AAA Sprint cars on the high banks

[William Stewart]

Anyone on the forum who remembers sprint cars at Dayton Speedway?

Bill Stewart

[Eagle104]

Welcome to nostalgia, William.

Though I never got to see AAA at Dayton, I'm thankful I saw USAC sprints there before it went away.

There's plenty around here who did see AAA there...hopefully you'll get some response.

Eagle

[SteveE]

Yes

I remember Dayton Speedway very well, too bad it's a landfill now. I seen some great races there, seen Herk go out of the track, Parnelli Jones, A.J. Foyt, Branson, McCluskey race there. Also seen Mosely's wild ride in the Watson 4 cammer, and seen Sonny Ates blister the track, with a new track record. It is also remembered for the grisly Gordon Reid accident, in the Charlie Engle sprinter, which when my father bought Charlies equipment, some of the broke and tattered panels were still in his possesion, although the chassis had been destroyed.

[calinoff]

I never went to Dayton, but I did see AAA sprints before they went to USAC (1955 0r 57 ?). I saw AAA at Reading and Sunshine and Plant in Tampa. Some of the cars were still running with Rudge spoke wheels ! I can't rememer who was running an ARDUN against the "growlers" and staying with them. Some how Jimmy Wilburn sticks in my mind..but maybe not.

[$noopy]

Went in the mig-70's with USAC sprinters. That's where I first met Jack Hewitt. He didn't have a ride. Jan Opperman was in the Longhorn car IIRC.

[Maynard111]

Re: Yes

Originally posted by SteveE
I remember Dayton Speedway very well, too bad it's a landfill now. I seen some great races there, seen Herk go out of the track, Parnelli Jones, A.J. Foyt, Branson, McCluskey race there. Also seen Mosely's wild ride in the Watson 4 cammer, and seen Sonny Ates blister the track, with a new track record. It is also remembered for the grisly Gordon Reid accident, in the Charlie Engle sprinter, which when my father bought Charlies equipment, some of the broke and tattered panels were still in his possesion, although the chassis had been destroyed.

Gordon Reid....was that the accident where the car was sliding along the top of the wall, right side down, and there was an I-beam sticking straight up from the wall? Severed his chest, right below the shoulders? Then when the Chaplain demanded to view the body (against track workers advice) to administer last rights he passed out as soon as the cover was removed.

[TommyTipover]

Yes, I attended many sprint car races at Dayton and even have some track programs starting from the 50's. I always thought it would be great if Dick Wallen would do a book on all the midwest high bank paved tracks.

[SteveE]

Accident

Believe me, I know why the pastor passed out, I have seen the pictures of what was left, still in the car.

[Maynard111]

Re: Accident

Originally posted by SteveE
Believe me, I know why the pastor passed out, I have seen the pictures of what was left, still in the car.

The curious side of me would like to see those pictures...however the sensible side overules the curious in this case. Must have been quite a gruesome sight.

When I read accounts of accidents such as that my mind usually produces some horrific mental images of what something might have looked like. Scares the H3!! out of me. Probably worse than the actual event would have.

[calinoff]

Re: Re: Accident

Originally posted by Maynard111
The curious side of me would like to see those pictures...however the sensible side overules the curious in this case. Must have been quite a gruesome sight.

When I read accounts of accidents such as that my mind usually produces some horrific mental images of what something might have looked like. Scares the H3!! out of me. Probably worse than the actual event would have.

Is there anyone old enough here that remembers the "incident" surrounding the death of Henry Guerand in a midget at the Nutley (NJ) Veledrome, before WW II ? Noting could have been worse for the racers and fans.

[Littleman]

Not trying to sound gruesome, but wasn't he the one that had his head left hanging in the wire fencing, while his car continued around the track? I had heard that they had to force his car down into the infield to get it stopped. Supposedly, and I can see why, there were many, many people that fainted from that scene.

[Littleman]

OOPS!!!!! Lenny, that was not Nutley, but HoHoKus. Note:

Originally built in 1906 as a 1/2 mile trotting track in Bergen County Park near Ridgewood. It was first used for motor racing in 1912, and was used through until the 4th July 1938, when racing was halted after Henry Guerand and Vince Brehm locked wheels, with Guerand leaving the track and hitting a parked car, killing two spectators, including a 10 year old boy.

Now, my father told me about a driver being killed by being decapitated, as I noted in the previous post. Who was that driver? Apparently it wasn't Guerand? Or was it?

[calinoff]

Lillteman..It was Henny G. that lost his life at NUTLEY I believe he was driving a Bugatti midget for Mike Caruso. It was the second fatality at the track that season, the other being either Frankie Bailey or Frankie Beeder. But Guerrand was definitely the driver in question at Nutley...that was the last race ever held at that facility.

I believe that the only person that drove in the race and is still alive is Art Cross. Of more recent vintage were Len Duncan abd Pappy Hough. who have both passed away. Actually Duncan did not drive in the actual race.

Hohokus was another situation involving the same driver.

Nutley was a board track but not the last one ever run on by midgets, can anyone remember the last board track the midgets ran on... ?

[calinoff]

Originally posted by calinoff
Lillteman..It was Henny G. that lost his life at NUTLEY I believe he was driving a Bugatti midget for Mike Caruso. It was the second fatality at the track that season, the other being either Frankie Bailey or Frankie Beeder. But Guerrand was definitely the driver in question at Nutley...that was the last race ever held at that facility.

I believe that the only person that drove in the race and is still alive is Art Cross. Of more recent vintage were Len Duncan abd Pappy Hough. who have both passed away. Actually Duncan did not drive in the actual race.

Hohokus was another situation involving the same driver.

Nutley was a board track but not the last one ever run on by midgets, can anyone remember the last board track the midgets ran on... ?

I am trying to think of the winner of the last race. I think his name began with a "B", could have been Breslin or Henry Banks.

Actually what got Guerand was not the fence...he went up over a wheel , got airborne and got caught by a guy-wire that was over the track.

[Tom Sherping]

Re: AAA Sprint cars on the high banks

Originally posted by William Stewart
Anyone on the forum who remembers sprint cars at Dayton Speedway?

Bill Stewart

I never made it to Dayton, but I went to Winchester once only to learn that the event had been cancelled. At the track, I met with Jimmy Daywalt who secured permission for this 16 yr. old to drive a lap in his '36 Ford coupe jalopy. . . . , so I can say, "Yes I drove Winchester!" ) Jimmy was my home town hero (Wabash, IN) and was really a super nice guy. He held the track record at Daytona for a time, as I recall. Remember the AAA midgets at Kokomo, IN? I used to go there a lot.

Bill, I associate your name with motorcycling. Any connection?