Thunderbird Raceway

Thank You!
We would like to thank Harley Farkle, Doug Boucher, Bruce Norwick Sr., Tom Sprague Sr., Al TenBrink, and others for contributing these snap shots of Muskegon racing history. The photos are from various area facilities including the famed Whiskey Ridge.

Below the photos you'll find a section that has several of the old "Pit Stops" that were published when the Joneson's had Thunderbird. All you have to do is click on the picture to get a larger version to get a glimpse of Thunderbird's past.

We are constantly looking for more old photos to add to this section. If you happen to stumble across an old image and would like to contribute to this section, just scan the image and email it to: jrhuston81@gmail.com and we'll get it posted as soon as possible!

52 Years Of History!
Thunderbird Raceway was originally constructed in 1958 by Wink Bliech, a shoe salesman, after being inspired from watching racing at the now defunct Grand Rapids Speedrome. The first race occurred on June 28th, 1958 under the Birchwood Speedway banner. The facility saw on and off racing over the next couple of years until Bliech sold the dirt oval to Roger and Joanne Joneson in 1960. The Joneson's renamed Birchwood Speedway to Thunderbird Raceway and operated the oval until 1991 when Hank Croncek took over the reigns. Joneson's would later take the track back and eventually sold it to the Marciniak family who operated the dirt oval through the 2008 season when Arroway Farms purchased the dirt oval in 2009.