GORDY OWEN An Early Racing Pioneer in Northern Vermont

One of the very earliest regular race drivers in the Champlain Valley was a tall guy named Gordy Owen. He helped pioneer stock car racing, along with the likes of legendary Jackie Paterson. Owen is best known for hooking up with Burlington potato wholesaler Ralph Bushey and driving the early version of Bushey's SPUD 19 cars. Owen was closely allied with the racing efforts of both Ralph Bushey and Bob Bushey, whose relation to Ralph is not clear to me. To show what regard Gordy was held in, he was chosen as the driver of Art Barry's modified cut-down car #909 out of Connecticut when some races were held at the Champlain Valley Exposition in the 1950's.

Owen Family Photo
Owen went on to race his own #31 at places like Colchester-Bayview Speedway [Malletts Bay], Harvey Moody's informal Colchester Raceway, and Ivanhoe Smith's Green Mountain Speedway near Essex. It is also thought that, when Bob Pratt brought Jack DuBrul's Daytona Pontiac Bonneville to the Otter Creek Speedway in 1962, it was actually Gordy who drove the over-powered, too-heavy monster against prominent NASCAR sportsman drivers from New York.

Owen Family Photo Mrs. Ralph Bushey [lft] and Mrs. Gordy Owen ride in the "hauler" on the way to a race somewhere.	Owen Family Photo Ready to roll again.	Owen Family Photo By the car in the infield at Smitty's track, Colchester Raceway.	Owen Family Photo Ralph Bushey [rt] and Gordy Owen with Mrs. O. on the roof.	Owen Family Photo Mrs. Ralph Bushey [lft] and Mrs. Gordy Owen
Owen Family Photo Gordy Owen 31 on an undetermined track.	Owen Family Photo In the pits somewhere. The car is probably the future Spud 19 of Bob Bushey.	Owen Family Photo Getting a push - probably a jump start.	Owen Family Collection This is thought to be Mrs. Owens, off to the races. The older lady could be Gordy's mother.	Owen Family Collection Gordy and the owner of his regular car, Ralph Bushey.
Bushey Family Collection via Jack Anderson Gordy, at speed, with the first Ralph Bushey car at Dog River Speedway, Northfield, VT.	Owen Family Collection The familiar 31, at Malletts Bay Raceway, apparently having a private practice. Check the stands.	Owen Family Collection The familiar 31, at some Colchester track, apparently having a private practice. Gordy and wife confer with an unidentified man.	Owen Family Collection Mrs. Owen checks out the car in the same setting as the previous 2 shots.	Owen Family Collection Gordy and Ralph Bushey.
Bushey Family Collection via Jack Anderson Gordy, Bob Pratt, and an unidentified man.	Evans Knapp Photo Owen Family Collection Gordy and the owner of the car 909 pose on the car after races somewhere in Canada.	Evans Knapp Photo Owen Family Collection Gordy and the owner of the car 909 pose after a race - probably at Bouvrette or Noel Speedway in Canada.	Studio Jean Photo Owen Family Collection A win at Noel Speedway in Quebec. Ralph Bushey [white shirt and cigar], Bob Pratt [Ralph's left], Gordy [Ralph's right], trophy queen, and Speedway President [White T Shirt] I've seen other 1950's stars like PappyForsyth with that tee shirt.	Bushey Family Collection Gordy and Bob Bushey enjoy a post race beer, with Mrs. Gordy close by.
Ladabouche Photo Owens friend, Bob Pratt stands with his super speedway Pontiac that he had Gordy try out at Otter Creek. It was too heavy.	Owen Family Collection Ralph Bushey pushing the 31 with Gordy nearby.	Owen Family Collection Gordy buckling up.	Owen Family Collection Gordy on the pole in a heat race at what looks like Smitty's Colchester Raceway. That's Jackie Peterson in the rear and the 7 of Buddy Barnes in the pits.	Owen Family Collection A large post race crowd around the 31.
Owen Family Collection Gordy directs the tow truck at an undetermined track.	Owen Family Collection Gordy in a race lineup with cars from Chittenden County and locals, but this at Veterans' Park a horse track in Newport, VT.	Owen Family Collection Gordy heads out onto an undetermined track. Could be Malletts Bay or Colchester Raceway.	Bushey Family Collection via Jack Anderson Gordy testing out the first Ralph Bushey Car at Harvey Moody's Green Mt track. This likely 1950.	Bushey Family Collection via Jack Anderson Gordy testing out the first Ralph Bushey Car at Harvey Moody's Green Mt track.
	Jack Peterson Collection Gordy poses with friend and racing rival Jackie Peterson.	H. Baker Family Collection via Bill Baker Gordy poses for a shot as Harold "Cannonball" Baker, a rival driver is one of the men checking out his car.	Owen Family Collection 1954.