RACING AT THE EASTERN STATES EXPOSITON 

       To those of us in New England, or, in fact, the Northeast, one of the biggest annual events was the Eastern States Exposition, a sort of grand fair for the entire region.   Located in West Springfield, Massachusetts, the expostion's track was close to the racing center of Agawam and was within an easy towing distance of dozens of tracks, most of whom featured the southern New England style pavement modified car. The exposition shows never quite got to the fame and notoriety of a Trenton, Syracuse, or Langhorne, but they were big deals, indeed. I didn't want to take time out, right now, to research the years of the race or when the old track was removed for more parking around expo buildings which are used nearly year around now.

CowCard.Com Site Photo
The grounds and part of the track in the glory days of the Eastern States races.

CowCard.Com Site Photo
A 1965 photo of the Eastern States infield. The Garuti 28 and the Gaudiosi 44 are familiar to me.

 
Courtesy of sweet7
A photo of the last race ever at the Eastern States Expo track. Many cars are familiar here.

Courtesy of Tony Mordino Jr A feature start at the track in 1966. Gallulo's 43 and the Czepiel 888 are seen up front.	Courtesy of Tony Mordino Jr This could be from the same race at left. Gallulo's 43 chases the Jarb Beaudoin 500 with Tony Mordino, Sr.	Courtesy of Dave Dykes A feature lineupat the track in 1950's. Southerner "Dink" Widenhouse's B29 is up front.	Courtesy of John Grady A three - wide feature start in an undetermined year. It was so rare to see a paved fairground track like this.	Courtesy of John Grady Lining up one year's feature event.	Off Racers' Bored Site An open wheel start in the 1950's.
Courtesy of Dave Dykes Bill Greco with Car owner Jarb Beaudoin in Victory Lane.	Courtesy of George Hill A very strange mixture of car types all in one race.	Courtesy of Gordon Ross Family A '50's feature lineup with Gordon Ross 19 visible.	Courtesy of Gordon Ross Family A '50's feature lineup from same race as at left..	Courtesy of Ron Hoffer A 1960 feature lineup.	Unidentified Internet Source Tommie Sutcliffe at Eastern States.
Courtesy of sweet7 Bugsy Stevens, 1970ish. Boehler coupe.	John Grady Photo via Tom Ormsby and Dave Dykes Charlie Glazier at the ESE	C&F Photo Rene Charland, with the Czepiel 888 supposedly at the Expo grounds.	John Grady Photo via Tom Ormsby and Dave Dykes Charlie Glazier at the ESE again.	Courtesy of sweet7 Billy Greco, 1970. Looks like newer barriers.	Courtesy of sweet7 Don Flynn, Flying 25
Ladabouche Collection A crowd view of the 1968 race.	Courtesy of sweet7 Somebody with the Garuti 14.	John Grady Photo via Tom Ormsby and Dave Dykes Tom Vining at the ESE.	John Grady Photo via Tom Ormsby and Dave Dykes Johnny King Cambino at the ESE.	Courtesy of sweet7 Supposedly Big Ed Patnode in a late model at ESE.	Ladabouche Collection Ernie "Fats" Caruso on the track at the 1968 program. He may have won.
Ladabouche Collection Much of the race lineup for 1968, well labeled.	Ladabouche Collection Ed Patnode, with the same car shown at right.	Grady Photo via Ton Ormsby and Dave Dykes Ed Patnode, posing with the familiar 4X.	Ladabouche Collection Bob Stefanik at the 1968 race with an early version of John Rosati's Frantic Ford 36.	Courtesy of Ron Wetzler The Elm Garage Falcon on the track at ESE. I think it's Dick Dixon.	Blogspot Photo A 1950's view. with part of the track.
Courtesy of Jimmie's Old Time Racing Another lineup.	Courtesy of Dave Dykes The winning Bill Greco team is decked out for the occasion.	Courtesy of Dave Dykes Bob Tausher, with an early ride at ESE.	Shaney Lorenzent Photo Courtesy of Dave Dykes The winning Jerry Humiston is joined in ESE Victory Lane by Harvey Tattersall, Jr.	Courtesy of Dave Dykes Johnny Lobo at ESE	Courtesy of Dave Dykes Billy Greco and Jarb Beaudoin take an ESE race.

Undetermined Source
A 1929 race crowd at the "spo". What do you supposed they were going to watch ?

Courtesy of Crystal Snape

From RAF on HAMB Early infield pit lineup at ESE.	From RAF on HAMB Early coupes on the dirt at ESE.	C and F Photos Joe Wilcox at ESE.	C and F Photos This is likely Jack Lecuyer in the Leo Matte 92.	Courtesy of Dave Dykes Billy Greco with the Jarb Beaudoin 500.	Courtesy of Mario Fiore Very likely this one of the ESE pace cars.
Courtesy of Mario Fiore A lineup for one of the big races.	Unknown Source A lineup for one of the big races.	Courtesy of Larry LaClaire A nice color lineup photo with the Matte 92, Caruso, Patnode, and others.	Courtesy of Dave Dykes Joe Paleski.	Courtesy of Edw. B. Brown III Fred DeSarro with a decent - looking version of Boehler's 3.	Unknown Source An unidentified driver at ESE.

Courtesy of Ken Moeller
The 1968 Lineup.

From Historic Aerials.com
A 1957 aerial of the track when it was still intact.

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