THE MODIFIEDS AND SPORTSMAN COUPES OF.........

            When I first stated watching races at Pico Raceway, some of the big stars came over from New York. When I began going regularly to Otter Creek Speedway, the big names in the NASCAR sportsman division were from New York. When I spent almost every Sunday from 1963 to 1966 at Fairmont Speedway, the big names who occasionally came and  starred were the Fonda and Lebanon Valley, New York coupes.
            The names were nothing short of legendary: Pete Corey, Steve Danish, Kenny Shoemaker, Bill Wimble, Jeep Herbert, the Kotary brothers, Irv Taylor, Lou Lazarro, Paul Marshall, George Baumgardner, Roger Gauthier, Nelson Moore, and many more. So, too were some of the owners like Allie Swears, Chris Drellos, Frank Trinkhaus, Pop Wilcox, and Martin Riiska.
            Whether invading our tracks and making off with all the loot, or just serving as the examples of what state - of - the - art stock cars were to be like in the 1960's, New York was the place to which to turn. On this page, I will attempt to give a good representative sample of the cars, owners, and drivers from the most golden of eras - the coupes of 1960's New York.


Bill Ladabouche Photo

The Allie Swears #51 Chevrolet certainly merited being the poster child for New York coupes. It lasted for multiple seasons and was driven by a "Who's Who" of New York drivers. Here, the car is trailered into Fairmont Speedway on the afternoon of its demise in a qualifying heat, driven by Nelson Moore.


Russ Bergh Photo
Pete Corey, Crescent, NY
A.C. Caprara's  37

Conde & Parry Photo
Pepper Eastman, Madison, NY
His own 181

Russ Bergh Photo
Don Wayman, Cobleskill, NY
One of the
Wright/Zautner Cars

McDowell Photo
Jeep Herbert, Rotterdam, NY
Sam Kitler &
Gibby Wolfe 37

Bill Fifield Photo
Robbie Kotary, Rome, NY
Ward Petit's 148

Bob Mackeyy Photo
Gaston Desmarais, Tupper Lake,NY
His own
car

Cope Collection
via Chas. Hertica
Danny Mitchell

Middletown driver.

Bob Mackey Photo
Gaston Desmarais, Tupper Lake,NY
His own
car

John Grady Photo
Lou Lazarro Utica, NY
Maugieri's 4

John Grady Photo
Tom Kotary, Rome, NY
Joe Romano's 97

John Grady Photo
Andy Romano, Johnstown, NY
Joe Romano's 97

Mike Russo Photo
Ed Pieniazek, Schenectady, NY
Rollie Johnson's 77

Ladabouche Photo
Irv Taylor,
Crescent, NY

Richard Welch's 77

Roger Liller Coll
via Chas. Hertica
Barry Tripp
Ernie Martin used the same number, in the same exact style.

Russ Bergh Photo
Jim Luke,
Utica, NY
Floyd "Pop" Wilcox 32

Mike Russo Photo
George Baumgardner, Saratoga Springs, NY
The Young/Vine 75

Mike Russo Photo
Bob Bruno,
Schuylerville, NY
Allie Swears' 51

Bill Farress Photo
Buck Holliday,
Waddington, NY
The Floyd Geary C38

Russ Bergh Photo
Rene Charland,
Agawam, MA
Fred Rosner -
built sedan.

Russ Bergh [from Bill Fifield] Photo

Pete Corey, Crescent, NY
Tony Villano 37
 
via Chas. Hertica
Dick Berggren

Jewish Lightning team"at the Valley

Russ Bergh [from Bill Fifield] Photo
Steve Danish, Cropseyville, NY
His own car at Fonda

Mike Russo Photo
Don Wayman,
Cobleskill, NY
Bennett's 71

Bill Farress Photo
Dutch Hoag,
Bath, NY

Turner's 18

Russ Bergh Photo
Jack Johnson, Duanesburg, NY
Tony Villano 37

MSSCRA Photo
Johnny Flach,
E. Westerlo, NY
Fred Searing 77

Mike Russo Photo
Irv Taylor,
Crescent, NY

Richard Welch 77
 
Courtesy of Richard Chartrand
Guy Chartrand,
Motreal QU

At Fonda here.

John Grady Photo
Lefty Quandt, Schenectady, NY
His Own Car

Bob Mackey Photo
Bruno Collection

Melvin "Bob" Bruno,
Schuyler Falls, NY
Vic Wolfe 66

John Grady Photo
Bruce Doestal, Johnstown, NY
His Own Car

 Photo Source Unknown
Lou Smith, Munnsville, NY
The Frank Trinkhaus 62

 Photo Source Unknown
Jerry Cook,
Lockport, NY
His Own Car

 Ladabouche Photo
Joe Donhahue, Binghamton, NY
The Fran Kelly 41
 
Courtesy of Willard Martin
Irv Taylor,
Crescent, NY

Drellos 111

 John Grady Photo
Cam Gagliardi, Lockport, NY
His Own Car

 Dan Ody's 8MM
Old Speedways DVD

Al Parry,
Saratoga Springs, NY
His Own Car

 Rick Parry Photo
Cliff Kotary,
Rome, NY
His Own Car

 Photo Source
Don Rounds Jr.

Chuck Mahoney,
Utica, NY
The Dave McCredy S33

N.E. Modified Site
Bill Wimble,
Lisbon, NY

The Hal Kempeny 113

 Masynard Johnson Photo
Pete Corey, Crescent, NY
His Own Car
 
Virginia Winne Decker Collection
via Chas. Hertica
Johnny Flach,
So.Westerlo, NY

Searing Racing Stable

Ladabouche Collection
Irv Taylor,
Crescent, NY
His own car.
 
 
Courtesy of Arnie Ainsworth
Tag Brod,
NY
T
ypical Valley Car of That Era
 
Courtesy of Midstate Club
Jimmy Winks,
Oak Hill, FL
At Syracuse.
 
Courtesy of Gerry LaVallee
Ken Jones,
Canajoharie, NY
Early Dick Bennett Car.
 
Courtesy of Arnie Ainsworth
Harold Montayne,
Oak Hills, NY
One of the Better Valley Cars of That Era
 
Courtesy of Arnie Ainsworth
Harold Montayne,
Oak Hills, NY
One of the Fred Searing
Oak Hills Stable.
 
Joe Lawrence Collection
via Chas. Hertica
Jackie Wilson,
Fishkill, NY
J
oey Lawrence coupe out of Newburgh, NY.
 
Ladabouche Collection
Cliff Kotary,
Rome, NY
The Mike Michaels
[Suraske] 10-10.
 
Ladabouche Collection
Ken Goodermotte,
Oak Hills, NY
 
Russ Bergh Photo
Ladabouche Collection

Ken Meahl,
Lockport, NY
J. Snediker's 28.
 
Courtesy of Arnie Ainsworth
Phil "PJ" Spiak,
Troy, NY
His Own Car

Ladabouche Collection
Rapid Ralph Palmer,
Glens Falls, NY
An early Dexter Dorr house car.

Ladabouche Photo
Howie Fassett,
Canajoharie, NY
His Own Car
 
Chas. Hertica Photo
Karl Haeussel,
Latham, NY

Valley driver shown at Langhorne.

Ladabouche Photo
Pepper Eastman,
Madison, NY
Bob Zimmerman's Car

Courtesy of Otto Grahm
Jerry Townley,
Catskill, NY
Tom Chewins' 108.

Ladabouche Collection
Paul Hamel,
Montreal, Canada
Roland Ballinger's Car
out of Malta, NY.
 
Courtesy of Arnie Ainsworth
Jack Farquhar,
Ephrata, NY
Teresco & Mancini 685.
 
Bob Mackey Photo
Courtesy of John Rock

Dick Manning,
Chateauguay, NY
An Airborne Car
 
Bob Mackey Photo
Courtesy of John Rock

Howard Rock,
Cadyville, NY
Early Airborne Hudson
 
via Chas. Hertica
Kenny Coon

Kennedy Garage 8.
 
Ladabouche Photo
Al Rodd,
Shushan, NY
His Own Car

Hackel Family Photo
Unknown car,
Ashland Park Speedway,
Warrensburgh, NY

 
Bob Mackey Photo
via John Rock

George Baumgardner,
Saratoga Sprgs, NY
Henry Caputo's 11
Plymouth entry.
 
Vogel Family Photo
George Baumgardner,
Saratoga Sprgs, NY
Ted Vogel's
Coupe.
 
Courtesy of Wes Moody
Bernie Kentile,
Saranac Lake, NY
His own car, the
former Royce Tucker
14VT.
 
Ladabouche Photo
Bill Threw,
West Glens Falls, NY
His Own 7A.
 
via Edw. B. Brown III
Jack Reinhard

Long Island driver.

Stevens Family Photo
Bill Stevens,
West Sand Lake, NY
Not around much after 1962.

Courtesy of Wes Moody
Bill Rafter,
Clarence Ctr, NY
Gil Bruss' 22.

Ladabouche Photo
Bob Boyd,
Salem, NY
Maybe a team car
to Rodd's 536 ?

Otto Graham Photo
Bill Wimble,
Lisbon NY
Dave McCredy's 33.

Hackel Family Photo
Bob Fisk,
Sidney, NY
At Ashland Park.
 
Moody Family Photo
Al Charesse,
Saranac Lake, NY
Meant to be a Mate
to Wes Moody's 63.
 
via Chas. Hertica
Lovable Les Alberti

Valley driver.
 
Lawrence Collection
via Chas. Hertica
D. D. Rebel Harris,
Poughkeepsie,
NY

Joey Lawrence AAA.
 
Ginny Ross Collection
via Dick Hansen and Chas. Hertica
D. D. Harris

The Gordon Ross 19.
 
Courtesy of Joe Ramundo
Rich Ricci

 
Walter Mateer Photo
via Joe Grossetti and Chas. Hertica
Roger Hornbeck,
Skokan, NY

 
JTTricks Photo
Ray Anderson

Onteora Speedway,
Olive Bridge, NY
 
Chas. Hertica Photo
Ron Narducci,
E. Haddam, CT

Raced mostly in NY.
 
Ladabouche Photo
Jollie Ollie Palmer,Westmere, NY

Bill Fowler's 27 Jr.
 
Snape Family Coll.
viaCrystal Snape
Fred Snape's 26
and 25 ran at The Valley.

 
Ace Lane Photo
Tom Vroom Collection
via  Chas. Hertica
Sonny Strupp

Middletown driver
 
John Gallant Collection
via LVC
Ted Baldwin

Lebanon Valley car.
 
via  Chas. Hertica
Tommie Corellis,
Mechanicsville, NY

An early Valley sportsman ride for him.
 
via  Chas. Hertica
Walt Schubert

Valley and Middletown entry.
 
Midstate Club
Allen Shirley

No. NY tracks like Watertown.
 
John Bisci Photo
via Richard Chicchetti
Bob Brunell,
Peru, NY

Fred Rosner - built Pontiac coupe.
 
via Stephen McDonald
Butch Jelley,
N. Pownal, VT

Ed Winn's Y team car.
 
Courtesy of Arnold March
Carleton Hughes

The 57 Pickle Wagon.
 
Midstate Club
Bernie Davis

No. NY tracks like Watertown.
 
Midstate Club
Bernie Ingersoll

 Watertown Photo but he raced all over NY.
 
Courtesy of Robert Clock
Rene Charland,
Agawam, MA

His Utica - Rome car. 

Courtesy of Robert Clock
Rene Charland,
Agawam, MA

Injected Russ Betz car used often in NY.
 
Courtesy of Greg Rickes
Steve Danish,
Cropseyville, NY

At Victoria Speedway.

Rick Parry Photo
Pepper Eastman,
Madison, NY

Entering Fonda with his own car.

via Stephen McDonald
Maynard Smith,
Clinton, NY

John Cross' 47 car

Ladabouche Collection
Butch Jelley,
N. Pownal, VT

One of his Valley cars.

Rick Parry Photo
Pete Corey,
Crescent, NY

Chris Drellos' 11 team car

Rick Parry Photo
Dutch Reed,
Glens falls, NY

Tom Hammond's 90A car

Rick Parry Photo
Ernie Reid,
Massena, VT

Bert Ratigan's Studebaker 88A

Proctor Family Photo
George Proctor,
Crescent, NY

His own Valley car.

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