Stockton

Billy Vukovich at Stockton 99 Speedway in 1947.

Stockton 99 Speedway, Early Race. Note the goal posts in the infield, St. Mary's High School played football there!!

Leona Marlow came to Stockton 99 when the track opened in 1947, and Bill Jones saw his first race in 1953. For the past 17 years, the two longtime friends have sat together almost every Saturday night at the top of the wooden bleachers perched in the first turn.

Those days are over, and the Stockton residents have strong opinions about their favorite place being torn down to make way for new houses.

"I think it's horrible," said Jones, 65. "One of the most ludicrous things you can do is build homes on people's entertainment. This is a historical landmark."

Marlow, 73, said she still refuses to believe that the track is going away.

"If the time comes, it comes, but I'm holding out hope," Marlow said. "I just don't want it to go away; It's been a part of my life for so long."

Marlow was 13 years old when she first came to the track. She and Jones reminisce about the drivers and races they've witnessed, and sitting with good friends.

"There's so many good people here; sometimes that's the best part of it," Jones said. "It's just a bunch of friends gathering to watch a race."

But now those friends will have to meet somewhere else.

"It's very sad to me," Marlow said. "I won't have anywhere to go on a Saturday night."

Five faces of Stockton 99 -- Jo Shiels: Track statistician

Published Sunday, Sep 17, 2006

Jo ShielJo Shiels planned her final act at Stockton 99 Speedway months ago.

She intended to go down to the track and remove the plaque dedicated to her late husband, legendary track publicist Jim Shiels.

"I'm just glad Jim could be here for the last race," Shiels said.

Jim Shiels worked at the track for more than a quarter of a century, and wrote the book "Stockton 99 Speedway: 50 Years And Still Turning Left." The plaque was donated by driver Harry Belletto and is mounted on the wall near the gate where the cars enter the track.

His wife said that despite the many hours he dedicated to Stockton 99, he never considered it work.

"He just loved the place; it brought him such joy," Jo Shiels said. "He never tired of the track. It always lifted his spirits." Jim Shiels died in 2002. Before he passed away, Jo asked that he teach her his job.

"He worried about who would do it when he was gone, and I said 'teach me,' " Jo Shiels said. "He didn't get a chance to teach me everything, but he taught me enough."

She's been the head stat keeper for four seasons and enjoyed it as much as her husband did.

She said she's not sure where she'll hang the plaque yet, but she's glad she waited until the last night to remove the plaque.

"They told me they would take it off earlier if I wanted them to, but I wanted the plaque to still be up for the final race," Jo Shiels said. "A lot of the drivers said they like to look at it on their way out to the track. That has always made me feel good."s planned her final act at Stockton 99 Speedway months ago.

She intended to go down to the track and remove the plaque dedicated to her late husband, legendary track publicist Jim Shiels.

"I'm just glad Jim could be here for the last race," Shiels said.

Jim Shiels worked at the track for more than a quarter of a century, and wrote the book "Stockton 99 Speedway: 50 Years And Still Turning Left." The plaque was donated by driver Harry Belletto and is mounted on the wall near the gate where the cars enter the track.

His wife said that despite the many hours he dedicated to Stockton 99, he never considered it work.

"He just loved the place; it brought him such joy," Jo Shiels said. "He never tired of the track. It always lifted his spirits." Jim Shiels died in 2002. Before he passed away, Jo asked that he teach her his job.

"He worried about who would do it when he was gone, and I said 'teach me,' " Jo Shiels said. "He didn't get a chance to teach me everything, but he taught me enough."

She's been the head stat keeper for four seasons and enjoyed it as much as her husband did.

She said she's not sure where she'll hang the plaque yet, but she's glad she waited until the last night to remove the plaque.

"They told me they would take it off earlier if I wanted them to, but I wanted the plaque to still be up for the final race," Jo Shiels said. "A lot of the drivers said they like to look at it on their way out to the track. That has always made me feel good."

Five faces of Stockton 99 -- Stephanie Robeck: Driver

Published Sunday, Sep 17, 2006

American Limited Stock Car driver Stephanie Robeck wishes she had time for more than one season at Stockton 99.

The 16-year-old high school junior from San Jose wants to learn how to drive at the toughest tracks she can find. And few tracks are more difficult than the tiny oval in Stockton.

"It's really sad that I'll do just one season here, because this is the place to learn to be a racer," Robeck said.

She became interested in the sport because her father, Ron Robeck is a driver. He competes in the Pro-4 Truck class and suggested his daughter join him at Stockton 99.

When she arrived for her rookie season, she found out why her father promised the track would hone her skills.

Stockton 99 doesn't give a driver much racing room. It's thin, even for your standard quarter-mile track. The corners at each end of the track are banked at different angles, making it very difficult to set up the chassis and negotiate the turns.

Plus, crashing is a given.

"It has a reputation for being difficult, but that's what you want," Stephanie Robeck said. "My dad told me that this was the place that would really test your skills. And he was right. It's very tough."

Robeck said she's a better driver because of Stockton 99. She will likely compete at Altamont Motorsports Park next season, but will miss racing in Stockton.

"I wanted more experience here, and I understand that this is a historically significant track," she said. "It's too bad."

Five faces of Stockton 99 -- Wayne Pierce: Announcer

Published Sunday, Sep 17, 2006

Wayne Pierce spent seven years as the booming voice of Stockton 99.

But his relationship with the track began when he was a child looking over the fence to watch the races.

Pierce, 53, practically grew up next to the track. His father, Leonard Pierce, worked for the late Stan Moore, who at one time owned part of the track and is the founder of Oakmoore Golf Course, which is next to Stockton 99.

"We had the run of the place, and sometimes my father would bring the tractor over and we'd sit on a wood pallet and look over the fence at the races," Pierce said. "The folks at Stockton 99 would give us a pass anytime we wanted, but it was more fun that way."

Pierce began his driving career at age 35, and he retired to become the track announcer in 1999. He said one of his best memories of his time at the track occurred this year on June 10, when he performed the first wedding ceremony in track history. He had been certified as a deputy commissioner of civil marriages for San Joaquin County a few weeks earlier.

Pierce said he's going to miss the racing, the drivers and the many people he's met. He enjoyed bantering with the fans and was glad he could concentrate on his announcing duties. He just wanted it to be a special night for everyone.

"For me, this place was always about more than just racing, asphalt and fences. It's about a lifetime of good times," Pierce said