CNY HOF Induction 2008.
The weather didn't co-operate
but everyone else did. On
Saturday, Sept. 6, 2008 we all
gathered at the Otsego County
Fairgrounds, home of Midstate
Speedway in Morris, NY, to
pay homage to five new
inductees to the Central New
York Hall of Fame. The
weather was iffy, then damp
but it certainly didn't dampen
anyones spirits at the event.
Our club placed over 20 cars
on display, beautiful cars I
may add, even the ones which
showed their age and patina.
Each unique, they display the
personality of their owners
who to a person take pride in
these living time capsules.
You'd better have your jaw
lubed up when you get to an
event like this because it's
going to get a workout. Before
Dad and I even have the S33
unloaded there are friends
shooting good natured barbs
and the bS is flowing like
Niagara Falls. I know I've said
this before..but when a guy
comes up to you with a t-shirt
that says 'I don't give a" and
then there's a picture of a rat
and donkey.. well, you get the
picture, and Donny Newell
commences to rip off one
liners that have us all
laughing and shaking our
heads. He must collect these
up for a year, must say it's
always entertaining around
Donnie.
The cars are all parked in a
wonderful display, and it's
starting to rain.. under the
tent we go and I have nice chat
with event sponsor and Utica
Rome track owner Gene Cole.
The past two years Gene's
held honorary nights for Lou
Lazarro and Richie Evans at
his track and next year he's
planning on one for Bill
Wimble. That'll be a great
event and yes, we're interested
in supporting it. My father just
acquired a nice 327 race
engine from Carl Carpenter,
and we have Halibrand
Champ quickie in waiting so
we can change over the S33
from a Don Hendenberg to a
Bill Wimble model in time.
Gene talked of his early days
in racing, going to Syracuse to
the State Fair races with
Grayson Smith - riding in the
stock car as it was towed to
Syracuse and then seeing the
accident that ended Grayson's
career in the stocks. His first
involvment in driving stocks
with Jiggs Hill, the memories
are flowing and he's smiling as
he reminisces. Gene Johnson,
Bob Gibbs and Don Newell are
taking it all in with nods and
laughs, these guys did it all
and remember the days
fondly. The rain lets up and
we're off to look around a bit. I
find Inductee Jerry Townley
and Fred Decarr under an
building eve chatting. Fred's
as nice a guy as you could
meet, I want to get his pictures
back to him that he's leant me
for an upcoming article. Jerry
is looking over a Gater and I
relate to him how I used to
ride my bike up to 5 Corners
in New Berlin just to get a
glimpse of the car he drove.
Then I tell him I was really
rooting for Moose most days at
Midstate which brings a grin
to his face. I learn that Fred
built Floyd 'Pop' Wilcox's first
car and engine, which was
piloted by Utica's Jim Luke
prior to Jerry getting the ride.
Fred related "He was so proud
of that car, whenever anyone
showed up he'd fire it up for
them. Rev it up 'til the cans
would come off the shelves in
his garage. By the time the
season came around, it was
wore out..smoking. HAHAHA!"
Fred apparently 'helped out'
with all of Pop's engines - and
it clicks - no wonder those
guys were so fast..
Alan Weaver introduces me to
Frank Mathalia, another Utica
Rome contender from the 60's
who looks like he could still
work a tiller. I meet Billy
Nacewicz's cousin who has
some old Utica Rome pics to
share. Bill Newell is by for
some coffee and tells me he's
found some pictures of his
early days in Vermont racing
that Mike will get to me.
Donnie and I sit and talk of
our dogs a bit, he always asks
about Belvedere, Bob Gibbs
joins us and we're obviously
all dog people. Ray Bunzey is
working up a sweat and firing
up Mel Ogden's #101. This is
really the nicest, all original
(even the paint) car you'll ever
see and it's got a whopper of
an engine to boot, sounds
great. Pete Cordes is on hand
again, it's good to see Pete
getting out and making our
shows. Mike Newell and event
co-ordinator Jim Chase are
getting interviewed by Ron
Hills for the RaceReport. There
is a bevy of activity going on
and this is just in my little
view.
I'm looking over the newly
unearthed #29 of Don Beagell.
Needs a little front end work..
John Mason approaches and
shows me the pic of the car
when it flipped at Waterloo
finishing it. We look over the
1967 Midstate Championship
trophy earned by Joe
Donahue in the Tc9, original
car owner Ted Wrench is on
hand today as well. John is
just infectious in his
enthusiasm about these cars,
and now retired he related "I
finally have the time and
money to get these cars done."
And I'm sure he and Mike will
be doing just that over the
next several years, they got
plenty to work on. Don
Valentine has brought his
RatRod tot he cruise-in which
is well attended, he's asking
about Stich Mariano who gave
Don his first kidde ride at the
track. I point him to Marty
Ackley who knows more about
Stich than probably
anyone...Marty's Model A was
numbered 'X' when he left for
the service and when he got
back it was Stich's #32...
Tom Witter and I are looking
over the 101 and dreaming,
he's got another Weber F4 and
a '37 Ford coupe he's working
on for the street, a stock car
on the street so to speak.
That's what I want to do as
well, no amenities, just fast
and safe... The Model display
and memorabilia displays are
all neatly arranged and chock
full of neat stuff. Better grab a
burger or some chicken
because the induction is about
to start.. Chew through a
burger while talking to U/R
General manager Barb Clark
and mention the Wimble night
next year, this will workout to
be a really nice event. There's
Otto Graham and he's
warming up his shutter, better
get inside..
The Hall is nearly full, not bad
for such lousy weather. Jim
Chase gets things started with
thanks to the event sponsor,
Gates Cole Insurance. Gene
Cole has been sponsoring this
event for years now and it
quite simply would not come
off without his suport, thank
you Gene. The cruise in
winners are announced as
Inductee Ray Canner for the
cars and former Midstate
Antique Stock Car Club
president Carl Carpenter for
the trucks. Club members and
participants are thanked next
with each allowed a few words
at the mike, John Button
relates his latest winnings,
Dad crushes his stones a little
and talks of the Monster
(originally built for Gene Cole)
and the S33 in which master
car and engine builder Fred
Decarr put together a flathead
for. Alan Weaver hides. John
Mason displays his gregarious
manner and introduces the
crowd to the original owner
and builder of the Tc9, Ted
Wrench. John Clark has
brought three cars today and
describes each. Mert Hulbert
easily has the shortest and
most popular speech of all -
"Thanks!" which receives roars
of laughter and applause. The
Otsego County Sherriff's are
on hand and relate to the
crowd one their officers, Jesse
Torruella has cancer, he's 23.
They're collecting a fund for
his benefit. Bobby Hoffman
wins the 50/50 and
immediately comes to the
young Sherriff standing
beside me, "Easy come, easy
go" he says and hands the
sheriif a wad. I hear later that
Gene, Jim, and other
members of our club do the
same, and then we're on to
the inductees:
Joe Bouck is first up and
thanks many including CNY
HOF member Dick Schoonover
for his help duiring his racing
years. Ray Canner is next and
is calling this honor the best
highlight of his racing career.
In between inductons Jim
Chase is working the crowd,
introducing drivers and car
owners Smokey Joe Norton,
Bruce Winton, Pete Cordes, Ed
Hitchcock, 'Suicide' Al
Sanders, Mert Hulbert, Earl
Mewhorter, Bud Hinman,
Harold Humphries and
Donnie Newell who is strangly
quite on the mike. So THAT'S
how you get him to be quiet
eh?? Ron Cook is inducted
next and relates a humourous
story about he and Kurzon
"Moose' Cary having a
'discussion' at the Morris Inn
one evening after the races.
The discussion ended with
Ron making a trip to the
hospital in Oneonta to get his
head stiched up. He figured
(most likely correctly) that by
the time he got back to the
Hotel, Moose would be cocked
and ready for the taking...and
upon getting there had lost
his heart to fight. Apparently
so had Moose and they just
hugged each other. I recall
back at 5MP this year Pete
Cordes relating "the Morris
Inn was a rough place, I was a
Brookside (the other bar in
Morris) guy. You know, there
was quite possibly a lot of
potential DWI's leaving those
places on race night." Good
stuff. Ron thanks many,
especailly Marty Ackley "who
got me started in this stuff."
Local campaigner Brent Cobb
is next up and true to his
nature, very humble and
thankfull. He finishes with a
thanks to all the fans who
watched the races at Midstate
relating "I hope you all didn't
eat as much dust as I did."
Last up is 'The Catskill Comet'
Jerry Townley. MC Richard
Parry waxes a humorous story
about car owner Floyd 'Pop"
Wilcox curing a tom cat 'that
ain't going to wander no more'
and then introduces Mr.
Townley. Jerry relates one of
his biggest breaks was driving
for the Cross Brothers out of
New Berlin and that "after I
got done smashing up their
cars, they recommended me to
Floyd Wilcox, it was THE
biggest break of my career."
He went on to thank FLoyd
and the Wilcox family, his
right hand man Bud Lyons
"who would do anything for
me", mechanic Junior
Yankowski and John Cross for
putting him onto the team. All
inductees are truly honored
and humbled by the
induction. It truly means
something to them, later I'm
talking with Earl Mewhorter
who relates, "You know, this is
big for a driver and their
families, it really means
something to them." And it
shows, Junior Yankowski is
near tears, Ron Cook traveled
from Florida for the event, it
means a lot to these people
and us as well.
The mood is happy and fun,
the weather has had no effect
on the attendees. It takes a lot
of time and effort to put on an
event such as this, and all of
the efforts need to be
recognized.
Kudos and Thanks! To Mike
Newell who spent two weeks
preparing the grounds,
mowing the lawn, setting up
tents, tables, chairs and
helping organize the Morris
Fire Department concession
stand. Mike does it all. To Pete
Stafford who worked alongside
Mike for those two weeks as
well, your seat in the Monster
is secure for the Fair. To John
Mason, who along with Mike,
brought in seven cars for
display, set up inside
memorbilia displays and
helped layout the car displays,
both of these guys put thier
heart into the show and we're
lucky to have them both in our
club. To Richard and Sharon
Parry, who not only ran this
event for the first decade of it's
existance but who also
continue to help immensly in
the set up (as well as the tear
down). Their trailer is a rolling
display of racing history and
well worth the time to look
through. To the Clark's, John
and Barb who not only
brought three cars for display
but also donated over $100
worth of door prizes. To John
and Marge Button who
orgainized a fund at Utica
Rome and received
contributions from the Utica
Rome drivers to pay our
members tow money for this
event. That's really something,
racers supporting racers,
thanks John and Marge. And
for that matter, everyone at
Utica Rome Speedway from
owner Gene Cole, to Manager
Barb Clark who also brought
the Utica Rome Pace Car and
to the 50/50 ladies, Dana
Welch Jones and Stacy Effner,
who sell t-shirts and raffle
tickets at the Induction, we
appreciate it all. To our
members who brought cars for
display, Richard Ackerman,
Jim Chase, Alan Weaver,
Richard Parry, Mel Ogden,
Ray Bunzey, Dave Conde,
John Button and participants
Ed Hitchcock, Mert 'Socks'
Hulbert, Jamie Christian and
Billy Knapp. To the Gater
News for publicising the event.
Thanks to you all. Last but not
least we thank Jim and Kay
Chase for organizing the
event, which is a year long
passion. No easy task and you
can't please everyone, but as I
talked with Richard Parry
today he related that "the
show just gets better and
better each year." It does and
that's a credit to the Chase's.
OK, load up and try to
remember all this stuff, I hope
I haven't missed anyone.. oh
yeah, Bob Maxson has this
beautiful picture of Jerry, he
get's it autographed and
allows me to borrow it -
displayed here, thanks Bob,
you'll have it back in hand
soon. And thanks to all who
attended, we hope you had a
good time and that we'll see
you again next year.
The weather didn't co-operate
but everyone else did. On
Saturday, Sept. 6, 2008 we all
gathered at the Otsego County
Fairgrounds, home of Midstate
Speedway in Morris, NY, to
pay homage to five new
inductees to the Central New
York Hall of Fame. The
weather was iffy, then damp
but it certainly didn't dampen
anyones spirits at the event.
Our club placed over 20 cars
on display, beautiful cars I
may add, even the ones which
showed their age and patina.
Each unique, they display the
personality of their owners
who to a person take pride in
these living time capsules.
You'd better have your jaw
lubed up when you get to an
event like this because it's
going to get a workout. Before
Dad and I even have the S33
unloaded there are friends
shooting good natured barbs
and the bS is flowing like
Niagara Falls. I know I've said
this before..but when a guy
comes up to you with a t-shirt
that says 'I don't give a" and
then there's a picture of a rat
and donkey.. well, you get the
picture, and Donny Newell
commences to rip off one
liners that have us all
laughing and shaking our
heads. He must collect these
up for a year, must say it's
always entertaining around
Donnie.
The cars are all parked in a
wonderful display, and it's
starting to rain.. under the
tent we go and I have nice chat
with event sponsor and Utica
Rome track owner Gene Cole.
The past two years Gene's
held honorary nights for Lou
Lazarro and Richie Evans at
his track and next year he's
planning on one for Bill
Wimble. That'll be a great
event and yes, we're interested
in supporting it. My father just
acquired a nice 327 race
engine from Carl Carpenter,
and we have Halibrand
Champ quickie in waiting so
we can change over the S33
from a Don Hendenberg to a
Bill Wimble model in time.
Gene talked of his early days
in racing, going to Syracuse to
the State Fair races with
Grayson Smith - riding in the
stock car as it was towed to
Syracuse and then seeing the
accident that ended Grayson's
career in the stocks. His first
involvment in driving stocks
with Jiggs Hill, the memories
are flowing and he's smiling as
he reminisces. Gene Johnson,
Bob Gibbs and Don Newell are
taking it all in with nods and
laughs, these guys did it all
and remember the days
fondly. The rain lets up and
we're off to look around a bit. I
find Inductee Jerry Townley
and Fred Decarr under an
building eve chatting. Fred's
as nice a guy as you could
meet, I want to get his pictures
back to him that he's leant me
for an upcoming article. Jerry
is looking over a Gater and I
relate to him how I used to
ride my bike up to 5 Corners
in New Berlin just to get a
glimpse of the car he drove.
Then I tell him I was really
rooting for Moose most days at
Midstate which brings a grin
to his face. I learn that Fred
built Floyd 'Pop' Wilcox's first
car and engine, which was
piloted by Utica's Jim Luke
prior to Jerry getting the ride.
Fred related "He was so proud
of that car, whenever anyone
showed up he'd fire it up for
them. Rev it up 'til the cans
would come off the shelves in
his garage. By the time the
season came around, it was
wore out..smoking. HAHAHA!"
Fred apparently 'helped out'
with all of Pop's engines - and
it clicks - no wonder those
guys were so fast..
Alan Weaver introduces me to
Frank Mathalia, another Utica
Rome contender from the 60's
who looks like he could still
work a tiller. I meet Billy
Nacewicz's cousin who has
some old Utica Rome pics to
share. Bill Newell is by for
some coffee and tells me he's
found some pictures of his
early days in Vermont racing
that Mike will get to me.
Donnie and I sit and talk of
our dogs a bit, he always asks
about Belvedere, Bob Gibbs
joins us and we're obviously
all dog people. Ray Bunzey is
working up a sweat and firing
up Mel Ogden's #101. This is
really the nicest, all original
(even the paint) car you'll ever
see and it's got a whopper of
an engine to boot, sounds
great. Pete Cordes is on hand
again, it's good to see Pete
getting out and making our
shows. Mike Newell and event
co-ordinator Jim Chase are
getting interviewed by Ron
Hills for the RaceReport. There
is a bevy of activity going on
and this is just in my little
view.
I'm looking over the newly
unearthed #29 of Don Beagell.
Needs a little front end work..
John Mason approaches and
shows me the pic of the car
when it flipped at Waterloo
finishing it. We look over the
1967 Midstate Championship
trophy earned by Joe
Donahue in the Tc9, original
car owner Ted Wrench is on
hand today as well. John is
just infectious in his
enthusiasm about these cars,
and now retired he related "I
finally have the time and
money to get these cars done."
And I'm sure he and Mike will
be doing just that over the
next several years, they got
plenty to work on. Don
Valentine has brought his
RatRod tot he cruise-in which
is well attended, he's asking
about Stich Mariano who gave
Don his first kidde ride at the
track. I point him to Marty
Ackley who knows more about
Stich than probably
anyone...Marty's Model A was
numbered 'X' when he left for
the service and when he got
back it was Stich's #32...
Tom Witter and I are looking
over the 101 and dreaming,
he's got another Weber F4 and
a '37 Ford coupe he's working
on for the street, a stock car
on the street so to speak.
That's what I want to do as
well, no amenities, just fast
and safe... The Model display
and memorabilia displays are
all neatly arranged and chock
full of neat stuff. Better grab a
burger or some chicken
because the induction is about
to start.. Chew through a
burger while talking to U/R
General manager Barb Clark
and mention the Wimble night
next year, this will workout to
be a really nice event. There's
Otto Graham and he's
warming up his shutter, better
get inside..
The Hall is nearly full, not bad
for such lousy weather. Jim
Chase gets things started with
thanks to the event sponsor,
Gates Cole Insurance. Gene
Cole has been sponsoring this
event for years now and it
quite simply would not come
off without his suport, thank
you Gene. The cruise in
winners are announced as
Inductee Ray Canner for the
cars and former Midstate
Antique Stock Car Club
president Carl Carpenter for
the trucks. Club members and
participants are thanked next
with each allowed a few words
at the mike, John Button
relates his latest winnings,
Dad crushes his stones a little
and talks of the Monster
(originally built for Gene Cole)
and the S33 in which master
car and engine builder Fred
Decarr put together a flathead
for. Alan Weaver hides. John
Mason displays his gregarious
manner and introduces the
crowd to the original owner
and builder of the Tc9, Ted
Wrench. John Clark has
brought three cars today and
describes each. Mert Hulbert
easily has the shortest and
most popular speech of all -
"Thanks!" which receives roars
of laughter and applause. The
Otsego County Sherriff's are
on hand and relate to the
crowd one their officers, Jesse
Torruella has cancer, he's 23.
They're collecting a fund for
his benefit. Bobby Hoffman
wins the 50/50 and
immediately comes to the
young Sherriff standing
beside me, "Easy come, easy
go" he says and hands the
sheriif a wad. I hear later that
Gene, Jim, and other
members of our club do the
same, and then we're on to
the inductees:
Joe Bouck is first up and
thanks many including CNY
HOF member Dick Schoonover
for his help duiring his racing
years. Ray Canner is next and
is calling this honor the best
highlight of his racing career.
In between inductons Jim
Chase is working the crowd,
introducing drivers and car
owners Smokey Joe Norton,
Bruce Winton, Pete Cordes, Ed
Hitchcock, 'Suicide' Al
Sanders, Mert Hulbert, Earl
Mewhorter, Bud Hinman,
Harold Humphries and
Donnie Newell who is strangly
quite on the mike. So THAT'S
how you get him to be quiet
eh?? Ron Cook is inducted
next and relates a humourous
story about he and Kurzon
"Moose' Cary having a
'discussion' at the Morris Inn
one evening after the races.
The discussion ended with
Ron making a trip to the
hospital in Oneonta to get his
head stiched up. He figured
(most likely correctly) that by
the time he got back to the
Hotel, Moose would be cocked
and ready for the taking...and
upon getting there had lost
his heart to fight. Apparently
so had Moose and they just
hugged each other. I recall
back at 5MP this year Pete
Cordes relating "the Morris
Inn was a rough place, I was a
Brookside (the other bar in
Morris) guy. You know, there
was quite possibly a lot of
potential DWI's leaving those
places on race night." Good
stuff. Ron thanks many,
especailly Marty Ackley "who
got me started in this stuff."
Local campaigner Brent Cobb
is next up and true to his
nature, very humble and
thankfull. He finishes with a
thanks to all the fans who
watched the races at Midstate
relating "I hope you all didn't
eat as much dust as I did."
Last up is 'The Catskill Comet'
Jerry Townley. MC Richard
Parry waxes a humorous story
about car owner Floyd 'Pop"
Wilcox curing a tom cat 'that
ain't going to wander no more'
and then introduces Mr.
Townley. Jerry relates one of
his biggest breaks was driving
for the Cross Brothers out of
New Berlin and that "after I
got done smashing up their
cars, they recommended me to
Floyd Wilcox, it was THE
biggest break of my career."
He went on to thank FLoyd
and the Wilcox family, his
right hand man Bud Lyons
"who would do anything for
me", mechanic Junior
Yankowski and John Cross for
putting him onto the team. All
inductees are truly honored
and humbled by the
induction. It truly means
something to them, later I'm
talking with Earl Mewhorter
who relates, "You know, this is
big for a driver and their
families, it really means
something to them." And it
shows, Junior Yankowski is
near tears, Ron Cook traveled
from Florida for the event, it
means a lot to these people
and us as well.
The mood is happy and fun,
the weather has had no effect
on the attendees. It takes a lot
of time and effort to put on an
event such as this, and all of
the efforts need to be
recognized.
Kudos and Thanks! To Mike
Newell who spent two weeks
preparing the grounds,
mowing the lawn, setting up
tents, tables, chairs and
helping organize the Morris
Fire Department concession
stand. Mike does it all. To Pete
Stafford who worked alongside
Mike for those two weeks as
well, your seat in the Monster
is secure for the Fair. To John
Mason, who along with Mike,
brought in seven cars for
display, set up inside
memorbilia displays and
helped layout the car displays,
both of these guys put thier
heart into the show and we're
lucky to have them both in our
club. To Richard and Sharon
Parry, who not only ran this
event for the first decade of it's
existance but who also
continue to help immensly in
the set up (as well as the tear
down). Their trailer is a rolling
display of racing history and
well worth the time to look
through. To the Clark's, John
and Barb who not only
brought three cars for display
but also donated over $100
worth of door prizes. To John
and Marge Button who
orgainized a fund at Utica
Rome and received
contributions from the Utica
Rome drivers to pay our
members tow money for this
event. That's really something,
racers supporting racers,
thanks John and Marge. And
for that matter, everyone at
Utica Rome Speedway from
owner Gene Cole, to Manager
Barb Clark who also brought
the Utica Rome Pace Car and
to the 50/50 ladies, Dana
Welch Jones and Stacy Effner,
who sell t-shirts and raffle
tickets at the Induction, we
appreciate it all. To our
members who brought cars for
display, Richard Ackerman,
Jim Chase, Alan Weaver,
Richard Parry, Mel Ogden,
Ray Bunzey, Dave Conde,
John Button and participants
Ed Hitchcock, Mert 'Socks'
Hulbert, Jamie Christian and
Billy Knapp. To the Gater
News for publicising the event.
Thanks to you all. Last but not
least we thank Jim and Kay
Chase for organizing the
event, which is a year long
passion. No easy task and you
can't please everyone, but as I
talked with Richard Parry
today he related that "the
show just gets better and
better each year." It does and
that's a credit to the Chase's.
OK, load up and try to
remember all this stuff, I hope
I haven't missed anyone.. oh
yeah, Bob Maxson has this
beautiful picture of Jerry, he
get's it autographed and
allows me to borrow it -
displayed here, thanks Bob,
you'll have it back in hand
soon. And thanks to all who
attended, we hope you had a
good time and that we'll see
you again next year.
Thanks to All, See you next year.
~ 9/9/08 Photo's by Otto Graham ~
Thanks Otto!