Slate Set For Lost Speedways 2019 At The Saratoga Auto Museum

Story By: RON HEDGER / SARATOGA AUTO MUSEUM – SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY – The Saratoga Automobile Museum’s wildly popular Lost Speedways program, a look back at speedways that no longer exist and racing heroes who excited the fans “back in the day,” will feature a popular speaker from the past, add a highly respected newcomer and end with interviews of two of the region’s most popular drivers in the 2019 edition.

Set for Saturday, November 30, the traditional “Saturday after Thanksgiving” date for the gathering of the racing clan, the program will open with another Mark Supley look at motorcycle racing in a segment dubbed “Motorcycle Madness.” He will be followed by newcomer Paul Malecki, who has done exhaustive research on the history of the long-defunct Altamont Fairgrounds Speedway, site of big car races featuring regional drivers, AAA events and even NASCAR’s top division over the years.

Host Ron Hedger’s interviews with a pair of regional legends will round out the program. First up will be Dickie Larkin, who had to cancel a scheduled appearance in the past due to a last-minute conflict. Known for his success on the Empire State’s small block scene early in his career driving the famed “Yellow Banana” Ford Falcon, Larkin went on to great success in the big blocks at Lebanon Valley Speedway, where he had a huge fan base. He also has great tales to tell of his exploits on the Syracuse mile, where he was always a contender.

The program will close out with another Lebanon Valley hero, John Flach Jr., who had great success on the high banks, then retired at a relatively young age. But the 2019 season found Flach back behind the wheel in vintage events, pretty much running the table with wins everywhere the group went, all the time wearing a huge smile. Lost Speedways visitors will certainly enjoy his recollections of the past and the story of his return to racing.

Other highlights of the program will include the annual display of memorabilia that participants bring to share and a quick look at vintage photos from western New York showing the rustic cars used long ago. Additionally, a short home movie of Fonda time trials back in the 1960’s and a Billy Rafter win on the Syracuse mile will be run at noon, before the formal presentations start.

The Saratoga Automobile Museum will open at 10 am, memorabilia will be on display from 11 am through the day and the formal presentations will kick off at 12:30 pm. As always, regular admission rates will prevail, with museum members admitted free of charge.

The Saratoga Automobile Museum is located on the Avenue of the Pines in the Saratoga Spa State Park, just north of Exit 13 of the Adirondack Northway/I-87.