Marchbanks inducted into West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame

The West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame has announced B.L. Marchbanks will be part of its 2012 class of inductees. 

Marchbanks will be included as part of the Phoenix hall's "historic division" governing people from 1930-1970. 

Hall of Fame Chairman Ken Clapp said of the nominees, "In some cases these gentlemen are nearly forgotten ..." 

Indeed. 

Kudos to the hall for recognizing Marchbanks later rather than never.  

Here's a video of Clapp remembering Marchbanks, although it should be noted most of the accompanying visuals have nothing to do with Marchbanks or the speedway. 

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RELATED STORIES: Read more about Marchbanks Speedway and Hanford Motor Speedway in my Marchbanks section, including the regularly updated "History of Marchbanks Speedway, aka Hanford Motor Speedway."

1967 George Snider feature story

Click to open PDF of storyMike Griffith, the longtime motorsports reporter at The Bakersfield Californian, passed along a story I hadn't seen in my Hanford Motor Speedway research. 

It's a Californian feature story from October 1967, on hometown racer George Snider and previewing the first Champ Car race at Hanford. 

I've tried twice without luck to interview Snider for my history. So here's a 45-year-old story that fills in some of the blanks on Snider's experience at Hanford, Indy, Kearney Bowl and elsewhere.

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RELATED STORIES: Read more about Marchbanks Speedway and Hanford Motor Speedway in my Marchbanks section, including the regularly updated "History of Marchbanks Speedway, aka Hanford Motor Speedway."

Fresh updates to Marchbanks Speedway/Hanford Motor Speedway history

I just finished making a bunch of updates to a variety of stories in my Marchbanks Speedway section, including lots of fixes and additions to the main track history. 

Some of the more noticeable changes include:

• Interviews with Champ Car drivers Mario Andretti, Bobby Unser, Mel Kenyon and George Benson.
• Wonderful photos and memories from motorsports journalist Ken Durham, who shot photos of the Champ Car races as a teen-ager. 
• Other reader stories.
• A 1951 ad and article clipping for the NASCAR Grand National race.
• An update to the Ernie Cornelson obituary.
• Specifics on when the track changed names.
• Specifics on management and leasing deals from 1958-70.
• More 1953 photos from the Tommy Trader collection.
• A breakdown of 1969 Champ Car race revenue.
• A photo of Joe Leonard driving Parnelli Jones' Lotus-Pratt & Whitney during the Fall 1968 Champ Car race.
• Tidbits about the King School house being moved to Marchbanks, drag racing and boxing matches.

Please continue to share your ideas, stories and feedback. I've gotten great reaction and help from people around the world, and I'd love for that to continue. You're invaluable in helping me fill holes, correct mistakes and find new sources. 

You can add your comments to the main history or email me directly.