Another 1970s image from Connecticut, this one sees New England Auto Racing Hall of Fame member Bob Potter on pit lane readying for some practice laps at the “New London-Waterford” Speedbowl. An ultra-popular racer, the Taftville, CT. native started his career at Waterford in 1962 behind the controls of a Bomber class entry. Never officially retired, he went-on to win multiple Modified championships at Waterford (where alone, he claimed close to 100 career victories), Thompson, and Stafford. With raceways across the country closing at an alarming rate in recent years, it’s truly fortunate for all of us that the Speedbowl is still going-strong. (Photographer Unknown).     

Here’s another image of the late Eddie Flemke Sr., and it’s a dandy! The former (and tremendously-missed) Riverside Park Speedway in Massachusetts is the locale, and “Steady Eddie’s” mount is a “classic” in every sense of the word. Back when Shany Lorenzent captured this image, it was the Tattersall family’s United Stock Car Racing Club that ruled the roost in New England modified racing, not NASCAR. United once held court at a staggering number of raceways in the Northeast and included in its ranks were the biggest stars of the day. (Shany Lorenzent Photo Courtesy Tom Ormsby).                                     

Our friend Steve Kennedy started capturing images at Connecticut’s late Plainville Stadium when he was just a kid. The experience paid-off, as he’s since become one of the most-talented and respected of all New England racing photographers. Chances-are, if you’ve read any of our regions racing publication over the last 3-plus decades, you’ve seen his work. Steve’s a talented dude. One of his earlier images, on this Saturday evening in 1973 he captured Stadium’ modified regular Loren Trombley ready-to-roll at Joe Tinty’s ultra-competitive ¼-miler. Nifty little coupe old Loren had, huh? (Steve Kennedy Photo).                     

Seen here during the infamous “Cutdown Era” at Connecticut’s Waterford Speedbowl, this NEAR Hall of Fame member needs little introduction to those of us who recall the true “Glory Days” of New England short track racing. From his HOF biography; Fred Luchesi’s career in racing started in the late 1940’s, and lasted until his retirement in the late 1960s.  During that career, Fred drove coupes, modifieds, midgets, and late models.  He competed against nationally known drivers like Fonty Flock, Red Byron, and Ted Tappett, and raced against local drivers like Moon Burgess. Fred is modest when asked about championships. “Oh, I dunno. Three at Westboro, 2 or 3 at Lonsdale, 1 at Norwood, oh, and 3 at Waterford”, Fred recalls.  One year at Lonsdale, Fred "Lead Foot” Luchesi took down every main event of the season but one, finishing 2^nd to NEAR Hall of Farmer Dave Humphries in that race. Fred recalls those early days in racing, when he’d load up his car with race tires, tools, and his two man pit crew, and drive the race car from Pawtucket, RI. all the way up to Victoriaville in Canada for that day’s race.  Another early memory is those Sunday mornings driving the race car to Thompson to compete.  He would roll the car down Slater Street in Pawtucket, and fire it up at the bottom of the hill, in front of the St John the Baptist church.  It wasn’t until sometime later that a friend informed Fred that every Sunday, when he fired up the car, the service would be halted, and the priest would take time to “bless that race car out in front of the church”. (Shany Photo, Courtesy Mal Phillips).      

Once-again, it’s Connecticut’s “New London-Waterford” Speedbowl of the 1950s, and the driver is New England Auto Racing Hall of Famer, George Lombardo. A winner all over New England during what would be today considered a relatively-brief career, he recorded a number of Modified feature victories at the shoreline oval, and was particularly-tough at the late Plainville Stadium where he was twice a track champion. As stated-above. George’s career really was am abbreviated affair compared to many of his contemporaries. It leaves one to wonder just how-many more feature victories he would have recorded had he stayed behind the wheel just a little-longer. (Shany Photo, Courtesy Mal Phillips).                                          

We really, really like this shot, as it captures the very-essence of the Waterford Speedbowl’s fling with the cutdowns. Seen here behind the controls of one of those flyweight creations (def. not a ride for the faint-hearted), is the late, great “Moneybags” Moe Gherzi. In addition to being a prolific winner during the early days of the shoreline oval, he helped bring a degree of class to a sport that was still experiencing growing-pains. When the standard driving-uniform of the day consisted of a t-shirt & blue jeans (often work-worn, adding to the illusion that racin’ folks weren’t the pillars of society they’re considered to be today), he often appeared in victory lane nattily-attired in a silk shirt and pressed, dress-style trousers. Gherzi was an early Speedbowl star that was an integral part of the tracks initial success. His Waterford career netted thirty-three Modified victories before he moved-on to other New England racing venues. After retiring from driving, he held the post of Racing Director for many years at the late Plainville Stadium. “Moneybags” will take a spot among his peers on Sunday afternoon, January 29 when he’s inducted into the New England Auto Racing Hall of Fame. Go to www.near1.com for more information. (Shany Photo, Courtesy Mal Phillips).                  

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

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