I'm headed for the stock car races tonight at Beech Ridge ( Scarborough, Maine ). Got to thinking about how much I enjoy stock car racing and how long I have been going. My sisters boyfriend Larry Wood used to take my brother and me to the races with him. Larry drove a 1940 Ford Coupe and if my sister came along my brother and I would ride in the back on the little fold-down seats. I was about 7 years old then in 1957 and loved going to Norwood Arena, in Norwood M***achusetts. Any of you M*** guys old enough to remember Norwood Arena. Anyone go there in the hayday?
After reading Jive-Bombers post the other day I posted some pics and a link to their website, its really cool! Im too young to remember it but my mom and dad used to go watch the races every now and then....I dont think she'd ever let him drive one! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/?p=13100
Went a couple times when I was in hischool back in 63-4. Demo derby's and when they added the drag strip. Demos were cool as a few driversdrove the demos to the track and was kinda funny to watch the cops waving them into the parking lot without blinking an eye. Loved the smell of burning rubber on a saturday nite.c
My wife and I used to go to the races at Norwood Arena on Saturday nights back in the '60's. It was a blast. I went to one demo derby there but was disappointed because some of the cars that were wrecked looked better than some of the ones in the parking lot. John
Being a ford man at the time i really enjoyed taking tri 5 chev's to the demo's there. My chevie buddies really got pissed at me a few times. But that was when they were a dime a dozen , people just wanted them out of their driveways or back yards.
My Father used to take us there on Saturday nights in the early to mid 50's. Two of our local gents that I recall raced there quite regularly, Leo Cleary and Tyler White. I know there are many more, but these two stick in my mind. Loved the cl*** A Fords as they really moved, the "bombers" were fun to watch. Jay Y.
My wife and I spent every sat night at Norwood. I had a 35 coupe with a rumble seat. I would take my neighbors son with us. His father use to take me to Norwood when I was a kid back in the early 50's. When he died It was my job to take care of his son Dave. Dave became a car owner. His driver Billy Goodrow was a good driver. When NASCAR took over thy destroyed the track and racing it closed Since then I will not watch NASCAR or spend a dime on NASCAR
I went to Norwood Arena as a kid in the late 60's till I moved to Virginia in 71. There is a historical website www.norwoodarean.com with a good picture gallery. I actually road in a Hobby Cl*** race car from Walpole M*** to the track with the driver because the truck blew up and he was contending for track ***le. You should have seen the look on the face of the State Trooper directing traffic into the track as we turned in with the jack, tools and tires stacked on, piled in and piled onto the car (I was sitting on a tool box). Luckily he was the father of one of my friends. Next week a rule was read at drivers meeting that all division stock cars had to be towed, carried or trailered to the track. Anyone trying to drive one in would have part of his anatomy removed (Same Trooper!) before being ticketed.
My memory banks are not quite what they were, but when I read "Norwood Arena", a lot came flooding back. When I was a young(er) kid, early 50s, I met a guy at a gas station who had a race car on a trailer. I am not sure, but maybe the number painted on the side was "V8". Also not sure but I think his name was Billy Saylor (spelliing?). He was damn nice. Let me climb up onto the trailer and crawl into the car. I sat there for five minutes. Finally, he had to hit the road and went to the race. A great memory.
V8 was driven by "Wild Bill Slater" and as a kid I spent a lot of time around his car after the races at Norwood. He was always a favorite to win and sure could handle a car.
Thank you for correcting my poor memory. Yes, that's him....Bill Slater!! It's strange how a few minutes from so many years ago can be etched into our memories. Hey, I came close to the right name...sorta. (smiliing) Thanks pa****lo55!!
Never made it to Norwood Arena but attended a lot of the other tracks around(West Peabody;Seekonk;the Pines in Groveland;and Brookline NH).Started going around 1958(freshman in high school)and was out of it around 63.Lot of good times on a Saturday night(and Sunday afternoon at Brookline). How are you doing Bill? Call me ifyou would;I misplaced your number.
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