Utica-Rome. The
weatherman said it'd clear
but, gotta admit, it looked a
little gloomy on the way up
Routes 88 and 8 to my
parents place. Fingers
crossed, this was a big night
honoring Jerry Cook, Dick
Waterman, Bernie Ingersoll
and our former club president
(as well as friend) Carl
Carpenter. Track operator
Barb Clark wanted us to say a
few words to the Carpenters
on behalf of Carl and Dad was
leaving this up to me, so I was
going over what I'd say as I
drove. Try not to be nervous,
just talk like Carl would have.
As I drove out of the rain and
pulled in my folks place in
Pittsfield, I thought how all
this had started here with the
club. How big we had become
at one time (I can recall 55
cars at Fulton one night and
53 at Utica-Rome the next...).
I thought of the fun we had
building the cars, how close it
had brought my brother, Rick
Howard, Jeff Wiggins and my
father together with me. We
didn't really have any choice
working in that one holer
garage of Dad's.... How we, as
a club would get together and
pass a plate and share nearly
everything amongst us. From
that to the ultra-competitive
years when everyone was
trying their damndest to build
a better mousetrap, and then
prove they had on the track.
To later in the history of the
club when Dad was president
and I helped run the show, we
had less people to deal with
than Carl and Myrtle, yet had
our hands full. And it dawned
on me - how the hell did he
do it? I mean really, how did
he put up with all of our bull
shit for 10 years! Not only
that but schedule the shows,
get a car ready and to the
track, work full time AND
THEN - put up with 54 other
hotheads who think the world
must revolve around them
and their fabulous racing
habit...
Dad's up and about after his
nap, the Mouseville Monster
is on the trailer and I'm
bolting it down. "Supposed to
clear up," he smiles, "Let's
go." Part of the fun for me has
always been hanging with my
father. We can always find
something to talk about but
in general, it gravitates
towards the club. Tonight
however, he wants to go over a
few things he wants to make
sure I get out when I talk of
Carl. "You know, whenever I
was at the point where I
needed a hand, Carl would
just show up. And then he'd
pitch right in. He really
became one of my best friends
and I miss him now." My
mother had said the same
things, she didn't know how
Dad was going to get along
without Carl, I've gone up to
help out a few times but I live
to far away..
We arrive at Utica-Rome and
by now the sun is out, the
weatherman was right this
time. Jerry Cook is all smiles,
signing autographs. Bill
Wimbles is on hand as well
and willing to sign his book.
He's camped out with Lew
Boyd and Bones Boucier at
the Coastal 181 Booth and
Lew has a big smile, as well as
a good deal on 'Daredevils of
the Frontier' by the late Keith
Herbst - an excellent book on
the Midget Wars of Civic
Stadium - I take him up on it.
Otto Graham is snapping
shots and shooting the bull.
Later Lew comes by and says
"Hey, this guy here (pointing
at Sucide Al) Sanders is it?
He's got some bodies left..."
"Oh, yeah. We knew that - but
you can't get them. I got the
last sedan and that was 20
years ago.." Lew shook his
head, "I shoulda known you
guys were on top of it.."
There's a decent crowd on
hand and they kept trickling
in. For a Thursday night it
isn't too bad. Seven cars are
in attendance, Dad's Monster,
Alan Weaver has both his
Pinto and Thompson coupe on
hand, John Button has one of
his sprinters, John Clark has
Old Nell there, Frank
Blanchard has his #85 sedan
on hand that he's tkaing to
Spencer the following night to
race with the MVSCC and
Pete Lazzaro has his pretty
coupe set up. There are many
former drivers on hand,
Suicide Al and Ralph
Humphries are looking over
cars, I run into Bernie Miller
watching warmups, Ron
Hedger is talking with Jerry
Cook and Bill Wimble, of
course Gene Cole is here and
takes time to stand with the
Monster, as does Dick Wust.
Lots of familiar faces.
Pete Lazzaro gets to talking -
"So, what happened to the
club from the start of it?" he
asks. "I know when I saw that
43 come in I said 'now that's
an old car' - that's what we
should be doing." I explained
that the 43 was the 5th car
built for the club and that's
how we started, then rules
changes, money, greater
speeds and newer technology
took over. A shame? He
nodded, "What we should be
doing is trying to make our
cars more authentic. I've
thought of what you said and
you're right, I'm not going to
race this car anymore. It isn't
worth getting it banged upa
nd it' isn't competitive with
the new chassis anyways. The
shocks are coming off and I'm
going to put arm shocks on
it.. " Pete has the right idea as
far as I'm concerned. And
nothing against what the
others are doing either -
that's their bag and whatever
makes them happy, I'm all for
it. I've even offered to re-join if
they'll let me build just what I
want with a flathead - and no
weight restriction....
The races are on and there's
some good runners here
tonight, heats are hotly
contested - when's the last
time Billy Decker ran 6th in a
heat? The CSRA sprints are
pretty cool as well, I'm rooting
for Jamie Christian but he
has hsi work cut out for him
tonight.. It's intermission time
and we're called down to the
front straight - Dad has
remembered the box. The
announcer hands me the mic
and I forget everything I was
going to say... but as I started
blabbering I regained my
tought and related that Carl
wasn't just a race fan - he was
a racer himself and would do
anything to help out in
preserving the memories of
past racers, that's why he was
president for 10 years of the
club. He was also our friend
and neighbor, and we missed
him. Alongside him, Myrtle
was the glue of the club,
together they kept it all
rinning smoothly, Carl
soothing and cajoling racers
and promoters alike - Myrtle
keeping everyone in line. My
father and I presented Myrtle
with a Ken Myers re-creation
of the Pop Wilcox 32 that Carl
had first built for the club,
and I could tell she
appreciated it. Brett Hearn
then presented Myrtle with a
nice bouquet - a nice gesture
from her favorite driver. It was
easy to see that all of the
Carpenters appreciated the
recognition of Carl as it was
well deserved.
Next John Flock talked of
and to Jerry Cook and Dick
Waterman, who also worked
hand in hand in the early
days of the track. Dick would
shut off the track lights and
turn on the dragway lights for
arriving planes to land from
Stafford or Thompson in
Connecticut - to mkae the
Sunday night shows. Jerry
cook was in those planes at
times, amongst many. Dick
also related a humourous
(now) story of his pet lion, and
has the bite on his backside
to prove it's no lark! Again,
both were very gratefull for
the recognition from the
crowd as well as some choice
words from Bill Wimble.
On with the races - Matt
Shepard ran away with the
feature altough Bobby Varin
tried to keep it close. Hearn
blew as he was making a move
from 3rd. The track was in
great shape and the food was
excellent once again - a great
night. Thanks to Gene Cole,
Barb Clark and everyone at
Utica-Rome. We loaded and
headed for home, 5 Mile Point
up next.
weatherman said it'd clear
but, gotta admit, it looked a
little gloomy on the way up
Routes 88 and 8 to my
parents place. Fingers
crossed, this was a big night
honoring Jerry Cook, Dick
Waterman, Bernie Ingersoll
and our former club president
(as well as friend) Carl
Carpenter. Track operator
Barb Clark wanted us to say a
few words to the Carpenters
on behalf of Carl and Dad was
leaving this up to me, so I was
going over what I'd say as I
drove. Try not to be nervous,
just talk like Carl would have.
As I drove out of the rain and
pulled in my folks place in
Pittsfield, I thought how all
this had started here with the
club. How big we had become
at one time (I can recall 55
cars at Fulton one night and
53 at Utica-Rome the next...).
I thought of the fun we had
building the cars, how close it
had brought my brother, Rick
Howard, Jeff Wiggins and my
father together with me. We
didn't really have any choice
working in that one holer
garage of Dad's.... How we, as
a club would get together and
pass a plate and share nearly
everything amongst us. From
that to the ultra-competitive
years when everyone was
trying their damndest to build
a better mousetrap, and then
prove they had on the track.
To later in the history of the
club when Dad was president
and I helped run the show, we
had less people to deal with
than Carl and Myrtle, yet had
our hands full. And it dawned
on me - how the hell did he
do it? I mean really, how did
he put up with all of our bull
shit for 10 years! Not only
that but schedule the shows,
get a car ready and to the
track, work full time AND
THEN - put up with 54 other
hotheads who think the world
must revolve around them
and their fabulous racing
habit...
Dad's up and about after his
nap, the Mouseville Monster
is on the trailer and I'm
bolting it down. "Supposed to
clear up," he smiles, "Let's
go." Part of the fun for me has
always been hanging with my
father. We can always find
something to talk about but
in general, it gravitates
towards the club. Tonight
however, he wants to go over a
few things he wants to make
sure I get out when I talk of
Carl. "You know, whenever I
was at the point where I
needed a hand, Carl would
just show up. And then he'd
pitch right in. He really
became one of my best friends
and I miss him now." My
mother had said the same
things, she didn't know how
Dad was going to get along
without Carl, I've gone up to
help out a few times but I live
to far away..
We arrive at Utica-Rome and
by now the sun is out, the
weatherman was right this
time. Jerry Cook is all smiles,
signing autographs. Bill
Wimbles is on hand as well
and willing to sign his book.
He's camped out with Lew
Boyd and Bones Boucier at
the Coastal 181 Booth and
Lew has a big smile, as well as
a good deal on 'Daredevils of
the Frontier' by the late Keith
Herbst - an excellent book on
the Midget Wars of Civic
Stadium - I take him up on it.
Otto Graham is snapping
shots and shooting the bull.
Later Lew comes by and says
"Hey, this guy here (pointing
at Sucide Al) Sanders is it?
He's got some bodies left..."
"Oh, yeah. We knew that - but
you can't get them. I got the
last sedan and that was 20
years ago.." Lew shook his
head, "I shoulda known you
guys were on top of it.."
There's a decent crowd on
hand and they kept trickling
in. For a Thursday night it
isn't too bad. Seven cars are
in attendance, Dad's Monster,
Alan Weaver has both his
Pinto and Thompson coupe on
hand, John Button has one of
his sprinters, John Clark has
Old Nell there, Frank
Blanchard has his #85 sedan
on hand that he's tkaing to
Spencer the following night to
race with the MVSCC and
Pete Lazzaro has his pretty
coupe set up. There are many
former drivers on hand,
Suicide Al and Ralph
Humphries are looking over
cars, I run into Bernie Miller
watching warmups, Ron
Hedger is talking with Jerry
Cook and Bill Wimble, of
course Gene Cole is here and
takes time to stand with the
Monster, as does Dick Wust.
Lots of familiar faces.
Pete Lazzaro gets to talking -
"So, what happened to the
club from the start of it?" he
asks. "I know when I saw that
43 come in I said 'now that's
an old car' - that's what we
should be doing." I explained
that the 43 was the 5th car
built for the club and that's
how we started, then rules
changes, money, greater
speeds and newer technology
took over. A shame? He
nodded, "What we should be
doing is trying to make our
cars more authentic. I've
thought of what you said and
you're right, I'm not going to
race this car anymore. It isn't
worth getting it banged upa
nd it' isn't competitive with
the new chassis anyways. The
shocks are coming off and I'm
going to put arm shocks on
it.. " Pete has the right idea as
far as I'm concerned. And
nothing against what the
others are doing either -
that's their bag and whatever
makes them happy, I'm all for
it. I've even offered to re-join if
they'll let me build just what I
want with a flathead - and no
weight restriction....
The races are on and there's
some good runners here
tonight, heats are hotly
contested - when's the last
time Billy Decker ran 6th in a
heat? The CSRA sprints are
pretty cool as well, I'm rooting
for Jamie Christian but he
has hsi work cut out for him
tonight.. It's intermission time
and we're called down to the
front straight - Dad has
remembered the box. The
announcer hands me the mic
and I forget everything I was
going to say... but as I started
blabbering I regained my
tought and related that Carl
wasn't just a race fan - he was
a racer himself and would do
anything to help out in
preserving the memories of
past racers, that's why he was
president for 10 years of the
club. He was also our friend
and neighbor, and we missed
him. Alongside him, Myrtle
was the glue of the club,
together they kept it all
rinning smoothly, Carl
soothing and cajoling racers
and promoters alike - Myrtle
keeping everyone in line. My
father and I presented Myrtle
with a Ken Myers re-creation
of the Pop Wilcox 32 that Carl
had first built for the club,
and I could tell she
appreciated it. Brett Hearn
then presented Myrtle with a
nice bouquet - a nice gesture
from her favorite driver. It was
easy to see that all of the
Carpenters appreciated the
recognition of Carl as it was
well deserved.
Next John Flock talked of
and to Jerry Cook and Dick
Waterman, who also worked
hand in hand in the early
days of the track. Dick would
shut off the track lights and
turn on the dragway lights for
arriving planes to land from
Stafford or Thompson in
Connecticut - to mkae the
Sunday night shows. Jerry
cook was in those planes at
times, amongst many. Dick
also related a humourous
(now) story of his pet lion, and
has the bite on his backside
to prove it's no lark! Again,
both were very gratefull for
the recognition from the
crowd as well as some choice
words from Bill Wimble.
On with the races - Matt
Shepard ran away with the
feature altough Bobby Varin
tried to keep it close. Hearn
blew as he was making a move
from 3rd. The track was in
great shape and the food was
excellent once again - a great
night. Thanks to Gene Cole,
Barb Clark and everyone at
Utica-Rome. We loaded and
headed for home, 5 Mile Point
up next.
