60'-70's Vintage Oval Track Modifieds

Buzzie would be proud,have seen you at fulton and fairgrounds in the 00.Wayne Reutimann Jr. drove my Teo in 2000 at fulton and utica-rome.He had problems with the modifieds but that kid can drive a sprint car.J.J. Michaels ended up running the car in 2002 & 2003 Utica Rome and Fulton.R.I.P. jay my driver my friend.
Rod

 

Here's a little story I wrote about going to see the vintage races at Valley Speedway in Missouri last Friday night. Those guys put on a good show!

http://www.examiner.com/x-10974-Kan...ay-shows-you-what-racing-was-like-in-the-past

 

thanks guy for helping build back up the post!!! Keep it up, sometimes some of us fall behind or get burned from posting...but someone is always there to start posting more!!! Dr. John.Love the time and effort you up in! I hope to see more in the future and right when you were posting Islip Speedway photos!!! Your work is greatly appreciated here! Sometimes we got to get back up and dust the dirt off from the mud slung at us and keep our heads up, because people are always behind you! Sometimes we get the mud that misses you! lol Thanks again!:O)

 

I have no idea where Valley Speedway located in 1972-73.I lived in Kirksville Mo. in 1973 can't remember the tracks name but I remember Boscoe Roberts and Pevine
Pipes running late models any info on them at all? Also 1974-76 I went to St Charles
Speedway in St. Charles Mo. saw modifieds Kenny Strumm and Don Klein who ran the 28 Coupe out of Cape Giaurado Mo. Any info on them.
Thanks
Rod Nacewicz

 

Valley Speedway is in Grain Valley, MO. It's maybe only ten years old or so, so you probably don't remember it.

I actually didn't even move to KC until about 1986 (I'm from Omaha, so we spent a lot of time at Sunset Speedway), so most of those guys you mentioned were before my time. And then, I spent most of my time at Riverside and the old Lakeside, until they closed.

Then I was all about the new Lakeside and I-70 Speedways. I actually got to be the "marketing guy" for those places in the 90's, and eventually became the promoter at I-70 before it was sold for the 2001 season. It's pretty hard to beat a good short track show!

 

Here is a like to our club,http://www.midstatevintagestockcars.com/1.html

Here is Big Joe's link... our photo guy ..http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v226/BigJoePhotography/?sort=ascending

 

Gordie "The Dude" is also alive and well and still running the 96 with Midstate Vintage Stock Car Club

 

Here he is, and still running the same car... They don't build them like they used to....lol

 

In picture 3141, the first photo of the 81 is Don Stives at Syracuse, and the 2nd photo is Billy Osmun( I think ) at Flemington

 

Great photos. Buildy, those were some great shots you got of the Tasnasdy and Olsen restorations, I saw Freddie Hardbach's old ride in the background also. Where were they taken?

 

Yeah, Buildy, great reference shots! Thanks for sharing those.

 

Dr. John, I am with you. I hope you don't put too much stock in remarks from people who are clueless, in some cases. I have enjoyed all of the pics you have taken the time to post. I guess I am just not as much of a purist as far as subject matter. Oh, well......

 

This Isnt Nippy Commendinger's car because the Nippy 50 is right out in my driveway. This is My grandfather Marty Himes x50 Coupe and his 1962 Ford Galaxy sitting next to it and the Lee's autobody tow truck sitting in front. Thats my grandfather with the blue helmet (that happens to be down in his museum.)

And if you need to know any more pictures, why not come to the source. My grandfather Marty Himes owns the Himes Museum of Motor Racing Nostalgia in Bay Shore, NY, and his website is www.thehimesmuseum.com his phone number is (631)666-4912. Dont hesitate to contact him with any questions! He probably has most if not many of the pictures on here especially those from Len himself because him and Marty were great friends.

 

Newbie, clueless? I think not dude. Go back from the start of the thread and enjoy the show.

 

I have not followed this thread all the way through {yet} i've just been lurking but there are some great stories to go with the pics.
Here is a site dedicated to British racing. If it has already been posted please forgive me.

www.oldstox.com

 

Since we're all modified fans on this thread; I urge you to go to http://www.nascarhall.com/ and help to vote Richie Evans into the NASCAR hall of Fame. After all; he's not just the greatetst modified driver of all time, he's also one of the greatest in all of NASCAR history with nine championships. Long live Big Orange!

 

This is for the family of Ed Serwacki. Ed was the promoter and part owner of Lancaster (NY) Speedway from the early '60s to 1971. While many others turned the term "promoter" into a dirty word, Ed was loved by most of his drivers and fans (how many other promoters do you know that received gifts and gift presentations in front of the grandstands from drivers?). He, his wife Shirley and his brother Matt Sr. poured their hearts and souls into that place. In its Serwacki heyday, it played host to some of the biggest names -- and races -- in Modified history.

Ed will turn 84 on July 24. Tragically, he was stricken with Alzheimer's and the disease is in its final stages. His doctors say he does not have much more time.

Ed, Happy Birthday!

Ed (top right) at his final Lancaster banquet in 1971. Seated at lower left is 1971 Lancaster Modified champion Merv Treichler. Gordon Reinig photo.


Ed (left) with 1970 Lancaster All Star League race winner Maynard Troyer. Serwacki collection.


Ed (left) with Dutch Hoag at Lancaster, approx. 1967. Serwacki collection.

 

ALL STAR LEAGUE Now that was a great series. Dirt and asphalt. Can't remember who the champions were during the years it was in existence.

 

The All Star League was fantastic. The events were open competition; open to all drivers even if they weren't representing one of the league tracks.
Each track in the league had their team of two or three drivers (I think the number of team members varied at some point, not sure, I was just a kid back then!)

All of the drivers in the leaque had the special All Star helmets. (I had the guy who hand painted all of those helemts do some work for me a long time ago. , I can't rmember his full name, but his first name was Bob and I seem to remember him living in Islip Terrace. Maybe George M or Brian Cholereton will remember more.

I know for certain Frankie Schnieder won the title one year, but I can't remember the others. Marty Himes' grandson Michael posted here earlier; maybe hae can get a run down from Marty and post it. I know Marty Himes has that info for sure.

 

Funny coincidence - the very same Alan West has a '40 Ford profiled in this month's Car Kulture Deluxe. The article gives enough details about his racing to be sure it's the same guy.

 

John!
Thanks for all the posts! And please don't stop! Thanks for the "grammer" corrections. I yoosed to be a stoodint, now I are a eenglish teecher!(from "beau fleuve")

 

For old time's sake, John Polverari, Get the juices flowing again guys.

 

A young Wayne Anderson at Islip, still running at Riverhead today. His Dad, the famous, in our parts, Alex Anderson that ran in the first Daytona races was a favorites in the 50s and early 60s.


Wayne in his Pinto during the Pinto Revolution.

 

A good friend and great driver, the one and only Flying Dutchman, Freddie Harbach, RIP Buddy.


Artie Tappen in his coupe, most photos we see of his #14 are of his coach.

 

Mousey Kempster 1962 in the 10 cents


Last one for now. Might be back with some more oldies but goodies from my first posts, might not. Enjoy newbies.
Old Riverhead action.

 

Oh, what the heck, maybe a couple of more.


Gary Gretty








OFF TOPIC!! BEWARE!!!!!!!!!!!!! Old figure eight car I used to sponsor.


Say Good Night Chet, Good Night Chet, Night David.

 

A couple of images I found on Lew Boyd's Coastal 181 site...

 

Think this is a Howie Hodge image. Found it on the Wall Board, Stefanik in Richie's straight axle Pinto, races with Bobby Vee at Thompson.