Lebanon Valley Speedway

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Looking East on NY Route 20 from the present track location. This was in
the early '50's or even late '40's - before track construction began.

Looking West on NY Route 20 from the present track location. This was in
the early '50's or even late '40's - before track construction began.

Early action on the high banks. Russ Blake offered names for most of the cars: # 2 Dave Norton, # 35 Nelson Grignon, # B5 Bud Haskell,
#7 Don Antolick, # x 100 Ernie Martin, # 77 John Flach , and # 33 Billy Webb. Wow, thanks Russ. You've been a lifesaver.

This bucolic - looking group is said to be Dee Goodermotte and crew. Thanks to Joe Grossetti, the folks in the shot are:
Henry Tanner, Dee Goodermotte, Jack Sweeney, and Nelson Tanner.

I haven't done a lot of research on the track that sprung up in New Lebanon, NY - just south of Bennington, Vermont. The location was one of the best imaginable places for a track, as it was close to Vermont, Massachusetts, and the important Capital District of New York. There was already a base for racing in that region, with tracks like Burden Lake, Pico Raceway, Hinsdale, West Brattleboro, Stateline, and others. It is not my purpose to write a detailed history of who started the track or much about the early years. There is information in books on American race tracks which will give you that data.

Russ Blake, whom I believe is from Pittsfield, Massachusetts is about as loyal the Valley as anyone can be. He has only missed 10 events there since the track opened. Russ has given me some information on the history of the track facility. The track had a rocky beginning, back in 1953. It had very bad track conditions on opening day and was closed entirely on week 2 for repairs. It ran along for a few years and they decided it needed major renovations. So, in 1956, it didn't open at all. Then, they added those high banks and a new surface. In 1957, they tried running Friday nights - to attract cars from Fonda or Stateline, but it didn't work well.

Russ points out that the 1959 season was completely dominated by Howie Westervelt and the first edition of Cliff Wright's #24, a number [and team] that would go on in the mid 1960's to also dominate modified racing in the Fonda/Malta region. Westervelt won 17 of 21 possible races that year, with Stretch Van Steenberg [38] and Doug Garrison [Riiska's Yellow X] sharing the others. The Valley had tended to have years in which somebody dominates, but it fortunately had a more competitive year in 1960. Otherwise, I wonder if fan interest would have continued.

Westervelt leads Van Steenberg in what became a typical scene in 1959. This is the same team as field Westervelt's
83's at Fonda, and later cars for Ken Shoemaker and Donny Wayman.

They began to realize their strong point would be local cars. The track had tried some mid-week shows, for the locals, but soon was forced to go to Saturday nights for the ultimate showdown with Fonda. It worked, and the rest is history. They started developing a strong local base, along with cars from as far away as Stafford Springs and Middletown. I recall the Valley management putting on a demo race at the Rutland Fair in 1960, and it seemed like a very strong, cohesive group. By the later '60's, Fonda was ticking off a lot of people and a migration from there to the Valley brought teams like Pete Corey, Bill Wimble, Jerry Townley [Pop Wilcox car], Jack Farquhar [Vince Barbuto car], and Chuck Kress - to name a few.

The track tinkered with various schemes over the years, including late model bodies on what were basically sportsman cars. This was the era of Link Pettit and that bunch from Great Barrington, MA. Their #200 was a big winner during that time period. Even Pete Corey had to put aside his coupes and build a '55 Chevy to run there when he became furious with Fonda [as only Pete could get] and decided to run the Valley. Many Valley regulars, who had endured roughness from Corey in earlier days, were not happy to see him and often sent his beautiful cars home to Crescent all wadded up.

The Valley had had a few guys like Howie Westervelt and car owner Cliff Wright, who would go back and forth between there and Fonda; but, that was hard to do. Perhaps the multi-car aspect of Wright's team made that possible. When I think of the heart and soul of Lebanon Valley, names like Ken Tremont and Fred Searing come to mind. The Valley benefited from some very established veterans like Doug Garrison and Westervelt, as well as the new breed like Butch Jelley and Tommy Correllis. The Valley may not have managed to attract the NASCAR Grand National North Tour races of the mid 1960's, but its acquisition of a World of Outlaws race may have been the trump.

Today, second and third generation Valley competitors keep the spirit alive down there. I'd love to visit and see one there sometime.

Irv Conroy Photo Courtesy of Chris Companion
We now believe this bunch of characters may be posing at the Valley. We have ascertained that Howie Westervelt is at far left, Lee Palmer is second from left, Ollie Palmer is third from left, and Lou Hacker is third from right. The guy on the far right may be named Henry Bouchard. The shortest guy is apparently Bob Kudlate. Thanks to Ron Hedger and Ken Tremont, Sr. for help, as well as the boys at the Watervliet Breakfast Club.

We have learned a few interesting facts about some guys in this photo. Of course, Westervelt went on to be one of the best the Valley had to offer. Lee Palmer ended up driving one of the first Bob Hackel, Sr. cars. Jollie Ollie went back and forth to tracks all over the area, and becoming the first driver of Bill Fowler's 27 Jr. car ownership period. Hacker became a regular at the Valley. Bob Kudlate raced the number P38 [click here to see below]. Henry [Henri] Bouchard won tons of races in Massachusetts, New York, and probably even Vermont. He went on to have a salvage yard in New Lebanon , NY [where the Valley is] and he would promote at the East Greenbush, NY track.

Ray Williams Photo Courtesy of Russ Blake
According to Russ, Gowie got into a tangle with the #58 of Dee Goodermotte [seen below] and
hit Rebel Harris in this 1959 beauty of a wreck. There was another big Gowie wreck photo I lost when the Otto Graham site went under.

Courtesy of Russ Blake Bob Kudlate at Route 66 Speedway, 1953	Ray Williams Photo Courtesy of Russ Blake Chuck Irving, New Baltimore, NY	NE Vintage Mod Site Stan Disbrow, Poughkeepsie, NY	Courtesy of Chas Hertica Neal Dunston, Voorheesville, NY
Garrison Family Photo Doug Garrison, Greenport, NY	Cavalcade of Racing Photo Fred Searing, Oak Hill, NY CLICK HERE for the Searing Page	Cavalcade of Racing Photo Stretch Van Steenberg, Saugerties, NY Arnie Ainsworth Photo	Arnie Ainsworth Photo Al Castrucci, Schenectady, NY
Arnie Ainsworth Photo D.D. Rebel Harris, Poughkeepsie, NY	Bob Frazier Photo Courtesy of CJ Richards Frank Hatch, N. Adams, MA	Bob Frazier Photo Butch Jelley, Pownal, VT	Chas Hertica Photo Frankie Schneider, Lambertville, NJ Valley Open Competitor
Courtesy of Joe Grossetti Link Pettit, Schenectady and the 200 Crew, Great Barrington, MA Cavalcade Photo link to the Pettit page	Courtesy of Rounds Family Don Rounds, Warwick, RI	Midstate Club Site Johnny Flach, East Westerlo, NY.	Chas Hertica Photo Bobby Pickell Valley Open Competitor
Dan Goewey Photo George Gowie, DeFreestville, NY Courtesy of Russ Blake The 1959 car.	Russ Bergh Photo Otto Graham Collection Howie Westervelt, Ravena, NY The Wright / Zautner 24 and 83	Riverside Speedway Site Kenny Goodermotte	Chas Hertica Photo Bennie Darling, Owner Port Ewen, NY Bill Scheffel driver at this time.
Photographer Bob Frazier Joe Messina, Troy ?, NY The Al Green 3 and 1/7	Courtesy Chris Companion Dee Goodermotte, and Crew - Jack Sweeney and the Tanners Cavalcade Photo	Courtesy of Ken Gypson George Welch, Schenectady, NY The Brush Radio 27	Chas Hertica Photo Bennie Darling, Owner Port Ewen, NY Stan Wetmore driver at this time.
Ladabouche Collection Jeep Herbert, Rotterdam, NY Sam Kittler / Gibby Wolfe 37	Ladabouche Photo Don Wayman, Cobleskill, NY	Courtesy of Ed Fabian Barry Purdy, Bennington, VT	Mike Anop Photo Big Ed Patnode The 4x Camaro at an Open.
Ladabouche Photo Chuck Ely, Pownal, VT Courtesy of Bob Ely	Photo from Jim Young Bill Wilson,	Courtesy of Ed Fabian Bob Gaskill, NY	Wayne Mohr Photo Mikle Shaub Collection via Chas Hertica Butch Jelley Pownal, VT A Martin Riiska X.
NE Vintage Mod Page Ray Dizzy Delisle The Simons Excavating 9	Cavalcade Photo Courtesy of Joe Grossetti Lou Hacker, Nassau, NY	A. Ainsworth Photo Bruce Carmen, Shaftsbury, VT Future Carbuilder Extraordinaire Ladabouche Photo	Bob WIlson Collection via Chas Hertica Ralph "Rufus" Chittenden leading Bob Wilson.
Cavalcade Photo Mike Ehring, NY	Cavalcade Photo John Rohan, NY	Bob Frazier Photo Ralph Chittendenn, New Lebanon, NY	Walter Mateer Photo Courtesy of Joe Grossetti Bob Haskell Not to be confused with Bob Hackel
Cavalcade Photo Rip Riley, NY Courtesy of Norm Vadnais	Courtesy of Norm Vadnais Mike Schubert, NY?	Courtesy of Norm Vadnais Bobby Leach, Stafford Spgs, Conn.	Chas Hertica Photo Bill Wilson with the coupe Bob Dragon would use to run Devil's Bowl in 1971. Arriving for a Valley Open.
A. Ainsworth Photo Stretch vanSteenberg, Saugerties, NY Car also ran the Pine Bowl	A. Ainsworth Photos Joe Messina, Troy, NY Tremont 115	Ladabouche Photo RussBlake, Pittsfield, MA Ladabouche Photo Russ Blake Photo	Chas Hertica Photo Bob Rossell, car building wizard. Arriving for a Valley Open.
Garrison Family Photo Doug Garrison, Poughkeepsie, NY	Russ Blake Photo Ted Lott, according to Russ	Russ Blake Photo Dennis Proper , losing a wheel	Chas Hertica Photo Bruce "Pee Wee" Griffin. Arriving for a Valley Open.
Cavalcade Photo Courtesy of Joe Grossetti Jim Hassan, ?, NY	Cavalcade Photo Courtesy of Joe Grossetti Ernie Beesmer, ?, NY	Cavalcade Photo Courtesy of Joe Grossetti Tom Dressell, ?, NY	\| Chas Hertica Photo Ernie Marshall, Pound Ridge, NY. Al Clark's 77 Arriving for a Valley Open.
Courtesy of Joe McCarthy Link Pettit, with the Tom McCarthy 38 out of Great Barrington, MA	Courtesy of Joe McCarthy Link Pettit, with the Tom McCarthy 38 out of Great Barrington, MA	H.A.M.B. Site Photo The Pop Wilcox 32, at home in New Berlin, NY, with some of the kids.	Via Arnie Ainsworth Butch Jelley, Pownal, VT The Infamous Rossell - built Cagle coach - either owned then by Will or by Curt Prescott.
H.A.M.B. Site Photo Bill Wilson	H.A.M.B. Site Photo Hoppy Jensen If he ran the Pine Bowl and Stateline, he probably ran the Valley, too.	Probably Arnie Ainsworth Jack Farquhar, Ephrata, NY Vince Barbuto 22	Chas Hertica Photo Stretch Van Steenberg, Saugerties, NY Ronnie Roosa 1 Sedan
Chas Hertica Collection Schooch Schoonmaker, Possible Wright / Zautner car	Lebanon Valley Classics Collection Unknown early competitor	Joe Lawrence Collection via Chas Hertica A 1961 valley lineup	Via Edward B. Brown III Don Rounds, Warwick, RI Valley racing button

From Fred Baker
Fred Baker rolls by the water truck in 1974. It is a great shot of the that track's unique water truck. Fred is looking for more photos for this page.

Courtesy of Russ Blake
This photo shows a Russ Blake small block. According to Russ, his
son is in the background- as well as Jim Langenback.

A. Ainsworth Photo Dexter Dorr, Cohoes, NY Another Carbuilder Extraordinaire	A. Ainsworth Photo Ralph Chittenden, New Lebanon, NY	A. Ainsworth Photo Vince Quenneville, Whiting, VT	A. Ainsworth Photo Goober Scheidel
A. Ainsworth Photo Joe Messina, Troy, NY	A. Ainsworth Photo Doug Garrison, Poughkeepsie, NY	A. Ainsworth Photo Butch Jelley, Pownal, VT Will Cagle's 24	A. Ainsworth Photo Ken Platt, Taberg, NY The Roerig Bros. 99
A. Ainsworth Photo Butch Jelley, Pownal, VT Newer X's -Likely Arnold Fleury	Photo Courtesy of Chris Companion Dickie Larkin, Great Barrington, MA	Joe Lawrence Collection Via Chas Hertica Jackie Wilson, Fishkill, NY The Ex - Hulbert car owned by Joe Lawrence	Joe Lawrence Collection Via Chas Hertica Jackie Wilson, Fishkill, NY The Joe Lawrence motors' unique sound made Jackie become known as "Whistlin' Wilson".
Mike Anop Photo Dave Pelczar An ex - Cagle coupe.	A. Ainsworth Collection Via Chas Hertica Ernie Marshall, Pound Ridge, NY	Chas Hertica Photo Ron Mensing,	Joe Cryan Photo Mert Hulbert, Oak Hills, NY Kennedy Garage 8
Chas Hertica Photo Rod Fifield Late Model behind the Bernie Darling Sedan	Chas Hertica Photo Harry Peek, Schenectady, NY Dexter Dorr's coupe	Bob Ramundo Collection via Chas Hertica Joe Messina, Troy, NY Ken Tremont Falcon

Chuck Ely Photo Courtesy of Bob Ely Art Stromberg, Putney, VT	Chuck Ely Photo Courtesy of Bob Ely Chuck Ely, Pownal, VT Tremont 115 Sedan	Chuck Ely Photo Courtesy of Bob Ely Dickie Larkin, Great Barrington, MA	Chuck Ely Photo Courtesy of Bob Ely Eddie Delmolino, Great Barrington, MA
Chuck Ely Photo Courtesy of Bob Ely Goober Scheidel, Burlington, CT	Chuck Ely Photo Courtesy of Bob Ely Jack Farquhar, Ephratah, NY Farquhar & J Christman 2	Chuck Ely Photo Courtesy of Bob Ely John Wood, Great Barrington, MA	Chuck Ely Photo Courtesy of Bob Ely Kenny Coon, Troy, NY
Chuck Ely Photo Courtesy of Bob Ely Mert Hulbert, Oak Ridge, NY	Chuck Ely Photo Courtesy of Bob Ely Dave Leckonby, West Sand Lake, NY	Chuck Ely Photo Courtesy of Bob Ely Jeff Fleury, Address ?	Chuck Ely Photo Courtesy of Bob Ely Jimmy Corellis, E.Greenbush, NY
Chuck Ely Photo Courtesy of Bob Ely Pete Medhelsson,	Chuck Ely Photo Courtesy of Bob Ely Rich Ricci	Chuck Ely Photo Courtesy of Bob Ely Rod Fifield	Chuck Ely Photo Courtesy of Bob Ely Russ Blake, Pittsfield, MA