This guy was also clearly one of the best to have-ever emerged from Plainville Stadium. Simply-stated, the career accomplishments of Elton Hill are impressive. As a racing prodigy of the late, great Ed Flemke Sr., he traveled extensively during the 1960’s, picking-up feature victories at places like Riverside Park as well as Utica-Rome in New York State (once a hotbed of NASCAR Modified competition). This great Phil Hoyt image captures “Elty” following one of his many Plainville triumphs along with car owner Helen Farone. (Photo Courtesy Tom Ormsby).              

As one of the best New England Modified shoes of his era, Ronnie Wyckoff never had to do much ride-shopping, The multi-time Riverside 500 winner (among many other accomplishments), was usually considered a hot commodity among the best of car owners. This one captures him following one of his many Plainville victories when he was the chauffer of the potent Billy Zenobi, Rick Sutherland -owned “%” coupe. Ronnie is expected to be at Saturday’s Plainville Reunion. Stop-by & say hello - tell him Dykes sent you! (Photo Courtesy Tom Ormsby).    

In the colorful early-days of our sport, nicknames were all-the-rage and a nod to one’s ethnic linage was all part of the fun. In today’s politically-correct atmosphere, some of this stuff might seem a bit out-of-place, but it was another era, after-all. Just as the great Ronnie Narducci became the “Top Wop” owing to his family’s roots, pioneering Modified driver Johnny Georgiades was proudly known as “The Flying Greek”. A fixture on the ovals of New England for decades, he was one of the top-draws in the days of the coupes. This shot captures him (right), ready-to-roll at Plainville one Saturday evening many-moons ago. (Photo Courtesy Tom Ormsby).            

When you’re fighting for position on a tight, demanding ¼-miler, even the best in the business can get in trouble. This one captures the Roland Cyr-owned #54 of New England Auto Racing Hall of Famer and 7-time Plainville champion Dave Alkas on its roof and leaking a BUNCH of high-octane fuel unto the track. Fortunately, Dave emerged unscathed in this 70s-era mishap; that’s him rounding the car, helmet-in-hand. (Photo Courtesy Tom Ormsby).   

We’re not entirely-sure that this is Plainville, but it could-be. We simply wanted to run this shot as it’s such a great image, and Eddie did win a lot of features at Plainville. Winner, mentor, and innovator, few individuals meant more to New England Modified racing than the late “Steady Eddie” Flemke pictured here with Dan Dalena. Starting during the emerging popularity of stock cars in the post-war era, it’s estimated that he won over 500 feature events during a career which spanned 3-decades. Along the way, he helped many young drivers get their starts, including Daytona 500 winner Pete Hamilton, and Indy 500 veteran Dennis Zimmerman. As an expert car builder, he designed the “Flemke Front End” a chassis component that remained the standard in Modified construction for years. Ed was among the first inducted into the New England Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 1998. (Photographer Unknown).

Here’s a great Plainville shot of our pal George Lombardo following one of his many triumphs at the Connecticut ¼-miler. A 2-time Stadium’ track champion, he was inducted into the New England Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 2008. From his HOF bio; George Lombardo raced from the late 1940’s through the mid 1960’s.  During that span, he took down over 125 wins, at Riverside Park, Waterford Speedbowl, West Haven Speedway, and Plainville Stadium.  At Plainville, he won a pair of track championships, in 1962 and ’63. Running in the United Stock Car Club, George drove for several owners, including Leo Woitja, Norm Keis, Bob Oliver, and the Nogiec brothers.  He also had success driving the Dalena Auto Parts #XD-2. One race George remembers fondly is a race that he didn’t win.  Teaming with Dan Gaudiana, George drove the Jake Mosher owned #439 for almost 490 grueling laps in the Riverside 500, after the #999 broke an axle early in the race.   “We (George and Dan Guadiana) ended up as good friends”, George chuckled.  “It wasn’t always that way.  We were fierce rivals early on.”  George remembers an on track incident with George Clark in the #999 at Plainville, where Lombardo and Clark started a fight that turned into a riot when the fans in the stands emptied onto the track.  “People fighting everywhere, the police firing their guns in the air……it was a mess!  Danny and George and I laughed about it afterwards….Well, several YEARS afterwards”, George laughed. The guy on the right holding George’s checkered flag? That’s “Moneybags Moe” Gherzi, who in addition to being a legendary New England racer himself, also served at Race Director at Plainville for many, many years, starter Chick Carr and Dan Delana.. (Faust Photo).

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