All of the information on HammerDownUSA.com, dedicated to Calistoga history, is a labor of love. We sincerely thank everyone who has contributed to this research. Our "crew" includes... Jerry Ahrens, Larry Albedi, Ron Albrite, Jim Allen, Brenda & Johnny Anderson, Mike Andreetta, Mike Bannister and the entire Bannister family, Ed Bernhardt, Shirley Boldrini, Jeff Bradway, Hank & Sharon Butcher, Jim Chini, Kevin Eckert, Bill Foland, Ellen Frediani, Kenny Garcia, Gary Gerould, Darrell Hanestad, Troy Hennig (and his entire family), Dick Hindman, Matt Hoffman, The Holtsman Family, The Hunt Family, Lance Jennings, The Johnson Family, Elijah Jones, Brent Kaeding, Bradley Kennedy, Mike Kenney, Marty Kobata, Steve Lafond, Dolan Lannan, Ron Lingron, John Monhoff, Tom Motter, Addie Mueller, Garrett Mueller, Gerry Olson, P.J. Petersen, Marcia & Gerald Phillips, Bob & Cookie Pool, Dayle Puckett, Joseph Ramirez, Mike Read, Sheila Ross-Fasig, Tom Schmeh, Bill Sessa, Larry Shelton, Brian Sperry, Cheryl Starr, John Trussler, Gary Thomas, Steve Turnross.

 

Date

Sanction

Winning Driver

Team

Notes:

July 1951

New track record of 27.135 seconds, with Bill Jenkins of Santa Rosa driving.

1960

NARC

NARC is formed. Al Frager is the promoter. NARC's first champion was Fred Hunt.

1961

NARC   

Paul Worden was the NARC points champion. 

1962

NARC

Marvin Faw won the 1962 NARC Championship. 

7/4/63

NARC

A new main grandstand was built at a cost of $71,000. Newspaper reports from St. Helena say that the two “Fourth of July” auto races were “sold out”. 

7/6/63

NARC

Wally Talbot was the 1963 NARC points champion. 

7/3/64

NARC

Bill Sullivan won the NARC driving titles from 1964 through 1966. 

7/4/64

NARC

Jim Scarborough - killed in crash.

7/4/65

NARC

7/5/65

NARC

7/2/66

NARC

Steve Kennick

Forsythe #26

Sherman Cleveland, of Woodland, CA., was killed in qualifying in turn one. "The Shy One", as he was known, arrived late and did not run hot laps. ...Steve Kennick from CRA won with Norm Paul second over Johnny Anderson, Wally Talbot and Bill Sullivan.

07/03/66

NARC

Steve Kennick (2)

Forsythe #26 (2)

Dave Reidenour, of San Francisco, CA. succumbed to injuries from a nasty crash. Reidenour was a road racer. It was his first sprint car race at Calistoga Speedway, the day after his 33rd birthday. He was driving for Herk Viglienzone and had no experience of driving a sprint car on dirt. No other cars were involved in the accident. ...Bill Sullivan second over Norm Paul and Johnny Anderson.

07/01/67

NARC

Norm Paul

The 1967 season at Calistoga is the first joint venture between the Napa County Fair Association and NARC. You must wear white pants in the pits, and no women are allowed in the pits unless with timing and scoring. ...Norm Paul beat Bob McLees, Bob Twitty, Johnny Anderson and Bill Hofeldt.

07/02/67

NARC

Bob McLees

Rest of top five was ...Jimmy Boyd, Bill Hofeldt, Norm Paul and Bob Twitty.

05/19/68

NARC

Johnny Anderson

Anderson #3x

Anderson won the main event over DeWayne Woodward, Leroy Van Conett, Jim Rogers and Bill McCormick.

07/06/68

NARC

Bill Gadda

Sullivan #98x

Gadda beat Phil Pedlar, Gary Patterson, Dick Zimmerman and Jess Purcell. The #98x driven by Gadda was a Walt Reiff car that Gadda had owned at one time.

07/07/68

NARC

Bill Gadda (2)

Golden #1

Gadda had to switch to another car but he still won with Norm Paul second. The race was a make up for July 5th, when the lights went out.

09/01/68

NARC

Dave Logan

Fred Mahoney #2

Logan won with Bob DeJong second over Hank Butcher, Jan Opperman and Mike McCreary. …McCreary won the Calistoga Track championship. 

05/04/69

NARC

Jimmy Oskie

Oskie #3x

Oskie won from the tenth starting spot. The 25-lap feature started with 14 cars. …Cars did not have roll cages yet. …Hank Butcher had fast time at 25.05 seconds for the half-mile. ...Bob DeJong led the feature before an accident took him out. ...Jerry Graham finished fourth in the Semi. …Oskie also won the Trophy Dash.  …George Rogge won Heat One. Jerry Graham won Heat Two. Phil Pedlar won Heat Three. Ed Evans won the fourth heat. …Bill McCormick won the Semi-Main. 

06/14/69

NARC

Johnny Anderson (2)

Anderson #2 (2)

Dave Logan suffered a heart attack during the main event - he later died. ...Ray Miscevich went to the hospital after a wild end over end flip. He stayed in the "crash house" for a few days, and then returned home.

06/21/69

NARC

LeRoy Van Conett

McCray #3n

Bob Silva was the starter, and Henry Mathis was timer/scorer.

06/29/69

NARC

Cliff Sealock

Announcers were George Kovacevic, and Dick Wallace.

07/04/69

NARC

LeRoy Van Conett (2)

McCray #3n (2)

No cage on the #3n. ...The car was built in 1964 by Walt Rieff of Sacramento, CA. Bert Miller won the semi-main.

07/05/69

NARC

LeRoy Van Conett (3)

McCray #3n (3)

Bert Miller killed in main event crash.

07/18/69

NARC

Gary Ponzini

Ponzini Chevy #85

Jim Peacock made three main events at Calistoga in 1969 but did not finish any of them.

08/02/69

NARC

LeRoy Van Conett (4)

McCray #3n (4)

Joe McGee takes a rock to the eye, and is injured.

08/31/69

NARC

Phil Pedlar

Nachreiner & Malliot Chevy #33

Pedlar won over Billy Anderson, Gary Patterson, Wally Talbot, and Mike McCreary. ….The McCray #3n with LeRoy Van Conett at the wheel posted fast time. The car was "wrecked and seriously damaged” in the feature according to the 1969 NARC Yearbook…Doc Schaffer won the Semi-Main. Heats were taken by: Chuck Gurney, Talbot, Schaffer,  ….Rich Gentes was 1969 Most Improved Driver. ...Dave Bowling was named Rookie of the Year. …Van Conett won the Calistoga Speedway Track championship.