In 1968 one of the premier sprint car shows took place in Pennsylvania.  Considered a showdown between some of the best from the east versus the stars of the midwest, the Keystone Classic was a show in August not to miss.  Even though this race was a sprint car classic, it did not take place in the heart of Central Pa.  Instead it was on the limestone surface at the Allentown Fairgrounds.

The Allentown Fairground was always considered a tough track.  The best in the business tried to conquer the half-mile located in the city of Allentown.  Since Ira Vail won the first race at Allentown in 1919, drivers powered their way through the dust that often enveloped the grounds.  Known for its sprint car racing, the track also staged some outstanding midget and modified action.

Little did they know at that time but 1968 would be the end of sprint car racing at Allentown.  Like many other fair tracks, insurance plus the demands of the horse racing industry would bring an end to the era of fairground racing.  The fabled Saturday afternoon auto races at fairgrounds all across the country were coming to an end.

IMCA would be the sanctioning body for the Keystone Classic in 1968.  IMCA would bring in some of the best from the midwest. The lure of racing with IMCA brought the stars of the Central Pa. circuit.  Bobby Adamson, Ray Tilley, Lynn Paxton, Gene Varner and Ronnie Rough were some of the stars from the local sprint car tracks that would make the hour tow east.

IMCA had an advantage over the local stars.  The IMCA sprints did not have wings on top.  In fact they did not even have roll cages.  Just a roll bar looming behind the driver, that was all of the protection.  The first race of the series would find one of the local stars testing that roll bar.

The Allentown half-mile would feature a unique surface.  The surface was one more for the horse racing crowd than auto racing. The track had crushed limestone covering hard clay.  On Thursday before the show would start IMCA brought in a few cars to test the surface.  Jerry Richert was the big name with IMCA - two-time point champion - and he was turning in race laps on the track.  He found it to his liking noting that if they could work the limestone high, much like a cushion, there was a clay surface underneath.  Get to that clay and there was a good bite for the sprint cars.  But Richert noted there is nothing like having limestone blasting off of your helmet as he followed another car.

The Keystone Classic would be a three-part show.  Three races over three days would decide the point winner.  The first would take place on Saturday afternoon.  The next show would be another afternoon event the following day.  The three-day series would wrap up one week later as they competed in another Saturday afternoon race.

The first Saturday show found a fine mixture of drivers from the midwest and the east. The show started out with a Trophy Dash and the winner was a mixture of midwest and east.  The sprint legend himself Gus Linder won the dash.  The first heat race hit the track and score one for the east. A driver from the Allentown area, Ronnie Rough beat IMCA racer Buzz Rose while Bill Roynon was third.  The second heat was a close race with IMCA sweeping the top three.  Dick Kistler was the victor followed by Jim Fowler and Serge Tesolin.  The final race before the feature was the consolation.  IMCA star Jerry Richert had oil pressure problems early and was forced to run the consi.  He won that race with Gus Linder second.

Time for the main event. The feature had Jerry Richert up front; IMCA had a starting line up much like the modern World of Outlaws.  Richert led the thundering field of open cockpit sprint cars into turn one.  This show was all Richert as he led all the way.  Ray Tilley dogged the leader but could not make a challenge for first.  The race was scheduled for 25 laps but came to a crashing halt on lap 20.  At that point Bobby Adamson, he had started 12th and moved up to sixth, caught a rut.  His car was sent into three flips before the car flopped over.  With no roll cage on his no. 35, thankfully Adamson was able to walk away from the wreck.

The win for Jerry Richert was worth $400.  $300 went to Ray Tilley for second, Bill Roynon was third for $175.  Gus Linder was fourth for $150 and fifth paid $125 to Daryl Harrison.  Since the red flag came out for Adamson's flip the officials went back to the last scored lap.  By doing that Bobby Adamson was able to keep his sixth place and the $100 that went with it.  Completing the top ten was Buzz Rose, Ronnie Rough, Gene Varner and Benny Rapp.

Day two of the series.  On Saturday the track lacked any bite. Sunday the officials put calcium down on the clay under the limestone.  That set up a good racing surface.  On Saturday Jerry Richert went with what was called a $12 snow tire on the right rear.  Meanwhile Ray Tilley was running the big Goodyear donut that was popular in Central Pa.  With the track having some bite on Sunday Richert went with the Goodyear much like Tilley's.

Jerry Richert started the day off right by winning the Trophy Dash over Daryl Harrison.  Heat one went to IMCA as Benny Rapp topped Gary Hansler and Jim Fowler.  Heat two went to the east as Gene Varner was the winner over Daryl Harrison.  Bill Roynon won the semi feature with Ronnie Rough and Gus Linder trailing.

The surface set up a good fight for the lead.  Jerry Richert was out in front just like the day before.  And like the day before, Ray Tilley was a close second. Tilley had a big piece of plastic across the front of the car to protect him from the flying pieces of limestone.  Unlike the day previous, this time the lead swapped hands several times. Richert was running the high line while Tilley was low.  Tilley wrestled the lead away in the final laps but Richert came back just before the checkered to win.

Richert put $500 in his pocket for the win while Tilley took $375 back to Clearfield.  Daryl Harrison was third which paid $275, fourth paid $200 to Gus Linder and fifth was worth $125 to Benny Rapp.  Ronnie Rough went home with $110 for capturing sixth.  Buzz Gregory, Bill Roynon, Gene Varner and Auxter completed the top ten.

One week later the IMCA sprint cars were back for the final race of the series.  Jerry Richert was leading the points with Ray Tilley in second.  Big surprise on Saturday as Jerry Richert was not with the IMCA drivers.  Now it was Ray Tilley's series to win.

Bobby Adamson returned to Allentown for the final show.  His fortune changed as he started the day off with a win in the Trophy Dash.  Heat one went to Fred Linder with Lynn Paxton in second.  Ray Tilley just about sealed up the point title with a win in heat two over Benny Rapp.  The semi feature went to Daryl Harrison followed by Gus Linder and Bill Roynon.

IMCA claimed the first two features and would do so in the third.  This time Daryl Harrison claimed the $500 first place money.  It was a good race up front as Bobby Adamson and Ray Tilley kept pace with the leader.  Adamson ended the series with a $400 second place.  Ray Tilley collected third and $300, with Bill Roynon in fourth for $200 and $150 went to Ronnie Rough in fifth.  Gene Varner, Benny Rapp, ?Auxter, Jim Fowler and Gus Linder rounded out the top ten.

Taking two seconds and a third gave Ray Tilley the Keystone Classic point title.  And with that final race the curtain came down on sprint car racing at the old fairground. 

Be sure to check out Steve Bubb's weekly column in Area Auto Racing News

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