After months of scattered research and a few personal interviews, I just finished a bunch of updates to "History of Marchbanks Speedway, aka Hanford Motor Speedway."
I've updated the track history in several posts in the Marchbanks section, but needed to add some of that and more to the main history.
Among the changes were to:
1) Add several new photos, including a few showing Marchbanks Stadium in 1953, including a terrific aerial that shows two ovals and a road course layout.
2) Add an image that shows the track layout in 1961.
3) Tossed out a bunch of information about track layouts, names and timeframes that I have either refuted or can't confirm.
4) Added details on the 1957 death of Ernie Cornelson.
5) Noted that Kal Simon leased, not owned, the track from 1967-69 and added mention of legal disputes between Simon's K&S Enterprises and the Marchbankses. There's much more to share on this front, but I share that later.
6) Added information about other uses for the track, including rodeos.
7) Added details from personal interviews with Gary Marchbanks and Tommy Trader.
8) Tweaked or edited stuff throughout.
I'm prepping to conduct a series of interviews with people who were regulars at the track in the 1960s and have a bunch of great photos to share. I also have some very interesting info on that dark period from 1969 to 1972 that might be of interest. So stay tuned or email me if you want to get notice of future updates.
And 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.
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."