http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/21/AR2009022101633.html

Answer Man Revved Up to Discover Old Marlboro Raceway Personalities

By John Kelly
Sunday, February 22, 2009; C03

Q: On Page 109 of his autobiography, "Winning Is Not Enough," Sir
Jackie Stewart tells of his first racing trip to the United States
where, in 1964, I believe, he co-drove "at the Marlboro 12-hour race,
in Arlington, Virginia." I came to the Washington area in June 1964
and wonder where such a track could have been located. Did Sir Jackie
get his geography wrong?

A: Aye, Sir Jackie, the wee Scottish three-time world champion racecar
driver, did. There was a Marlboro Raceway, but it was on the other
side of the Potomac, at Routes 4 and 301 in Upper Marlboro.

It opened as a dirt oval in 1952 and was the setting for stock car
races. The oval eventually was paved and then incorporated into a
twisty, 1.7-mile road course, making it a favorite track with racers
from the Sports Car Club of America. Washington was famed for
producing winning sports car drivers, the result of an affluent, well-
traveled population who early on embraced small, quick cars from
England, Germany and Italy.

"If you could run Marlboro you could drive any track in the country
well," remembered Rick Mandelson, who competed there often in the
1960s. Many drivers who cut their teeth at Marlboro went on to win
national championships, including Dr. Dick Thompson, "the Flying
Dentist," who raced early Corvette Sting Rays; Charlie Wallace, a
Bethesda hairdresser; Ferrari driver Charlie Hayes; Porsche driver
Bruce Jennings; Bill Scott, owner of Summit Point raceway in West
Virginia; and Duncan Black, scion of the Black & Decker tool family.

"It was a real tough, tight track, not a high-speed track, but
extremely dangerous," said Rick, now 70 and living in Howard County.

In 1964, Sir Jackie and his co-driver, Mike Beckwith, won Marlboro's
12-hour small sedan race in a Lotus Cortina. Rick remembers racing
against him, though it's what Rick had to do the night before the race
that irks him to this day.

"Jackie Stewart was always safety-conscious," Rick said, his tone
suggesting it's possible to be too safety conscious. "Marlboro ain't
so safe. He was whining he couldn't see the track at nighttime."

Rick had to whitewash the edges of the track in the gloaming so they'd
be more visible to Stewart during the next day's race. Such well-known
racing figures as Carroll Shelby, Roger Penske and Jackie Ickx visited
the track.

NASCAR stopped at Marlboro; motorcycles raced there. There were stunt-
driving shows, too, including something called the Cavalcade of
Canadian Hell Drivers. (Being stuck on I-95 behind a trailer from
Quebec is enough hell for Answer Man.)

On race days, the place was packed. "People used to get out there at 5
in the morning to get the best seat," Rick said.

After races, drivers would retire to a nearby bar, the Old Brick Inn
and -- like fishermen and fighter pilots -- hash over their exploits.

Increasing development, rising insurance rates and complaints from
neighbors about the noise spelled an end to the track. It closed in
1969. Bits of it are still visible from the road, trees growing up
through the asphalt.

To see old movie footage from a 1959 sports car race at Marlboro,
visit http://www.washingtonpost.com/johnkelly. And for more on it and
other old tracks, check out http://www.thevintageracer.com

mike wrote:

Reminiscent of Thompson Speedway in Connecticut.

Not Me wrote:

Many thanks for this info on Marlboro.

"If you could run Marlboro you could drive any track in the country
well," remembered Rick Mandelson, who competed there often in the
1960s. Many drivers who cut their teeth at Marlboro went on to win
national championships, including Dr. Dick Thompson, "the Flying
Dentist," who raced early Corvette Sting Rays; Charlie Wallace, a
Bethesda hairdresser; Ferrari driver Charlie Hayes; Porsche driver
Bruce Jennings; Bill Scott, owner of Summit Point raceway in West
Virginia; and Duncan Black, scion of the Black & Decker tool family. "

I know or knew everyone of these guys. They all came from the DC area
some where close by.
I think my first driving school was at Thompson in 1960, Then I believe
I went to Marlboro. ( not sure Marlboro might have been first?) This guy
Rick was right 100%, If you were fast there and could drive well on that
track you could drive good on any track.
It was then that I met Mark Donahue who was driving and Elva as I
remember. It was also there that I crashed into a Stangallini Formula
Junior being driven by non other then Peter Terian the x owner
(deceased) of Rallaye Motors who died about 5 years ago from Cancer. His
wife still owns the place.
I was in my Corvette and he was going back onto the oval which was
part of the circuit and he lost it ,spun sideways and I had no place to
go. The vette came out fine, It was my fist accident so I was somewhat
shook up but continued and finished the race.
His Junior was a mess and he had some broken ribs as I remember.
I don't think he continued on after that. I did call him once after
that to see how he was as I felt bad about it even though it was not my
fault.To bad I didn't stay closer,with all the wealth he accumulated
maybe some of it might have rubbed off, then again maybe I wouldn't have
continued racing all these years and not have done what I did. I
wouldn't trade it for anything.