Hanford museum opens Marchbanks exhibit

I’m thrilled with the news that the Carnegie Museum of Kings County in Hanford has unveiled an exhibit on Marchbanks Speedway, which runs through Dec. 19, 2021. 

The exhibit is a long time coming, and I’m happy museum President Jack Schwartz has finally gotten this effort to the finish line. I have communicated with Jack several times over the past year regarding this exhibit, and I know how passionate he is about shedding light on Marchbanks in all its incarnations. 

It’s unlikely I’ll be able to get to the exhibit before it closes (I live in Colorado) but I encourage all race and history fans to stop by the museum and let me know what you think. 

And if you see Jack, be sure to pass along your thanks for doing his part to preserve an important part of Kings County and auto-racing history. I know he relied heavily, as I have, on grassroots support to help tell the track’s history. 

Admission is free, but the museum is encouraging donations and for you to bring a new unwrapped toy, which will go to the Marine Reserve’s Toys for Tots program. 

Here are two news articles on the exhibit: 

• "Marchbanks exhibit gives glimpse of Hanford’s wild past," from the Hanford Sentinel

• "The Carnegie Museum of Kings County presents an exhibition celebrating the history of the Marchbanks Speedway," from Valley Voice

Program from 1964 CRA 'Big Car' race

I found a 16-page program (PDF download here) from the Sept. 5, 1964, California Racing Association "Big Car" race at Hanford Speedway on eBay and while most of the program is light on good stuff, it does contain one gem: an article that finally sheds light on the first events and races at the track. 

The "History of the Track" article said Marchbanks Stadium, as it was then called, opened with rodeo events in February 1950 and quarter-horse racing on a half-mile track with a quarter-mile straightaway. The first auto races followed "on about May 10, 1951," when jalopies hit the track. 

From 1950 to the September 1964 race, events at the track included "hardtops vs. jalopies, stock car racing, sprint cars, midgets, and event boat racing on a small lake built in the center of the stadium. At one time bull fights could be enjoyed here." 

According to the article, 20,000 people jammed the track on July 4, 1961, to watch the Blue Angels perform overhead as part of an air show at the nearby Lemoore Naval Air Station.

The article said the track was renamed Hanford Speedway "a few weeks ago," in conjunction with the new ownership group involving Kal Simon, Tommy Francis and others. It also mentioned a 1955 NASCAR Magazine article on Marchbanks Stadium, so that's something I'll try to trace down. 

As for the September 1964 CRA race, Hal Minyard picked up his ninth win of the season in a long 100-lap event that drew at least 44 entries. Hanford hosted a second 100-mile CRA Big Car race a month later, on Oct. 11. Minyard won that race too. 

Table of contents

I've posted several dozen different "chapters" on the history of Marchbanks Speedway, aka Marchbanks Stadium and Hanford Motor Speedway, so have decided to put together a Table of Contents to help readers find topics of interest, particularly the interviews with racers who knew the track first-hand, including legends like Andretti, Unser and Kenyon.

These are listed in the order I originally posted them (some, particularly the main history, have been updated multiple times). 

1. History of Marchbanks Speedway, aka Hanford Motor Speedway
2. 1967 Champ Car race program
3. More photos from the 1967 Champ Car race
4. 1970 stock plan tried to keep Hanford Motor Speedway alive
5. March 1968 Champ Car race program
6. Second death at Marchbanks/Hanford speedway
7. November 1968 Champ Car race program
8. April 1969 Champ Car race program
9. Additions to Marchbanks Speedway history
10. "The Fabulous Mr. Marchbanks"
11. Cool photos of the Marchbanks road course
12. Reader: Hanford 250 "the best auto race I have ever seen"
13. My interview with Gary Marchbanks
14. My interview with Tommy Trader
15. Details of 1957 death at Marchbanks
16. Updates to Marchbanks history
17. Readers share recollections of racing at Marchbanks, Hanford
18. My chat with racing legend Mel Kenyon
19. My chat with Bobby Unser
20. My interview with George Benson
21. My interview with Mario Andretti
22. Hanford through the lens of a teenager
23. More great photos from 1968-69 Champ Car races
24. Fresh updates to Marchbanks Speedway/Hanford Motor Speedway history 
25. 1967 George Snider feature story
26. Marchbanks inducted into West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame
27. Video of 1968 Champ Car race at Hanford
28. Map of Marchbanks road course, circa 1960
29. Sept. 1960 Road Race Program
30. Interviewed by "Valley Edition"
31. Poster from 1964 USAC stock car race
32. Video from 1961 NASCAR race
33. Photo of 1951 NASCAR race
34. John Isom photos from 1967-68 Champ Car races
35. More John Isom photos from 1967-68 Champ Car races
36. Local news video of March 1968 Champ Car race
37. Program from 1964 CRA 'Big Car' race