Hey Mike .
Good luck on your reunion ! the car that the greek made the record with at alton
is owned by denny guest, he owns south oak dodge in olympia fields Il, you could probably go on there web site and see if maybe you could get him there. I think that  it would be great if you could get the record braking car that put alton on the map for your show. Good Luke.
MIKEY A

Reunion Cancelled by wicked old step-mother! sorry!

hey mike that's too bad about the reunion. i just found this site, i was happy read about  the reunion my dad and uncle raced there in the 50's and 60's with a 38 ford conv. and latter a 32  ford. if you have old photo's on a disc i would be intreasted. thanks mike let me know.  

Cancelled is a little strong. It has been postponed until I get through the legal battle with my wicked step-mother that wants to take everything my father earned and give it to her 2 kids. We have been in this court battle for 3 years now and we are basically in the same place now as when we started. There will be a reunion. I just don't know when.

A mailing list would be great. The track opened in JUly 1958. The 60th of that would be next summer but after this summer I don't want to be out there in that kind of heat and sun. When it comes down it will be a 2 day affair so that everyone can attend. My cousins wife put together a video using 8mm films and stills. I would like to have a few meeting well in advance to see if other things could be gathered and put on a video to pass along at the reunion.

Hey Mike, you still out there?

Anyone out there into a little trivia. When was the christmas tree first used at Alton? When were the overhead lights first used. What kind of car did Jess Woodman first compete in. Name two racer that are still alive that won their class at the first race ever held at Alton. Who was the appearance racer at the last race ever held at Alton? Who was the most famous pro-stock driver ever to race at Alton? Who broke the 240 mark at Alton and when? In what year was the daredevil show held at Alton? What year did the lights go out 2 weeks in a row? When was the mini tower put up behind the starting line? When was the new tower built and why was it needed? I can answer most of these but not all. How many can you get. If this odes not get something going on this site I don't know what will.

Mike,
Just got a note from Bob Fink with the Trivia questions.  Good stuff!

Most of us from White Hall will be happy to help with the Alton Reunion.  Just holler with whatever you need.  And BTW, the mailing list is yours for the asking.  
Phone number and e-mail sent to you via PM.

Another thing; does the name Ken Barnhart ring any bells?  Ken is from Elgin, IL and used to run a '49 Caddy and a '55 Chevy Gasser at Alton.  Ken is still around and still banging gears in his Original Owned '69 Camaro ZL-1.  I think with a little coaxing we might get him down here!  He comes to Collinsville every Labor Day weekend for the Supercar Reunion and puts the car through some paces at Gateway.  71 years old and still running in the 9s and 140s.  

I agree; we need to pump some life into this site.  I sent a link to a few guys I know across the country so maybe we can generate some activity. Tons of stories out there and we need to hear them all!

"Name two racer that are still alive that won their class at the first race ever held at Alton."  Art Badgley?  Maybe (I hope) Stan Lomelino?

hey mike good to see your back on again, well i was so happy to hear about the reunion for 07  i got dad's 32 ford 5-window out after 45yrs of rest. it took me a few week's but i got it runing again. i suprised dad and took to the belleville gear jammer's car show this month and i have never seen so many happy people and did they have the story's form the old alton dragway. hope you can make the reunion happen, i think it would be great.

I regret to inform any and all fans of Alton Dragway that early this morning 11/10/08 that Don Leach passed away. Don raced and also was a Manager at Alton. Don was a TV tech at the time he was involved with the Drag strip. To the best of my memory he raced a 440 powered mopar wagon. I was lucky enough to work with him long after he left racing but loved hearing about it and I did attend races at the strip also. Don will be missed by anyone who knew him. Plummer Funeral home in Litchfield is in charge of services and Don's info is on their website..........Race on Don!!!         Don leaves 3 successful children and his wife Arzella

Hey Mike, Alton Dragway is what got me started in racing period. I first went there in '65 with  my cousin. We were spectators then but it wasn't but  a few years and I made my first pass in a a'56 Anglia . After that is was all over. I raced a '60 dodge D100 there for years . Had to hide my trophies  at my uncles house because my Dad did not approve of dragracing at all. Of couse he eventually found out.
  I would say that the most important super stock racer to ever race Alton would have to of been Bill Jenkins. Man your dad booked such great shows.... "The Coca-Cola Calvalcade of Stars", "Wheelie Wars", and all the super stock and funny car match races. What a grat time time to grow up . Alton closed the same year our Uncle asked me to help out in S.E Asia. I live in Texas now but if that reunion ever takes place I will most assuredly be there. Next to the nuns at Immaculate Conception primary school in West Alton , Alton dragway taught me how to act and live right. Hope to see ya soon.

I am with the St. Louis Auto Racing Association and we are in the beginnings of incorporating the Midwest Motorsports Museum and Hall of Fame. This is the sort of information and history that is getting away from us too often.
We would like information about the Alton Dragway to add to our list of long gone race tracks in the midwest. Also the White Hall Raceway. If anyone wants to contact me with information about these tracks please feel free to email me at wandak1776@att.net.  Thanks. Wanda Knepper, Membership Secretary - St. Louis Auto Racing Fan Club.