Join us for Lost Speedways on Saturday, November 27.

This year’s program will feature:

Mark Supley – Wall of Death: Steel Cage Motorcycle Riders
Dick Hansen – Rhinebeck Speedway: From Midgets to Stock Cars
Ken Parrotte – Unique Racing Photos and the Stories Behind Them
Ron Hedger – Memories of “Jumpin’ Jack” Johnson with Ronnie Johnson, Joe Bellomo and others

The program will feature a varied slate of presentations, starting with the always well received “Motorcycle Guy,” Mark Supley, discussing the Wall of Death steel cage motorcycle attractions seen at fairs and carnivals. He will be followed by longtime racer Dick Hansen, who has discovered a trove of vintage programs from the old Rhinebeck Speedway and put together a talk about the end of the midget days and the introduction of stock car racing to the mid-Hudson Valley fairgrounds.

Following intermission, historian and inveterate collector Ken Parrotte will return with a wide assortment of vintage racing photos and the stories behind them. Closing out the program will be event organizer Ron Hedger’s traditional interview session, which for 2021 will be devoted to memories of the late
DIRT superstar Jack Johnson.

“It’s a work in progress but so far, Jack’s longtime friend and crew member Joe Bellomo and his brother Jeff have agreed to go back in time and talk about ‘Jumpin’ Jack’s’ career,” said Hedger. “They will supplement a video of Ronnie Johnson, Jack’s son, discussing his father’s influence on him and his memories of his dad’s career.”

Ronnie had planned on attending the event in person but found the date clashed with longstanding vacation plans.

As part of the usual memorabilia display, attendees are encouraged to bring their Jack Johnson photos and memorabilia to share at the pre-talk display.

Memorabilia will be on display beginning at 11 a.m., with the formal presentations set for 12:30 p.m. Admission to the program is free for museum members with others paying the
standard museum admission fee.