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Wednesday, March 23, 2022
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Vol. 51, No. 39
Milford (574) 658-4111 • Warsaw (574) 269-2932 • Syracuse (574) 457-3666
114 W. Market, Warsaw, Indiana 46580
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7H[W DQG 3KRWRV %\ 3+2(%( %$1.6 $VVRFLDWH (GLWRU The Old Jail Museum in Warsaw has recently reopened for the season and its new featured exhibit this year is “Remembering the Warsaw Speedway.” The exhibit contains a large collection of photos, drivers’ uniforms, helmets and various other memorabilia associated with the former speedway. The Warsaw Speedway opened in 1949 on the Kosciusko County Fairgrounds in Warsaw. It continued for the next 41 years, providing wholesome family entertainment for area race fans. The track closed following the 1990 racing season due to a lawsuit filed by seven local residents. The first Saturday night of racing was June 11, 1949. There were an estimated 4,000 spectators. Today, memories are all that remain of this onetime local institution. At its height, Warsaw Speedway
attracted in excess of 3,000 visitors a week to the local community from 1949 to 1990. During these years, Warsaw Speedway played host to a number of different racing classes, including jalopies, stock cars, modifieds, sprint cars, late models and hobby stocks. “Racers from all over the Midwest came to Warsaw Speedway,” said Greg Steffe, co-director of the museum. “We had racers from Wisconsin, Illinois and Ohio. It was amazing the amount of talent that came there.” Throughout its history, the track also played host to a number of well-known drivers. These included World of Outlaws greats Steve Kinser and Bobby Allen; former Indy 500 winner Bill Holland; and future NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon. The track also provided a launching pad for the careers of a number of well-known racers, including multitime United States Auto Club National Cham-
pions Tony Elliott and Dave Darland. Warsaw Speedway racers also included All-Star Circuit of Champions Terry Shepherd and Joe Gearte, as well as World of Outlaws regular Joey Saldana. In addition to the exhibit, the museum will also be hosting an open house event June 3 in conjunction with First Fridays. The event will include a Warsaw Speedway old timers’ reunion, and a book signing by Kim Gregory Baney. She wrote the book, “If Only Walls Could Talk,” about the Warsaw Speedway. A presentation ceremony for the Warsaw Speedway Hall of Fame will also take place as well as a vintage race car show. Steffe said he hopes to have about 12 to 15 cars on display.
“This event should provide a great time for anyone wishing to share memories with fellow racing enthusiasts,” said Steffe. “The museum would like to thank all of the drivers who have loaned items to make this exhibit possible.” Steffe added, “The museum also wishes to thank Kim for her hard work and dedication in making this exhibit a reality. The Kosciusko County Historical Society also gratefully acknowledges our sponsor Elliott’s Custom Trailers and Carts for their generous support of this project.” Copies of the book are available for $30 at the Old Jail Museum. For more information, visit its Facebook page or call (574) 2691078. The museum’s hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday to Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. It is located at 121 N. Indiana St., Warsaw.