Mourning an Old Friend

As my husband I were driving up route 31 on the way to Pocono Speedway we passed many familar stores, houses and schools. Then we saw a sight that made us pull the car over and pause. Across from the Flemington Dept store was not our beloved, dearly departed Speedway. It was a sprawling shopping center, anchored by a Lowes store.

My first thought was how could they have done this? Aren't there enough malls in NJ. Drive 5 minutes or less in any direction in NJ and you will find a mall. My husband just stood there speechless. We couldn't bear to stay there for more than just a couple minutes. It was just too painful.

Tom and I met at Flemington. He was the driver of the #99 modified; a bare bones race team. I was just starting out as a motorsports reporter. Tom always greeted me with a smile and cold drink. I asked him for an interview many times but he always said that he wasn't much of a story and would point towards 'a better story'. The Speedway became my 'second home'. After a year or two of hanging out by his trailer, Tom and I went on our first date. A night of racing at East Windsor Speedway.

When that sad day came when Flemington Speedway closed. My heart was broken. I could not imagine calling any other track my home track. Eventually, I got used to visiting other tracks but Flemington will always live on in my heart and memories.

I guess what really hurt most of all about seeing the former site of the speedway is that there was no sign that the speedway ever existed at that location. Eighty some odd years of racing history and glory, gone like it had never existed. Not even a marker sign stateing that 'this was once the home of Flemington Speedway'.

Good bye my old friend, Flemington Speedway. I and those many other who loved you will NEVER forget you.