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    CINCINNATI GARDENS
    QueenCityMotorsports.com
    Page Notes: There were probably other Auto Racing events held in conjunction with the USAC events, and possibly others races that were stand alone events. There are photos of Crosley's racing at the Gardens, and results and information from those and other Motorsports events have yet to be found.

    Last Updated (3/7/10)
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    Cincinnati Gardens

    Brief Track History
    Track:  1/10 mile concrete surface (for Auto racing), Ramps for Motorcycle jump.
    Track Location: The Cincinnatii Gardens is located at 2250 Seymore Seymour Avenue and Langdon Farm Roads in the Bond Hill/Golf Manor area.
    Contact Info: Cincinnati Gardens, 2250 Seymour Ave., Cincinnati, Ohio 45212, (513) 631-7793
    Brief History: The Cincinnati Gardens opened on February 22, 1949 with an exhibition Hockey game. Built by Frank Messer & Sons general contractors for 3 million dollars and at the time of its opening in 1949, the Cincinnati Gardens was the seventh largest indoor arena in the U.S. with a seating capacity of 11,000. As a sports venue, the Cincinnati Gardens has hosted minor and major league hockey, professional and college basketball, amateur and professional boxing, professional soccer, professional wrestling, roller derby, karate championships, even swimming exhibitions. Its history as a Motor Racing venue includes Auto Racing, AMA Flat Track Motorcycle Racing, Motorcycle and Quad Ice Racing Monster Truck shows, even a jump by motorcycle dare devil Evel Knievel.
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    1966 Cincinnati Gardens race poster
    Photo of a 1966 Cincinnati Gardens race poster. (K. Wendel-Photo)

    Cincinnati Gardens Midget Race program 1967
    Scan of the February 12, 1967 "Wynn's 100" Midget racing program from the Cincinnati Gardens.

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    United States Auto Club
    United States Auto Club Midget Race History
    1961
    Friday November 17, 1961 | 50 Laps; Winner: Chuck Weyant (Springfield, Illinois); Owner: Chuck Weyant #7
    Fast qualifier:
    1962
    Friday January 26, 1962 | 50 Laps; Winner: Gene Hartley (Indianapolis, Indiana); Owner: George Hopkins #54
    Fast qualifier: Driver: Allen Crowe; Time: 8.39 sec.
    1963
    Saturday November 30, 1963 | 50 Laps; Winner: Bob Wente (St. Louis, Illinois; Owner: Bob Higman #67
    Fast qualifier: Ronnie Duman
    1965
    Friday January 1, 1965 | 50 Laps; Winner: Henry Pens (Joliet, Illinois); Owner: Bob Steffes #96
    Fast qualifier: Bobby Grim
    Sunday March 14, 1965 | 100 Laps; Winner: Ronnie Duman (Dearborn, Michigan); Owner: Carl Forberg #7
    Fast qualifier: Ray Elliott
    1967
    Sunday January 22, 1967 | 50 Laps, "Wynn's 50"; Winner: Bob Hare (Bensonville, Illinois); Owner: Cliff Cornell #8
    Feature: 1-Bob Hare (#8), 2-Les Scott (#16), 3-Ray Elliott (#3), 4-Bill Kollman (#2), 5-Mel Kenyon (#16), Top Five.
    Fast qualifier: Jim Hines 7.15 sec. @ 50.4 mph
    Sunday February 12, 1967 | 100 Laps, "Wynn's 100"; Winner: Mel Kenyon (Lebanon, Indiana); Owner: Kenyon Brothers #61
    Feature: 1-Mel Kenyon (#61), 2-Bill Harter (#17), 3-Don Vogler (#29), 4-Les Scott (#16), 5-Sonny Ates (#95), Top Five.
    Fast qualifier: Bill Kollman #2, 8.51 sec.
    1968
    Sunday December 15, 1968 | 100 Laps; Winner: Bob Hare (Bensonville, Illinois); Owner: Bob Hare #19
    Feature: 1-Bob Hare, 2-Mike McGreevy, 3-Ray Elliott, 4-Sammy Sessions, 5-Dick Pole, Top Five.
    Fast qualifier:
    Race Note: Points for this race were scored for the 1969 USAC Season.
    1979
    Sunday January 14, 1979 | 100 Laps; Winner: Les Scott (Ossian, Indiana); Owner: Les Scott #10
    Feature: 1-Les Scott, 2-Gary Bettenhausen, 3-Ken Schrader, 4-Steve Lotshaw, 5-Steve Kinser, Top Five.
    Fast qualifier: Lonnie Caruthers 7.31 sec.
    Race Notes: Race was promoted by former racer, Dennis "Duke" Cook, of Sydney, Ohio.
    Sunday February 25, 1979 | 100 Laps; Winner: Gary Bettenhausen (Monrovia, Indiana); Owner: Paul Bozard #18
    Feature: 1-Gary Bettenhausen, 2-Jerry Weeks, 3-Todd Forbes, 4-Lonnie Caruthers, 5-Steve Lotshaw, Top Five.
    Fast qualifier: Gary Bettenhausen 7.03 sec. New Track Record
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    United States Auto Club
    United States Auto Club Midget Track Records
    1962
    1962 | 1 Lap; Driver: Allen Crowe; Time: 8.39 sec.
    1962 | 15 Laps; Driver: Johnny Riva; Owner: Leffler Buick Special ; Time: 2.07.75 sec.
    1967
    1967 | 1 Lap; Driver: Jim Hines 7.14 sec. @ 50.4 mph
    1979
    1979 | 1 Lap; Driver: Gary Bettenhausen 7.03 sec.
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    Unsanctioned Midget Race History
    1981
    Saturday January 17, 1981 | Winner: Mack McClellan (Dayton, Ohio); Owner: 
    Feature: 1-Mack McClellan, 2-Tom Corcoran, 3-Steve Cannon, 4-Tommy Thomas, 5-Tracy Potter, Top Five.
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    American Motorcycle Assoaciation
    American Motorcycle Association Race History
    1967
    Sunday December 10, 1967 | 20 Laps; Winner: Dan Wetly (Deer Creek, Illinois); Owner:
    Feature: 1-Dan Wetly, 2-Myron Nagorski, 3-Neal Keen, Top Three.
    Fast qualifier: Ronnie Rall (Mansfield, Ohio)
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    Evel Knievel Cincinnati Gardens Jump AD

    Evel Knievel Motorcycle Jump
    Saturday and Sunday April 28 & 29, 1973 | Reportedly jumped 5 school buses.
    September 8, 1974 | The Cincinnati Gardens showed Evel Knievel's attempted jump of the Snake River Canyon at Twin Falls, Idaho on closed circuit television.
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