GILLETTE
THUNDER SPEEDWAY
Racing in the Gillette, WY, area commenced
in 1970 at the old site of the Thunder Speedway north of the current race
track. Here you will find photos that Tom Manning spent many an hour compiling
as a projected book about the old track. I've taken his cue and added
those images into this page, plus some of my own earlier attempts at camera
operation. I would like to continue Tom's work and add to this collection
of memorabilia. If someone out there would like to contribute, let's get
together and let this baby grow!
This is the year that race fan JR Hughes
decided to commit the racing scene onto film. Not a lot of style, as the
object was, as it is today, to record at least one image of each car.
Some are courtesy of George Peabody. For the record, Gary Boyle had a
perfect attendence record in victory lane this year.
Instead of investing in better camera
gear, I put my hard earned cash into a pair of "Bombers", a
new division of which I was part of the rule making process. Hughes Racing
began with a 1974 Impala, dubbed "Mosquito Control" due to a
continual smoking issue. Half way through the year, we purchased the #31
of StanChristianson, reversed the color and number order of the earlier
car and voila, a two car team for my brother James and my dad, Jerry.
If we had only known where this was taking us....
Hughes Racing continued with a two car
effort this season, James in a 1965 GTO and Jerry in the former Bill Petrie
Chevelle. Gary Rose retired his noted Chevette bodied modified for a more
sprint car type appearance this season, as seen to the left. Gary would
hang up the nomex after one more season, then return years later as one
of the track announcers, sharing the booth with John Produit.
Long time racer/car builder Wiz Slocum
turned over the wheel of his ever present #2 to former flagman John Heinz.
The Wiz had been a fixture at the track since the late 70's, starting
with a snazzy '63 Chevy Nova. He is best known for his non-fendered creations,
often with the faux coup body style shown to the left, or from his own
sheet metal ideas.
All photos © JR Hughes
and others.
Do not copy or reproduce without prior consent
Last updated April 5, 2009 (1985 TS Enduro)