Wall Stadium '75-'85  

On the way to the track, getting a Collingwood auction sub in a plastic baggie. Maybe a couple zeppoil's for desert.

Get to the track at 4:30, in line to get in, pairing off with the fans of your driver. You were pretty much Hearne in red coats or Kremer in yellow coats. White for Hoffman and than everyone else.

Get there early to get your regular seat, of course. Practice 5pm sharp which you could'nt miss. Beach Boys and sometimes Born to Run on the PA.  Mix in a few oldies, but the SAME songs every week, every year.

Heats that meant something and consi's also in all three divisions every week. 30 or so Mods, 40 Sportmans, and 30 Modern Stocks. The perfect amounts to make for a good show.

You could set your watch to Wall Stadium racing. 5pm practice,  6:30 ends, 7pm sharp first Modern heat. 10:30 heading home. 

Intermission time was about twenty minutes. The lucky coupon drawing from the starters stand for fish bowls, car washes, and hair cuts.  Very rarely a free pass to the next show.  Early line up announcements was important and always dramatic (although the line up was usually about the same every week because of handicapping) because you had to fill out your 'Wall Game" coupon picking the top four in order, usually winning around 100 bucks. You also submitted your most popular driver ballot. This always ruined your program by tearing these out of them each week.

Line ups were sent from the tower to the starters stand via a cable. Getting to return the holder from the starters stand back to the tower and getting to watch a little of the race from there was pretty cool. The tower was treated like the Ivory Tower and off limits to everyone!

Hearne-Kremer battles were classic week after week. The handicapping always made for great racing because the hot shoes were in the back every week, no redraw stuff.

The biggest race in Jersey, the Garden State Classic. 300 laps with a break at 150 until about 1979, than reduced to 200 with no break. Endurance and usually a surprise winner.

1975 and a gentle guy wins the Modified championship in the last Coupe to do so, Joe Severage. He also wins the 1975 Garden State Classic 300.

Bob Rossell in Dick Barney's 14 in 73 to 75. Jim Hendrickson becomes a regular in 1976.  Don Stives a regular in the Ariano 8X. Jim Hoffman as steady as could be in his own 11. Jim built a new car every other year which was always exciting to see.

Tom Durkin and Gil Hearne would bring out new (used) cars just about every year. First used Ferrante cars than the always gorgeous Maynard Troyer Pintos.  Even bought his hauler, "Big Brute".

Tom O'Rorke running things with an iron fist, but very fair. Called the race from the infield every week.

All three divisions had great rivalries. At Wall, it was very common for most drivers to graduate up to the next division, so you saw the same guys year after year, just in another division.

John Blewett Jr. always was exciting doing things only John Bleweet Jr could do!

Young guys like Tony Siscone, Jamie Tomaino, and Jerry Cranmer were coming through the ranks. 

The "Long Island Invasion" after September, when the Long Island tracks closed down. Wall's season always ran from mid April to mid October. Fred Harbach, Tom Baldwin, Wayne Anderson, Tom McCann, and Charlie Jarzombeck, just to name a few.

Than the Nichol family invention of Turkey Derby in 1974. Still the best race in November anywhere. Brought all the Modified greats from the North East to our Wall Stadium each and every year. Initially a one day event was expanded in the 80's to two days and now three.

The 80's were crazy at Wall. Big crowds every week and the party atmosphere was a blast. Race all night than party all night. The groups of fans and racers was crazy. Every event had a party that followed.

Jamie Tomaino-Tommy Comerford rivalry got nasty. Siscone was fast and smoothe and won big.

The sportsman guys moving up and running well in the Mods. Mauser, Wolcott, Ferrante.

Enouugh from me.  All you Wall guys add your thoughts!