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Long since quieted, the Midstate Speedway located at the
Otsego County Fairgrounds will once again come alive
with the sights and sounds of what are now, antique
stock cars. On September 9th, the 11th annual Central
NY Old Time Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will take
place at the once vibrant track that filled many of our
youthful Friday nights and Sunday afternoons with the
dusty spectacle of stock car racing. The track, defunct
since 1973, was at one time the epicenter for the local
racing scene with many cars traveling from all over New
York State to compete on a regular basis. The memories
of this competition were the basis of the Midstate
Antique Stock Car Club which was formed in 1983 to
honor the track and keep these memories alive. In 1996
Racing Historians Richard Parry of Bridgewater, David
Conde of Hamilton and Melvin Ogden of Franklin
initiated the Central NY Old Time Hall of Fame to further
honor the stars and legends of our local racing heritage.
The first inductions were held at the Madison County
Fairgrounds in Brookfield, NY and for the past several
years have taken place at the West Winfield, NY VFW.
Through the history of the Hall of Fame many local
drivers have been justly inducted including Tommy
Wilson of Waterville, 'Suicide' Al Sanders of New
Hartford, Gene Cole & Willie Wust of Edmeston, Moose
Cary of Cooperstown, 'Irish' Joe Donahue of Binghamton
as well as many other colorful and gritty drivers. And
the tradition continues this coming year at what we
consider our home track under the tutelage of ardent Mid-
State fan and former Morris, NY resident, Jim Chase.
Like many of us, Chase and his younger brother Mike,
kept their grades up in school and the chores done just
to have the privilege of getting dirty and chewing on
popcorn while cheering on favorites on hot summer
nights at Midstate. The impressions of these events has
never been lost on us, nor the participants whos eyes
light up at any question relating to their careers. Just
ask one and experience it for yourself, but get ready for
some salty talk and some quick one liners that are sure
to leave you shaking your head. This years inductees are
as distinguished a group as any in the past and include;
Chuck Akulis of Windsor, NY. Chuck started at the track
in 1964 at the advent of the overhead era in his first car,
a Model A Ford coupe #40 (Fordy) which launched a
highly successful career in the stocks. His later 'Pink
Panther' #3 often sent shudders through the pits when
arriving as he was always one to be reckoned with at
any track. Chuck still holds the record for track
championships at Five Mile Point in Kirkwood, NY with
13 total - a record not likely to be broken.
Stanley Wetmore of Oak Hill, NY. Stanley started racing
in the late 1950's as a boy, wrenching on friend John
Flach's early racers at Arlington and Lebanon Valley
Speedways. Flach was to take the track championship at
the Valley in 1962 and then retire from driving, at which
time Stanley grabbed the wheel. Under the tutelage of
Lou Searing and with the friendly advice from legends
such as Mert 'Socks' Hulbert (a 2005 inductee) and 'Little
Joe' Lawrence, Stan too soon found success on the clay
and was a top runner at Midstate for several seasons
with his dark blue #73, always a fan favorite.
Bill Salamacha of Bridgewater, NY, Bill teamed with
another former inductee, Rudy Schlaefer, to form 'Ace
Racing' in the late 1960's and competed at both Midstate
and Lebanon Valley Speedways through the demise of
the Morris speed-plant. His orange #88 paid homage to
Willie Wust and Moose Cary from whom the team bought
the first car from to launch Bill's driving career. I always
rooted for Bill's 88 which was always fast and running
towards the front come feature time, and was always a
threat to win.
Wayne King of West Winfield, NY. Wayne swapped paint
with the best in the Late Model Division,often besting the
likes of Earl Mewhorter, Dick Schoonover and Bill Roese,
all former inductees. Wayne was no picnic on the track
but will be at our picnic to chew the fat about his racing
days in the #7.
Russ Card of New Berlin, NY will be this years recipient
for the Figure 8 Division, a gutsy form of racing in which
just survival is an accomplishment. Those poor cars! Don’
t we wish we had them today ?
Cliff Kotary of Rome, NY is this years recipient of the
'Pioneer' Award; An annual recognition of a participant
whose contribution to racing was significant in helping
secure the future of the sport. The Kotary name is widely
recognized in racing circles as the brothers from Rome,
NY hit all the tracks from one end of the state to the
other. Asphalt or dirt, it didn't matter so long as the
turns were all left. Cliff started in 1951 by building cars
for others but soon took over the wheel and enjoyed
many successes throughout his career. He is the
undisputed King of the Syracuse Mile during the flathead
era having won the NY State Fair six consecutive years
from 1960 to 1965. He spent some of his formative years
at Brookfield Speedway in the Joe Carello owned #30
and also made a cameo appearance at Midstate in 1962
at the behest of his friend and long time Midstate
Speedway official Vern Angel. After hanging up his
goggles Cliff spent many a race as flagger and Nascar
Official at Utica-Rome, Fulton and the NYS Fairground
Speedways. He also was a friend and mentor to NASCAR
Modified ace Richie Evans. Cliff's contributions the sport
he still loves are two numerous to accurately list, we are
honored to be honoring him.
Morris Fire Department and Emergency Squad is this
year's recipient of The Phoenix Award It is the HOF's
way of saying thanks to those who have supported and
contributed to the Midstate track in helping make the
shows a reality and whose long time association
provided the track with safety.
The event will take place at the Otsego County
Fairgrounds in Morris,NY - Home of the Midstate
Speedway. The Mid-State Antique Stock Car Club will
have several antique stock cars and open wheeled cars
on hand for display and perspective of how the sport
was during the early days. There will be memorabilia
and photos on hand as well as several former drivers to
shoot the breeze with. The Morris High School band will
offer up tunes, chicken BBQ will be available as well as
door prizes and raffles. The event is sponsored by the
Gates-Cole Insurance Company of West Winfield and
Edmeston, NY and will be a good time for all attendees,
just as it has been in the past. The event takes place on
September 9th commencing at 11:00 Am and concludes
at 5:00 Pm, come spend a relaxing day honoring some of
the greats from our sport and we'll guarantee a return
trip will be in your future.
Otsego County Fairgrounds will once again come alive
with the sights and sounds of what are now, antique
stock cars. On September 9th, the 11th annual Central
NY Old Time Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will take
place at the once vibrant track that filled many of our
youthful Friday nights and Sunday afternoons with the
dusty spectacle of stock car racing. The track, defunct
since 1973, was at one time the epicenter for the local
racing scene with many cars traveling from all over New
York State to compete on a regular basis. The memories
of this competition were the basis of the Midstate
Antique Stock Car Club which was formed in 1983 to
honor the track and keep these memories alive. In 1996
Racing Historians Richard Parry of Bridgewater, David
Conde of Hamilton and Melvin Ogden of Franklin
initiated the Central NY Old Time Hall of Fame to further
honor the stars and legends of our local racing heritage.
The first inductions were held at the Madison County
Fairgrounds in Brookfield, NY and for the past several
years have taken place at the West Winfield, NY VFW.
Through the history of the Hall of Fame many local
drivers have been justly inducted including Tommy
Wilson of Waterville, 'Suicide' Al Sanders of New
Hartford, Gene Cole & Willie Wust of Edmeston, Moose
Cary of Cooperstown, 'Irish' Joe Donahue of Binghamton
as well as many other colorful and gritty drivers. And
the tradition continues this coming year at what we
consider our home track under the tutelage of ardent Mid-
State fan and former Morris, NY resident, Jim Chase.
Like many of us, Chase and his younger brother Mike,
kept their grades up in school and the chores done just
to have the privilege of getting dirty and chewing on
popcorn while cheering on favorites on hot summer
nights at Midstate. The impressions of these events has
never been lost on us, nor the participants whos eyes
light up at any question relating to their careers. Just
ask one and experience it for yourself, but get ready for
some salty talk and some quick one liners that are sure
to leave you shaking your head. This years inductees are
as distinguished a group as any in the past and include;
Chuck Akulis of Windsor, NY. Chuck started at the track
in 1964 at the advent of the overhead era in his first car,
a Model A Ford coupe #40 (Fordy) which launched a
highly successful career in the stocks. His later 'Pink
Panther' #3 often sent shudders through the pits when
arriving as he was always one to be reckoned with at
any track. Chuck still holds the record for track
championships at Five Mile Point in Kirkwood, NY with
13 total - a record not likely to be broken.
Stanley Wetmore of Oak Hill, NY. Stanley started racing
in the late 1950's as a boy, wrenching on friend John
Flach's early racers at Arlington and Lebanon Valley
Speedways. Flach was to take the track championship at
the Valley in 1962 and then retire from driving, at which
time Stanley grabbed the wheel. Under the tutelage of
Lou Searing and with the friendly advice from legends
such as Mert 'Socks' Hulbert (a 2005 inductee) and 'Little
Joe' Lawrence, Stan too soon found success on the clay
and was a top runner at Midstate for several seasons
with his dark blue #73, always a fan favorite.
Bill Salamacha of Bridgewater, NY, Bill teamed with
another former inductee, Rudy Schlaefer, to form 'Ace
Racing' in the late 1960's and competed at both Midstate
and Lebanon Valley Speedways through the demise of
the Morris speed-plant. His orange #88 paid homage to
Willie Wust and Moose Cary from whom the team bought
the first car from to launch Bill's driving career. I always
rooted for Bill's 88 which was always fast and running
towards the front come feature time, and was always a
threat to win.
Wayne King of West Winfield, NY. Wayne swapped paint
with the best in the Late Model Division,often besting the
likes of Earl Mewhorter, Dick Schoonover and Bill Roese,
all former inductees. Wayne was no picnic on the track
but will be at our picnic to chew the fat about his racing
days in the #7.
Russ Card of New Berlin, NY will be this years recipient
for the Figure 8 Division, a gutsy form of racing in which
just survival is an accomplishment. Those poor cars! Don’
t we wish we had them today ?
Cliff Kotary of Rome, NY is this years recipient of the
'Pioneer' Award; An annual recognition of a participant
whose contribution to racing was significant in helping
secure the future of the sport. The Kotary name is widely
recognized in racing circles as the brothers from Rome,
NY hit all the tracks from one end of the state to the
other. Asphalt or dirt, it didn't matter so long as the
turns were all left. Cliff started in 1951 by building cars
for others but soon took over the wheel and enjoyed
many successes throughout his career. He is the
undisputed King of the Syracuse Mile during the flathead
era having won the NY State Fair six consecutive years
from 1960 to 1965. He spent some of his formative years
at Brookfield Speedway in the Joe Carello owned #30
and also made a cameo appearance at Midstate in 1962
at the behest of his friend and long time Midstate
Speedway official Vern Angel. After hanging up his
goggles Cliff spent many a race as flagger and Nascar
Official at Utica-Rome, Fulton and the NYS Fairground
Speedways. He also was a friend and mentor to NASCAR
Modified ace Richie Evans. Cliff's contributions the sport
he still loves are two numerous to accurately list, we are
honored to be honoring him.
Morris Fire Department and Emergency Squad is this
year's recipient of The Phoenix Award It is the HOF's
way of saying thanks to those who have supported and
contributed to the Midstate track in helping make the
shows a reality and whose long time association
provided the track with safety.
The event will take place at the Otsego County
Fairgrounds in Morris,NY - Home of the Midstate
Speedway. The Mid-State Antique Stock Car Club will
have several antique stock cars and open wheeled cars
on hand for display and perspective of how the sport
was during the early days. There will be memorabilia
and photos on hand as well as several former drivers to
shoot the breeze with. The Morris High School band will
offer up tunes, chicken BBQ will be available as well as
door prizes and raffles. The event is sponsored by the
Gates-Cole Insurance Company of West Winfield and
Edmeston, NY and will be a good time for all attendees,
just as it has been in the past. The event takes place on
September 9th commencing at 11:00 Am and concludes
at 5:00 Pm, come spend a relaxing day honoring some of
the greats from our sport and we'll guarantee a return
trip will be in your future.
