Remember When by Don Gamble

Bill McCracken

Bill and Joanne McCracken live in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania where they raised three sons, Bill, Jr., Marc, and Michael. Bill’s first involvement with automobiles was working in an Ashland Service Station for 50 cents an hour.  During his ten years in racing he served as a driver and car owner.

He felt the best part of racing was meeting all of the fans in the pit area after the races were finished for the night. It didn’t matter if it was a good or bad night of racing as far as the fans were concerned.  The toughest part of racing was when he owned his own car and worked all night to prepare it for the next event.  His most memorable moment in racing came when he secured his first ride driving for Jeep Leonardo and actually getting paid for it.

His most embarrassing moment in racing was getting his car demolished after a race had been completed at Heidelberg.  Bill said, “I learned that you don’t back off the gas at the finish line; Ed Mitchell taught me that lesson.”

Bill got involved in racing after attending an event at the Aliquippa Speedway in 1953.  He said, “I loved the sound, the smell, the crowd, and the bigger than life drivers.” 

McCracken’s favorite competitor was also his mentor, Bob James. When asked what driver he would like to be compared to and why he responded, “Bob James, because he was smooth, no nonsense, a fan favorite, and always had time to answer my questions.” 

For many years people assumed that Bill was the same McCracken that owned the car dealerships but there was no connection. His car owners during his career included Jeep Leonardo, Jook George, Joe Viglione, Russ Draime, Mike Pirro, and Bob May.  His pit crew included Steve Ciganik, Jack McCracken, Jim Morgan, and Henry Crebbs.  The speedways where he competed reads like a speedway directory. Cayuga, Canada, Canton, Ohio,  Clinton, Cloverleaf, Grand Rapids, Michigan, Greater Pittsburgh, Heidelberg, Hickory, Morgantown, Midvale, New Smyrna, Florida,  Sharon, St. Clairsville, St. Petersburg, Florida,  and Toledo.

Bill’s favorite track was Heidelberg Raceway in the years preceding its closure. Heidelberg Raceway, considered far ahead of its time, was two speedways in one, with the half-mile and quarter mile tracks sharing the small front straightaway.  It was the first local track to run high-purse, extra-lap races and the first to pull in racing stars from all over the country.  Ed Witzberger promoted the track for the majority of years that Heidelberg held auto racing during the 1950’s and 1960’s.  Ed ruled with an iron fist as one of the most successful promoters in the local area.

The track closed after the 1973 season. Fan interest was strong, but our nation experienced an oil embargo, and the story goes that all the long gas lines at the service station pumps made the owner nervous about the future of the sport. The track was torn down, and in its place today is the Raceway Plaza Shopping Center.

            When we asked McCracken about championships or victories in special events he said, “I have none, but I was everyone’s favorite loser.” His other hobbies include boating, bowling, fishing, and NASCAR. 

Remember When Auto Racing History is available on our website http://www.speedwayproductions.biz/ it includes nostalgic photos of pioneers in local auto racing. Go to the webpage and click on articles. There is a large selection of Joe Viglione and Blackie Watt photos on the website. If you have any old photos that you would like included, please send me an email at: don@speedwayproductions.biz we welcome your ideas and especially any photos that you can contribute.