handmade tear-offs, and the handkerchief he used to cover his mouth.
He had to retire from racing in 1975 due to health reasons. He would never go to a race again. If he couldn't compete, he didn't want to watch.
He only went back to watch when I started driving 360 sprint cars. He was able to see me race a handful of times, and saw me get my first win at Antioch Speedway in 1994. I ran his number, 17. I retired from racing in 2010 after 17 years. My son, Shawn Arriaga, is now driving my car, 17. He is carrying on what my dad started. My dad was and still is my hero. His biggest lesson to me was, "Cheri, you have to learn how to finish before you can learn how to win."
Going over all the photos with my mom brings back all the drivers' names and car numbers. Dad was adamant about mom always buying photos of his racing. Mom worked for days prior to the Vallejo Speedway reunion to get all the photos in order and labeled with all the drivers and car numbers. She had the biggest collection of photos at the reunion.
I value my dad's persistent to buy photos, and I know the reason is so these can be carried on and viewed by everyone to enjoy.
Thanks for this forum for me to remember the good ole days.
Cheri Hill (Richardson)

Bob

7/30/2013 01:52:40 am

Welcome Cheri! So good to hear from you and all about you dad Gil. I remember him well. You gave us a great synopsis of his career and a little of yours too. This would make for a great addition to the "Featured Driver" page. If you are interested, you can contact me through the "Contact Us" page. Any more info and photos are welcome. Take a peek at the current featured drivers for examples. We hope you would like to contribute!
Till again, Bob

Michael Haney

8/6/2013 11:21:44 am

Cheri
Mike Haney here
Sorry it has taken me awhile to answer you,what a heartwarming and enjoyable story and great remembrance of your Father Gil "The Silver Fox" Richardson,l never pesonanally met him but working the pit gate it open for him many times,l do remember him as a hard charging,in your face,no nonsense,take no prisoners kinda driver,which is in my humble opinion,a good thing.
l am just a small part of this wonderful website owned and operated by Mr.Robert(Bob)Manzer he is the a great guy and a good friend,he is working exceptionally hard to make this the VERY BEST Vallejo Speedway website on the internet,we have heard from a lot of VS vets drivers,pit members,and most importantly fans of our Beloved Vallejo Speedway,we have gathered alot of memories,photos,articles,momentos etc. from folks who were willing to share.Welcome to our vallejohardtops.com family.
l live in Brentwood and if we can speak on the phone i would appreciate it,Bob would like to see if you are willing to share some things for the website,maybe do a "Featured Driver" of your Father.
So if you want to call me,perhaps we can help Bob to grow his wonderful website.
My phone # is:925.634.9030 (h) 925.848.5870(c)
[email protected] or [email protected]
Thanx Cheri for taking time out your busy day to read this.
P.S.l am the person with the Vallejo Speedway t-shirts,decals,bumper stickers and posters.
Thanx again Cheri
Mike Haney ........................................................call anytime if you want to.

Cheri Hill (Richardson)

8/6/2013 04:24:33 pm

Hi Mike,

Mom and I were just going through more photos tonight and scanning them. There's a lot to do. I was showing Mom your Web Site when I saw your response. I would love to give you a call and share the photos. I have Mom's permission to share any photos you would like. I have a few hundred, I think. Also all kinds of newspaper articles. She also has photos of awards banquets and the CARF Club picnics for Vallejo Speedway. Maybe with your help in assembling all this, we would love to share them. I live in Pittsburg, so not far from you in Brentwood. I'll be giving you a call soon. Thanks so much for the interest. I knew my Dad wanted these photos for a reason! LOL

Bob

7/30/2013 01:59:29 am

Hey everybody, keep an eye out for another "Featured Driver" coming soon. Lear Minehart has submitted his bio and photos and will be featured. That's what makes this site happen, people contributing and sharing the memories of our beloved Vallejo Hardtops!

Bob

7/30/2013 07:04:24 am

UPDATE!
Featured Driver Lear Minehart is now posted under the "Drivers" page.
Check it out and thanks goes out to Lear, great job.

Mike Haney

8/8/2013 12:39:02 am

Brother Bob
More outstanding additions to your MARVELOUS website,l can really appreciate the continuous hard work you put into the site to keep it fresh and new,thank you from me for your endeavor to make your site a ongoing and perpetuating entity,l will continue "rooting out" all l can to contribute.
Thanx for adding another part of OUR BELOVED VALLEJO SPEEDWAY that being the incorporating both Contra Costa(Pacheco) and Santa Rosa Speedways as a part of the story of 'The fastest 1/4 mile in the west" The Vallejo Speedway.
Hardtops4ever
mike

Bob

8/8/2013 06:48:44 am

Brother Mike,
And a thank you from me for all that you do and contribute. Without your help and contributions the site would only be half of what it is. I often wonder how much time I would have to spend if everyone out there would share what they have. I know it would be a full time job and I would get nothing else done. But isn't that what retirement is all about!?
Keep in mind, not only I appreciate what everyone contributes, but everyone that visits the site appreciates it as well.
Thanks again to all that participate!
Bob, VallejoHardtops.com

kevin cody

1/31/2014 09:11:36 am

congratulations Porky

Randy

3/27/2016 11:57:46 am

Sorry to say the great Phil Pedler passed away last month. I watched him race Modifides at Vallejo in the late 60's early 70's. RIP Phil "Bang Bang" Pedler

Courtney Donald

5/5/2016 01:20:47 am

Hi I am actually the daughter of Tim Donald. He worked as a track photographer the last few years. I just recently scanned quite a few photos from old slides he took at Vallejo speedway.

Bob link

5/5/2016 07:37:18 am

Courtney if you would like your photos added to this website, you can email them to me at [email protected]. Everyone would appreciate and enjoy them, I'm sure. Be sure to add identification and any comments.
Thanks, Bob

Jeff gruhn

3/17/2017 01:44:23 pm

No talk of Grady Turner ?I pitted for him along with mark man love, and bob miller, who also drove the miller brothers car. Grady was#36 I think . Grady Turner past away about 8 years ago. We will never forget govan peeler, and Dave Logan from clayton Jeff Gruhn

Bob

3/17/2017 10:57:23 pm

I have Grady as driving the numbers: 40: 1967, 35: 1968, 50: 1969, 45: 1970, 42: 1971 through 1975. Do not know of any other years. I have photos of his #35:1968, #50: 1969, #42: 1972,73 and 1974 Cars pages. I can only post what people contribute. If you have anything to share, that would be welcome and appreciated. Thanks for your interest.

Bob

3/19/2017 03:32:37 pm

Also a photo of Grady #71 in 1970.

Larry Martin

9/19/2019 03:23:28 am

What a great site this is ! I really enjoyed the write up on Nelson Snow by Don Snow. I grew up in San Pablo and was fortunate enough to have a great father who loved racing and took us kids to Vallejo speedway often. I used to walk by Snow's shop on 23rd street on my way to and from school. I couldn't get enough of seeing the Spring cars ! Thank you and your father for being patient with a stupid kid who just about drooled on your cars. On my way home from school I would always stop by Greenley's Chevron station and stare at an Allison V 12 engine in one of his bay's. In my teens I used to work in the pits in Petaluma on street stocks. I spent 20 years in the Army, mostly stationed at Ft. Campbell Ky. Clarksville speedway became my home away from home. Thanks for the great memories !

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