The Kotary brothers, from Rome, NY, were very familiar names in central New York racing - particularly in the 1950's and 1960's. The family did participate in the 1970's somewhat, as well but the bulk of their efforts were in the decades before. Clifford "Cliff" Kotary, one of the older of a large family, was the first to race and definitely the best known. The Name Kotary may have come from the name Khotari, but I have no absolute basis for that suspician. Cliff, who holds the distinction of winning the big Syracuse race six straight years  [unprecedented] was often assisted mechanically by brother, Al.

      Younger brothers, Tom and Robbie also raced extensively, particularly at Utica - Rome Speedway and Fonda Speedway [but not exclusively there]. Tom, a World War II veteran, would first be widely known when he drove the Joe Romano 97, succeeding Herb Donleavy, Dutch Reed, and others. "Tiger" Tom would drive the car in New York and [where I saw him] in Vermont until Romano's son, Andy was ready to take the wheel around 1963. Tom also drove cars for the reknowned Hudosn
falls car owner Henry Caputo, as well as Hal Kempeny. Like all the brothers, he would take turns in the family race cars as well.

      Robbie, the youngest of the three racing brothers, also began in Kotary family cars. He would begin to make a name for himslf in Ward Petit's pink and white coupe the 148 at Fonda. Robbie would go on to have a considerable stint in Bill Fowler's 27Jr cars, after older veteran Ollie Palmer retired following a
hellacious crash at Fonda. Robbie had other rides, as well and was more focused on the asphalt than were the other two Kotarys.

      Later on, second generation driver Dave Kotary would drive, often running #60 cars - probably as a tribute to Cliff. I don't know who his father was.

CLIFF "The Copper City Cowboy" KOTARY Mike Dickinson Memorial Library   Courtesy of Midstate Club Early in the '50's [and in Cliff's career] - the Carollo 30 car. Courtesy of Midstate Club Cliff with Al Kotary's 188, which he drove at numerous locations from Canton to Rome to probably even Vermont.   Bob Danough Collection Midstate Club Chuck Kotwicka, of Utica shown here with the car 88. He was briefly a team mate to Cliff with this car.   Courtesy of Rick Parry Cliff with Al Kotary's 188, being towed into the high - paying St. Lawrence Valley Speedway  in Canton, in the '50's. Courtesy of Midstate Club Cliff with Al Kotary's 188, which he drove at numerous locations from Canton to Rome to probably even Vermont. Source Unknown Cliff in a pose with the Mike Suraske 10-10 Studebaker. Russ Bergh Photo Courtesy of Jo Towns via Otto Graham Cliff wins one with Mike Suraske's 10-10 at Fonda. He had a leg injury much of the time he drove this car - thus, the odd stance.   From Dan Ody's 8MM Old Speedways DVD's On the gas with the Suraske Studebaker at Stateline Speedway in Vermont. He's on the way to winning the big Don Hendenberg Memorial race there in the 1950's.   Lew Boyd Collectionn In Victory Lane at Stateline with Mrs. Don Hendenberg after  winning the memorial race. Obviously no bad leg yet.   Courtesy of Midstate Club Cliff and another Fonda win. I doubt the other man is Suraske.   Courtesy of Midstate Club Cliff Kotary at Syracuse inside of Nolan Swift.    Courtesy of Rick Parry A 1957 trophy from Stateline Speedway.   Courtesy of Rick Parry The rest of the 1957 trophy  from Stateline Speedway.   Courtesy of Midstate Club From the Syracuse era. Not as famous as his 60X car. Likely, still wrenched by Al.    Courtesy of Midstate Club On the track at Syracuse with Larry Nye.   Courtesy of Gerry LaVallee Not sure if Al was still the mechanic; he clearly didn't own this one.   Courtesy of Mike DIckinson Memorial Libray Cliff with one of the familiar 60X's.   Courtesy of Midstate Club This could possibly be Al Kotary.   Courtesy of Revelle family A trophy maybe from Watertown Speedway.   From the Jalopy Journal The legendary 60X car in Victory Lane somewhere. Quite the motor !    Courtesy of Midstate Club Entering Maple Grove Speedway, Waterloo, NY with one of Al's entries.    Courtesy of Midstate Club Cliff in Vic Lane with Sammy Reakes and Stella Sealey, whose late husband was being honored by that race.  Courtesy of the Midstate Club A jacket from the fan club.   Courtesy of Midstate Club This photo was simply labeled as "Confident Cliff".   Courtesy of Midstate Club Another version of the 60X.    Courtesy of Old Racers Free Servers.COm Kotary, with the 90.    Courtesy of Midstate Club The Copper City Cowboy.    Courtesy of Midstate Club Looks like something about Watertown Spdwy or Waterloo.    Courtesy of Midstate Club Victory Lane - maybe Syracuse.    Courtesy of Midstate Club Leading at Syracuse.    Courtesy of Midstate Club Sideways, at Waterloo.  Source Unknown Cliff in a car I know nothing about.    Courtesy of Midstate Club Kotary, as Utica - Rome flagger, presenting to Rene Charland during the latter's national championship era.     Courtesy of Midstate Club A 1964 trophy somewhere.   Courtesy of Midstate Club Kotary, as Utica - Rome flagger, presenting to a young Frank Mathalia.   Jeff Ackerman Photo Courtesy of Midstate Club The Kotary Special. Rod Nacewicz Photo Clowning around with Dracular in Ken Platt's car when he was flagger at Utica - Rome.    Courtesy of Midstate Club Kotary, as Utica - Rome flagger, presenting to Ed Flemke, Sr..    Source Unknown Restored coupe at the Saratoga Auto Museum.    Courtesy of Midstate Club The Kotarys, at a museum with a restored car of his.  ROBBIE Fireball Robbie KOTARY Mike Dickinson Memorial Library   Courtesy of Otto Graham Early in Robbie's career. I think this is the Al or David Kotary car. Courtesy of Jo Towns Via Otto Graham Robbie's section is pink because I tend to associate him with the Pink and white Ward Pettit 148. This Ford is a very early version, and obviously a successful one   Source Uncertain Likely a Russ Bergh Photo A really good shot of Robbie and the Pettit 148 at Fonda.   John Grady Photo Another Fonda shot. Courtesy of Bill Fifield Another win for the Fireball.   John Grady Photo A rare shot where the 148 is not pink.   Source Unknown A Victoria Speedway fan button popular in the 1960's.   Ladabouche Photo The well - used Pettit 148 flat towed into Fonda.   Ed Feuz Collection Another Fonda win.   Frank Simek Photo Frank Simek captured Robbie flying the checkers.   Courtesy of Dave Dykes A jaunty pose at Fonda.   Frank Simek Photo This Frank Simek shot shows Robbie's pentient for dressing to fit his ride.   Frank Simek Photo Robbie and the 148. Fom Dan Ody's 8MM Old Speedways DVD's Robbie and Skip Roots at Victoria.    Source Unknown Another 148 success.    Russ Bergh Photo Gater Racing News Near the end of the 148 run, Robbie would end up on top of one of his next rides, Dick Bennett's 71.    Courtesy of Alan Weaver Robbie drove this car on the pavement at Utica - Rome for a while.   Russ Bergh Photo After the 148, both Robbie and Tom took a turn with the Bill Fowler 27jr., succeeding Jolly Ollie Palmer.    John Grady Photo An extremely similar photo at Malta.    Source Unknown The Bill Fowler 27jr., during Robbie's tenure.    Courtesy of David Kilmartin Another shot showing Robbie's pentient for dressing to fit his ride. I remember him coming up into the stands with this outfit on to sit with his wife.   Courtesy of Arnie Ainsworth A Kotary family ride, at Utica - Rome.   Courtesy of Otto Graham This family car, which bore a striking resemblance to an early Ed Cloce coupe, was probably a tribute number to Cliff.   Courtesy of Rick Parry Robbie with Dick Bennett's 71 at Fonda.   Courtesy of Gerry LaVallee Robbie took a turn in the revolving door that was Dick Bennett's Bernie's Liquor Shop 71. TOM Tiger Tom KOTARY Internet Auction   Courtesy of Otto Graham Early in Tom's career. This is the Theron Moore 112, which he eventually wadded up. Courtesy of Jo Towns Via Otto Graham Tom had a turn with the Hal Kempeny 113, a former Dutch Hoag car that also saw Bill Wimble and Jim Luke as pilots.   Courtesy of Jo Towns Via Otto Graham Tom with the Hal k 113 at Fonda.   Russ Bergh Photo Ed Feuz Collection Tom had a stint with Hudson Falls owner Henry Caputo. This extraordinarily rare shot shows him, not Ken Shoemaker, with the 111, the team's best car. Russ Bergh Photo Ladabouche Collection Tom, with the Kotary family 12 at Fonda.   Russ Bergh Photo Conde & Parry Collection Tom, with the Kotary family 12 at Fonda. Looks like a feature win.   Russ Bergh Photo Bill Fifield Collection Tom, with the Joe Romano 97 out of Johnstown. This team is where I first saw Tom - driving it at Otter Creek Speedway in Vermont.   Courtesy of Blackjack Racing Tom, with the Romano bunch after an apparent win somewhere. I see an ad on the hood Tom must have arranged for the car.   Russ Bergh Photo Ladabouche Collection Only the Tiger would drive a sportsman coupe in a wife beater undershirt.   Russ Bergh Photo Ladabouche Collection Only the Tiger would drive a sportsman coupe in a wife beater undershirt.   Courtesy of Howard Benway Tom, with the 97. He would lose the car after Joe Romano turned the car over to son, Andy around 1963.   Courtesy of Rick Parry Tom, with an unfamiliar car - maybe at U - Rome. He's wearing his old Caputo team jacket. Russ Bergh Photo Ladabouche Collection Tiger Tom would succeed Ollie Palmer in Bill Fowler's 27jr. I don't think he got to drive the team's best equipment. Frank Simek Photo [Obviously] Another view. This was the last ride I know of for Tom. Robbie would replace him in the car. Frank Simek Photo [Obviously] Tom, at speed.

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