It’s a Saturday night in 1967 (a year in-which he’d be crowned champion), and Newt “Mr. Lightning” Palm has just captured the feature at the ‘Bowl. Also the modified titlist in 1968 and one of the most-popular drivers to have ever competed at the shoreline oval, his career was later cut-short due to serious injuries received in this car at Seekonk during an open competition event at the Massachusetts oval. During a brief reign (by today’s standards), Palm captured a total of 4 track titles at Waterford, which also included 2 in the Bomber division. (Shany Photo, courtesy Larry Pont).                     

He was known as “Gentleman Dick” Watson and in later years, simply as the “Silver Fox.” Our much-missed friend, the late Dick Watson was one of the most-respected drivers of his era. A fellow competitor that raced against Watson during his heyday once stated that “He was a driver that you could run with lap-after-lap. You simply never had to worry about him doing something that would get the both of you in-trouble.” This image captures Watson & team following a win during the 1965 season in the Bob Garbarino-owned “Mystic Missile” at Waterford. That year, they captured the Connecticut Modified Championship before moving-on to success within the NASCAR circuit. Watson was inducted into the prestigious New England Auto Racing Hall Of Fame in 2003. (Shany Photo, courtesy Linda Watson).

Seen here during the early 1970s at the Speedbowl with the potent G&M coupe is Guilford, Connecticut native Jerry Dostie. Going-on to become a big winner on the New England Modified circuit, he was also one of the pioneers behind the design & use of automatic transmissions in modified racing. Jerry’s retired these-days, but as we all know, the Speedbowl is still going-strong having just concluded a banner 2011 season. (Dugas Photo).                 

Admittedly, we don’t know much about driver Dave Spence, but we sure like his ultra-sanitary little coupe! Seen here during what looks to be the early 1970’s, note that Dave’s car carries a 3-digit number. It was a style practice common to Waterford long-after one & two digit schemes had become the norm at other area raceways. Throughout its early history, the shoreline oval always seemed to march to the beat of a different drummer in that regard. There were an abundance of multi-digit and “letter” cars, such as the Slater V8, the Bunnell #318, Freddie Beaber’s checkerboard #716’s, and the “M” cars of Bill Scrivener & Seabury Tripler. It’s a long-list! (Shany Photo).                  

Another coupe-era shot from what was then-known as the “New London-Waterford” Speedbowl captures Bob Tatro trackside at the Rt. 85 oval. Typical of the times, Bob’s racer sported a nifty vintage body, stock frame, and probably 99% of the components used in its construction where products of good old-fashioned Yankee ingenuity, rather than a fat-wallet. Sadly, Modified racing has become prohibitively-expensive for many would-be competitors and has also forced many veteran teams out of the sport. It remains a truly-disturbing trend. (Shany Photo).                            

Though the shot was captured upstate at the expansive Thompson Speedway, the guy seen here was definitely a “Waterford Regular” and good-one that that! Shot though the lens of our old pal & longtime expert racing shutterbug Steve Kennedy is one Nels Wohlstrom. A graduate of the old Sportsman Sedan ranks and one of the Modified division’s true “Gentleman Racers,” Nels recorded many a fine finish wheeling this ex-Mike Beebe Pinto throughout the 1970s. Note the yellow “Rubber Ducky” on the roof. It was a lighthearted trademark feature on all of his modifieds….(Kennedy Photo).                              

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