1975 Calistoga California Sprint Car Racing Poster Print

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In 1937, as the Model A was dominating America’s roadways when a promoter with the colorful nickname of “Fancy Pants” came to Calistoga with a ‘fancy’ idea.  He believed the town’s horse racing track was ideal for another kind of horsepower.  He persuaded the town’s leaders to promote a car race on the Napa County Fairgrounds.  About a dozen cars showed up for an afternoon of hippodrome-style speed exhibitions.  It was the beginning of a tradition that has endured for over 70 years.

Except for the years of World War II, when all racing in the nation was put on hold to conserve fuel and rubber, Calistoga Speedway has hosted open-wheel race cars.  From spindly wire-wheeled wonders with four-cylinder engines to midgets and the V-8 powered, winged and modern sprint cars of today, Calistoga’s first racing heroes were family names that are still found in the Napa Valley, such as Figone, Normi, and Pacheteau.

The first races were sanctioned by the Bay Cities Roadster Racing Association and later the American Racing Association.  The track hit its stride as a racing destination under the nurturing hand of another well-known Calistogan, Louie Vermeil, owner of the former Owl Garage on Washington Street, whose association with the track spanned over 40 years.  Initially, he was a mechanic and later a car owner.  By 1960, Vermeil and others had formed the Northern Auto Racing Club, now known as the Golden State Challenge Series, to boost the professionalism of sprint car racing.  For the next 25 years, Calistoga Speedway was known as the “home” of the Northern Auto Racing Club while Vermeil presided as president.

Some things have changed over the years.  Admission price in the early years was a mere 55 cents.  The fastest cars of the hippodrome days took more than 30 seconds to turn a lap on the half-mile oval.  To be sure, they were daring speeds at the time in rough cars with narrow tires.  But they seem tortoise-like compared to speeds of modern sprint cars, which rocket down the long straightaways twice as fast at more than 120 miles an hour.

Over the years, Calistoga Speedway has hosted some of the best drivers of their eras.  Indy car veterans Jim Hurtubise, Bob Veith, Freddie Agabasion (’52 Indy pole winner), and Earl Motter raced here in the ’50s and ’60s.  Some of the best race car drivers of the next generation took their place, including 20-time World of Outlaws champion Steve Kinser and Tony Stewart, who has gone on to win championships in the United States Auto Club, the Indy Racing League, and NASCAR stock cars.  Many of the drivers on the track’s all-time win list became nationally known for their talent, even if they raced primarily in Northern California, as the track gained a reputation for requiring the best effort of the area’s best drivers in order to win.

Today, Calistoga Speedway continues its tradition of presenting special events for some of the region’s most competitive racing series, including the winged sprint cars of the traveling Civil War and Golden State Challenge series and the traditional sprint cars and midgets of the United States Auto Club.

by Bill Sessa

With a good handful of posters from the 60′s, here is a cool one from San Diego, California. Three posters I carry are from Balboa Stadium. This one measures 17 inches wide x 22 inches tall. The event date was July 9, 1960. The other two prints are just as cool , one from 1945, and the other from 1951. So with that, we have a poster from each era, 40′s, 50′s,  and 60′s. I will have to dig some info on the track and post it when I post the other two posters.

1960 Balboa Stadium Modified Sportsman Auto Races Poster Print : San Diego, California

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Just some really super cool retro oil ads from Richfield today. These popular prints are 2 of 4 prints I have available. I will create a package deal for the collection. $40 for the 4 sound like a sweet deal, also including a free shipping bonus for buying all four. Now I just have to get my butt in gear and post it. I think on eBay I will also create a Richfield Collection offer.

1934 Richfield Ethyl Oil Advertisement Poster Ad Print

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1928 Richfield Ethyl Oil Advertisement Poster Ad Print

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Getting Back on track with things. Been busy here and there. Father’s Day is right around the corner and I always get pretty busy around this time of year. And usually from about this time on thru to the year end it seems to stay pretty steady.

A lot of car shows to hit, and a lot or events to goto. There never seems to be enough time in the day to get all what I need done. One show going on this Father’s Day is the Eyeson Design Automotive Design Show. We donated some prints for this very special annual event. You will see the prints on display next to cars from that era. The “American Racing: From Dirt to Bricks” display will have all kinds of vintage race cars.

I will not able to attend this years LA Roadster up in Pomona this time around. But I am looking forward to checking out “Event Coverage” on the HAMB while on the road. I have been seeing a lot of postings in the Minnesota area, so thought I would post up a poster print from the 1963 Minnesota Dragway. An AWESOME print !! It measures 14 inches wide x 22 inches tall, and the event took place in May 29-30, …heck that was only a few weeks ago ……and BACK 46 YEARS ago. ! Amazing how time flies. I know I posted this one once before, but I REALLY dig this print.

1963 Minnesota Dragway Program Poster Print

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…..and when you use Amazon and buy more than $30 of prints , you will get your posters shipped for free.

     Yup, the title is NOT a misprint. I am blowing out these 1966 Oroville Boat Drag Racing Program Poster Prints for a limited time. Both in my eBay store, and the Amazon WebStore.

     It is kinda funny , because it is not like I am not swamped as it is, but I thought it would be fun to pick one of the 100 plus posters I have and create a sale. I like promoting the site , along with all the awesome artwork available. It is fun to try new things. Throw together a few Google AdWord ideas, go in the Amazon WebStore and come up with a promo package, and then eBay with some marketing.

     Plus it is a new month, things are going great and I enjoy giving good deals. Or maybe I had too much coffee and just going with it. Either way, May is going to be exciting. 

     Take a look thru the posters and enjoy !

     If the Oroville Poster Promo is a hit, maybe we will bust out a few more poster sales in the next few months. Heck, Father’s Day is just around the corner, and I know I have a bunch of ideas for that. Once Mother’s Day is over I will be getting onto that. 

     There are a bunch of car shows and swap meets that we might hit, we will just have to see.

1966 Oroville Boat Drag Racing Program Poster Print

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1948 Bonelli Stadium Saugus CA Midget Racing Program Poster Print. Measures 17 inches wide x 22 inches tall. The Time 1948… the place…. BONELLI STADIUM !! Midget Racing at its finest . June 27, 1948 Saugus, California. A super cool program print. Not many of these around, I have looked high and low for more from this track and it has been hard. We are offering free shipping on orders thru the Amazon WebStore when you buy 2 or more poster prints.

1948 Bonelli Stadium Saugus CA Midget Racing Program Poster Print

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