Second death at Marchbanks/Hanford speedway
Wednesday, April 28, 2010 at 7:00 AM
Logan Molen

In my ongoing research into Marchbanks Speedway/Hanford Motor Speedway, I learned of a second death at the track, this one in 1956.

I previously documented the 1969 death of James "Red" Stainton. But according to Motorsport Memorial, there was a death at what was then known as Marchbanks Speedway 13 years earlier, during a "500-lap Little Indianapolis hardtop jalopy race" on May 29, 1956.

Motorsport Memorial reported that mechanic Arlen Smith, 22, died after a wheel flew off one of the race cars and hit him in the back.

The story also notes a second tire came off a different car in the same race, breaking the leg of a spectator near a concession stand.


RELATED STORIES: Read more about Marchbanks Speedway and Hanford Motor Speedway in my Marchbanks section, including this regularly updated "History of Marchbanks Speedway, aka Hanford Motor Speedway."

Article originally appeared on LoganMolen.com (https://www.loganmolen.com/).
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