Rest In Peace Mr. Hughes

Rest In Peace Mr. Hughes

By Brad Vores April 17, 2008

Last Wednesday night, Morgan Hughes stood on the backstretch at Williams Grove Speedway as the new Musco lighting was turned on for the very first time. It was his dream and he was so proud.

Final preparations were being made for the big debut of the long-awaited lights that were scheduled to be turned on two nights later at the Monroe Township facility.

Mr. Hughes was on hand for the Friday night event as the track prepared for its ceremony to turn on the lights. Unfortunately Mother Nature spoiled the big night and, Mr. Hughes never had a chance to see the lights brighten his speedway.

Mr. Hughes passed away in his sleep Saturday morning leaving behind a long legacy of brilliance of owning and operating the speedway and adjacent amusement park for many years.

Mr. Hughes had recently taken a more active role in day to day operations at the speedway while having a long list of promoters work under his management during his 37 years of speedway ownership.

While many of said the track has run solely on reputation over the years, Mr. Hughes along with his promoters have strived to make Williams Grove Speedway one of the premiere race tracks in the country.

Mr. Hughes was instrumental in for many of the new improvements, fans and drivers are now seeing at the track. From the new restroom facilities at the track, to the new aluminum bleachers to the new Musco lighting, he was the visionary behind it all. He just wanted his race track to be the best. And many of us think it is. Sprint car drivers all across the country come to the Grove to win and many never do. And for the ones that visit victory lane for their first time, they always say it’s where the wanted to always win a race.

Those kind of words made Mr. Hughes proud.

He took a big risk in making the Williams Grove National Open a $50,000 to win event two years ago. But it’s reasons like that, as to what makes the Grove so special in many people’s hearts.

Mr. Hughes was proud of Williams Grove Speedway and the drivers that raced there over the years. He was proud of his workers and his family. He was loved by many and not loved by many. He had his days, good and bad, but then again who doesn’t.

One thing for sure, Mr. Hughes will be missed. He’s been missed all week at the speedway office, where he would come in during the day to make sure his staff was working towards the next weekend and beyond. He never missed a day at the office, even at the age of 88. His colorful character will no longer be present on race night.

But I was thinking this week. Maybe there is a reason Williams Grove has the new lighting. It won’t be hard for him to look down on his track each Friday night and make sure things are going how he had them planned. It’s only fitting.

May you rest in peace Mr. Hughes.

WHATS HAPPENING
The 358 Sprints join the 410 Sprints tomorrow night at Williams Grove. Race time continues to be 7:30p.m.

Friday night micro sprint racing continues at Path Valley Speedway Park while Trail-Way Speedway attempts to kick off its Friday night series featuring 358 Sprint cars.

Hagerstown Speedway switches to Friday night this week presenting the first of three Winchester/Hagerstown Shootout series for late models. The 40-lap event will pay $3,000 to win as the late model sportsman and pure stocks are also on the card. The Shootout moves to Winchester on Saturday night.

Trail-Way returns Saturday night with the 1000 Sidewinders joining the 600 and 270 Micro Sprints.

Lincoln Speedway has moved back it’s Saturday night starting time to 7 pm this week in hopes of better track conditions with 410 Sprints, 358 late models and street stocks on tap.

The roadrunners hold the spotlight Saturday at Selinsgrove going in the Collier Paving & Construction championship event on a card also joined by the 358 Sprints, late models and pro stocks.

The Super Sportsman tour heads to Port Royal Speedway this weekend joining the 410 sprints, late models and pro stocks.

It’s another stock car Saturday at Susquehanna Speedway Park this weekend headlined by 358 late models, street stocks and 4-cylinder stocks.

After kicking off the season last week, the URC series heads to one of its favorite stops this weekend at Delaware International Speedway.

PIT STOPS
Get Well wishes go out to Lincoln Speedway promoter Don Leiby who is recovering from heart bypass surgery last week. Word is Don plans to be at the race track this weekend…

Craig Dollansky won the Friday night World of Outlaws event at Eldora Speedway over Donny Schatz, Jason Sides, Jerry Madsen and Tim Shaffer while Mechanicsburg’s Lucas Wolfe had a ninth place finish after starting 14th. The Saturday night WoO show was rained out. The Outlaws are in action this week at Indiana’s Tri-State Speedway on Saturday…

The World of Outlaws late models will be in action at the Dirt Track at Lowe’s Motor Speedway this weekend in the Circle K Colossal 100. Tim McCreadie will make his debut piloting a Steve Francis owned No. 15 late model. Several local late model teams will make the trip south including first time WoO winner Jeremy Miller. Miller and car owner Charles Buckler are coming off a memorable night at Virginia Motor Speedway last Friday night when they defeated the World of Outlaws…

There is one more week remaining to help the Joey Hershey Trust Fund with a candle purchase to help defray medical expenses for his Hodgkin’s Disease treatment. Hershey begins radiation treatment this week and has competed at Port Royal the past two weekends to get in a little racing fix. Visit www.ijustwannarace.com for more information…