September 1963
Driver’s School at Marlboro Speedway
Marlboro Speedway, located in Maryland, was originally built in 1952. The track started life as an all-dirt oval track. In 1954, a road course was added, and the oval track was paved and incorporated into the twisty 1.7-mile road course, making it a favorite racetrack for SCCA racing. Marlboro Raceway closed in 1970.
Marlboro Speedway, Marlboro, Md. This little 1-1/2 mile road racing track was a host of many great drivers through the years, it was my learning track as well…. my SCCA beginnings. I met Jim Clark, Jackie Stewart, Jackie Ickx and many more greats there in ’65. Humble beginnings, to say the least, with the humble Volvo PV544.
Another aerial view of Marlboro
The year before I left the service, I took my Volvo to a three-day SCCA driving school at Marlboro, Maryland in which you received a provisional regional license to race.
The Region’s third and last driver’s school for 1963 continued the pattern set by the two previous ones – namely, it was well run operation with lots of volunteers pitching in to help the Fangios and Mosses of tomorrow learn the fastest way around Marlboro.
The school opened bright and early on Saturday, September 14, to greet the class of 57 registrants. Four of these already had licenses and were back for refresher training – perhaps something more of us ought to think about. (Sounds like a good excuse to work up an advanced school of some sort). Inspection and practice went along smoothly on Saturday under overcast but dry skies. Thus, many of the new drivers got in several hours of on-course time under the tutelage of the Driver Training Corps of Lynn Walker and Hugh O’Reilly.
With the dawn of Sunday, more practice was on the schedule, but by 11:30 a.m. a slight drizzle had changed to a steady downpour. Not to be deterred, School Chairman Herb Gussin and Chief Steward Bob Swanson pressed on with the training. And so many a driver learned how to expertly guide his car in the wet.
In the mid-afternoon, a series of five-lap warm-up sprints were ·run off to give the novices the feel of competition. With the last of these out of the way, cars were gridded again, this time for a series of 10 lap trophy dashes, still in the wet. While there were a few gyrations, the drivers handled themselves and their mounts well, and there were some bright faces at the awards ceremony.
Blackboard session
Attentive students – in the stands were friends Joe Bock (top arrow on left with hat), Bud Weikert (lower arrow directly below Joe), and Gary Ford – Tony’s pit crew.
Guy with the beard is instructor Eddie Diehl, former mechanic for Bob Tullius. To his left is future Group 44 driver Brian Fuerstenau.
Walking the course. Eddie Diehl on far right turning his head.
Tech inspection – Volvo is behind Triumph. The truck next to Volvo is Bud Weikert’s.
Driving school final exam. Arrow pointing to Tony’s Volvo. Tony came in second overall and first in class.
I won my school race against Mini Coopers and other Volvos in the rain. I got my regional license that day in September of 1963. I continued to race locally at Marlboro, did autocrosses, and a hill climb at Hershey, PA.