SCODA is one of those racing organizations that could only have started and forged on when it did. I attempted to write about it in one of my blogs. If you CLICK HERE, you can go to that page on my website and read that blog. With that in mind, I won't write a big paragraph about it here.

EARLIER YEARS

         I don't know, as of now, when SCODA was established. These earlier shots and  clippings will be 1950's only. The club incorporated in 1954. Before that, SCODA seemed to be a different group - about speedboat racing.

Bizapedia

From the Rahleigh Speedway Site
This piece is from one of the earliest mentions I have seen of SCODA - 1955.

Philadelphia Inquirer This is, at present, the first SCODA event I could find.	Rahleigh Speedway Site August, 1955 This is one of the oldest SCODA item I have so far -. It shows the Corvettes that raced that time.	Rahleigh Speedway Site August, 1955 This one of shows one of the Corvettes that raced that time.	Rahleigh Speedway Site August, 1955 This shows that same Corvette that raced that time. The caption mentions it received some damage that race.	Source Unknown August, 1955 This shot of Frankie Schneider at a Nascar race with a sports car strongly suggests it was 1955, when NASCAR experimented with the idea of mixing in with its Short Track Division.
Buffalo Evening News September 18, 1955 The Evening News really helped NASCAR and Ed Otto to push this concept. The Civic Stadium would have other shows in sunsequent years.	Buffalo Evening News September 18, 1955 The Evening News showed early SCODA driver Roy Gaines.	Buffalo Courier Express September 9, 1955 The other BUffalo papers got in on the act.	Buffalo Evening News September 10, 1955 The Evening News really kept it coming. Strangely, I didn't find any race results.	Albany Times Union September 10, 1955| This is one of the oldest SCODA news clippings I have, to date. Fred  Pfisterer [along with Jake Jacobs] was an early star in SCODA. How they managed this after the race in Buffalo is a wonder.

Rahleigh News and Observer May22, 1956 I think NASCAR may be still behind SCODA at this time.	Rahleigh News and Observer June 1, 1956 I think NASCAR may be still behind SCODA at this time.	Columbia Record June 1, 1956 I think NASCAR may be still behind SCODA at this time.
Northport Observer June 26, 1955 The Islip show must have been wedged in just ahead of Fonda.	Schenectady Gazette July 25, 1956 The leadup to Fonda's SCODA shows was well supported by area newspapers.	Canajoharie Courier - Standard July 26, 1956 Fonda Speedway would turn out to be one of SCODA's staunchest supprters  in earlier years.
Albany Times Union July 29, 1956 The 1956 Fonda Speedway results were first reported by the Times Union.	Troy Times Record July 30, 1956 Warren "Jake" Jacobs had the irregular Fonda oval all figured out. Apparently the venue held a 1955 race as well.	Rutland Daily Herald September 1957 Aldo Merusi Photo If this is not Jake Jacobs - his car looked exactly like this #6. Eventually these more modified sports cars were phased out in favor of totally stock - looking sports cars.
Buffalo Courier Express August 12, 1956 The Courier Express [above] and the Evening news both had the August program at the Buffalo Civic Stadium covered. Buffalo Evening News August 13, 1956	Lancaster Intelligencer Journal October 2, 1956 This race does not appear to be connected with any other, larger Trenton race program.  Yonkers Herald Statesman November 14,  1956 Fred Pfisterer and Jake Jacobs - honored at the banquet.	Rochester Democrat and Chronicle November 25, 1956 I am not sure what this event actually was about.
Waterville Morning Sentinel December 5, 1956 NASCAR gives awards to SCODA people at this time. I think the relationship lasted only that year and the previous one.	Greenpoint Home News January 31, 1957 A special SCODA column - Parts 1 and 2	Greenpoint Home News January 31, 1957 A special SCODA column - Part 3.
Hartford Courant May 28, 1957 A show at Joe Tinty's Plainville Stadium.	Philadelphia Inquirer June 3, 1957 Imagine those smaller sports cars on the huge, scary Langhorne mile ! Below is a reduced photo of them and Bettman's VW at Langhorne that year. Courtesy of Lew Boyd	Lackawanna Leader June 13, 1957 A show with many big names at Civic Stadium. Big NASCAR names and, yet, Jacobs was usually the favorite.
Lockport Union Sun - Journal June 15, 1957 A shorter version of the same theme.	Buffalo Courier Express June 15, 1957 An ad for the June show.	Buffalo Evening News June 15, 1957 An ad for the June show features two giants in their respective diivisions. They were the headliners for the Buffalo races. It's the only Jacobs photo I have ever found.
Patchogue Advance   July 4, 1957 The story line is almost identical to others from this time: Jacobs charms the crowd and crashes; someone else wins.	Aldo Merusi Photo A good look at the VVW of Charles "Elf" Bettman. I believe he had the nickname because his size about the opposite of an elf. This car won many races.	Albany Times Unioin July 20, 1957 Fonda's yearly SCODA show is in the   works. Another Jacobs romp ?
Amsterdam Evening Recorder   July 20, 1957 Back to Fonda again [3rd time, I think]. Still hyping Pfisterer and Jacobs.	Belmar Coast Advertiser July 25, 1957 An article [bad spelling and all] on the Wall Stadium program.	Hanover Evening Sun August 3, 1957 A thorough article on the Williams Grove program that preceded Rutland's program that I witnessed.
Rockland County Journal News August 20, 1957 A local paper covers the Middletown show, which was the warmup for the Rutland fair show I saw. Part 1.	Rockland County Journal News August 20, 1957 A local paper covers the Middletown show, which was the warmup for the Rutland fair show I saw. Part 2.	Rutland Daily Herald August 28, 1957 The Herald proclaims the fair was going to See the first non-sprint car racing since 1951. As always, Jacobs and Pfisterer are featured.
Rutland Daily Herald September 1957 Aldo Merusi Photo Likely, Jake Jacobs is on the pole, with eventual winner Elf Bettman behind him as the SCODA race starts at the Rutland fairgrounds.	Rutland Daily Herald September 1957 Aldo Merusi Photo Car 31 was very prominent in many photos of the 1957 SCODA race in Rutland. I wonder if it could be Pfisterer. Bettman is second and it is likely that Jacobs is one of the cars trailing. Both Car 31 and Jacobs were eliminated in a wreck later, leaving Bettman to win.	Rutland Daily Herald September 1957 Aldo Merusi Photo Homemade - looking car 4 races with car 31. The 4 is Stan Becker, then president of SCODA. These more modified - looking cars seemed to be gone out of SCODA by the mid '60's.
Rutland Daily Herald September 7, 1957 Herald write-up after the races - Part 1.	Rutland Daily Herald September 7, 1957 Herald write-up after the races - Parts 2 & 3.	Rutland Daily Herald September 1957 Aldo Merusi Photo A well - protected Jag races one of the heavily modified hybrid entries.
Rutland Daily Herald September 1957 Aldo Merusi Photo A white Jag takes checkers - either in the feature or in one of the qualifiers. It did not win the feature.	Rutland Daily Herald September 1957 Aldo Merusi Photo As the sports car people would put it, this "shunt". took out several of the more competitive cars like 31 and Jacobs.	Orangetown Telegram December 5, 1957 SCODA Awards for the '57 season.
		Patchogue Advance May 29, 1958 SCODA program at Islip.
Patchogue Advance June 5, 1958 A month after Islip - a followup at nearby Riverhead.	Mt. Kisco Patent Trader June 19, 1958 A little later they crossed into COnnecticut for action at Danbury. This was a busy Summer.	Putnam County Courier July 17, 1958 Apparently a repeat at Danbury.
Amsterdam Evening Recorder August 11, 1958 The seemingly annual Fonda program. Part 1	Amsterdam Evening Recorder August 11, 1958 The seemingly annual Fonda program. Part 2	Mike Ritter Photo via Lew Boyd Somewhere within this era, SCODA actually ran Langhorne. Can't imagine it. In this photo you can easily make out Elf Bettman's VW.  It looks like Jacobs and Becker are also in the shot. Probably May '59.
Endicott Daily Bulletin May 14, 1958 Racing at the Langhorne Mile.	Suffolk County  News June 11, 1959 Empire Raceway results.	Suffolk County  News June 11, 1959 Race set for Islip.
Northport Observer June 18, 1959 Races to be held at the Polo Grounds, the old ball park in NYC. Part 1	Northport Observer June 18, 1959 Races to be held at the Polo Grounds, the old ball park in NYC. Part 2	Canajoharie Courier Standard July 23, 1959 The seemingly annual event at Fonda Speedway.
Pocono Record August 6, 1959 Race set for Harmony Speedway [NJ].

LATER YEARS

                       It seems like, when SCODA reached 1960 there began to be a bigger turnover in member teams. Also, the hybrid - looking cars
 [like the one Jake Jacobs had] seemed to have been phased out in favor of cars that looked more exactly like sports cars.
Finally, despite the terrible lack of SCODA information available, it appears as though the '60's were the last for the club.
If I find out differently, I will amend this page.

Bridgewater Courier Standard June 28, 1960 Races at Old Bridge, near home for most. They apparently did not get to race until September there.	Canajoharie Courier Standard July 2, 1960 Good old dependable Fonda.	Hanover Evening Sun July 8, 1960 Race set for Lincoln Speedway [PA].
Hanover Evening Sun July 11, 1960 Results for Lincoln Speedway [PA]. Part 1	Hanover Evening Sun July 11, 1960 Results for Lincoln Speedway [PA]. Part 2	Red Bank Daily Register September 20, 1960 They will finally get in a race at Old Bridge.
I have three different old newspaper source services. In NONE of the hundreds of papers was there any mention of SCODA racing in 1961. Just bad luck on my part - or was it in limbo then ?	I have three different old newspaper source services. In NONE of the hundreds of papers was there any mention of SCODA racing in 1962 or 1963. The club must have been temporarily out of business. Not one mention ! In 1964 it would break out, busier than ever.	Illustrated Speedway News February 11, 1964 Bill Claren new SCODA president. He would serve in a newly - active period in the club's history.
Cavalcade of Auto Racing Bill Claren	Illustrated Speedway News March 10, 1964  SCODA starts another division.	IHackensack Record May 28, 1964 SCODA at Old Bridge.
Cavalcade of Auto Racing Bill Claren in different car.	Cavalcade of Auto Racing Dan Brent [standing in suit].	Amsterdam Evening Recorder August 22, 1964  SCODA returns to old standby Fonda Speedway.
Amsterdam Evening Recorder August 22, 1964  SCODA sometimes managed to get out some pre - program publicity.	Schenectady Gazette August 31, 1964  After a rainout the week before, they finally got in a race in which Kijck upset Krisiloff.	Cavalcade of Auto Racing Art  KIjck.
Cavalcade of Auto Racing Future Indy driver Steve Krisiloff.	Cavalcade of Auto Racing October 22, 1964 SCODA to perform on the big track at Nazareth, PA.	Cavalcade of Auto Racing Dan Brent, Warren Ahrens, and Olegar - at speed.
Illustrated Speedway News December 15, 1964  SCODA elects another president. Steve Krisiloff recognized as 1964 SCODA champion.	Cavalcade of Auto Racing Jack Van Wettering.	Vermont Sunday News  1965 SCODA apparently had not fully divested itself of hybrid sports cars. Read the caption about this George Woodall car.
Illustrated Speedway News March 2, 1965 Annual meeting.	Illustrated Speedway News March 15, 1965 Bill Claren seeks 1965 date at Pocono for SCODA.	HagerstownDailyMail June 19, 1965 A race in Maryland at Hagerstown Raceway.
Hagerstown Daily Mail June 19, 1965 A race in Maryland at Hagerstown Raceway.	Hagerstown Evening Sun July 21, 1965 Hagerstown Raceway results.	Cavalcade of Auto Racing Andy Swain - at speed.
Hazleton Standard Speaker July 22, 1965 A race in Pennsylvania at Evergreen Speedway.	Allentown Morning Call August 15, 1965 A race in Pennsylvania at Nazareth Speedway.	Philadelphia Inquirer August 15, 1965 A race in Pennsylvania at Nazareth Speedway.
Bennington Evening Banner August 10, 1965 The newly - built Catamount Stadium did everythiing with flair. Started out that way and ended the same. The SCODA race there had to have a big name and - unlike a lot of SCODA events - it was trumpted constantly and well in advance.	Vermont Sunday News St. Albans Messenger August 20, 1965 Another article heralding the Catamount race.	Vermont Sunday News St. Albans Messenger August 20, 1965 The St. Albans publisher really got behind the promo for the SCODA race. The Burlington Free Press ? A bit later.
Burlington Free Press August 21, 1965 Advertisement heralding the Catamount race happening the next day.	Burlington Free Press August 21, 1965 The 3rd article heralding the Catamount race happening the next day. No clue who won.	Cavalcade of Auto Racing Al Loquasto.
Cavalcade of Auto Racing Jack Rabold would have almost certainly been at Catamount.	Cavalcade of Auto Racing Lining the cars up at Catamount.	Hanover Evening Sun October 8, 1965 A race at Williams Grove Speedway seems to cap off 1965. Looks like Claren didn't get his Pocono race.
Carlisle Sentinel October 8, 1965 The race at Williams Grove Speedway.	Cavalcade of Auto Racing Ken Andrews.	Cavalcade of Auto Racing Joe Hesse.
Pottstown Republican and Herald May 17 1966 They plan races at Williams Grove Speedway, But something would postpone it until next week.	Chambersburg Public Opinion May 24 1966 The postponement seemed to be advantageous.	Chambersburg Public Opinion May 25, 1966 Jack Bettio comes out with the win finally.
Cavacade of Auto Racing Bob Wagner.	Glens Falls Times July 2, 1966 The year - old track at Malta, NY grabbed a SCODA race.	The Saratogian May 24, 1966 Same Malta race.
Paterson News April 4, 1967 Good early season information.	Hartford Courant June 2, 1967 SCODA debuting a new division at Plainville Stadium in 1967.	Hartford Courant June 21, 1967 SCODA operating at Plainville Stadium in 1967.
Shenandoah Evening Herlad June 29,1967 A Pennsylvania paper mentions a show at Hershey Stadium.	Pottstown Miners Journal July 14, 1967 SCODA to appear at Nazareth, PA.	Plattsburgh Press Republican 1967 The Plattsburgh, NY paper showed this SCODA roster, although I could not find any mention of a race. Fred Pfisterer is still running, as is Warren Ahrens and Art KIjek. No mention of big names like Al Loquasto or Steve Krisiloff. Sorry about the print quality - the PPR never copied very well.
Adirondack Daily Enterprise July 14, 1967 Saranac Lake, NY paper SCODA announcing the Airborne show.	Plattsburgh Press Republican July 21,1967 The Plattsburgh, NY paper heralded this SCODA show, which did happen. The following year it would be cancelled.	Plattsburgh Press Republican July 24, 1967 Burlington, VT's flamboyant Jack Dubrul a racer at Airborne and also a one-time owner of Catamount when SCODA raced there, raced an unfamiliar car in the Airborne SCODA race and did increasingly well prior to motor ills.
Plattsburgh Press Republican July 24, 1967 Jerry Walsh wins the Airborne show.	Fitchburg Sentinel August 3, 1967 This brief mention of a program at Plainville Stadium.	Plattsburgh Press Republican June 2, 1968 This brief mention of a cancellation in the Plattsburgh, NY paper is the only thing I found referencing SCODA in 1968 [and I have thousands of papers in three different services to draw from].
Pocono Record August 15, 1968 This planned event at Harmony Speedway in New Jersey is the only thing I found for 1969. They obviously were holding races, but I can't track down the articles.	Fitchburg Sentinel May 16, 1969 This is the only track on SCODA I could find, despite searches using "SCODA", and various drivers' names.	Fitchburg Sentinel August 1, 1969 This is the only final article on SCODA I found.

A FEW PROMINENT DRIVERS

                       I chose a few drivers from each of the two eras of the club's existence. They seem to have had more success
or at least had more mention made of them.

Warren "Jake" Jacobs Providence, R.I. Buffalo Evening News Jacobs was arguably the fastest SCODA driver of the early era and won his share of features and titles despite a propensity for wrecks.

Charles "Elf" Bettman Tappany, N.Y. Mike Ritter Collection via Lew Boyd Bettman won multiple SCODA features, often mopping up after Jacobs had crashed. The "Elf" monker came from his 6'4" stature.

Fred Pfisterer  Mount Vernon, N.Y. Sorry I can't find a single photo. A grandfather famed for his goatee, Pfisterer was a SCODA champion, feature winner, and club officer. He also raced sports cars in other venues including Daytona.

Al Loquasto  Easton, PA Bench - Racing  Blogspot.com Al Loquasto raced a Corvette with great success in the later era of the club. He went on to sprint cars and even USAC Indy cars.

Steve Krisiloff Parsippany, N.J. Passaic Herald Easily the most noted graduate of SCODA, Krisiloff raced sprinters later before a very creditable Indy effort - despite not having the necessary budget. He married into the Hulman family. He came from a family very involved in the operations of SCODA.

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