5 replies to this topic

[Rappin on Racin]

2013 Lernerville Hall of Fame

Johnny Axe - He was one of the top runners in the old coupes from the late 1950s into the early 1970s, the waning days of the coupes. Driving the Tom Shaffer #34, an immaculate white Chevy coupe, Axe won his share, or more, at just about every track he ran at on a regular basis. While he had an excellent overall record with many seasons as a winner, Axe will always be remembered for winning the very first race ever held at the Lernerville Speedway. It was the fall of the year in 1967 and Don Martin wanted to get the track open before his first regular season in 1968.

Martin scheduled a big 100 lap race for the coupes and most thought the more powerful "Modifieds" from the old Penn Western Racing Association would rule the roost over the "Sportsman" cars from north of Pittsburgh But Johnny Axe upset the apple cart for the Penn Western guys to win the 100 lapper and forever become a big part of Lernerville's storied history. Axe also won the opener for Lernerville's first season on May 10, 1968. But did not have two in a row as Russ Woolsey won the second race at Lernerville in the fall of 1967 with the famed #65 now owned by the King family.

Axe was a regular at Lernerville for much of the track's early history, winning at least one race at the track every year between 1968 and 1971. He has 11 career wins at Lernerville plus many more at other tracks such as Tri-City, Mercer, Sportsman, Butler and elsewhere. He won 8 races at Tri-City in 1968 including five in a row.

____________________________________________________________________________

Linda Fennell - Loving fast cars and knowing the Don Martin Family, Linda saw Lernerville Speedway's inaugural race in 1967 and it was love at first sight. She began taking photos and became a media member in 1977. She served as track photographer, writer for Tri-State Auto Racing News and owner/publisher of Dirt World/Motorsports World magazine.

Life was good. In the 80's and after her involvement grew to scorer, led promotions of Lernerville at Malls and the Expo Center, and co-host of the 5-minute Racing Report on a Blairsville radio station. Linda started working in the office in 2004 and continued for World Racing Group in 2006 as Office Manager until her retirement in 2011. Her duties included customer service, Firecracker preparations, automated ticket/scoring systems, marketing, banquets and more.

Linda received the Milestone, the Golden, Bill Steinbach Media and Art Smiley Track Person of the Year Awards.

____________________________________________________________________________

Albert "Ouch" Roenigk's years of dedication and hard work have increased enjoyment, competition, and safety for fans and race teams at Lernerville. In 1967 Ouch worked for Don Martin Construction and helped at the speedway and in 1972 Martin made Ouch Track Manager.

Ouch was invited to the Racing Promotion Monthly's (RPM) Workshop in Daytona to be on a panel of experts discussing track preparation. Over 600 racetracks are represented at the workshops. Promoters from across the United States often called him for advice.

Martin decided to change the track from ¼ mile to 1/3 mile and eventually to today's 3/8 mile. Lernerville was probably the first track to have nine cables strung through the catch fence on the front straight away to protect their fans from a car coming into the stands. This was "Ouch's" idea and eventually all tracks including Daytona Speedway and Indianapolis was required by insurance companies to construct cable fences for safety.

Some of his other accomplishments included: the Corporate Boxes, "the Gauntlet" truck, two Little League baseball fields and a youth football field. Ouch spearheaded the group that went to the community businesses to get their help. It took hundreds of hours to build the field and Ouch donated his time. The fields are still being used.

_______________________________________________________________________________

Jack Sodeman, Sr. – Jack's racing career started with motorcycles at age 14. He started racing sprint cars at the age of 24 in 1971. In 1977, Sodeman broke his neck at Lernerville in a sprint car race in July. He had his neck fixed at Cleveland Clinic in December of 1977, and returned to racing in April 1978. Jack won the Lernerville Track Championship in 1979 in sprints. In the 1980's, he began racing both modified and sprint divisions. Jack won track championships in the modified at Lernerville, Tri-City, and Challenger. Sodeman retired in the late 1990's with health problems. He still continues to work on his son's sprint car and granddaughter's mod-lite.

[D1RT]

Congratulations Linda!!!

[Walt Wimer]

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL!!!! Walt

[bigjohn]

2013 Lernerville Hall of Fame

Johnny Axe - He was one of the top runners in the old coupes from the late 1950s into the early 1970s, the waning days of the coupes. Driving the Tom Shaffer #34, an immaculate white Chevy coupe, Axe won his share, or more, at just about every track he ran at on a regular basis. While he had an excellent overall record with many seasons as a winner, Axe will always be remembered for winning the very first race ever held at the Lernerville Speedway. It was the fall of the year in 1967 and Don Martin wanted to get the track open before his first regular season in 1968.

Martin scheduled a big 100 lap race for the coupes and most thought the more powerful "Modifieds" from the old Penn Western Racing Association would rule the roost over the "Sportsman" cars from north of Pittsburgh But Johnny Axe upset the apple cart for the Penn Western guys to win the 100 lapper and forever become a big part of Lernerville's storied history. Axe also won the opener for Lernerville's first season on May 10, 1968. But did not have two in a row as Russ Woolsey won the second race at Lernerville in the fall of 1967 with the famed #65 now owned by the King family.

Axe was a regular at Lernerville for much of the track's early history, winning at least one race at the track every year between 1968 and 1971. He has 11 career wins at Lernerville plus many more at other tracks such as Tri-City, Mercer, Sportsman, Butler and elsewhere. He won 8 races at Tri-City in 1968 including five in a row.

____________________________________________________________________________

Linda Fennell - Loving fast cars and knowing the Don Martin Family, Linda saw Lernerville Speedway's inaugural race in 1967 and it was love at first sight. She began taking photos and became a media member in 1977. She served as track photographer, writer for Tri-State Auto Racing News and owner/publisher of Dirt World/Motorsports World magazine.

Life was good. In the 80's and after her involvement grew to scorer, led promotions of Lernerville at Malls and the Expo Center, and co-host of the 5-minute Racing Report on a Blairsville radio station. Linda started working in the office in 2004 and continued for World Racing Group in 2006 as Office Manager until her retirement in 2011. Her duties included customer service, Firecracker preparations, automated ticket/scoring systems, marketing, banquets and more.

Linda received the Milestone, the Golden, Bill Steinbach Media and Art Smiley Track Person of the Year Awards.

____________________________________________________________________________

Albert "Ouch" Roenigk's years of dedication and hard work have increased enjoyment, competition, and safety for fans and race teams at Lernerville. In 1967 Ouch worked for Don Martin Construction and helped at the speedway and in 1972 Martin made Ouch Track Manager.

Ouch was invited to the Racing Promotion Monthly's (RPM) Workshop in Daytona to be on a panel of experts discussing track preparation. Over 600 racetracks are represented at the workshops. Promoters from across the United States often called him for advice.

Martin decided to change the track from ¼ mile to 1/3 mile and eventually to today's 3/8 mile. Lernerville was probably the first track to have nine cables strung through the catch fence on the front straight away to protect their fans from a car coming into the stands. This was "Ouch's" idea and eventually all tracks including Daytona Speedway and Indianapolis was required by insurance companies to construct cable fences for safety.

Some of his other accomplishments included: the Corporate Boxes, "the Gauntlet" truck, two Little League baseball fields and a youth football field. Ouch spearheaded the group that went to the community businesses to get their help. It took hundreds of hours to build the field and Ouch donated his time. The fields are still being used.

_______________________________________________________________________________

Jack Sodeman, Sr. – Jack's racing career started with motorcycles at age 14. He started racing sprint cars at the age of 24 in 1971. In 1977, Sodeman broke his neck at Lernerville in a sprint car race in July. He had his neck fixed at Cleveland Clinic in December of 1977, and returned to racing in April 1978. Jack won the Lernerville Track Championship in 1979 in sprints. In the 1980's, he began racing both modified and sprint divisions. Jack won track championships in the modified at Lernerville, Tri-City, and Challenger. Sodeman retired in the late 1990's with health problems. He still continues to work on his son's sprint car and granddaughter's mod-lite.

congrats too all exp,to one of my alltime fav jack sodeman u all r awesome people

[Western PA Travelers]

A great class of inductees as all have done so much for the local racing season!! Congrats to All!!