THE RIDGE RUNNER RACING TEAM The Legacy of Fred Searing

THE RIDGE RUNNER RACING TEAM
The Legacy of Fred Searing, Oak Hill, NY

The history of the Ridge Runner Racing Team is synonymous with the history of Lebanon Valley Speedway. Fred Searing was not a particularly large man, but his legacy and effect on the New Lebanon, NY speedway is very significant. Today, there are probably still descendants of his family and of the drivers he helped bring along in the sport.

Cavalcade of Auto Racing Photo

Fred, during the Valley period when everyone was going to the late model body.

It started out, in Oak Hill, NY, most likely with just Fred, himself. The team made a trademark for itself with the solid white cars with a distinctive style of red numerals on the sides. I first saw Fred [and his first hired driver Johnny Flach] at the Rutland Fairgrounds show of 1960, staged by the Lebanon Valley organization. I clearly recall Flach because the announcer, Uncle Art Stuart, had made particular reference to the light on a stick, mounted on Flach's roof. Flach was later announced in the Rutland Herald as preapring to attend the first show at Fairmont Speedway in 1962; but, much to my disappointment, he never showed.

Photo Source Unknown
Johnny Flach [center] with Fred's son, Louie [right] and probably a young Stan Wetmore.

Rutland Herald Photo
Johnny Flach poses with fledgling promoter C.J. Richards in 1962.

The Ridge Runner Racing Team did make it to Fairmont - in the persons of Fred's son. Louie Searing and with Stan Wetmore, who had apparently taken over the 77 from Flach. Searing became a semi-regular at the Fair Haven, Vt. track for a couple of years - even making the cover of C. J.'s Fairmont calendar in 1964. Searing probably had many more drivers under his tutelage before he bowed out; but I only recall Fred, Louie, Flach, Wetmore, Mert Hulbert, and Barry Reynolds. Harold Montayne had a stint, as well.

FRED SEARING

From an Early Valley Program

Bob McDowell Photo via Phil Miller Fred Searing, Oak Hill, NY At Pine Bowl Speedway	Photo via Dan Ody Fred Searing, At Route 66 Speedway	Irv Conron Photo via Ken Gypson Fred Searing, Oak Hill, NY At Route 66 Speedway	Columbia Green Media News Fred Searing, in the lead. At Coxsackie Speedway	Walter Mateer Photo via Joe Grossetti Fred Searing, At Leb. Valley Speedway
Courtesy of Chas Hertica Joe Lawrence Collection Fred Searing, starting deep in an early Valley field.	Henry Ahlfs Photo Courtesy of Chas Hertica or Joe Grossetti Fred Searing, At Onteora Speedway	George Taylor Photo Courtesy of Donna K Mateer via Joe Grossetti Fred Searing, winning inaugural race At Coxsackie Speedway	From Dan Ody's 8MM Old Speedways DVD's Fred, out of shape at Route 66 Speedway.

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JOHNNY FLACH

Courtesy of the LaFond Family
Johnny Flach apparently ran at least one Fairmont program for C.J. Richards.

Ladabouche Collection
Rutland Herald Photo
Flach, with Fairmont promoter
C.J. Richards.

Cavalcade Photos
Johnny Flach,
E. Westerlo, NY
1962 Valley Champ

Virginia Winne Decker Collection
via Chas Hertica
Johnny Flach,

1962 Valley WIn

Photo Source Unknown
Johnny Flach [center] with Fred's son, Louie [right] and probably a young Stan Wetmore.

Ladabouche Photo
Flach [ctr] at the
NESCOT breakfast
in Watervliet around
2007.

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LOUIE SEARING

Dick Britain Photo

Val Blicarcz Photo
Louie Searing,
Oak Hill, NY

Mel Ogden Photo
via Midstate Club
Lou Searing,
Oak Hill, NY
At Midstate Spdwy, Morris, NY

Bob Frazier Photo
Louie leads the way at Fairmont
around 1965.

Ted Vogel, Jr Photo
Louie's crew packs
up around 1964.

From Dan Ody's 8MM
Old Speedways DVD's
Car 431 is said to be Lou,
At Devil's Bowl, 1967. In the bottom
shot he leads old team mate
Mert Hulbert.

Photo Courtesy of Chris Companion
Louie Searing,
later car - Valley

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THE WETMORES

Chas Hertica Photo via Lebanon Valley Classics

Ladabouche Photo Stan Wetmore, Oak Hill, NY	Dick Britain Photo Stan Wetmore is near the front and Lou Seating in the middle of this loaded heat at Fairmont in 1964.	A. Ainsworth Photo Stan Wetmore, Oak Hill, NY	A. Ainsworth Photo Stan Wetmore, Oak Hill, NY Bernie Darling 70	Arnie Ainsworth Photo Donnie Wetmore, Oak Hill, NY Note the Number
Walt Mateer Photo via Joe Grossetti Stan Wetmore, Pit Area	via Harold Achzet Stan Wetmore, said to be at Fonda.	Chas Hertica Photo Stan Wetmore, with a Tobias car. _{Leb.Valley Classics}	Marcial Farrell Wetmore Coll via Chas Hertica Said to be the first Stan Wetmore car, the former Joe Lawrence '55 Chevy. I would think the Searing 77 was before.	Mel Ogden Photo via Midstate Club Stan Wetmore and Lou Searing at Midstate Speedway, Morris, NY.

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MERT HULBERT

Mike Shaub Photo Chas Hertica Photo

Arnie Ainsworth Photo Mert Hulbert, Oak Hill, NY	LadabouchePhoto Mert Hulbert, Fairmont, 1965	Cavalcade of Racing Photo via Chas Hertica Mert Hulbert Oak Hill, NY With the 55 Chevy Fred used to run.	Courtesy of Mike Bruno Mert Hulbert, Oak Hill, NY His own 78 late model that would become the Joe Lawrence 16.	Courtesy of Mike Bruno Mert Hulbert, Oak Hill, NY Devil's Bowl fan club.
Courtesy of Bob Ely Mert Hulbert, Oak Hill, NY This former Dexter Dorr car would propel him to the 1967 Devil's Bowl title, with a little help.	Bob Frazier Photo Courtesy of Bob Kilburn Mert Hulbert, The former Dexter Dorr car is in primer because irt burned. He seemed to be faster after the fire. _{Ladabouche Collection}	_{Bob Frazier Photo Mert Hulbert, The car right before the fire.}	_{Otto Graham Collection Mert Hulbert, Middelebury, VT's John Danyow picked up Mert for sponsoirship after the fire. The team became doninant at Devil's Bowl.}	_{John Grady Photo Mert Hulbert,}The well - heeled team even experimemted with this Studebaker but it ended up being very cranky and was soon abandoned.