Nazareth Speedway

[xoxoxoBruce]

Saturday 8-28-04, Nazareth Speedway ran it’s last race, which was an IRL “Indy Car” race.
Nazereth is a beautiful short track in PA’s Lehigh valley, currently owned by the Penske Organization.
As you can see, attendance is one of the problems and another is the encroachment of civilization because it’s within 80 miles of NYC and Philly.

[xoxoxoBruce]

But they put on the whole dog & pony show, including the flag jumper.

[xoxoxoBruce]

There were a number of historic race cars on display. Notice the tires on the first “98”, dirt track treads on the back and a skinny tire on the left front. When you only make left hand turns the left front tire doesn’t carry much load . The 2nd “98”, on the trailer, is the Agajamian Willard Battery Special which was driven by such greats as Parnelli Jones, Loyd Ruby, Jud Larson, Johnny Rutherford and Jim Hurtubise.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Penske and Ferrari. High rent neighborhood.

[xoxoxoBruce]

These teams set up a first class pit. Up go the tents and down goes the modular floor. The green car is the 7-11/ Andretti Green Racing entry. It’s setting on a device that is leveled up so the car can be measured from a flat level surface to “set up” the suspension. It also enables them to weigh each wheel separately.
The red “Target” car is sitting on an elevator mounted to the back of those 40’ trailers. The trailer on the right has the elevator in the up position. In the back of each trailer the double glass doors lead into a mini machine shop, tool cabinets and spare parts galore. The elevators take the cars up to their storage position on top of the shop and each trailer can carry several cars.

Penske has two more trailers, one being a kitchen complete with staff to make food for the crew and drivers but more importantly put on major meals for Penske’s guests. What better way to butter up important business contacts, than invite them to your pit and stuff them with gourmet food and wine.
The 4th trailer contains a private mini apartment and a lounge for the media with leather furniture, big screen broadcasting the race, phone & internet uplinks, and they used to have free Marlboros. all four of Penske’s trailers, instead of thin lightweight aluminum, are made of heavy gauge stainless steel for security. With the tractor, over half a million each.