CNY HOF. It was a beautiful
day, rain clouds were
threatening but the racing
gods were watching over us as
we headed to the storied
Midstate Speedway for the
Central New York Hall of Fame
Induction ceremony. Ed
Moynzan joined me at my
place and we headed out up
Rte. 17 to 88 and then Route
8 over rolling hills. The leaves
are starting to change as
Thumper pumped along with
the 151 in tow and heads were
on a swivel as we passed
through the towns of Sidney,
Mt. Upton and Gilbertsville.
Pulling into the Speedway it
was a sight to behold, brightly
painted race cars lined up as if
ready to roll, you could hear
the thunder on the track from
many years ago echoing
through the ages... There are
many cars here today making
their first appearance at the
event, Larry Witter is
attending with son Howdy and
their #48 is looking sharp,
Larry looks as good as his car
although he related it wasn't
nearly done and he had much
left to do. I related it looks
great, I'd paint it with a broom
and be done... Mert 'Socks'
Hulbert and Stan Wetmore,
both former inductees, pull in
with two great looking
sportsman cars. Ed Moynzan
has his sharp looking #44 Al
Tasnady sedan on display and
many comment on how pretty
it is. Dad busted his tail and
cracked his head in getting
the Paul Shirley #99 to the
event, with an engine in place
already, and it's a nice,
unrestored time capsule for
all to enjoy. Naturally, there
are the 'regulars' as well, John
Mason and Mike Newell have
busted their collective humps
to bring: The Akulis #40, the
Akulis Pink Panther, the
Wimble #33, the Donahue
Tc9, the Lobdell #111, the
Hinman #5, the Winton #197,
and both Don Beagell #29
cars, the bug and the sedan.
John has also unearthed the
1967 Midstate championship
trophy won by Joe Donahue,
the original set of flag holders
from Midstate Speedway
(courtesy of Pete Stafford who
had them in his basement all
these years) along with several
of the original flags, a nice
tribute to Dave Kneisal as well
as his wonderful display of Bill
Wimble memorabilia. John
and Mike could put on their
own show. My father has
brought the Mouseville
Monster, the Tommy Wilson
P-13, the McCredy S33, and
the Paul Shirley #99. Bud
Hinman brought his nice
Hillegas sprinter, Dave Conde
has the Wisnoski #441 looking
sharp. Event Co-ordinator Jim
Chase has the Kennedy #67
and Paul Chase #66 on hand.
John Clark has brought the Al
Turner #10 and I have the
Chick Stockwell #151 on
hand. All are sharp and
together they make one of the
best displays I've ever seen of
period correct race cars.
Now that's just the cars. Fred
DeCarr greets with a smile
and is more than happy to
have his picture taken with
the P-13 (a car he built in the
1950's) and the S33. I have
the pleasure of meeting
former inductee Bill Roese
who I watched race as a boy
both at Midstate and Fonda.
He was good too. Ray Bunzy,
Bud Hinman, Dick
Schoonover, Marty Ackely, all
have made the event. Denny
Moore says hello with a
handshake and hands me an
envelope filled with old Oilzum
stickers which say "I race at
Midstate Speedway every
Sunday at 2PM" - Thanks
Denny! I don't have any
problem sharing them with
nearly everyone I talk to, and
my jaw is on a swivel... Donnie
Newell is still telling jokes,
Bob Gibs says hello, I
introduce myself to Don
Eastman, buddy Jeff Porter
and I get to share some good
chicken Bar-B-Que, Brent and
John Cross have brought their
ARCA car, Carl Carpenter is a
shoo in for the cruise in award
for best truck, Carl Camenga
has his hot rod on line as well
with a 'For Sale' sign on it, the
cruise in is well attended. Joe
Felber has some wonderful
models set up, his #90 and
the Shampine rear-engine
model are stunning. Rick
Parry has memorbilia
displayed and tapes running
in the hall.. And it's still not
raining..
Into the hall we go, there is a
good attendance here today, I
think it's down a little possibly
due to the weather, or
because many are at
Utica-Rome for the New Yorker
race. MC's Jim Chase and
Rick Parry keep the crowd
occupied with humourous
stories as they introduce
today's inductees. Chuck
Brady is beaming as he
accepts his plaque, Ralph
Humphries is most
appreciative, Skip Palmer
looks like a young boy on
Christmas Day, Lou Searing is
reserved but obviously
pleased, I think that's just
how Lou is and daughters
Candy Lee and Donna Reiner
accept for their father Don
Phoenix. It's once again a
great event and everyone I
talked with is gushing about
it. Congratulations to CNY
HOF Co-Ordinators Jim and
Kay Chase, you did a nice job
once again. And many thanks
to Gene Cole of Gates-Cole
Insurance who sponsored the
event, now in it's 14th year,
once again. It wouldn't be
possible without Gene's
support, or the support of our
club members who all worked
at bringing this together and
making it work once again. I'd
also like to thank Ed Moynzan
for taking the P1-3 home for
us, and John Clark for
dropping off that FE, it'll find a
home in the McClure 15.
Thanks to all and we hope to
see you next year.
day, rain clouds were
threatening but the racing
gods were watching over us as
we headed to the storied
Midstate Speedway for the
Central New York Hall of Fame
Induction ceremony. Ed
Moynzan joined me at my
place and we headed out up
Rte. 17 to 88 and then Route
8 over rolling hills. The leaves
are starting to change as
Thumper pumped along with
the 151 in tow and heads were
on a swivel as we passed
through the towns of Sidney,
Mt. Upton and Gilbertsville.
Pulling into the Speedway it
was a sight to behold, brightly
painted race cars lined up as if
ready to roll, you could hear
the thunder on the track from
many years ago echoing
through the ages... There are
many cars here today making
their first appearance at the
event, Larry Witter is
attending with son Howdy and
their #48 is looking sharp,
Larry looks as good as his car
although he related it wasn't
nearly done and he had much
left to do. I related it looks
great, I'd paint it with a broom
and be done... Mert 'Socks'
Hulbert and Stan Wetmore,
both former inductees, pull in
with two great looking
sportsman cars. Ed Moynzan
has his sharp looking #44 Al
Tasnady sedan on display and
many comment on how pretty
it is. Dad busted his tail and
cracked his head in getting
the Paul Shirley #99 to the
event, with an engine in place
already, and it's a nice,
unrestored time capsule for
all to enjoy. Naturally, there
are the 'regulars' as well, John
Mason and Mike Newell have
busted their collective humps
to bring: The Akulis #40, the
Akulis Pink Panther, the
Wimble #33, the Donahue
Tc9, the Lobdell #111, the
Hinman #5, the Winton #197,
and both Don Beagell #29
cars, the bug and the sedan.
John has also unearthed the
1967 Midstate championship
trophy won by Joe Donahue,
the original set of flag holders
from Midstate Speedway
(courtesy of Pete Stafford who
had them in his basement all
these years) along with several
of the original flags, a nice
tribute to Dave Kneisal as well
as his wonderful display of Bill
Wimble memorabilia. John
and Mike could put on their
own show. My father has
brought the Mouseville
Monster, the Tommy Wilson
P-13, the McCredy S33, and
the Paul Shirley #99. Bud
Hinman brought his nice
Hillegas sprinter, Dave Conde
has the Wisnoski #441 looking
sharp. Event Co-ordinator Jim
Chase has the Kennedy #67
and Paul Chase #66 on hand.
John Clark has brought the Al
Turner #10 and I have the
Chick Stockwell #151 on
hand. All are sharp and
together they make one of the
best displays I've ever seen of
period correct race cars.
Now that's just the cars. Fred
DeCarr greets with a smile
and is more than happy to
have his picture taken with
the P-13 (a car he built in the
1950's) and the S33. I have
the pleasure of meeting
former inductee Bill Roese
who I watched race as a boy
both at Midstate and Fonda.
He was good too. Ray Bunzy,
Bud Hinman, Dick
Schoonover, Marty Ackely, all
have made the event. Denny
Moore says hello with a
handshake and hands me an
envelope filled with old Oilzum
stickers which say "I race at
Midstate Speedway every
Sunday at 2PM" - Thanks
Denny! I don't have any
problem sharing them with
nearly everyone I talk to, and
my jaw is on a swivel... Donnie
Newell is still telling jokes,
Bob Gibs says hello, I
introduce myself to Don
Eastman, buddy Jeff Porter
and I get to share some good
chicken Bar-B-Que, Brent and
John Cross have brought their
ARCA car, Carl Carpenter is a
shoo in for the cruise in award
for best truck, Carl Camenga
has his hot rod on line as well
with a 'For Sale' sign on it, the
cruise in is well attended. Joe
Felber has some wonderful
models set up, his #90 and
the Shampine rear-engine
model are stunning. Rick
Parry has memorbilia
displayed and tapes running
in the hall.. And it's still not
raining..
Into the hall we go, there is a
good attendance here today, I
think it's down a little possibly
due to the weather, or
because many are at
Utica-Rome for the New Yorker
race. MC's Jim Chase and
Rick Parry keep the crowd
occupied with humourous
stories as they introduce
today's inductees. Chuck
Brady is beaming as he
accepts his plaque, Ralph
Humphries is most
appreciative, Skip Palmer
looks like a young boy on
Christmas Day, Lou Searing is
reserved but obviously
pleased, I think that's just
how Lou is and daughters
Candy Lee and Donna Reiner
accept for their father Don
Phoenix. It's once again a
great event and everyone I
talked with is gushing about
it. Congratulations to CNY
HOF Co-Ordinators Jim and
Kay Chase, you did a nice job
once again. And many thanks
to Gene Cole of Gates-Cole
Insurance who sponsored the
event, now in it's 14th year,
once again. It wouldn't be
possible without Gene's
support, or the support of our
club members who all worked
at bringing this together and
making it work once again. I'd
also like to thank Ed Moynzan
for taking the P1-3 home for
us, and John Clark for
dropping off that FE, it'll find a
home in the McClure 15.
Thanks to all and we hope to
see you next year.
