The infamous tree: Turn 1 at BAPS

On Sunday evening (May 18th), Geologist Jeri Jones invited me to be his guest at the sprint cars races happening at BAPS Motor Speedway, colloquially known as Susquehanna Speedway. 

Opened in 1954, the Susquehanna Speedway (now BAPS) has been a staple in Newberry Township. No matter where you live in the immediate area, if the wind blows just right you'll be serenaded to sleep by the sounds of the dirt track races. 

There is a property that sits adjacent to Turn 1. It has a tree with a fork in the middle and it overlooks turn 1. Jeri and I sat our lawn chairs up inside turn 1 and had a direct view of the tree. He explained that back in the day someone was smart enough to build a platform in the fork of the tree and take advantage of their proximity to get the birdseye view of the track. 

"That tree and seat belonged to my Uncle Carl (Shorty). His son was a limited late model driver Carl Hughes. He had the best seat in the house!" Says Heather Hughes Gross. "Carl was one of 15 children. His parents were Herman and Daisy (Arnold) Hughes. My father Eugene Hughes is the youngest of the 15 children and the only living child at 88 years old".

Photo # 1: 

1971 Harry Beans Bricker Jr photo showing folks in the tree during a Super Sprint race.

Photos # 2&3:

View from the tree, last 1960s.

Photo # 4:

Shorty- Owner of the property that the tree sits on.

Photos # 5, 6, 7 & 8

What the tree looks like in 2025.

Local recollections:

Tonya Rupert Witmer- "That was my grandpa's tree and we used to watch the races from it."

Patricia Garmen- "My husband sat in the tree, Donald Garman."

Dale Sipe- "I can remember someone sitting in that tree in the late 80s and early 90s." 

Ed Richards- "My dad sat in a tree for years watching the races."

Michael Wise- "Use to sit in that tree in the early 60's with my uncle. I was 12 or 13 years old."

Greg Hake- "Shorty Hughes, he owned the tree. I climbed that tree many times back when I was a kid. I grew up across from the track that was the best seat in town."

Mary Kopp Witmer- "My dad, Preston Witmer, would always go back and watch the races from That Tree. Good memories, good times."

Jessica Faith DeWeese- "I went to the speedway in the 90s and yes there was a platform there that ppl used to use to look over the fence at the races."

Mike Smith- "2x4 from that platform use to still dangle from that tree not.many years ago."

Connie Anderson Umphred- "My brother Runt Frye was there a lot too."

Joy Grever Frye- "My husband Harry Frye said kids always sitting up there he went every week."

Diane Fidler Garman- "My hubby Sam Garman used to sit in that tree and watch the races back in the early 60s."

These are just some of the comments that were left under my Facebook post asking about the tree. It's clear that there are a lot of great memories attached to the tree and to BAPS. 

It's nice to know that our community can come together and reminisce about our shared history.