Lake Hill Speedway?

Bruce H.,
That was a great post. As 2 of the many volunteers (Bryan & myself) we thank you for your thoughts. It was well worth our time to know helping put something like this together for people like yourself. Did you come all the way from Arkansa? If so we are glad the trip was worth your time. That has to be one of the feel good stories ever posted. I hope the old place sticks around long enough for you to come back 1 more time.
 
bruce h. was right it was a time that you did not want to leave. but maybe it was not the last time we will get to go with any luck at all. before sat. the last time i walked through the tunnel was with my dad in 1971, and i was 11 years old. it really was like going back in time, except for the fact that there were no stands to set in anymore. thanks agin to everyone that made it possible......and lets keep er going
 
Wow! What a day. What a place. Our very own Field of Dreams and just like in the movie...we built it and they came. Again and again all day long. Now what? Now... we find a way to make Lake Hill the party center of St. Louis again that it once was. We have a window of opportunity that comes along once in a lifetime. We cannot take this day and let it pass. We must use it as a building block to resurrect this wonderful oasis hidden from sight from the hustle and bustle of the everyday world. So stay tuned... and Let's all hope that this was just a warmup lap and not a farewell salute. A heat race but not the feature.
 
Lake Hill Speedway Historic Souvenir Programs etc.

I have had a few inquiries about where to purchase additional souvenir programs for those who could not attend. I forgot to list it in the program. ($5.00 plus s/h)

For now, just email me at davidrmueller@gmail.com or call me at 314-614-3038 I still have a few but I will also make more in the spring.

These are all great gift ideas for Christmas:

Phil Rideout at R&R Enterprises made the beautiful sweatshirts and T-shirts and ran out of stock. I understand that he is going to make some more.
(636) 717-0001 or email www.r-ronline.com

and the Fan Club provided the DVD. stlfanclub.com
 
Missing Lake Hill Banner

I guess in the excitement, someone decided to climb up the tunnel and take the "Welcome to Lake Hill Speedway" banner. We were really hoping to keep this banner for another event.

So PLEASE, who ever took the Lake Hill banner bring it back! We need it for the (hopefully) next time. No questions asked, just drop it off at the bridge (on the other side of the gate if the gate is locked).

And if you happen to see this banner laying around somewhere, please do the right thing. When this banner was unfolded the morning of the event, it made a lot of people happy. We need to keep that happiness at the track, not in some basement - or worse!

KEG
 
KEG said:
I guess in the excitement, someone decided to climb up the tunnel and take the "Welcome to Lake Hill Speedway" banner. We were really hoping to keep this banner for another event.
KEG
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PEOPLE....... What the hell where ya thinking ???? :confused::mad:
Ya shoulda bought a program or t-shirt like every one else !!!!!!!!
The racing community is pretty close knit and I guarantee more than one person knows who has the banner. It's time to pony up and get it back to it's rightfull owner A.S.A.P..........................................
 
Come one now don't put a black eye on such a great day. Heck if you want a banner I find a way to get you one, Please return the one you took. I know you are reading this or you would not have been there. Just put it in a plastic bag and give KEG a PM and no one will ever know who you are. PLEASE DO THE RIGHT THING
 
10-4 this wasn't a college basketball game where you snatch the net! Or a concert where you take a paper poster home. That banner wasn't meant to be a trophy for an excited fan. A lot of extra effort went in to making this a wonderful experience for one and all. If you see it at a friends house... tell them to bring it back. If you have it...bring it back. You'll feel better if you do and we don't have to know who you are. Besides it's to big to display in your basement or garage anyway:(.
 

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that is exactly right, if you want something buy it! the whole day seems to have been perfect, until i read this. even in a great group of people someone has to go and do something STUPID LIKE THIS!!!!!!! bring it back
 
Many thanks, to everyone that worked so hard to bring it all together. There are so many who gave their time and many hours of hard work, to bring back out of the woods – “Lake hill Speedway”.

A special thank you to Kim Gardner. Without you & your understanding of how special Lake Hill was, the reunion would have never been possible. My hat's off to you.

I wanted to thank everyone that came out to the old track on Saturday. It was a fitting tribute to “The Place to Race”, in St. Louis, back in the day. Seeing the people coming in through the tunnel again………. The crowds covering the grounds…………it was a very humbling experience. I was hoping for a warmer day, but it wasn’t long before the sun came out to warm us all up. As cold as it was, no one uttered a negative thought about any aspect of the day. All the old friends and smiling faces made it all worthwhile. It was a day we will all remember for many years I’m sure.

Bravo, to The St. Louis Racing Community, …….. you have written a remarkable chapter in the St. Louis area racing history books!

My Mother thanks you,
My Father thanks you,
And I thank you!

Marty Heutel
 
Great Reunion!

My dad, brother and I all really enjoyed the day Saturday! I left the house at 11:30 telling my husband I'd be home by 3:00. I was wrong - it was nearly 5:00. All the volunteers did such a spectacular job of fixing the place up. I even drank a couple of beers [and it has been YEARS].

It was so much fun seeing so many old friends and hearing the roar of engines again was very exciting!

Thank you so much KEG and all of your many helpers.
 
partsman said:
Many thanks, to everyone that worked so hard to bring it all together. There are so many who gave their time and many hours of hard work, to bring back out of the woods – “Lake hill Speedway”.

A special thank you to Kim Gardner. Without you & your understanding of how special Lake Hill was, the reunion would have never been possible. My hat's off to you.

I wanted to thank everyone that came out to the old track on Saturday. It was a fitting tribute to “The Place to Race”, in St. Louis, back in the day. Seeing the people coming in through the tunnel again………. The crowds covering the grounds…………it was a very humbling experience. I was hoping for a warmer day, but it wasn’t long before the sun came out to warm us all up. As cold as it was, no one uttered a negative thought about any aspect of the day. All the old friends and smiling faces made it all worthwhile. It was a day we will all remember for many years I’m sure.

Bravo, to The St. Louis Racing Community, …….. you have written a remarkable chapter in the St. Louis area racing history books!

My Mother thanks you,
My Father thanks you,
And I thank you!

Marty Heutel
Click to expand...

:p;):cool::):):):D:D... Wasn't it just flat out KEWLLLLLLLLLLLLLL ! ! !
 
I had never been to Lake Hill Speedway prior to the Sunday before. Knowing what the place had looked like during all the work from the photo's posted on this site. It looked great. Then showing up on Saturday I helped in the ticket booth. The energy that I felt from everyone coming in was awsome. That alone gave me a great feeling. And the number of " I have not been here since......."that I heard. After my shift I was able to walk around and see stuff. I have never seen so many smiles mostly from ear to ear. If you look at the pictures that people are posting and look at the fans in the back grounds they have huge smiles as well. I would also too like to say thanks, to everyone for their hard work. It was a great feeling to be apart of this and to see the speedway that I have heard so much about, and the cars and drivers that ran there in the day. Thank you Mr. Gardner, and the St. Louis Auto Racing Fan Club, and all those who gave their time and hard work.
 
Little did I know, that when I volunteered to help work at the track, clearing brush and rebuilding the conssession stand, did I realize how much this would mean to so many people. I was very glad to help, and more importantly glad to be part of such a great event. Thanks again to KEG, for letting this happen, and to all the other volunteers that I worked with. Now I'm wondering if there is any way I, and or everyone else can help move this in the right direction for the future. Let all us fans of LHS know KEG.:)
 
A Special Thank You

We Want To Send A Special Thank You To Kim Gardner, The St. Louis Auto Racing Fan Club,the Volunteers That Donated Time,materials,money, The Drivers And Fans For All The Effort And Support Put Into The Lakehill Speedway Reunion. Thanks To The Wallace Family For Sharing The Racing Dvd With Us-really Enjoyed It! Kenny You Have Never Forgot Where You Came From And Showed That To Everyone At The Lakehill Reunion. Fred Enjoyed Making A Lap Around The Track After 36 Years Away From The Speedway. Could Have Spent More Time Telling Old Race Stories- Lets Make This The Green Flag Not The Checkered ! Thanks For All The Memories! Fred And Doris Tiede
 
It is just great the way everything turned out Saturday. To have so many related/unrelated people get such a thrill out of the reunion is just awsome. Kim said that he knew how to throw a pretty good party but he had never seen one like this one was. This one was special. This one has a life... a life all of its own. All we have to do is feed it, water it and watch it grow.
 
Asphault Pictures

A Few Pictures I Overlooked For The Party.
 

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All I can say is WOW!!! after letting this all soak in a few days I thought that I should post what I thought was a great day indeed.
I found out about the reunion the night before and only was able to pop off a couple of e-mails to let others know.
I am a grandson (Tom King) and nephew (Pat King and Thomas King) of those that raced a long time at Lake Hill With the "Flying 1". There was also a driver for many years that drove for my grandfather and his name was Al Kuennen and raced under the name of 'Al King". Pat Kings daughter is still running the "Flying 1" at Montgomery.
It was really neat on how everything went on Saterday. My hat is off to everyone involved in the reunion, and to KEG for letting us hear the rumble one more time. Again WOW!
I must have taken at least 160 picures that day. With a smile on everyones face that was there. With the feel of the hard to walk in gravel to the smell of the consessions, the music of open headers and the smell of the burnt fuel it was a great day...
I have a ten year old boy that is still stitting here all smiles from what he saw there.
Thanks to my uncle Pat, he informed me about this and glad that he did..

Thanks to everyone involved!!! Tom Luebbert
 
Tom,
I remember the night at St.Charles in the mid 60's when "Al King" showed up and beat a very dominant Wib Spalding in super modifieds on the inside line, running the first "wing" I had ever seen on a race car. Jaws were dropping all over the stands. It was a turning point of sorts, I guess.

I've read this thread from start to finish & as a result I joined the forum to express my joy & gratitude to Kim for going way out of his way for the enjoyment of all of us. He could have very easily ignored what he had discovered on this hallowed ground and brought in the bulldozers with only profit in mind. Kim, you have shown that you are a man with honor and morals beyond most people in your position. You should be honored at every upcoming awards banquet for your kind contribution to the St. Louis auto racing community in 2007.

I grew up going to races with my Dad and to the best of my recollection, we went to Lake Hill about three times, two dirt and once after the paving. Living up north, we frequented St. Charles & Tri-City mostly but, many of our heros from the Super Modified era of the 60's ended up at Lake Hill in Late Models in the 70's. Names like Wib Spalding, Bill Meyers, C.C. Corbin and on & on. I met Wib again on the 24th (a magic day) talked and got his autograph. What a champion he was. Talk about domination! It was a great time in auto racing.

Thanks to all involved for this once in a lifetime trip down memory lane and please support the St. Louis Auto Racing Fan Club for all the work they do to promote motor sports in the area.

Mike Zimmerman
 
I had a question that day that nobody had an answer for & I haven't seen it yet on this thread. Does anybody know why the track closed when it did in 1980? I guessed maybe the usual reasons, development, noise, insurance costs. One guy told me a driver was killed at the track a year before & maybe a lawsuit was pending?

Anyway, I can't remember having a better time at a motorsports event when there was no race. I took a hundred pictures, here are a couple:

Kenny Schrum
LH11-24-07042-KennyShrum.jpg
 
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