Contributed by Matt McLaughlin, Friendship, WI

The Adams County Fairgrounds located in Friendship WI has had racing in its history probably since the first annual Fair was held on Sept 20 1859. I could not find any newspapers that old but was able to find an "Adams Press" newspaper from 1868. The race was held during the Annual County Fair at the end of September 1868, 10 races were held with two riders in each race, one race winner walked away with 7 cents for his win, it came down to Adams County Sheriff Wright and Thomas White on "the fastest colt in the County" The winner walked away with a glass of beer paid for by the loser which ended up being the Sheriff. Horse racing was popular for years at the county fairgrounds, it was 1/3 mile dirt oval and after the invention of the automobile, Model T's were used in the infamous "Tin Lizzie" races during the 1930's.

The rules for the 1938 Model T races were short and to the point:
1. All entries must be Model T Fords
2. use any type of fuel
3. no special gears allowed
4. primary magneto electric system with battery backup allowed
5. driver must be 21 years of age, good physical condition and sober

In 1951 the track was operated as "Cyclone Stock Car Races at Friendship Fairgrounds" and was promoted by Jerry Bence on Tuesday night and Kenneth Schultz won the trophy for the 51 season. In 1952 it was operated the same but moved to Friday night and over the fair weekend the newspaper announced it was "Standing Start Car Races" and "Chariot Racing" with horses for the first time .

It was in 1961 when an ambitious promoter named Sam Bartus leased the fairgrounds race track and had it paved. He was to operate Friday nights at the Friendship race track. The first ever race on pavement was held June 2 1961 and the 25 lap $500 to win feature event was won by Marlin Walbeck from Rib Lake WI, an average of 30 cars a night were present throughout the 1961 season with such notables as Lyle Nablefeldt, Dick Trickle, John McNamara, Tom Reffner and Friendship local Ron Waite

Two local men, Dick Collins and Larry Babcock took over as managers at the beginning of the 1968 season, A-F Speedway seems to be best known for its 12 foot drop off from the backstretch, since there was no fence back there lots of cars sailed off the backstretch and disappeared, also noted was the light poles that seem to have taken there toll on cars and drivers over the years, When I asked Sam Bartus what he remembered most about AF Speedway when he ran it was "When the number 1 57 Chevy sailed off the backstretch and hit the light pole knocking out the power"

Among the many race reports, I have found that the speedway held motorcycle races Thursday night during the 1958 County Fair, The 1961 County Fair held a tractor pulling contest in between the usual car races, with 5 classes of tractors competing, John Walsh in a 560 Farmall took home the honors in the 8500 lbs class, a total of 1272 tickets were sold for the Sunday night Stock Car race at the 1962 Adams County Fair and Lyle Nabbefeldt took the checkers with his 57 Pontiac. The winter months allowed for snowmobile racing in 1971.

A race report from the 1968 season read like this in the "Friendship Reporter" Friday night, June 7, proved to be a very fine night of stock car racing entertainment at the AF Speedway. Fast Time went to Lyle Nablefeldt od Wis Rapids with Ronald Waite of Adams giving a very close chase for second fastest time. First heat race was won by Charles Georgeson of New Lisbon, second place went to Jim Bechinski of Wis Rapids, third place to Bill Grabarski of Grand Marsh. Del Babcock of Adams won the second heat race, second place went to Buck Leonard of Wonewoc. Third heat race was won by John Ferkey of Wis Rapids followed by Gary Lovegreen, New Lisbon. Fourth heat race went to Lyle Nablefeldt of Wis Rapids. Bob Renner of Arkdale won the consolation race. Doug Hammond of Adams won the semi feature with Del Babcock running second. Feature race was won by Les Katzner of Wis Rapids. AF Speedway invites you to go to Friday night and support your local drivers: R Beeman, R Waite, F Fairfield, D Hammond, D Babcock, R Kennedy, B Grabarski and L. Lanphear. "

On July 11 1968 the grandstands were packed to see the powder puff races, Ardith Birch of Baraboo provided many thrills as she started her 56 Chevy in the rear of the field and worked her way all the way to the front to win, Arletta Petrzak of Adams took second and Jean Hammond of Adams, third. The same night Denny Allen of Adams built his first stock car, a 57 Chevy, and demolished it in a series of accidents on track, He said he would be back and was in good spirits.

On August 15 1968 52 stock cars came to the Speedway and put on a "tremendous show" The demolition race was won by Bob Grabarski of Grand Marsh who smashed his way to the front for the win and later Ed Knupp of Arkdale won the consolation race with "the oldest car in the field" a 49 Ford flathead. Some reports from early years have cars sailing into parked carnival trucks and drivers purposely rolling there cars over to avoid sliding into the crowd on the "east end" . The 1972 season and was the last for circle track stock car action and it has been used for tractor pulls and demolition derbys to this day. The reasons for the closing was dwindling car numbers and increased competition from other area tracks close by and a new nursing home facility being built across the street. The track was torn up in 1996 to make room for a bigger midway during the fair and maybe to deter people from entering the track after hours with street cars for some fun.....and man was it fun, you had to dodge the weeds growing up through the cracks but that made it more challenging. If A-F Speedway was still in existence today it may be considered one of the oldest race tracks around.