60'-70's Vintage Oval Track Modifieds

Doug Garrison died I believe in the early 80's but he drove for the Hellwig Construction team with Dave Leconby and was a mentor/coach for Dave since he had so much experience and success in his career. I seem to recall one of his very last races was at the LV 200 in 1978 or 1979 and he had the field covered until the car failed with less than 50 laps to go. In a print interview before Doug died he was very disappointed over that race because he was well up in age at that point and still took everyone to school but mechanical failure kept him out of the winners circle.

I am pretty sure Marty Riiska died in the late 60's or early 70's but there was a Riiska running at the Valley in the 80's or 90's.

 

Thanks Folks, Lot of history attached with those two and that car. Too bad guess we all gotta go sometime. I'm beginning to realize how much younger I was compared to the folks I raced with back then. I have been blessed I'm old but still healthy...so far. Denny Z

 

Will Cagle

 

some more from the George Kent scrapbook....

George at speed in brother Ron's #26





Kent #26 dueling with Maynard Troyer #6





George #26 battling with the Rapid Roman Richie Evans in the #61





George blowing a right rear tire in front of the pack....






George enjoying the spoils in victory lane at Spencer Speedway....

 

and a few more from the Kent files....


George in victory lane again





The #26 getting prepped for the race....





in victory lane again





battling the Rapid Roman, Riche Evans again....





battling the other Roman, Jerry Cook #38

 

I remember seeing Lee on the track and in the pit areas back then, but didn't know him personally. What happened?

 

A couple old programs.

1."Daisy Dick" Wall

2. Jack Naum

 

I don't know if it's appropriate to go in to detail, but he was run over by his camper/rv back in the late 80s. I didn't know him real well. My dad crew chiefed Mike Rizzo's supermodified in the 70s, and Mike, Lee and Nolan Swift all had shops within a few blocks.

 

Paul Radford's wreck!

 

Dutch Hoag, the winner

 

Dick Tobias

 

Well, I guess that pretty well sums it up. Sounds like a very unfortunate circumstance.

 

1. Page from 1973 Gator News Yearbook
2. Mike Rizzo (Totaled it 1st time out)

 

Langhorne, 1967