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RHINEBECK SPEEDWAY / DUTCHESS COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS

No matter what the track at the Dutchess County fairgrounds in Rhinebeck is called, it played an extremely pivotal role when it hosted regular automobile racing for around forty years. While I do not choose to get into the racing that occurred before stock cars around 1949, the racing that happened prior to that time was also considered important to those who are interested in the barnstorming open wheel racing that was at its height in the '30's and '40's.

Via PANDA23 Public Access Channel

The story has it that somewhere around the second world war or just before, the larger horse track at Rhinebeck saw the construction of a small fifth mile oval within the tinfield to accomodate midget racing on a regualr basis. When the stock cars took over from the midgets around 1949, the larger cars used the same small track. Rhinebeck was easily indentified in photos by certain wooden fences and by those prominent plywood billboards. That large signage was much like that of the paved Empire Raceway in Menands, another venue where stockers replaced midgets. Between those fences and the signs, one would have no idea that the tracks was a small part of a much bigger layout if one never saw the whole fairgrounds at Rhinebeck.

Source Unknown

The area that encompassed tracks like Rhinebeck became a magnet for some of the future major stars of auto racing - both in stock cars and open wheel racing. Apparently, close geographical proximity and serviceable roads made it possible for some of the same teams to compete at a wide variety of venues such as Rhinebeck, Pine Bowl Speedway, near Troy, NY; Empire Raceway, Menands, NY; Arlington Speedway, Poughkeepsie, NY; Riverside Park Speedway, Agawam, MA; Rhythm Inn Speedway, Millers Falls, MA; the Cheshire fairgrounds track, near Keene, NH; and others. Rhinebeck seemed to shared an unusually large number of teams with the Pine Bowl. If you could access drivers' rosters from these tracks, you would 1.) have a lot of overlap in names, and 2.) be viewing a virtual who's who of racing names from that period and into the future decades.

Ginny Ross Collection, via Dick Hansen and Otto Graham

The best information I have seen says the track stopped hosting stock car racing on a regular basis around 1962. By then, many of the venues mentioned above had fallen by the wayside, and others [like Riverside Park] would have had racing divisions which fit in better with sites closer to them like Stafford Springs and the like. The Arlington Speedways, Coxsackie Speedways, and Rhythm Inn Speedways of the '50's fell by the wayside - having been very popular places to see a race. Fairgrounds tracks like Fonda and Middletown continued on, but whatever factors came into play around 1962 caused the excellent racing at Rhinebeck to close down for good.

Courtesy of Roger Liller
Old cars parked at Rhinebeck for an early race program.

THE PRE - STOCK CAR OPEN WHEEL ERA

Rhinebeck Word Press.com It was not at all uncommon to use a promoter's family car as a billboard in that time period.	Courtesy of Roger Liller An advertising piece from the late '30's or early '40's.	Courtesy of Walt Schwimming A little of both racing here.	Courtesy of Dirt Track Digest The mention of time trials suggest this is an open wheel show being touted.	Courtesy of PANDA23 Puiblic Access Station Getting into the familiar board fencing.	Rick Moglia Photo Courtesy of PANDA23 Puiblic Access Station Youngster trying out a sprinter in the 1940's.
		Courtesy of Roger Liller A big car roster about Rhinebeck.	Courtesy of Roger Liller A big car at Rhinebeck. UNK driver.

THE STOCK CAR ERA

Courtesy of PANDA23 Public Access Station A Rhinebeck win for Barry Tripp with the X-100.	Courtesy of PANDA23 Public Access Station Barry Tripp with the X-100 crew at Rhinebeck.	Courtesy Alan Naujokas Collection Via Chas Hertica An X-100 Team jacket.	Courtesy Alan Naujokas Collection Via Chas Hertica An X-100 Team jacket. Apparently Barry Tripp's.	Bob McDowell Photo Courtesy of Phil Miller Stan The Man Disbrow, Poughkeepsie, NY.	Bob McDowell Photo Courtesy of Phil Miller Doug Garrison, Hudson, NY. Barney Tompkins 99.
Bob McDowell Photo Courtesy of Phil Miller Doug Garrison and Barney Miller at R'beck. A former Gordon Ross 19 car.	Courtesy of AutoOrb.com Another Rhinebeck win for Garrison and Tompkins.	Courtesy of Amy Garrison Dauski Garrison and Tompkins with George Welch and owner Jim Brush.	Ted DeGraff Collection Courtesy of Chas Hertica Don Shaw wins with Walt Beemer's W17.	Bob McDowell Photo Courtesy of Phil Miller Ronney Sommers.	Ginny Ross Collection Via Dick Hansen and Chas Hertica Dick Eagan re-arranges car 01 as Bob Devine looks for room.
Rhinebeck Gazette Courtesy of Mac McIllvarey via Chas Hertica Local Rhinebeck article about one of Ray Brown's many wins.	Ginny Ross Collection Via Dick Hansen and Chas Hertica Gordon Ross at his Rhinebeck garage with two of his team cars.	Courtesy of Danny Minkler Rhinebeck newspaper ad.	Ginny Ross Collection Via Dick Hansen and Chas Hertica Bob Tator, with one of Gordon Ross' first wins anywhere.	Courtesy of Roger Liller via Dave Dykes A lineup photo at Rhinebeck night races.	Courtesy of Stock Car Racers Reunion Rhinebeck newspaper article on Landry win.

Courtesy of Roger Liller via Dave Dykes
This photo gives testimony to many things. First, the famous billboards, including the Fogg Nash sign that gives an indication
of the era this was taken in. Second, the quality of Rhinebeck competition: Bob Taor, Gordon Ross' 19; Al Keller [89]
in one of the W. O. Taylor cars out of Peterson, NJ; Ray "Zero" Brown [0]; and future NASCAR big league
driver Russ Truelove in the 53. A almost think the car pusing Brown is Bob Devine.

Coourtesy of Roger Liller Al Rhinebeck program cover with Al Keller.	Courtesy of Rhinebeck Historical Society Rhinebeck poster.	Bob McDowell Photo GinnyRoss Collection Courtesy of Dick Hansen and Chas Hertica Herb Golde, earlier X-100 driver. They also ran at Candlelite Stadium, Bridgeport, CT.	Ginny Ross Collection Via Dick Hansen and Chas Hertica Doug Benjamin goes for a ride thanks to Dick Eagan [90] as one of the W.O. Taylor cars gets by.	Courtesy of Roger Liller A Rhinebeck program cover with John Van Leuven.	Courtesy of Sam Barlow Rhinebeck poster with several autographs.
Courtesy of Roger Liller Jerry Golden.	Bob McDowell Photo GinnyRoss Collection Courtesy of Dick Hansen and Chas Hertica Ted Tappett, Aka Phil Walters. Future Formula One driver.	Courtesy of Roger Liller Billy Darrah.	Hughes Family Photo Courtesy of Roger Liller Carlton Hughes, The Friendly Milk Man.	Courtesy of Roger Liller Ben Stone. High point man on the circuit one year.	Bob McDowell Photo GinnyRoss Collection Courtesy of Dick Hansen and Chas Hertica Gene Cady.
Bruce Noakes COllection Courtesy of Chas Hertica Rhinebeck article.	Bob McDowell Photo Courtesy of Chas Hertica Another Russ Truelove car.	From Dirt Track Digest A lot for a buck.	Courtesy of Roger Liller A Rhinebeck program cover from 1952.	Bob McDowell Photo GinnyRoss Collection Courtesy of Dick Hansen and Chas Hertica Labeled Frank Ford, but said to be Mike Ward. [???].	Courtesy of Ken Gypson Joe Messina.

Ginny Ross Collection Courtesy of Dick Hansen via Chas Hertica
This Rhinebeck scrum involves 59 Al Garz and the W.O. Taylor car of Tommy Coates. Don't know the rest.

Les King Collection Courtesy of Dave Dykes "Moneybags Moe" Gherz, with a New England - style cutdown.	Bob McDowell Photo Courtesy of Lew Boyd Dick Hansen's highly successful Chrysler coupe he ran at numerous track	Bob McDowell Photo GinnyRoss Collection Courtesy of Dick Hansen and Chas Hertica Whitey Brainerd, who sometimes drove a cutdown similar to Gherzi's at left.	Bob McDowell Photo GinnyRoss Collection Courtesy of Dick Hansen and Chas Hertica I have two photos that involve this car 107. In both he's wrecking.	Ed Ryan Photo Roger Liller Collection Courtesy of Dave Dykes Harry Brazee with a Jensen brothers car [team car to Hoppy].	Bob McDowell Photo Courtesy of Chas Hertica Hoppy Jensen, with the primary Jensen Bros. car.
Courtesy of Roger Liller A Rhinebeck six cylinder support class car.	Half Fast Video Photo This aerial is labled Dutchess County Speedway.	Jim Moffat Photo Courtesy of Dave Dykes Dick Hansen's highly successful Chrysler coupe he ran at numerous tracks - this is the rarer white version.	Courtesy of Roger Liller Billy Boo, Pawling, NY.	Courtesy of Lew Boyd Rex Records. This has to be a very early Rhinebeck stock car photo.	Truelove Collection Courtesy of Roger Liller 1950 Rhinebeck program cover with Russ Truelove.
Bob McDowell Photo Courtesy of Ken Gypson Lou Judson.	Bob McDowell Photo Courtesy of Roger Liller A rare Jokko Maggiacommo shot without a Gordon Ross Car.	Courtesy of Roger Liller More Truelove.	Courtesy of Roger Liller Hoppy Jensen and brother in Victory Lane.	Courtesy of Roger Liller Lazy 4 Team in Vic Lane. Driver may be Carl Fink.	Bob McDowell Photo Courtesy of Roger Liller via Dave Dykes Bill Kennison.

Courtesy of Roger Liller
A 1947 shot of the famed Rhinebeck beer stand. Looks like it doubled as the "food court".

Bob McDowell Photo Courtesy of Roger Liller Chick Stockwell. Usually associated with Danbury Arena in Ct.	Bob McDowell Photo Courtesy of Roger Liller A D.D. "Rebel" Harris photo at Rhinebeck.	Bob McDowell Photo Courtesy of Roger Liller via Dave Dykes George Landry, mentioned in an article shown above.	Bob McDowell Photo Courtesy of Phil Miller Carl Fink, with the Harvey Ford 62Jr.	Courtesy of Roger Liller Here's our car 107 again, this time attacking Al Garz.	Bob McDowell Photo Courtesy of Phil Miller Paul Roesch.
Courtesy of PANDA23 Public Access Station The venue had more tracks inside the big one than some guys have hairs on their heads.	Courtesy of PANDA23 Public Access Station Unidentified driver and owner in Vic Lane.	Bob McDowell Photo Les King Collection Courtesy of Roger Liller Jokko Maggiacommo with Gordon Ross 19.	Bob McDowell Photo Courtesy of Phil Miller Johnny Rocco.	Courtesy of PANDA23 Public Access Station Photo from Rhinebeck program cover. The track is actually inside a larger track.	Courtesy of PANDA23 Public Access Station More Carlton Hughes. This photo might be at Pine Bowl.
Courtesy of PANDA23 Public Access Station Harry Brazee scoots by an unidentified driver having uh awful accident.	Courtesy of PANDA23 Public Access Station Nice track view.	Courtesy of PANDA23 Public Access Station Rhinebeck checkers for Carlton Hughes.	Courtesy of PANDA23 Public Access Station Big crasheroo !	Courtesy of PANDA23 Public Access Station Car 70 on the fifth mile.	Courtesy of PANDA23 Public Access Station Car 1 takes checkers.

Courtesy of PANDA23 Public Access Station
Track stalwarts Billy Boo [2] and Dick Hansen having a "diffickooltee".

Courtesy of PANDA23 Public Access Station One of many scrums you're going to get on a fifth mile track.	Courtesy of PANDA23 Public Access Station 'Nuther scrum.	Courtesy of PANDA23 Public Access Station Bob Tauscher's 33 sedan either arrivng or hooking up to leave.	Courtesy of PANDA23 Public Access Station Car 81 looping it.	Courtesy of PANDA23 Public Access Station Taht same car 81 getting nailed.	Courtesy of PANDA23 Public Access Station The people paying for those billboards must have been frequently nervous.
Courtesy of PANDA23 Public Access Station A lineup with Harry Brazee on the pole.	Courtesy of PANDA23 Public Access Station Rhinebeck certainly did not hurt for crowds.	Courtesy of PANDA23 Public Access Station Not one of Carlton Hughes' favoriete Rhinebeck moments.	Courtesy of PANDA23 Public Access Station A very young Dick Hansen.	Courtesy of PANDA23 Public Access Station Support division doing what support divisions do.	Courtesy of PANDA23 Public Access Station Support division doing what support divisions do.
Bob McDowell Photo Courtesy of Phil Miller Jim Reed, Peekskill, NY.	Courtesy of Sam Barlow Jerry Papp loops Cliff Wright's first stock car at Rhinebeck.	Courtesy of PANDA23 Public Access Station A mixup that includes Ron Van Etten [V7] and John Van Leuven [172].	Courtesy of PANDA23 Public Access Station Van Etten victory.	Courtesy of Dave Dykes Link Pettit with the Van Vricken RU21.	Courtesy of Phil Miller Stretch Van Steenberg chasing Cartl Fink.

Courtesy of Russ Blake
Merwin Hommel getting dumped.

RECENT TIMES

Courtesy of PANDA23 Public Access Station A look towards turn one, I think.	Courtesy of PANDA23 Public Access Station Another track view. can't tell if it is recent or vintage.	Courtesy of PANDA23 Public Access Station Another track view. can't tell if it is recent or vintage.	Courtesy of PANDA23 Public Access Station Carlton Hughes and Dick Hansen at the 2016 reunion.	Courtesy of PANDA23 Public Access Station Gene Cole's restored car at the 2016 reunion.	Courtesy of PANDA23 Public Access Station Buddy Kreb's restored Suffield Auto car is unloaded at the 2016 reunion.
Courtesy of PANDA23 Public Access Station Buddy Kreb's restored Suffield Auto car at the 2016 reunion.	Courtesy of PANDA23 Public Access Station Grandstands today.	Courtesy of PANDA23 Public Access Station View of infield today. I'am thinking this may be where the fifth mile track used to be.	Courtesy of PANDA23 Public Access Station An X-100 tribute car.	Courtesy of PANDA23 Public Access Station Dick Hansen getting an award at the 2016 reunion.	Courtesy of PANDA23 Public Access Station A group gathers near another restored car at the 2016 reunion.

Courtesy of PANDA23 Public Access Station
A group photo at the 2016 reunion.

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