THE ROERIG BROTHERS 99

Bob Mackey Photo Courtesy of Mike Watts, Sr.

     From the first time I got a ride to Malta as a kid, there has always been a gold #99 car running from the Round lake, NY area. In fact, veteran Don Antolick first brought a 1955 Ford to Devil's Bowl to run in the late model show there before I ever found my way to Malta. The names of the owners of this team have been massacred over the years by racing writers who are better at describing chassis setups than they are spelling. Roerig, Roehrig, and even O'Rourke have been tried when writing stories about the team which produced cars in several divisions for years.

    In the Fonda history book, Boyd, Fusco, and Rigney went with the spelling - Roerig, and that's good enough for me. I remember having a photo or two that showed the Roerigs, who were alos proprietors of the Grand Prix truck stop complex, just off the Northway, in Round Lake; but, I am not sure if I can retrieve those. The team started out with Antolick as driver, spent several years with Ken Platt, and then had long stints with Maynard Forrette and Rene Charland. I can't seem to determine when they stopped fielding cars. It was apparently during my lengthy hiatus from racing from 1987 to 2005.

    At any rate, I figured the team made enough of an impact in racing in their area to warrant a page. Besides, just surviving years of Cyclone and the Champ should have earned them something, if not a Purple Heart.

Ladabouche Collection Ken Platt goes by a spinning Jerry Pennock as former Roerig driver Don Antolick pursues in his own car.	John Grady Photo Ken Platt, with another Roerig entry. This one looks more like it's meant for dirt.	Bob Mackey Photo Courtesy of John ROck Ken Platt, at Airborne, with what might be the first Roerig modified or sportsman car.	Ladabouche Photo By the late 1960's the team had secured Maynard Forrette, who had some tempestuous seasons at Fonda and other tracks with this little coupe. Here, they arrive at Catamount for an All Star League race around 1970.	Courtesy of Mike Pa Maynard and the coupe.
Courtesy of Phil Butler Forrette, at Airborne.	Chrome Horn Photo Although it is still with the coupe, this supposedly Charland.	Courtesy of Mike Pa Forrette with the coupe at Riverside. Likely, this is one of the All Star League races.	Lebanon Valley Classics Steve Luse had a brief stint with the team, This is at the Valley with that same car.	Lebanon Valley Classics Steve Luse had a brief stint with the team, This is at the Valley with that same car.
Courtesy of Ron Wetzler This may be the only shot that shows the Roerigs. Clearly, Charland had the coupe.	Joel Naprstek Photo Charland, at Ken Shoemaker's Cairo track with the coupe.	Courtesy of Mark Charland Moustache pose.	Courtesy of C.Hertica Charland at Fonda with the coupe.	Source Unknown The Roerig Gremlin in the Charland era.
Courtesy of Ron Wetzler More champ.	Courtesy of Ron Wetzler More champ.	Courtesy of Mark Charland A feature win at Fonda. Charland still has it, at this time.	Courtesy of Mark Charland Some sort of an extra award at the Fonda win .	Courtesy of Mike Pa Gremlin pose. [And he was a gremlin !]

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