ISSUE 1ME
Bangor Daily News
In 1950, it was not
unusual for many newspapers to be covering races from
a number of tracks all at once. This one dealt with
Queen City Raceway,
Hermon, ME; Brewer Raceway, Brewer; Unity Speedway,
Unity, ME; and
Bass Park Speedway, Bangor. Most of the 1950 and 1951
boom tracks
didn't last long.
Queen City Raceway did not seem to last very long. I found clippings from. Judging from the directions on their ads, it was located in Hermon Center. The only two distinctive ads I got from the Bangor Daily News are from September and October of 1950. I found nothing from 1951. Many tracks began in late summer of 1950, went late into the Fall, and never opened again.
Bangor Daily News
Opening day
must have been at the very end of September
judging from when this was in the paper.
Brewer Raceway was not far away from Bass Park or Queen City. It seemed to enjoy a bit longer life than Queen City. It began in early September of 1950, under the Penobscot Racing Club banner. In 1951, Patrick Victor gave up trying run races at Bass Park and moved his oeration to Brewer. The track ran into controversy in 1952. Then run by George Pressley, the track was issued a warrant by the Brewer Municipal Court. I am not sure it ran again after that.
Bangor Daily News
This is the last
article I found on Brewer.
Unity Raceway was the first and by far the most successful of these tracks. Located in the local fairgrounds, it operated racing programs steadily and without interruption. It still me be going today; I am not certain. Established by Ed Knowles and later by son, Bob - the track has been a big a mainstay in the Pine Tree State as Oxford Plains, Beech Ridge, or any other.
Bangor Daily News
A 1950 adv. It was
central Maine's finest; most of them lasted only a few months or one season.
Bass Park Raceway set up at what was apparently a municipally - owned park in Bangor. They did stage a number of races while allmost constant controversy raged in city officials' meetings. The biggest bone of contention was the alleged damage being done to the venue, which - while the promoters said they would compensate - was apparently often falling upon Bangor to deal with. Bass Park did not run long in 1950 and never ran again after that.
Bangor Daily News
A 1950 article. The
track got going early, but also hit trouble early, as well.