Ben Krasner's Lakeside Speedway

[soni]

Ray Abney was my father. I was at the track the night he passed away in June 1973. This is not my recollection of what happened that evening so if someone *really* knows the truth, I would like to know. Please no speculation or theories. My mother just passed away 2 weeks ago and it is possible we will find out more as we start to go thru her papers. Thanks.

Ray Abney was killed in the early 70's in a supermod crash. I know Abney's step brother, they think Abney passed out going down the back chute, he hit the pit wall entrance head on, his helmet landed in the bed of someones pickup truck in the pits. Rumor has it, some other car was running nitro, or some additive, and Abney was affected by the fumes, just a theory.

[mag]

Soni, I apologize for any offending comments. In the early 1980's I worked with a man named Bill Stoneburner, Bill drove supers in 1972 at Englewood, then became a co-owner of the #111 car with John Munger, and Ken Munger took over the driving in 73'. Bill related this story to me, he too was at the track that night. I was 13 at the time of the incident, and remember how hard it was on another person I knew who was associated with Ray Abney. So some 10 years later, I'm working with Stoneburner, he knows I'm into racing, and tells me about his years at Englewood, and during one of our conversations, he related the story to me. I didn't mean to present it as fact, people speculate on auto racing fatalities, not out of morbid curiosity, more out of cause and effect, and prevention. One of the best 1950's and 60's race drivers, Don Branson, a USAC national sprint champ, winner of Champ car, sprint car and midget races, and many time starter in the Indy 500. Was killed in a USAC sprint car race in 1966 at Ascot Speedway, that also killed upcoming star Dick Atkins, to this day witnesses speculate that Branson had a heart attack, or his failing eyesight caused him to slam into the wall. No one knows the "truth", those left behind can only theorize, or speculate as to what caused a tragedy. Sorry for the loss of your mother, I meant no harm.

[DCR]

Originally Posted by Nostalgic Mike

I was there the night that Mike"Tony" Balzano flipped.. The car came back to the pits after the aftermath, and din't look really bad.. It was the hanress system that broke and Balzano was like a rag doll in the cockpit from what the track personnel surmised.. I went back to the track each weekend, never feeling the same after that. It kind of took the starch out everything for me... Sammy's was another really, really bad one.. You wondered, when it happened, if his Midget would ever stop flipping and rolling!!... Sammy always did drive hard and on the edge... that is what made him such a great driver. Love him or hate him, he did put on one hell of a show!!
Again, this is the side of racing nostalgia that I try to keep on the back shelf as much as possible, but when the subject is broached, then I will talk about it.. Great men, great machines and so many that passed doing what they loved...

Not to get off track here, but my wife and I were also at CNS that night. It was one of the first times we had been there. The wreck as I remember it was extremely violent, and it happened right in front of us. Without going into any details, my wife and I both knew the outcome was not going to be good.

God Bless all those racers who have died doing what they loved.

[Nostalgic Mike]

Originally Posted by DCR

Not to get off track here, but my wife and I were also at CNS that night. It was one of the first times we had been there. The wreck as I remember it was extremely violent, and it happened right in front of us. Without going into any details, my wife and I both knew the outcome was not going to be good.

God Bless all those racers who have died doing what they loved.

Let me clarify one thing I said.. The car didn't show the complete violence of the crash.. I was pit side that night just a bit north of turn 2 and I saw it as the car went air born. My heart stopped and it was honestly like everything went in to slow motion!!!... I was shaking for most of the night after wards and I get a chill every time I get into conversation about it.. When they came over the pit PA for John Balzano to report to the main straight, All I could was sit silently and shake my head as I knew at that point it wasn't going to be good news.
The other thing I know is that it seemed to take forever for the Flight for Life chopper to make it to the track. They were fighting a very heavy headwind, when they were called in, almost immediately after the crash happened.
I honestly hate to say it but it really did sour most of the rest of that season for me. Things just never seemed the same.
Hearing about the lives lost in racing is always a very down moment for all of us, but to be there and actually witness when a driver is taken from us, makes it that much harder.
OK.. Enough of that and bringing every one else down here... "Tony" died doing what he absolutely loved most...

[JThur01]

I'm a racing historian and researcher involved with both Motorsport Memorial and The Racers at Rest Project (I'd post the links to these sites, but I'm not able to). I'm hoping some of you in the Denver area could assist us. I noted the earlier discussions here, but we really need some extra information that could only be found at places like the Denver Library. If at all possible, could folks here check microfilm of Denver newspapers for their reports of these accidents and obituaries/death notices/funeral notices of the drivers? Copying and scanning them would provide exactly what is needed. It would be of great help and provide us opportunity to recognize and pay tribute to these drivers. Thank you.

[dkarate]

The Balzano crash was in brand new larry shaw late model, in wich the seat cam loose.

[Joe Starr]

Originally Posted by JThur01

I'm a racing historian and researcher involved with both Motorsport Memorial and The Racers at Rest Project (I'd post the links to these sites, but I'm not able to). I'm hoping some of you in the Denver area could assist us. I noted the earlier discussions here, but we really need some extra information that could only be found at places like the Denver Library. If at all possible, could folks here check microfilm of Denver newspapers for their reports of these accidents and obituaries/death notices/funeral notices of the drivers? Copying and scanning them would provide exactly what is needed. It would be of great help and provide us opportunity to recognize and pay tribute to these drivers. Thank you.

Motorsport Memorial

Racers at Rest

[yankees09]

I remember it well had the most fun times there. We were there every Sunday night until the horrible crash that closed it down for good wont ever forget that night. I remember my friend saying that the races that night seemed boring not two laps after that we had the crash that everyone will remember I looked and him and said well thats it this place will never open again sooooooo sad but the fun will always stay with us we will never forget

[JThur01]

Joe, thank you for posting the links. I appreciate it