Otsego County Fair. I
remember the feelings vividly,
every week going to the track
as a young boy, was an event
highly anticipated. Like wet
your pants anticipated..
Couldn't wait to get there, pile
out of the car and wait for
everyone else, run up into the
stands, always to the very top
of course so as to be able to
horse around with the other
ruffians.. the smell of fresh
popcorn wafting up through
the stands, the roar of brightly
colored racecars flashing past
the flaggers stand, chewing
the popcorn mom bought
quickly - to beat the dust - an
unwinnable battle, still tasted
good with the dust on it,
cheering for Moose and the
88...
A moment of your childhood
past comes to life before your
eyes upon reaching the Otsego
County Fairgrounds - home of
Midstate Speedway. For that
moment your transported back
in time, the grandstands look
just the same, the track,
although a little narrower and
flatter, doesn't really show it's
age, the midway is full, and at
any moment they just might
drop the green and unleash
the explosion of sound and
power that is modified stock
car racing...
I digress, it all comes back to
reality as I look at a decrepit
utility pole - needs work I
think to myslef and then get
on to taking in one of the
finest county fairs in the area.
It's opening night - free
admission - but don't worry,
the vendors make up for it -
and the joint is packed. The
parade is tonight which means
a trip around the track for our
club, a well appreciated and
anticipated event. My folks
and I make our way to the club
display, once again organized
by members Mike Newell and
John Mason. And they've done
another bang up job this year.
Eight cars are on display from
various club members and
then Jim Chase pulls in with
the Kennedy #67 to make it a
nice even count of 9. Really a
nice display that covers the
flathead era right through the
transition to overheads and
late models that graced the
track in the 1950's and 60's.
Mike and John put a lot of
work into this event every year
and it shows, it's not easy
hauling cars around,
especially when they aren't all
running, or stopping... Charge
batteries, fiddle with
strombergs and fuel pumps,
tear apart wheel cylinders and
then get the thing on a trailer
and push it around. It's work.
Fairgoers take it all in with
smiles and pointed fingers,
faces full of wonderment, 'They
actually raced these things?' I
overhear more than once. Yes,
they did, and quite well to boot
I might add.
Ray Bunzey is on hand with
news of friend and fellow
former racer Ed Farley, Ed's
not doing well having been
taken over by Alzheimers,
which is too bad. If I get an
address for him I'll post it.
Former Midstater Brent Cobb
is also on hand, Brent is going
into the CNY HOF this year in
September, another highly
anticipated event on the
calander. Members John
Clark, Richard Parry, Richard
Ackerman, John Mason, Mike
Newell, Jim Chase and myself
converse with the crowd and
look over the iron - it's a
mutual appreciation
convention as you always find
someting on these cars you
hadn't noticed before, and
then blabber on ad naseum
about the 'creative
engineering.'
John Mason is gushing about
the Orange County Old Timers
night he attended "I loaded up
Mel's (Mel Ogden of Franklin)
#65 and figured I'd go down to
show it off. I'm heading down
17 and I thought 'geeze they
start at 6:15' and pushed the
pedal down a bit harder. Got
there and pull in with the only
flathead powered car at the
show. Frankie Schneider
comes up and says "Now we
got a real race car here."
Frankie's a great guy, he could
do it all, build them, build
engines, and of course race
them. 800 feature wins, that's
Cagle territory. Billy Deskovich
was there, Tighe Scott, Fuzzy
Van Horn, Buzzie Reutiman,
great show." John's
enthusiasm is infectious, and
he's going to get at it more
often.. "I'm all down entirely in
two weeks" he related. "Once
drivers ed is over, I'm retired.
No more teaching, no more
coaching, no more driver ed,
I'm going to get after some of
these projects." My father
pipes up to Mike Newell who is
taking this all in - "You're
going to be awful busy Mike."
A bit of an inside joke - wasn't
lost on Mr. Newell...
The parade is starting and it's
time to mount up. Pete
Stafford runs a neat little shop
in the town and is always on
hand for the event. The
Mouseville Monster is his ride
- period. And sooner or later
he'll get the hang of getting in
and out of it...but not tonite.
Richard Parry grabs the Akulis
Fordy - yeah it smokes a little,
at least we know it's got oil in
it. Steering guru Bill Newell is
aboard the Jim Mott Brooks
Bar B Que #65. John Clark
fires up the Al Turner Pittsfield
Gulf #10, the Y-block sounds
great. Jim Chase has the
Kennedy #65 looking sharp as
always. We need a driver -
Brent Cobb has mysteriously
disappeared, seems to be a
trend..there's former Midstate
club member Scott Wilson and
he's immediately shanghied to
take the Beagell #29.
"Steerings a little heavy" he
related later, maybe because
his knees were in the way?
Mike Newell jumps aboard
Mel's #103, a George Gallup
ride form the 50's. And once
John is done marching, he
slips into the Tc9 of Joe
Donahue. It's really quite a
site to see these cars back on
the track, where they belong.
All Midstate cars that toured
the oval in competiton come to
life once more and the fans eat
it up. I ask them each to take
their time in front of the
grandstand so my flash can
catch up to get a decent shot.
Scott Wilson is first in line and
takes his time, then some
more, hits the throttle,
nothing. "Need a push" he
says fiddling with the shifter.
I'm glad it pushes easy... and
thank you to those who gave
us a cheer. Pete Stafford
finishes the job with the
Moster "Boy did that get a
good cheer to see that Chevy
pushed by a Ford!" he roared
later. I'm begining to think the
29 doesn't like the track..it
has Mike mystified, he'll get it.
It was a great time, the
weather was perfect, and the
mood was as well. It's really
enjoyable to take in events like
this where everyone busts
chops and just plain has fun,
no arguements, no bent metal
and just enough roar of an
engine to remind you that
these cars are beasts behind
the eye candy. The parade
over, it's time for the fireworks
and a bite to eat. Nothing like
an elephant ear at the fair to
wash down that sausage
sandwich - I'm gonna pay for
that for sure but it's the fair.
The rides are going, the
midway is full and people I
havn't seen in years are all
around, truly a great night
and a lot of fun.
Thanks to all of our members
and friends who made the
night wonderfull, see you
again next year at the fair.
remember the feelings vividly,
every week going to the track
as a young boy, was an event
highly anticipated. Like wet
your pants anticipated..
Couldn't wait to get there, pile
out of the car and wait for
everyone else, run up into the
stands, always to the very top
of course so as to be able to
horse around with the other
ruffians.. the smell of fresh
popcorn wafting up through
the stands, the roar of brightly
colored racecars flashing past
the flaggers stand, chewing
the popcorn mom bought
quickly - to beat the dust - an
unwinnable battle, still tasted
good with the dust on it,
cheering for Moose and the
88...
A moment of your childhood
past comes to life before your
eyes upon reaching the Otsego
County Fairgrounds - home of
Midstate Speedway. For that
moment your transported back
in time, the grandstands look
just the same, the track,
although a little narrower and
flatter, doesn't really show it's
age, the midway is full, and at
any moment they just might
drop the green and unleash
the explosion of sound and
power that is modified stock
car racing...
I digress, it all comes back to
reality as I look at a decrepit
utility pole - needs work I
think to myslef and then get
on to taking in one of the
finest county fairs in the area.
It's opening night - free
admission - but don't worry,
the vendors make up for it -
and the joint is packed. The
parade is tonight which means
a trip around the track for our
club, a well appreciated and
anticipated event. My folks
and I make our way to the club
display, once again organized
by members Mike Newell and
John Mason. And they've done
another bang up job this year.
Eight cars are on display from
various club members and
then Jim Chase pulls in with
the Kennedy #67 to make it a
nice even count of 9. Really a
nice display that covers the
flathead era right through the
transition to overheads and
late models that graced the
track in the 1950's and 60's.
Mike and John put a lot of
work into this event every year
and it shows, it's not easy
hauling cars around,
especially when they aren't all
running, or stopping... Charge
batteries, fiddle with
strombergs and fuel pumps,
tear apart wheel cylinders and
then get the thing on a trailer
and push it around. It's work.
Fairgoers take it all in with
smiles and pointed fingers,
faces full of wonderment, 'They
actually raced these things?' I
overhear more than once. Yes,
they did, and quite well to boot
I might add.
Ray Bunzey is on hand with
news of friend and fellow
former racer Ed Farley, Ed's
not doing well having been
taken over by Alzheimers,
which is too bad. If I get an
address for him I'll post it.
Former Midstater Brent Cobb
is also on hand, Brent is going
into the CNY HOF this year in
September, another highly
anticipated event on the
calander. Members John
Clark, Richard Parry, Richard
Ackerman, John Mason, Mike
Newell, Jim Chase and myself
converse with the crowd and
look over the iron - it's a
mutual appreciation
convention as you always find
someting on these cars you
hadn't noticed before, and
then blabber on ad naseum
about the 'creative
engineering.'
John Mason is gushing about
the Orange County Old Timers
night he attended "I loaded up
Mel's (Mel Ogden of Franklin)
#65 and figured I'd go down to
show it off. I'm heading down
17 and I thought 'geeze they
start at 6:15' and pushed the
pedal down a bit harder. Got
there and pull in with the only
flathead powered car at the
show. Frankie Schneider
comes up and says "Now we
got a real race car here."
Frankie's a great guy, he could
do it all, build them, build
engines, and of course race
them. 800 feature wins, that's
Cagle territory. Billy Deskovich
was there, Tighe Scott, Fuzzy
Van Horn, Buzzie Reutiman,
great show." John's
enthusiasm is infectious, and
he's going to get at it more
often.. "I'm all down entirely in
two weeks" he related. "Once
drivers ed is over, I'm retired.
No more teaching, no more
coaching, no more driver ed,
I'm going to get after some of
these projects." My father
pipes up to Mike Newell who is
taking this all in - "You're
going to be awful busy Mike."
A bit of an inside joke - wasn't
lost on Mr. Newell...
The parade is starting and it's
time to mount up. Pete
Stafford runs a neat little shop
in the town and is always on
hand for the event. The
Mouseville Monster is his ride
- period. And sooner or later
he'll get the hang of getting in
and out of it...but not tonite.
Richard Parry grabs the Akulis
Fordy - yeah it smokes a little,
at least we know it's got oil in
it. Steering guru Bill Newell is
aboard the Jim Mott Brooks
Bar B Que #65. John Clark
fires up the Al Turner Pittsfield
Gulf #10, the Y-block sounds
great. Jim Chase has the
Kennedy #65 looking sharp as
always. We need a driver -
Brent Cobb has mysteriously
disappeared, seems to be a
trend..there's former Midstate
club member Scott Wilson and
he's immediately shanghied to
take the Beagell #29.
"Steerings a little heavy" he
related later, maybe because
his knees were in the way?
Mike Newell jumps aboard
Mel's #103, a George Gallup
ride form the 50's. And once
John is done marching, he
slips into the Tc9 of Joe
Donahue. It's really quite a
site to see these cars back on
the track, where they belong.
All Midstate cars that toured
the oval in competiton come to
life once more and the fans eat
it up. I ask them each to take
their time in front of the
grandstand so my flash can
catch up to get a decent shot.
Scott Wilson is first in line and
takes his time, then some
more, hits the throttle,
nothing. "Need a push" he
says fiddling with the shifter.
I'm glad it pushes easy... and
thank you to those who gave
us a cheer. Pete Stafford
finishes the job with the
Moster "Boy did that get a
good cheer to see that Chevy
pushed by a Ford!" he roared
later. I'm begining to think the
29 doesn't like the track..it
has Mike mystified, he'll get it.
It was a great time, the
weather was perfect, and the
mood was as well. It's really
enjoyable to take in events like
this where everyone busts
chops and just plain has fun,
no arguements, no bent metal
and just enough roar of an
engine to remind you that
these cars are beasts behind
the eye candy. The parade
over, it's time for the fireworks
and a bite to eat. Nothing like
an elephant ear at the fair to
wash down that sausage
sandwich - I'm gonna pay for
that for sure but it's the fair.
The rides are going, the
midway is full and people I
havn't seen in years are all
around, truly a great night
and a lot of fun.
Thanks to all of our members
and friends who made the
night wonderfull, see you
again next year at the fair.
