jakdad

This sure doesn't look like the track set-up I remember at Playland Park on South Main in Houston. With all due respect, this may be a Playland race track, but it's somewhere else other than Houston.

The only thing it has in common with the Houston Playland layout is some carnival rides in the background.

I went to dozens of races there between 1950 and when it closed down in the early 60's, so the memories are pretty well etched in what gray matter I have left. I saw just about everything there...modifieds, midgets, powder-puff derbies, figure-8 races, demolition derbies. I don't remember any sprint-car races though, like the cars shown in these photos. I think the track might have been too short for them. There could have been some, though. I do remember lots of sprint-car races at Meyer on the half-mile track there.

First...There were no trees in the area. The track ran east to west. The start-finish line was on the north side with a small press box at the top of the stands. I always sat in the south side stands. The parking area was behind these stands, with not much to the south except open land and some motels. To the north, there was the U-turn of the roller coaster and then a few motels and other small structures over to OST where Prince's Drive-In was located at the intersection of Main and OST. The entrance to the raceway was on the west side of the track at the far east end of the amusement park area. At the east end of the track was the pit area. Beyond the pit area were open fields and no trees. The parking area for the amusement area was between the park and South Main. I think Gaido's was on the other side of Main from Playland.

Second... There was no white picket fence around the pit area; nor was there any grass in the pit area. There were well-worn horizontal boards about 3'-4' high that encircled the track. Behind that track barrier was a tall chain-link fence...maybe 8-10' tall that was in front of the stands on both the north and south sides. At the west end of the track, outside the wooden barrier, was a corrogated metal fence/wall about 8' tall. Just outside this was the entrance to the raceway for the spectators. I mentioned in another thread about Playland that I was standing in the entrance area when Blackie Lothringer's came flying over the wall during warm-ups and killed a couple of people not more than 50' from me. It's amazing that no one else was killed during the races there, over the years. I remember several times when cars would hurdle over the barrier and into the chain-link fence, almost into the people sitting down in front. Safety regulations today would never allow a set-up like they had back then. The entrance to the pits was through a gate at turn 3. The exit was back through another gate at turn 4. The pit area was asphalt and no grass.

Third...There is a blue tent and a white house in the upper left background of one of the photos. Nothing like that at Playland in Houston.

Fourth... I showed these photos to some contemporaries of mine who attended races at Playland, and they concurred that those pictures were not from the Playland we know.

So...I don't know where the description of these photos came from, but I'm sure they are not of Playland-Houston.

I love the pictures and hope you post more of them.

Hi T-Bird,

Those are not Sprints. They are Midgets. I was told that the fellow all crossed up in the pic is A.J. Foyt. My best guess is that the man in the 9 car is Billy Griswold. You have to remember that the old fences changed a few times over the years. Anyway, great discussion. Maybe Mark can shed some light on this.

West U,

Is there any possibility he was Marvin Fillip? He was simply known as Fillip, a lot of people didn't really know him as anything but Fillip. I have one old photo of Marvin Fillip in his super modified @ Meyerland Speedway. I will post it, and see if it rings any bells.

Hey Mark, Was that an Olds J-2 engine that Marvin had in the 1 car?

Herring Burl Bailey was born Nov. 15, 1936 and lived most of his life in Houston. Surviving are his wife Michelle and six children. Son Joe Dan Bailey, who worked with several Cup teams as a tire specialist in the 1990s, now works at NASCAR's R&D center. Likeable Bailey, whose bearded visage was easily recognizable, never attempted more than six or eight Winston Cup (Grand National) races in a season, and his best finishes were two fifth-places.

Bailey also competed in NASCAR's lower-dollar Grand American division in the 1960s and 1970s, winning the GA pole at Daytona in 1972 and finishing second in the class standings.

Bailey was one of a group of persistent small operators who lasted in NASCAR well into the 1980s, although Bailey seemed more to race for fun than for a career. He ran his last Winston Cup race in 1990. H.B. Bailey, part-time NASCAR independent and operator of a group of Houston-area auto parts businesses, died 4/17/2003 of heart failure at the age of 66.

This is a short Grand National history of the H.B. Bailey NASCAR Grand American Firebird. This car and several others were part of a trial by NASCAR to mix the Pony cars (GT or Grand-American) with the Grand National (now known as Winston Cup) cars. That experiment was to be tried for the first time on September 19, 1971 at North Wilkesboro, NC. That race was to be the first to mix the smaller cars with the Grand National cars. Unfortunately the race was postponed by rain. It was later run in October. Prior to the rain, Charlie Glotzbzch in Junior Johnson

You're remembering a storm known to local historians as "The Surprise Hurricane of 1943." KUHF Houston Public Radio did a big story about it last year in its lead-up to hurricane season.

Full transcript with photos and audio at http://www.kuhf.org/site/News2?news_iv_ctr...le&id=20508

The U-166 was sunk off the coast of Louisana in 5000 feet of water. Good job guys!!!

Interesting thing about the Storm in 1943. The reason there was so much damage and loss of life is that no one was warned. This was World War II and we had a couple of German U-Boats patroling in the Gulf. Consequently we maintained radio silence about the storm. As it turned out, It came right down the Houston ship channel. I was a little kid but I remember the glass being blown out of our windows and all the rain comming in. Another spin off story about Playland.

Here's an old shot I found of Phil Cronin, I'm thinking 1962

That's Red Garners old Modified with the 427 ford engine. A very nice car.

I believe you just answered a question that has been on my mind for over 50 years. I seem to remember the name of Porter. Now does the name Doc Casey or Cassedy ring a bell with anyone. It seems that he was not a crown favorite. Thanks for help. Sparky

Yep, Doc Cossey was a local racing hero. He ran mostly Houston but would occasionally venture out to other cities. Doc won a lot of races and was one of the first to buy an Offy for his car. Red Hodges got an Offy powered car about the same time. That was some serious racing.

Thanks for the message. I appreciate everything you said. Does anybody out there know the last name of a driver whose first name was "Hugh"? He was a friend of Buddy. Sparky

Was it Hugh Porter?

Thanks Sparky for a great story. Got any pics you can post?

Jim

Having known Phil, i would not be surprised that he had a new anything at 15 to 17 years of age. He was resourceful..................

I think Phil Cronin was born about '40, so he would have been about 15-17 years old in '55/'56. Had a fast, new '55 Chevy hot rod? Maybe so Jakdad! Say, wasn't there also a Phillip in amongst some of them Tillotta boys that did a little racing?

I think Phil was a pre 40s guy

I found these pictures of Malibu as it looks today...or not long ago. I still have my license for the go-karts someplace. I also think I still have some tokens for the video games. I used to go all the time for their putt-putt golf, but always perfered Speedy's for go-karts. I don't think that plae is still open, but it rocked. The track was built into an old pool.

http://www.abandonedbutnotforgotten.com/ab..._in_houston.htm

I thought the place where the robery and murders took place was on 290.

On just about any night for many many years, if you looked at the front of the pack, this is what you saw running first and second. Billy Wade #53 and Don Burton #5. These two clown were the one to beat night in and night out.

Here is Don Burton beating out Buddy Evans at the line.

Here is MJ Burton after rolling his car @ Meyers

Page 6 of the 1962 Season Program

West U Native is this your guy?

Might be, but she would have to allow for 20 years or so in that photo.

Frontier Fiesta!!! Wow!! I never missed one. What a great time for a high school junior, senior, etc. Yes, I would do it all over again..............................

OMG! I think that was it! At least it certainly sounds familiar and right somehow. A million thanks, jakdad, that has been niggling in my back brain for eons. This place is incredible.

As we grow so much older, often we feel that all these memories are made more sad if only we recall them. This forum shows how much we all share of our early life experiences. And having the blanks filled in on the partials is fantastic.

So, I owe you what? A cookie, a margarita, my first-born? Would enjoy knowing how you came up with the name, you must have known him. Oh, it was all about cars and speed (non tablet form) in those days.

Thanks again!

Sandy

Yes, I knew Phil. He passed on several years ago.

Speaking of Margaritas, here's a bit of trivia about the origins of the Margarita.

Santos Cruz stands behind the mahogany bar at the

Back to Playland Park Racing. I am so impressed with your memory, 57Tbird! Your description fits to a T my remembrance of the track and surrounds. As West U. kids our hero was A.J., our neighbor, but I remember well Stormin' Norman and a few others. Not I have a question to tax your memories, all of you who kept up with such things.

Around 1955-56, I met a guy named Phillip______? He raced stock cars at Playland. He was older than I, me being 14-15 at the time. He was very slender, dark hair, nice guy, but was not considered fit company for me by my family. No romantics envolved, just friends, but he taught me how to take high speed curves and turns, pre-power steering. One night, he brought around his highly newly souped up 1955 Chevy and invited me to go for a trial spin. We headed out to South Main, past any signs of civilization and took off, reaching 155mph! It was the scariest, most thrilling thing I'd ever experienced.

I don't think he ever got famous or anything, but I have wracked my brain for years trying to remember his last name. If any of you have a clue or an old roster of stock car drivers, I'd love to hear from you.

Thanks.

Maybe you mean Phil Cronin, sounds like somthing he would do.

Here you go Budman!

That's Bill White in the "2" car. Bill bought it from Wade in 1961 or 1962. 57 Tbird, you might have to bail me out here. I don't remember the dates and years that well.

I don't know if anyone still reads this, but I will give it a shot. I am not old enough to remember playland park, or most of these places, but I do know about the kiddie park with the "tired old ponies" that was over by Braeswood.

Kiddie Wonderland was off S. Main and Kirby. I think the actual location was 7800 S. Main, if my memory is correct. In the 80's and early 90's there was a carousel, a train that went around the park, a boat ride, airplane ride, car ride (had all the bases covered), a petting zoo, and the ring on the side for the ponies, who were actually more ornery than tired. There was also one donkey named Jack who pulled a wagon. My favorite horse was Tippy, a brown and white shetland pony who always refused to trot. In about 1989, the carousel got smaller. This is because they sold the one they had to the Texas Renaissance Festival. TRF still uses this carousel, though the horses have been replaced. Kiddie Wonderland had this cute multicolored wooden fence around the front and a little shack where you bought tickets for the rides. Often, 2 adorable little girls could be seen "working" the ticket booth. That place held great memories for me.

If anyone is looking for pictures of the place, I have some. I would have to scan them in because they are in a photo album right now, but I can do so easily. Just send me a note and let me know.

Thanks for the offer. I would like any pics I can find on Joseph F. Meyer Speedway. Pics of the track, cars people etc.

Jim Koehn

jakdad@yahoo.com

I would love to post a photo of a famous old Houston race car, but since I just joined this forum, I haven't yet quite figured out how to attach a photo. The car was built by Tony Foyt in the late 50's and was run at Playland and Meyer Speedway by Billy Wade. It is a white #2 T-bucket super-modified. Anybody remember this car? I have a photo of it.

In the mean time, I invite those of you on this forum who have an interest in local Texas racing, past and present to join us on TEXAS SPEEDZONE (TXSZ.Com) Forums Section. I have the photo posted at the top of the "Texas Racing History Section" right now. Regards.

Hey Budman, where was that photo taken? I remember the car and Wade but the track doesn't look familiar.

Thanks,

Jim

Actually Billy Wade was unbeatable at Meyer Speedway which was a 1/2 mile track. Another Billy, Billy Griswold was the man to beat at Playland Park. The car owner was Johnny Reiff, who I worked for and later drove his car when Griswold retired.Playland was a 1/8th mile track. The big names at Meyer Speedway other than Wade were M.J.Burton, Bill Blumerich, Charles Ray Schild, Griswold,Jimmy McKinny,& Ronnie Chumley & Joe Plowman. Add H.B.Bailey to the list

Hey Sprintcar, I just ran across some old posts. I also knew Johnny, Billy and others. Since you knew Johnny and Billy, You must have known Tony Medina (great guy to have on your side in a fight). What ever became of Tony? He used to have a tire store on Washington Ave. I lost track of a lot of these guys after racing. I think Jimmy (Griswold) still has the transmission shop. Man, this board brings back memories!

Jakdad