Remember the first time you went to an auto race?  Or maybe the first year?  I do.  Seems like it was just yesterday.  It happened, for me, back in 1946.  Went to watch the ARDC midgets with my father and brother.  On occasion, an uncle or cousins would go with us.  Living in Bergen County, New Jersey, the logical place to see the midgets was at Hinchcliff stadium, in Paterson, NJ.  I was all of nine years old in '46.  What a fascinating experience for a little kid!  The speed of the cars!  The yelling of the fans!  And, the AROMA!  Castor!  It is something that you never forget.  Other speedway/race tracks that we went to were:  Victory Speedway, in Middletown, NY, Danbury, Ct, and Cherry Park in Avon, Ct.  That was during the summer months.  During the winter, we would go to Kingsbridge Armory in New York City.

Johnny Ritter in his outboard Hinchcliff Stadium - 1946

Being rather small in stature, my favorite driver was Johnny Ritter.  All 5'3" of him!  Yep, and his little yellow outboard midget.  Would watch him "dirt track" it on the pavement - while leaning out and adjusting the carburetor!  Bill Schindler.  Another favorite of mine!  I wondered how he could drive with just one leg?  My dad needed two to drive our car!  And he was not racing!  We know so little, when we are young, don't we?  Outboards, "Offies", Ford and Cycle powered cars!  Wow!  And the crowds!  Spins, crashes, broken water hoses!  Ah yes, I remember it well.  Do you? Drivers:  The above named, Ritter & Schindler.  The Rice brothers.  Christopher, Duncan, Tappett, Schaefer.  Nazaruk, Baker, Bonadies & Klar.  The Disbrow brothers, Romit, McGrath, & Brooks.  Toran, Land, Fusco & Fair. Cross, Keller, Breslin, Fonder & Nestor.  Renard, McAndrew, Gibbons, Barzda & Ringger.  Bicklehaupt, Chase, Zeke, Colkitt, Peterson & Fornoro.  DiMarco, Sheeler, Morris & Miller.

My dad referred to some of the older Ford powered cars as "Poison Ivy".  Some drivers too.  Those that were not too skilled.  Or, just learning the "trade".  Yes, I remember the "driving schools"!  Guess they are not needed today!  I remember going to the "Gasoline Bowl" at Hinchcliff on New Years Day.  Remember, but when was it?  1950?  Sadly, the midgets dropped in their popularity.  More sadly, was being informed, by my father, of the death of Ritter.  Believe it or not, he actually told me while I was at recess at school!  October. 1948.  While changing a tire, in a race he was leading!  Sadly, we lost a lot of men back then.

I can still visualize the cars.  The colors.  Shining chrome. Tee shirts.  Fancy shirts.  The big exhaust pipes of the outboards.  The crackle of the cycles.  And the sound of the "offy" engines.  Ah yes, I remember it well.  Ted Webbe, Nat Kleinfield - to me they were someone special.  Racing programs.  Color photos on the covers.  Writing down the line-ups and the finishes.  Gee, how I wish I had those programs today!  Would probably be valuable.  Can remember certain accidents.  And yes, a few were not accidents.  Finding out a week later that so-and-so will not be racing no more because he died in the accident last week.  Hey, there were more "good times" than "bad times" back then!  Ah yes, I remember it well!  Did the above bring back any memories for you?  Maybe a name? Place? 

There are a few films out there, showing the cars and stars of yesteryear.  Records of the racing?  As far as I know, most are gone.  Sadly, memories are what is left.  And, sadly, they are going away too.  So, if you have "memories" of when you were small, pass them on to your "little ones".  Believe me, they like to listen to the stories us "old folks" tell.

- Tom Avenengo

This photo was sent to me from Ron Heddendorf of the ARDC.  It shows the first and second turns at Hinchcliff stadium. Look closely and you can see the lines on the football field, in the infield.

Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the "Open Wheel Racing" website. TVR would like to express our thanks and gratitude to John LeVan, the editor of OWR. Check out the latest open wheel racing news at www.openwheelracing.com.
-DZ

Who were your favorites? If you'd like information on how 
to contribute stories and/or photos to TVR, click here!
   

Top of Page    Back    Part II    Part III    Part IV    Part V   Part VI   Part VII