For reasons that should seem obvious in post World War II America, many earlier stock cars had number designations like WWII military aircraft. The Loomises, a trucking family out of Granville, NY, were heavily into this numbering of stock cars from as early as they began fielding their own cars. The family had been involved with fellow Granvillite Ted Vogel, Sr. with cars numbered LV, LVJr, and so forth [L for Loomis; V for Vogel]. It is said they even had involvement in the race track in North Granville run by the Wilson family - Mettawee Speedway.

Vogel Collection Ted Vogel, Sr. with one of the earliest Loomis/Vogel cars - the LV13 at Pico Raceway.	Vogel Collection Hard to make out: either Ken Shoemaker or Ted with the earlier Loomis/Vogel LV13 at Pico.	Vogel Collection The earlier Loomis/Vogel LV13 on a Loomis truck somewhere.	Vogel Collection What is likely the end of the Loomis/Vogel LV13. -  either at Mettawee or Pico.	Vogel Collection Ken Shoemaker with a win in the Loomis/Vogel LVJr. maybe at Mettawee.	Vogel Collection The Loomis/Vogel LVJr. - maybe at home.
	Vogel Collection Ken Shoemakerin a serious pose with the Loomis/Vogel LVJr. - at the Vogel home.	Vogel Collection via Otto Graham Ken Shoemaker in the Loomis/Vogel LVJr. - maybe at Mettawee.	Vogel Collection Mrs. Vogel with the Loomis/Vogel LVJr. -	Vogel Collection The Loomis/Vogel LVJr. - likely at Mettawee

      Eventually, the Loomises began to field their own cars, which seemed to center around P38 and P38, Jr. - utilizing driver Nelson Moore, from around the Fort Edward or Hudson Falls area. I now know that the earIiest Loomis cars wee apparetnly driven by someone named Ward Latterall, as his name comes up in 1951 and 1952 race clippings. I lose track of them as racing died out after 1952. They re-appeared in 1962 when C.J. Richards re-opened Fairmont Speedway. Now driving their own cars, the family came out with immaculate coupes numbered P61. I still don't have all of it straight, but there was Bob Loomis, Jerry Loomis, and Stub Loomis whom I can recall.

Rutland Daily Herald This 1951 results list shows the P38, named with Latterall as driver at Pico Raceway.	McDowell Photo Courtesy of Phil Miller Nelson Moore with early Loomis P38 at Stateline Speedway. This could very well be Ward Latterall, too although it looks like Nelson.	Courtesy of Bud Brooks A very early Loomis P38Jr. at Fairmont Park Motor Speedway, Fair Haven, VT.	Courtesy of Mark LeFrancois A very early Loomis P38 at Pico Raceway. Latterall is the likely driver.	Courtesy of Mark LeFrancois Same day at Pico Raceway. Hooking up to go home.	Rutland Daily Herald This 1951 article mentions Latterall as driver. He doesn't see, tp appear in 1952. Might be when Moore took over.
	Rutland Daily Herald This 1951 article shows both sides of the Granville contingent feaatured above. Latterall had the Loomis car, and Vogel had his own car by then.	Rutland Daily Herald This 1951 results list shows Latterall. It also shows Bill Anderson with the Romano 33 while Al has the new 303 Bumblebee car.	Rutland Daily Herald This 1952 article shows Nelson Moore, who must have replaced Latterall by that time.	Rutland Daily Herald This 1952 article from two weeks later shows Nelson Moore, who must have eplaced Latterall by that time. Then there are no more references at Pico or Fairmont.

     The Loomis cars evolved from that first 1938 coupe, to a '36 or '37 Chevy called the P38. That  was quickly changed another white P61. That car was later lowered as P61 and eventually ended up all red and numbered 111. By this time, Moore was back as driver. Later on, family members racing included Kenny and Bruce Loomis [who used the number 111 often].  

Ladabouche Photo The first Loomis P61 at the VT State Fair show in 1962.	From Dan Ody's 8MM Old Speedways DVD's The first Loomis P61 at speed at Fairmont Speedway.	From Dan Ody's 8MM Old Speedways DVD's The first Loomis P61 comes out in a 1962 lineup at Fairmont Speedway.	Courtesy of LaFond Family Whichever Loomis was driving at the fair show checks on the condition of Ken Delong after Delong plowed into the rear of the P61, knocking it out of the action.	From Dan Ody's 8MM Old Speedways DVD's The first Loomis P61 at seen at Fairmont Speedway in the left foreground, 1962.	From Dan Ody's 8MM Old Speedways DVD's The first Loomis P61 at speed at Fairmont Speedway. He takes to the inside behind Lee Rivers' 26 and the 27 of Rosie Rosendahl
Ladabouche Photo In 1963, this car came out as the final P38.	Ladabouche Photo Later in 1963, the  car was changed back to the P61 scheme.	Courtesy of Barb Laduc That second P61, showing some of the guys. Nelson had returned as driver.	Ladabouche Photo The 2nd P61 came back lowered in 1964.	Ladabouche Photo Later in 1964 the team inexplicably ditched the color scheme, the airplane number theme - but kept Moore. The car was very fast.	Courtesy of Norm Vadnais Nelson is showing some considerable tightness in this 1964 Fairmont shot.
Courtesy of Barb Laduc That second P61, around 1964.	Rutland Herald August 27, 1962. Team driver ID'd as "Bill" Loomis. That may or may not be correct.	Rutland Herald May 21, 1963. Team driver is said to be Bob Loomis, which i think is more accurate.	Rutland Herald May 18, 1964. Team driver then was Nelson Moore, and the car was the lowered red 111.	Rutland Herald Sep.7, 1964. Team driver then was Nelson Moore, and the car was the lowered red 111.	There are numerous references to Nelson Moore having successful runs in both 1965 and 1966 articles, but I am fairly sure he was no longer running Loomis cars after 1964.

        The Loomis cars seemed to phase out during the earlier Devil's Bowl era [or I just stopped going there as much as I was heavily involved in teaching up North by then]. I have several earlier Loomis photos and Bruce supplied later ones.

Courtesy of Norm Vadnais Bruce Loomis [shown here at Devil's Bowl] kept the red 111 theme..

Courtesy of Bruce Loomis A Devil's Bowl win.

Bob Frazer Photo Courtesy of Bruce Loomis Another D Bowl pose.

Ladabouche Photo A Bruce Loomis car is seen at right here.

R Courtesy of Bruce Loomis Bruce and Herb Trombley with a different look car.

Courtesy of Bruce Loomis Bruce had this one in with his stock stuff.

Rutland Herald
Bruce Loomis is mentioned in this July 27, 1970 article from Devil's Bowl

Return to the Main Page
Return to the Main News Page
    Return to the All Links Page
    Return to the New York Drivers and Owners Link Page