DAVE BROOKS

          Dave Brooks was just a name I had heard when - as a five year - old boy - I first saw racing at the old Pico Raceway near Rutland, Vermont. The next time I ever heard of him again, a young Dexter Dorr put him in Dorr's flashy 1955 Chevy hobby car at Fairmont Speedway [a track on which Brooks had distinguished himself ten years before]. Brooks, not having raced in years, easily won the hobby feature that day.
          50 years later, when doing this kind of work, I happened upon an usual - looking early thirties coupe, numbered 33 and 1/3, which featured an enclosed engine compartment and solid wheels. I found out later this was Dave Brooks, back in the day. I was thrilled when his son, Bud, put all of Dave's photos on a You Tube page. Given the fact that no one had commented on the display, it is doubtful anyone had any idea how exciting and important these grainy old photos were.
          I don't know if Brooks ever had a nickname, but I thought "The Manchester Missile" was fitting as that car, with the special Plymouth motor, really flew.

Brooks Family Photo Courtesy of Bud Brooks Very early action in which Dave leads a car 5 at Manchester. Recent photos of the site show that building.	Brooks Family Photo Courtesy of Bud Brooks Very early action. It is likely this is at Manchester.	Brooks Family Photo Courtesy of Bud Brooks Dave's first car looks to be a Plymouth.	Brooks Family Photo Courtesy of Bud Brooks More Manchester action.	Brooks Family Photo Courtesy of Bud Brooks The Manchester car.	Brooks Family Photo Courtesy of Bud Brooks The best - known Brooks car, under construction.
Brooks Family Photo Courtesy of Bud Brooks The best - known Brooks car, under construction. Note another car in background.	Brooks Family Photo Courtesy of Bud Brooks The famous Brooks car, apparently newly - built.	Brooks Family Photo Courtesy of Bud Brooks The famous Brooks car, apparently newly - lettered.	Brooks Family Photo Courtesy of Bud Brooks Behind a wrecker.	Brooks Family Photo Courtesy of Bud Brooks Brooks by the car with an unidentified boy. I am hoping Bud will id some of these shots.	Brooks Family Photo Courtesy of Bud Brooks Maybe Mrs. Brooks.
Brooks Family Photo Courtesy of Bud Brooks Might be another shot of car when new.	Brooks Family Photo Courtesy of Bud Brooks Might be at home.	Brooks Family Photo Courtesy of Bud Brooks I don't know if Dave wrecked the family car - or what.	Brooks Family Photo Courtesy of Bud Brooks Apparently, the Brooks team trailer.	Brooks Family Photo Courtesy of Bud Brooks This is either the secretive Brooks Plymouth motor or one he had in an open wheel car.	Brooks Family Photo Courtesy of Bud Brooks Another 33 1/3 with a later model body he drove especially at Stateline Speedway.
Brooks Family Photo Courtesy of Bud Brooks The Brooks car, at an outbuilding on the grounds of the some early race track.	Brooks Family Photo Courtesy of Bud Brooks With a sprinter.	Brooks Family Photo Courtesy of Bud Brooks With a sprinter, maybe Dave's. The kid could be Bud.	Brooks Family Photo Courtesy of Bud Brooks The office of the sprinter, maybe Dave's.	Brooks Family Photo Courtesy of Bud Brooks Check out where the spare tires went.	Brooks Family Photo Courtesy of Bud Brooks The preceding car, sitting with what might be a spare body.
Brooks Family Photo Courtesy of Bud Brooks The 33 1/3 on a flatbed truck.	Brooks Family Photo Courtesy of Bud Brooks In a pit area - likely at Fairmont Motor Speedway.	Brooks Family Photo Courtesy of Bud Brooks The body of another 33 1/3 with a later model body he drove especially at Stateline Speedway.

Brooks Family Photo Courtesy of Bud Brooks A pit shot at Pico Raceway, Rutland. Car is not clear enough to id.	Brooks Family Photo Courtesy of Bud Brooks A shot at Pico Raceway, Rutland. The 303 is Al Romano, star driver and son of the track owner.	Brooks Family Photo Courtesy of Bud Brooks A pit shot at Pico Raceway, Rutland. This could be Gene Tetrault's 1st car.	Brooks Family Photo Courtesy of Bud Brooks A pit shot at Pico Raceway, Rutland. The car in the foreground could be Jackie Peterson. The other is George Barber's 46, likely with driver Stub Piper.	Brooks Family Photo Courtesy of Bud Brooks A lineup shot at Pico Raceway, Rutland. Car 39 may possibly be Rodney Davis, of Cavendish, VT.	Brooks Family Photo Courtesy of Bud Brooks An accident off the backstretch at Pico Raceway. I believe the car to be the 2nd Romano team car.
Brooks Family Photo Courtesy of Bud Brooks A good shot of the Pico Raceway judges' stand. I can't id the cars.	Brooks Family Photo Courtesy of Bud Brooks Another good shot of the Pico Raceway judges' stand. Cars include Al Romano and the 36 of Spencer Parkhurst.	Brooks Family Photo Courtesy of Bud Brooks The familar 9Jr. of Catskill, NY's Walt Roberts.	Brooks Family Photo Courtesy of Bud Brooks A wreck off the Pico Raceway backstretch. If the shot was clearer, you could see the hundreds of people in the distance, watching for free on some railroad tracks.	Brooks Family Photo Courtesy of Bud Brooks Prominent Saratoga, NY racer Spence Parkhurst.	Brooks Family Photo Courtesy of Bud Brooks Vic Love's crew works on the UP3.
Brooks Family Photo Courtesy of Bud Brooks A good shot of the Pico Raceway pits in the infield. This is one section.	Brooks Family Photo Courtesy of Bud Brooks A good shot of the Pico Raceway pits in the infield. This is another section - much like the next view.	Brooks Family Photo Courtesy of Bud Brooks A good shot of the Pico Raceway pits in the infield. This is another section.	Brooks Family Photo Courtesy of Bud Brooks A good shot of the Pico Raceway pits in the infield. This is another section.	Brooks Family Photo Courtesy of Bud Brooks A good shot of the Pico Raceway pits in the infield. This is another section.

Brooks Family 8MM Courtesy of Bud Brooks A shot at Fairmont Park Motor Speedway, Fair Haven, VT. Dave is in Victory Lane.	Brooks Family 8MM Courtesy of Bud Brooks A lineup at Fairmont Park Motor Speedway. The foreground car is George Barber's 46 out of Bradford. The red and white car is Tony Provencher.	Brooks Family 8MM Courtesy of Bud Brooks A lineup at Fairmont Park Motor Speedway. The 467 is frequent winner Charlie Morse, and the rear car is Ted Langlois from Connecticut.	Brooks Family Photo Courtesy of Bud Brooks Ernie Blackburn, possibly. [Right era and number]	Brooks Family Photo Courtesy of Bud Brooks The P38Jr. - it probably a Loomis car, out of Granville, NY.	Brooks Family 8MM Courtesy of Bud Brooks A look at some of the Fairmont crowd. That is the old dairy, in the background, which was on US Rte 4.
Brooks Family 8MM Courtesy of Bud Brooks The Fairmont flag man displays the white flag.	Brooks Family Photo Courtesy of Bud Brooks A Fairmont lineup: Gene Tetrault in front of F40, Hank Schimdt.	Brooks Family Photo Courtesy of Bud Brooks A Fairmont lineup: F40, Hank Schimdt and the UP2 of George Rogers.	Brooks Family Photo Courtesy of Bud Brooks Possibly Spence Parkhurst, judging from the design.	Brooks Family Photo Courtesy of Bud Brooks A shot across the Fairmont first turn, towards the old dairy.	Brooks Family 8MM Courtesy of Bud Brooks A Fairmont win.
Brooks Family 8MM Courtesy of Bud Brooks Working Fairmont between turns 1 and 2.	Brooks Family 8MM Courtesy of Bud Brooks At speed, in the lead, at the Fairmont track.	Brooks Family 8MM Courtesy of Bud Brooks With the Fairmont flagger after a feature win.	Brooks Family 8MM Courtesy of Bud Brooks With a Fairmont trophy after a feature win.	Brooks Family 8MM Courtesy of Bud Brooks With a Fairmont trophy presenter and the flagger.	Brooks Family 8MM Courtesy of Bud Brooks The usually unspectacular Tony Provencher had the thrill of his career finishing 3rd behind Brooks.
Brooks Family Photo Courtesy of Bud Brooks Leo Nadeau's nifty Rocket 88, out of Schuylerville, NY.	Brooks Family Photo Courtesy of Bud Brooks The Ted Langlois crew at Fairmont, all the way from Putnam, CT.	Brooks Family Photo Courtesy of Bud Brooks A very early Ted Langlois car #12 CT.	Brooks Family 8MM Courtesy of Bud Brooks With Fairmont checkers after a feature win.	Brooks Family 8MM Courtesy of Bud Brooks Hey Tony ! Lean out" and smile !	Brooks Family Photo Courtesy of Bud Brooks The highly successful Ed Winn 467, driven by Charlie Morse.
Brooks Family 8MM Courtesy of Bud Brooks An unidentified car X at Fairmont.	Brooks Family 8MM Courtesy of Bud Brooks The UP2 of local driver, George Rogers.	Brooks Family Photo Courtesy of Bud Brooks The 61Jr. - A Danish family team car. Driver would be either the legendary Steve Danish or brother, Al.	Brooks Family Photo Courtesy of Bud Brooks The 61Jr. - A Danish family team car. Driver would be either the legendary Steve Danish or brother, Al.	Brooks Family 8MM Courtesy of Bud Brooks The Danish car, preparing for the feature. He would finish 2nd to Dave in this race.	Brooks Family 8MM Courtesy of Bud Brooks The 37 of local driver, George Pritchard, at speed in the 2nd turn.
	Brooks Family 8MM Courtesy of Bud Brooks Charlie Morse chases Steve Danish into turn 1 during the 1st feature, won by Morse.	Brooks Family 8MM Courtesy of Bud Brooks George Rogers wins a qualifier.	Brooks Family 8MM Courtesy of Bud Brooks Charlie Morse won the first feature race of the day.