DOUG GARRISON
     Many Rides With the Same Results !  

The Early Years

      The first ride  that I am aware of for Doug was the 117, the photo of which first appeared on a closely - guarded in a small diner in Watervliet, NY. In his early years, Doug would also have a lot of success with Barney Tompkins, owner of the black 99. Doug also drove a few other cars at tracks like Rhinebeck, the early Lebanon Valley, Coxsackie, and many others. He seemed to have a consistent ride at Coxsackie.

Probably a Garrison Family Photo via Phil Miller The first car I know of. Track unknown. Maybe Greenport.	UNK Newspaper Photo The 117, avoiding a wreck at Greenport Speedway in Doug's town of Hudson.	Courtesy of Amy Garrison Dauski This shot of Greenport action makes me think one of the cars must be Doug.	Courtesy of Otto Graham The Barney Tompkins car, winning at Rhinebeck.	autoorb.com Photo The Barney Tompkins car, winning at Rhinebeck.
Courtesy of Amy Garrison Dauski Doug and Barney win another one, interviewed by a young Art Stuarts. Doug has his old 117 helmet but is driving Barney's 99.	Courtesy of Amy Garrison Dauski Doug and Barney win another one, this time at Coxsackie.	George T. Morgan Photo Courtesy of Donna Kreeber Mateer via Joe Grossetti Doug's Tompkins 99 also ran well at Coxsackie.	Courtesy of Chris Companion Doug takes green at Stateline Speedway with the Tompkins car.	Courtesy of Amy Garrison Dauski This shot shows the Brush Radio 27 [George Welch] and the 99 team traveled together. This is at Rhinebeck.
George T. Morgan Photo Courtesy of Donna Kreeber Mateer via Joe Grossetti Doug's Coxsackie car was usually the Stilwell 5, right from his hometown Ford dealer.	George T. Morgan Photo Courtesy of Donna Kreeber Mateer via Joe Grossetti Doug's Coxsackie car, the Stilwell 5.	George T. Morgan Photo Courtesy of Donna Kreeber Mateer via Joe Grossetti Another win with the Stilwell 5.	George T. Morgan Photo Courtesy of Donna Kreeber Mateer via Joe Grossetti More Stilwell 5.	Courtesy of Amy Garrison Dauski Doug, young enough to be winning at Coxsackie, Greenport, or maybe somewhere like Arlington.
George T. Morgan Photo Courtesy of Donna Kreeber Mateer via Joe Grossetti Link Pettit helping change tires on Doug's Coxsackie car, the Stilwell 5.	Courtesy of Amy Garrison Dauski Looks like he outlasted the weather, as well as the competition here. The 99 is in the background.	Courtesy of Phil Miller A rare to Stateline with the Stilwell 5.	Courtesy of Amy Garrison Dauski Definitely from this same era.	Courtesy of NESCOT Either the same portrait, cropped or another very similar shot.

Courtesy of the Starin Family

The Martin Riiska Years 

      The next big phase in DOug's career seems to be when he was chosen to drive the powerful Yellow X, out of Winstead, CT. Martin Riiska had begun with a driver who apparently wasn't accomplishing what his owner wanted. I have no idea how or why Doug was chosen; but, Doug already had had a stellar career in just a few years with Tomkins, Stilwell, and the 117 team. This stint would get him irrevocably connected with Lebanon Valley Speedway. I recall this car at the Vermont State Fair in 1961, as part of a Lebanon Valley show there.

Ladabouche Collection One of the earliest Riiska rides for Doug Garrison.	Ladabouche Collection via Arnie Ainsworth Same Riiska ride in color.	Ladabouche Collection This shows the characteristic Riiska graphics. Doug is definitely an older man by now - and more stocky.	Ray Williams Photo Ladabouche Collection I don't know if this coupe is earlier than the sedan, later, - or concurrent with it.	International Motorsports News One of numerous Valley wins in the sedan for Doug Garrison.
Lebanon Valley Classics One of the earliest Riiska coupes.	From dan Ody's 8MM Old Speedways DVD Mixed in with the Fonda cars at Victoria Speedway.	Courtesy of Amy Garrison Dauski The flathead Riiska sedan mixed up with three Valley overhead V8 late model bodies.	Courtesy of Joe Grossetti 1963 newspaper photo.	Courtesy of NECOT NECOT founding member Doug, featured on their calendar from 2014.
Lebanon Valley Classics Congratulated by Howie Westervelt, another early Valley legend.	From Dan Ody's 8 MM Old Speedways DVD Another 8 MM frame of the sedan - this  time at Valley.	Courtesy of Amy Garrison Dauski via Lebanon Valley Classics Looks like he borrowed a car for a Valley win about the same time as the X. It's the Clyde Smith VS.	Courtesy of Amy Garrison Dauski Newspaper photo. One of those guys must be Martin Riiska.	Courtesy of Amy Garrison Dauski Newspaper photo, with starter Ted Ryan.
Courtesy of Tom Cavanough An absolutely stirring replica of the Riiska sedan.	Courtesy of John Canfield John Canfield's unbelievable model of the Riiska sedan.		Courtesy of John Canfield John Canfield's unbelievable model of the Riiska sedan II.	Courtesy of John Canfield John Canfield's unbelievable model of the Riiska sedan III.
	Walter Mateer Photo via Chas Hertica A different shot.	Courtesy of Amy Garrison Dauski A Dobler Trophy race wins with the Padula brothers, the sponsors.	Walter Mateer Photo via Chas Hertica A 1964 Langhorne shot.

The Gordon Ross Years 

        I don't know if there was any action in between, but it appears that Doug transitioned out from the highly successful Riiska ride to the elgendary Gordon Ross 19 almost immediately. The Southern New England - based Ross operation had already featured top chauffeurs such as Jokko Maggiacomo, Duncan "Rebel" Harris, Jerry Humiston, Dick Dixon, and [after Doug] Eddie Delmolino but, it would appear that Doug was retained to drive the car primarily at Lebanon Valley [and most of those earlier guys were no dirt drivers]. Doug and Gordon would have a helluva ride at the Valley before Doug ended up buying the fairly traditional, upright 19 coupe, restyling it, and running it as his own for the end of his career. I don't have a ton of photos from this phase of the career.

Courtesy of Amy Garrison Dauski A very representative photo of Doug the Ross 19 to open this section. Great engine shot !	Courtesy of Norm Vadnais A Valley win with the Ross coupe.	Courtesy of Otto Graham A Valley win with the Ross crew in Victory Lane.	McDowell Photo Courtesy of Charles Hertica According to Hertica, Doug must have had previous connection with Ross, as this is he , at the Pine Bowl, in the 1950's.	Courtesy of Ginny Ross via Dick Hansen Another one at the Valley with the gang.
Courtesy of Arnie Ainsworth Another view.	Courtesy of Norm Vadnais It is questionable whether the coupe here it Doug's or Gordon's.		John Grady Photo This is the way I prefer the Ross coupe to look - not all cut down.	Courtesy of Amy Garrison Dauski After one of the Ross 19 wins.
	Mike Shaub Photo via Chas. Hertica Posing with Wee Willie Allen after a win.	Walter Mateer Photo via Joe Grosswetti After Valley races, maybe - with Amy.

Courtesy of Amy Garrison Dauski

The Garrison 5 Years

Courtesy of Norm Vadnais It is questionable whether the coupe here it Doug's or Gordon's.	Courtesy of Norm Vadnais Now that it apparently Doug's, the number got changed to 5, like his early Stilwell car.	Courtesy of argonjrcnimages.com At one of the big races like Langhorne.	Arnie Ainsworth Photo Another cut down look. Equally lovely.	Courtesy of Norm Vadnais Closeup.
Courtesy of Amy Garrison Dauski The all blue version heading out from home on a Saturday.	Courtesy of Walt Schwinning A color portrait from this era of his career.	Courtesy of Arnie Ainsworth This is sort of the final look. I know it was faster, but I really hate this version, being a traditional upright coupe guy.	Courtesy of Amy Garrison Dauski Smiling out from the red and blue version.	Courtesy of Amy Garrison Dauski The red and blue version, at home.
Courtesy of Amy Garrison Dauski What I must assume is a family pose in Vic Lane at the Valley.	Courtesy of Amy Garrison Dauski In Vic Lane at the Valley with what must be one of his crews.	Courtesy of Amy Garrison Dauski Nosing out NJ's Bill Willson.  A year later, we'd have the 7 up here in Milton, as Bob Dragon bought it.	Lebanon Valley Classics Another Blue 5 win.	Chuck Ely Photo Courtesy of Amy Garrison Dauski A pair of fans with a cake for Doug.
	Courtesy of Amy Garrison Dauski Doug apparently had a stint with the familiar Hellwig 37 team.	Courtesy of Amy Garrison Dauski Another shot with the 37.

 
Courtesy of Mike Richards

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