A Premier Track in New York

A Premier Track in New York. The Emphasis is 1950's and 1960's race programs.

A lot of the photos on this page came from 8MM film captures and are, therefore, not of good
quality. But as the bartender in the Clint Eastwood film HIgh Plains Drifter said : "It ain't
much good but it's all there is." I have scraped up every Fonda Grand National shot I
could find and put it all here.

Courtesy of Scott Belknap

The 1955 Show

Up to around 1970, NASCAR was still running its Northern Tour for Grand Natiionals, and the teams that were seriously running for points had to drag their equipment
up and run at tracks like Fonda, Oxford Plains in Maine, Albany - Saratoga, and Islip. WHile the NASCAR Short Track Series had run all over, I don't have as much information on when the 1950's Grand Nationals came North. I know Airborne held a race in 1955, and that the cars had come from Monroe County the night before. It is listed that FOnda held one in 1955, so i must have been also prior to the Airborne race.

Ed Feuz Collection
Junior Johnson poses after winning the 1955 GN race at Fonda.

Joe Braig Collection via Lew Boyd Jim Reed of Peekskill, NY ran this Chevy at the Fonda show.	Bob Mackey Photo The Hellzafire Olds team, in 1955. I think Smokey Yunick was the mechanic. They were on the tour but I'm not sure they ran much.	Ed Feuz Collection Lee Petty was definitely on the tour that year. He may have used this car. He would win the race at AIrborne that year.	Florida Stock Car.com Buck Baker was running Pontiacs that year and was up for the northern tour.	Getty Images Either Gwynn Staley drove Hubnert Westmoreland's 2 at Fonda that year.
		Courtesy of Feuz Collection A photographer takes publicity 8MM footage on the Fonda track in the '50's.

Courtesy of Mike Valchovic
Tim Flock had put the big budget Keikhaeffer Chrysler on the pole but this car did not finish the race.
Tim drove another Kiekhaefffer Chrysler to second place behind Junior Johnson.

Amsterdam Evening Recorder Article
Local paper article about the 1955 show.

The 1966, 1967 and 1968 Shows

John Grady Photo

RIchard Petty won in 1967 [above] and 1968 while David Pearson won the 1966 show.

NASCAR GRAND NATIONAL AT FONDA - STARS AND CARS

Courtesy of Greg Rickes Larry Hess brought the unique Rambler entry, as well as another more standard GN car.	Courtesy of Fusco Collection J.D. McDuffie ran his independent Buick at Fonda after some hospitality from the Fusco family.	Frank Simek Photo via Hemmings Motor News Elmo Langley bumps inside of Buddy Baker in a mid 1960's GN show.	Frank Simek Photo via Hemmings Motor News J.T. Putney crashes as Jimmy Helms gets the 53 by in a 1960's GN show. The 88, a Buck Baker car, is driven by Vermont native Paul Conners.	Russ Bergh Photo Courtesy of Ed Biitig Bobby Allison ran a consistent top five in his Chevelle at one of the mid 60's shows.	Courtesy of Andy Towler Wendell Scott was there with his gorgeous, high dollar Ford.
Courtesy of Mark Valchovic Tim Flock with one of the big dollar Kiekhaefer Mopars, gets the pole in one of the 1950's shows.	Courtesy of Feuz Collection David Pearson's high profile H&M Ford was fast qualifier. I think Pearson won the race [if it was 1966].	Courtesy of Feuz Collection Rene Charland has his own entry in one of themid '60's shows.	Courtesy of Gater Racing News Petty looped it and handed the 1966 race to David Pearson.	Courtesy of Feuz Collection Petty at speed during the 1966 race.	Courtesy of Feuz Collection Buck Baker with one of the three cars he brought to Fonda.
Courtesy of Feuz Collection Journeyman driver and Hollywood stuntman Neal "Soapy" Castles would drive a Baker car after Buck had his pick first.	Courtesy of Feuz Collection Petty in a lineup with J.T. Putney, whose 1965 Chevy suggests this was the 1966 race.	Courtesy of Feuz Collection Tiny Lund with the '64 Ford he ran at Fonda in 1966.	Courtesy of Feuz Collection David Pearson in the 1966 Victory Lane.	Courtesy of Feuz Collection Wendell Scott used the same tired '65 Ford in 1966 and '67.	Courtesy of Feuz Collection The Grand National pits in the infield at Fonda - supposedly in 1966.
Courtesy of Feuz Collection J.T. Putney had a newer Chevelle for the 1967 race but was knocked out by Tiny Lund in an altercation.	Courtesy of Feuz Collection Tiny Lund, with a newer Ford for 1967, leads Petty for a while. he had to borrow a brake part off from a fan's pickup before the race.	Courtesy of Feuz Collection Bobby Allison used Donnie's Chevelle at\| Fonda in 1967.	Courtesy of Feuz Collection Petty goes by Lund as Allison keeps pace in 1967.	Courtesy of Feuz Collection The startof the 1967 race.	Courtesy of Feuz Collection Petty collecting the hardware for the 1967 win.
John Grady Photo via John C. Grady TIger Tom Pistone.	Courtesy of Feuz Collection By 1968, Bobby Allison had a factory ride, but he used a family Chevelle for the Northern Tour.	Courtesy of Feuz Collection The well - financed Nord Krauskopf 71 of Bobby Isaac is worked on near Fonda's famous Cow Palace.	Courtesy of Fusco Collection Buddy Baker got to drive a Ray Fox factory Mopar at the 1968 race.	Courtesy of Fusco Collection New Yorker Dick May at one of the '60's Fonda shows.

John Grady Photo via John C. Grady
TIny Lund was a major factor is all of the '60's Fonda shows.

8MM FILM CAPTURES OF FONDA NASCAR GRAND NATIONAL
[Mostly Qualifying]

Don Bartlett Film Footage Courtesy of MIke Sessler Gater Racing News staff at the 1967 race.	Don Bartlett Film Footage Courtesy of MIke Sessler Gater Racing News staff at the 1967 race.	Don Bartlett Film Footage Courtesy of MIke Sessler The Petty fusses around the 43 prior to his qualifying run at the 1967 race.	Don Bartlett Film Footage Courtesy of MIke Sessler More fussing around the 43 at the 1967 race.	Don Bartlett Film Footage Courtesy of MIke Sessler Bobby Allison waits to qualify prior to the 1967 race. Notice Donnie's name is taped off the car.	Don Bartlett Film Footage Courtesy of MIke Sessler Bobby Allison qualifies for the 1967 race.
Don Bartlett Film Footage Courtesy of MIke Sessler Elmo Langley waits to qualify prior to the 1967 race.	Don Bartlett Film Footage Courtesy of MIke Sessler Big John Sears waits to qualify prior to the 1967 race.	Don Bartlett Film Footage Courtesy of MIke Sessler Tiny Lund waits to qualify prior to the 1967 race. He had to borrow brake parts from someone in the stands with a Ford pickup.	Don Bartlett Film Footage Courtesy of MIke Sessler Tiny Lund qualifying prior for the 1967 race	Don Bartlett Film Footage Courtesy of MIke Sessler A beat up Ford finishes qualifying prior to the 1967 race	Don Bartlett Film Footage Courtesy of MIke Sessler J.T. Putney qualifying prior for the 1967 race.
Don Bartlett Film Footage Courtesy of MIke Sessler G.C. Spncer qualifying prior for the 1967 race.	Don Bartlett Film Footage Courtesy of MIke Sessler Paul Dean qualifying prior for the 1967 race.	Don Bartlett Film Footage Courtesy of MIke Sessler Earl Brooks qualifying prior for the 1967 race.	Don Bartlett Film Footage Courtesy of MIke Sessler More Earl Brooks qualifying prior for the 1967 race.	Don Bartlett Film Footage Courtesy of MIke Sessler Even more Earl Brooks qualifying prior for the 1967 race. For some reason, his Car filmed really clearly.	Don Bartlett Film Footage Courtesy of MIke Sessler Midwesterner Bobby Wawak qualifying prior for the 1967 race.
Don Bartlett Film Footage Courtesy of MIke Sessler More Bobby Wawak qualifying prior for the 1967 race.	Don Bartlett Film Footage Courtesy of MIke Sessler This may have been a team car to Midwesterner Bobby Wawak qualifying prior for the 1967 race.	Don Bartlett Film Footage Courtesy of MIke Sessler Car 18, Dick Johnson spins out during qualifying prior for the 1967 race.	Don Bartlett Film Footage Courtesy of MIke Sessler Buck Barkers big old battered Oldsmobile qualifying prior for the 1967 race.	Don Bartlett Film Footage Courtesy of MIke Sessler Apparently more of the car 18, Dick Johnson spins out during qualifying prior for the 1967 race.	Don Bartlett Film Footage Courtesy of MIke Sessler The Goodyear tire crew is on hand.
Don Bartlett Film Footage Courtesy of MIke Sessler The Goodyear tire crew is talking to a mechanic or owner.	Don Bartlett Film Footage Courtesy of MIke Sessler The Goodyear tire crew is by an unidentified car as it waits for the race to begin.	Don Bartlett Film Footage Courtesy of MIke Sessler Soon-to-be NASCAR National Modified Champion Ernie Gahan came all the way from NH to check out the cars.	Don Bartlett Film Footage Courtesy of MIke Sessler Gahan may have even had a ride at the race - they needed cars to fill the field.	Don Bartlett Film Footage Courtesy of MIke Sessler A well battered Jim Paschal car in the lineup before the race.	Don Bartlett Film Footage Courtesy of MIke Sessler The Firestone tire crew is also on hand - not to be outdone.
Don Bartlett Film Footage Courtesy of MIke Sessler A pit discussion before the race.	Don Bartlett Film Footage Courtesy of MIke Sessler This might be Tiny Lund, by his car before the race.	Gene Johnsont Film Footage Courtesy of Rick Parry Petty pulls into the infield, likely before the 1967 race.	Gene Johnsont Film Footage Courtesy of Rick Parry James Hylton comes out of four in qualifying, likely for the 1967 race.	Gene Johnsont Film Footage Courtesy of Rick Parry Another of James Hylton comes out of four in qualifying, likely for the 1967 race.	Gene Johnsont Film Footage Courtesy of Rick Parry Tiny Lund comes out of four in qualifying, likely for the 1967 race.
Gene Johnsont Film Footage Courtesy of Rick Parry Jim Pashcal comes out of four in qualifying, likely for the 1967 race.	Gene Johnsont Film Footage Courtesy of Rick Parry Richard Petty comes out of four in qualifying, likely for the 1967 race.	Gene Johnsont Film Footage Courtesy of Rick Parry The pit area of Petty and another team for the 1967 race.	Gene Johnsont Film Footage Courtesy of Rick Parry James Sears comes out of four in qualifying, likely for the 1967 race.	Gene Johnsont Film Footage Courtesy of Rick Parry Another Petty infield shot.	Gene Johnsont Film Footage Courtesy of Rick Parry One final Lund shot.