Tom Castagnola Sr.

January 3, 1927 - March 29, 2006

Tom Castagnola passed away on March 29th, 2006. He was 79.

Tom's daughter Linda Love writes:

The fondest memory has to be the smell of speedway for starters. I remember going as a little girl to Cal Expo Sacramento, and I could not stay awake for the whole program and I remember laying down on the bleachers and getting pelted by flying dirt, and I loved it!!! That was back when Alan Christian was racing long before his National Championship.

I also remember a rider name Butch Rovely. Around that same time this guy was hysterical!!!! It seemed like every time the gate would go up, he would loop his bike at the start of almost every race. If it was not at the start of the race, he would manage to loop it or spin out just about every time. I can't say that I remember him finishing a race!! It was a great show though. I also remember when my father got married to my step mom and it was her first time she would see him race (and last time!). She was very nervous and wouldn't ya know it, he had a bang up that night and boy that did not go over well with her as I'm sure you could imagine!! I have to admit it didn't go over to well with me either but he is still out there at the ripe old age of 72 (Bless his heart!).

There are so many things I remember and love about speedway. I really miss not being around it since the move to Arizona in late '96. I did got back last summer and caught a couple races and am going back (back is to Nor Cal ( Santa Rosa to be exact ) in less than two weeks and will catch about 4 races while I'm there. I can't wait!!!

Keep it sideways!!! xoxo Linda

Rider Number: 195
Hometown: Sebastopol, California - USA
January 3, 1927 - March 29, 2006
Wife: Virginia
Children: Mike, Linda Love, Tom Jr., Carol, Thomas,
17 grandchildren, 4 great-grandchildren
Occupation: Retired school bus driver
Started Speedway: 1974
1998 Photo by: Gary Roberts

Tracks Rode:
USA: Fast Fridays, Auburn - Cal Expo, Sacramento - Solano County Fairgrounds, Vallejo - Baylands - Napa - San Jose - Sears Point - San Francisco Cow Palace - and the Rodeo track in Sacramento.

Racing Achievements:
1980's Won 3rd Division Mains at all of the tracks
2000 - Cal Expo Events Jun 24, Jul 1
1999 - Cal Expo Events May 15, Jun 12, Jun 19
1998 - Cal Expo Events Jul 18, Jul 25

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