As a Thanksgiving Day guest at the home of my friend longtime Waterford Speedbowl Modified competitor Mark LaJeunesse and his family, I figured the talk would turn to racing following the day’s feast, and it did. Luckily for me, Mark pulled-out a few of his vintage photos, and this is one of them. Seen here in a candid shot is the team of one of the “New London-Waterford” Speedbowl’s best-ever, Dick Beauregard. Says Mark about the photo, “Second from right is Dickie, 3rd from right is George Sevigny, and far right is Harold Sevigny. My father doesn't know who the guy on Dickie's left-is. The business is on Norwich Avenue in Taftville, CT. where it still operates today. The photo was taken May of 1952, Dickie's first year as track champion. Notice that back- then, they just rolled the windows down before the rules mandated removal of all glass except windshields.” Beauregard of-course went on to score another title in 1962 and an estimated career total of 42 Modified feature victories at the Speedbowl. (LaJeunesse Family Collection).           

Another candid image from Mark’s collection, this one again captures Dick Beauregard in 1952. Seen here ready to do battle at the Speedbowl, it was indeed a season for the sometimes-controversial chauffer to remember. Displaying a patented “no-holds-barred” driving style, on-route to the title he took the checkered flag on 3 occasions. Undoubtedly one of Waterford’s most notable racers, this was one of the guys that helped put the track on the map during the early days. (LaJeunesse Family Collection).       

And here’s the final entry from the LaJeunesse archives; With an impish grin and a practical joke waiting for anyone in spitting-distance, the late George Pendergast was one of the really good-things about the formative years of our sport. Not to be portrayed as simply a “Character”, he was also a skilled and accomplished racer. He was not-only a winner at the Speedbowl (as captured here in the 1950s), but also excelled at many other New England raceways. For instance, in the 1960’s, a win at the famed Norwood Arena meant that you had really arrived. As relayed in “Hot Cars, Cool Drivers” by Lew Boyd www.coastal181.com the wild revelry in the Pendergast pit area following his first-ever triumph at the fabled Massachusetts speedplant somehow resulted in ole’ George breaking his arm. They simply don’t make em’ like George anymore! (Shany Photo, LaJeunesse Family Collection).

Here we have a nice shot of Bobby Bard from the late & much-missed Riverside Park Speedway in Massachusetts. Captured here in 1961 on the old 1/5-mile circuit, Bard recorded a total of ten Park’ feature victories, the first in 1964, and the final in 1974. That resume also includes a victory in the 1974 Riverside 500 in which he was teamed with multi-time winner of that prestigious event, Ronnie Wyckoff. Mr. Bard ran-well all over New England and was always a threat to win during the much-heralded “Coupe Era.” (Shany Photo, Ormsby Collection).              

As a frequent contributor to this site, Rusty Sage has sent us a number of memorable images; this one is no exception. Rusty got the facts on this shot right from the source, our friend NEAR Hall of Famer, Billy Harman. Billy says “This is opening day in 1968 at the Speedbowl. On the left is owner Dick Brooks. I drove this car for about half that season. I showed up at Brooks’ garage one day, and there was no race car. I asked what was going-on, and Brooksie told me that some guy from Long Island, New York was driving-by, saw the race car out front, and bought it on the spot!” And that’s the skinny on this shot! (Dugas Photo, Rusty Sage Collection).        

We’ve ran shots of this driver before, but this one just begs to be seen. Few New England Modified drivers had more going for them than the late Don MacTavish. Starting his career at the age of 15 racing at the much-celebrated Norwood Arena, he quickly gained popularity as one of the regions brightest young upstarts. In 1963 he progressed to NASCAR’s Sportsman Division and in 1966 took the NASCAR National Sportsman Championship, his closest competitors being Ralph Earnhardt, "Wild" Bill Slater and Rene Charland. During his Daytona debut on February 22, 1969, “Mac” lost his life in a horrific crash during the Permatex 300. To say this regions racing community was stunned and saddened is an understatement. MacTavish was posthumously inducted into the New England Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 2001 (Grady Photo, Ormsby Collection).

That's it for this week. Email me at: foreveryounginct@gmail.com