I recall first hearing the name Joe Messina the first time when  Lebanon Valley put on a race show at the Vermont State Fair in September of 1961. That may be the first for me, but the career of Joe Messina extended well beyond that. Joe began racing around the many tracks near Troy, NY in the 1950's and went on to compete into the 1970's, having some of his best days with his last gig, with the Ken Tremont 115 team.

               Messina was a regular at the Pine Bowl Speedway, showing a strong preference to Hudsons, but he ran many other cars and at many other tracks in a long career.

Courtesy of Joe Grosetti

EARLIER DAYS

Courtesy of Phil Miller Joe winning with an early sedan.	Courtesy of Roger Liller The end of that early sedan. Not a great looking cage, Joe.	From Dan Ody's 8MM Old SPeedways DVD's Joe with the sedan at Pine Bowl.	Courtesy of Roger Liller Driving the last Bob Hackel, Sr car at Pine Bowl.	Courtesy of Roger Liller Joe apparently had a stint with the CT - based Godio 12 at Pine Bowl.	From Sam Barlow Another Messina ride from the earlier days. Very likely the first Leto car.	Ed Ryan Collection via Roger Liller and Chas Hertica Winning at Pine Bowl with the Stokes 41..
		From Sam Barlow A Messina Victory Lane at Empire with tons of girls.	From Uncle Art's Book via Chas Hertica A Messina Victory with Bill Scheffel's car.	Courtesy of Roger Liller Joe with the famed Sukup midget.

THE HUDSONS

Courtesy of Roger Liller Building a Hudson in Troy.	From Bob Barber The Al "Pop" Green Hudson, when fairly new.	From Ken Gypson Joe with the Green Hudson later on.	Bob Frazier Photo From Ed Fabian Joe with the Green Hudson at Fairmont.	From Sam Barlow A blurry one of the Pop Green team.	From LVC The very familiar maroon #13.	From Sam Barlow Another Messina Hudson, usually seen in maroon - at Pine Bowl.
Chuck Ely Photo From LVC The very familiar maroon #13.	From Arnie Ainsworth A very late version of the maroon Hudson, judging from wheels and driving apparel.	Rene Webb Collection From Chas Hertica The brain trust for the 13 Hudson. I don't know the owner's name yet.	From Joe Grossetti Joe with the maroon car on some program page.	Walter Mateer Photo From Joe Grossetti via Chas Hertica Someone caught checking out the Messina Hudson.	From Sam Barlow Another Messina maroon Hudson shot.	From Sam Barlow The Cadillac power in full view at the Tydol station.

THE TREMONT YEARS

Courtesy of Sam Barlow Joe seems to have  joined the Tremonts when they built the Falcon.	From Arnie Ainsworth Happily ensconced in the Tremont Falcon.	Bob Frazier Photo Joe with Danny Rumpf at Devil's Bowl.	Bob Frazier Photo From Marty Kelly, Jr. Joe with a similar D Bowl pose to the one at far left.	Ken Goad Photo via Chas Hertica A shot with Wally Warburton's car behind Joe. WW had bought that car from the Tremonts.	From Arnie Ainsworth The Tremont team: Ken Sr at far left and Joe at far right.	Bob Ramnudo Photo From Chas Hertica Arriving at Middletown with the Falcon.
			Ken Goad Photo via Chas Hertica Another win with the Tremonts.

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