DOUG GARRISON
A Champion For Many Years

Courtesy of W. Schwinning

         Doug Garrison is a name that needs no explanantion or embellishment if you are from most of the northeastern U.S. I had only known of him as a Lebanon Valley driver until I got into this history work in the 2000's, but his career went back - as far as the later 1940's. He was a winner from the earliest days of his career for owner like Mannie Tompkins, Barney Thompkins [any relation ?], and Clyde Smith before his defining stint with the Martin Riiska Yellow X in 1958.

 
McDowell Photo
Courtesy of Amy Garrison Dauski
A much younger Doug Garrison, in the 1950's.

         He would later drive a Gordon Ross car before buying it, modifying it, and pretty much ending his career with it. He was a champion, a multi- feature winner, and a good money earner for whomever he was driving. Many argue he was one of New York's top three drivers of all time. It's about time he got his own page. Many of his photos are kept alive not only by daughter Amy but in the Ross Collection, maintained by Ginny Ross.

EARLIER YEARS 

McDowell Photo via Ken Gypson Maybe Doug's first car. Could be the Mannie Tompkins entry.	Via Amy Garrison Dauski Doug in action at Greenport Speedway with that same car.	Courtesy of Amy Garrison Dauski via Joe Grossetti Doug drove this car at Greenport, Coxsackie, Rhinebeck, Stateline, and other venues.	George Morgan Photo via Donna K Mateer and Joe Grossetti A win at Greenport or Coxsackie.	McDowell Photo via Ken Gypson Doug and the 5 car at Stateline. This car is likely why he ended his career with a car #5.	Courtesy of Joe Grossetti Victory Lane at Coxsackie.
Courtesy of  Amy Garrison Dauski via J. Grossetti Doug inVic Lane at Coxsackie with the 5 car.	via L.V. Classics Doug wins one in the Clyde Smith VS car.	McDowell Photo via Phil Miller The first time Doug drove a former Gordon Ross car - the #99 Thompkins entry seen here at Rhinebeck.	McDowell Photo via Chris Companion Doug and Barney at Rhinebeck with Jim Brush and driver George Welch.	Courtesy of Chris Companion Doug follows Welch in this Stateline race start.	Via AutoOrb.com Doug in Rhinebeck Vic Lane with the Thompkins car.
McDowell Photo via Phil Miller Wearing a helmet reminiscent of his early car, DOug poses with the Barney Thompkins 99.	Courtesy of  Amy Garrison Dauski Doug in Vic Lane in what is obviously cold weather.	Courtesy of  Amy Garrison Dauski Doug and Barney with a young Uncle Art Stuarts.	Courtesy of  Sam Barlow Doug  an early Pine Bowl car. [Quite blurry]	George Morgan Photo via Donna K Mateer and Joe Grossetti A win at  Coxsackie.	Garrison Family Collection A rare pavement trophy from Empire Raceway.
		Joe Connors Photo Doug drove for Cliff Wright and the Zautner brothers, as well.

THE DEFINING RIISKA YEARS 

Source Unknown Doug poses with the crossfire - powered Martin Riiska Yellow X sedan .	Via Arnie Ainsworth An iconic posed shot of Doug and the sedan.	Courtesy of L. Valley Classics Martin Riiska is seen gesturing behind Doug in this shot.	Walter Mateer Photo The X at Langhorne.	Courtesy of the Starin Family Doug shown in the Langhorne program as the rep from the Valley.	Courtesy of Joe Grossetti Victory Lane at Coxsackie.
From Dan Ody's 8MM Old Speedways DVD's  Doug and the sedan are captured in this 8MM frame from the Valley.	Via Amy G. Dauski Doug is in this wreck at the Valley with several late model - bodied competitors.	NESCOT Calendar Another iconic posed shot of Doug and the sedan.	Via International  Motorsport News Self-explanatory.	Uncle Art's Book Photo  Doug as 1963 valley champ.	Source Unknown Doug finishes a qualifer at the 1961 Valley show at the fairgrounds in Rutland, VT.
From Dan Ody's 8MM Old Speedways DVD's  Doug and the sedan are captured in this 8MM at Victoria.	Via Amy G. Dauski Self - explanatory.	Courtesy of L. Valley Classics Martin Riiska had a coupe Doug drove; it may have been before the sedan.	Ray Williams Photo Martin Riiska's coupe in Vic Lane.	Jack Hedstrom Photo via Chas Hertica Doug, in action at Langhortne.	Walter Mateer Photo Via Amy G. Dauski Doug, after the races with a beer, a ciggy, and probably Amy.
		Credits Shown Doug at Langhorne with the coupe.	Via Amy G. Dauski Doug with Howie Westervelt in Vic Lane.

THE GORDON ROSS YEARS 

Via Arnie Ainsworth Once primarily a pavement car, the famous Gordon Ross 19 ended up with Doug  on the Valley clay.	Via Amy G. Dauski  A win with the Ross car.	Courtesy of Lew Boyd Another Ross 19 win.	McDowell Photo via Chas Hertica Doug apparently drove for Gordon Ross in earlier years, too. This is at the Pine Bowl.	Courtesy of A. Ainsworth Doug , maybe at Langhorne.	Via Amy G. Dauski  A good view of the powerplant in the Ross car.
		Via Norm Vadnais  Different  motor, same result.

THE LATER YEARS 

Via Norm Vadnais  Doug eventually bought the Ross car and modified it to his own ideas.	Via Argonrcn Images The former Ross car at one of the big season - ending races.	Courtesy of Norm Vadnais Another Garrison 19 win.	Ross Collection Via Dave Dykes Pose with the modified car.	Via Argonrcn Images The former Ross car at one of the big season - ending races.	Via Arnie Ainsworth Eventually the car was repainted and dubbed with one of Doug's old numbers.
Courtesy of A. Ainsworth Same car, a variation in graphics	Via Arnie Ainsworth Closeup with the blue car.	Via Amy G. Dauski  A win and a cake.	Courtesy of Luke Bedell Via L. Valley Classics One homely car - but fast.	Via Amy G. Dauski  Leaving home.	Via Amy G. Dauski  Cover of the Valley program.
Via Amy G. Dauski  Garrison family in Vic Lane.	Via Amy G. Dauski  A win with the blue car crew.	Via L. valley CLassics The former Ross car in a lineup at the Valley behind Lew Boyd	Via Amy G. Dauski  Racing Bill Wilson.	Via Amy G. Dauski  Smiling out of his car.	Via Amy G. Dauski  With wife, Beverly.
	Hertha Berberwyck Collection Via Lew Boyd  Doug with his own 5.	Via Amy G. Dauski  Doug with the Hellwig car after his own 5.	Via Amy G. Dauski  Doug with the Hellwig car after his own 5.