VICTORIA SPEEDWAY Dunnsville

Victoria was always the poor sister to the big tracks like Fonda and Lebanon Valley. In fact. for a few years, it was the only spot where teams from both speedways could meet one another in competition [the Fonda drivers having to use racing pseudonyms to avid trouble with the repressive NASCAR]. Victoria was a paperclip - shaped affair, meant only for horse racing. It suffered from terrible luck with the weather. Finally, in the mid 1960's, the track closed forever. Long - suffering promoter Lou D'Amico had had enough. It has a special place in the hearts of anyone involved in the sportsman racing scene in those days. Today, the site still shows up - clear as a bell - on aerial photos.

Poster Courtesy of Ken Gypson
The poster company couldn't quite manage to spell Dunnsville.

Layout Photos All Courtesy of Danny Ody
Backstretch view of Victoria Speedway when it was still active.

Nephew, Willie, two Kotarys, and Baumie ended up on ebay - not that any of them would have known what it was.

From the Schenectady Gazette
From the looks of the names, this is in the period when the track was NASCAR, so the local
smaller teams and the Lebanon Valley cars did not feel welcome.

Courtesy of the Jeep Herbert Family
A heat takes green. The 333 may be Ron Quackenbush; the 71 is likely
Lee Millington; Jeep Herbert may be fourth from left; and that is Chet Hames
on the flagstand.

Courtesy of the Jeep Herbert Family
Another heat takes green. The 40 Harold "Bugs Bunny" Betts; the 74 could be Wayne Coon
or Bob Ruchdeschel: the Red Knoblauch 13 is wheeled by Johnny Perry. The car on the inside is the
Richard Welch 77 [maybe George Baumgardner]; and Tony Villano's 37 is also
visible, with Pete Corey probably driving. Ya never knew at Victoria.

Courtesy of the Jeep Herbert Family
A 3rd heat takes green. The Bob Miller 49 is driven by Doc Blanchard;
that could be Oscar Porath in the 3; and the 111 is Ken Shoemaker.

Ladabouche Collection Jim Luke, Utica, NY The Pop Wilcox 32	HAMB Website Phil Spiak, Troy, NY	Cliff Wright Collection Ken Shoemaker, Westmere, NY The Cliff Wright 24	Wes Moody Collection Mike Michaels [Suraske], Oriskany, NY	Wes Moody Collection Wes "Slugger"Moody, Saranac Lake, NY
Courtesy of Steve Judd Andy Romano, Johnstown, NY	Courtesy of John Grady Pepper Eastman, Madison, NY The Bob Zimmerman 72	Ladabouche Collection Irv Taylor, Rexford, NY *His own car*	HAMB Website Jim Luke, Utica, NY *Godfrey Wentzel's 00*	Ladabouche Collection Ken Canestrari, Cohoes, NY
Courtesy of Bob Novak Jim Koehler Coventry, CT	Courtesy of John Grady Pepper Eastman, Madison, NY	Courtesy of Otto Graham Jeep Herbert Rotterdam, NY The Vince Barbuto 2	Cavalcade of Racing Ernie Gahan, Dover, NH *Koszella 15CT*	Romano Collection Andy Romano, Johnstown, NY Earlier than previous shot
		John Grady Photo Jerry Townley, Catskill, NY *Pop Wilcox 32*

Starin Fammily Collection
This assortment of passes and other items includes a Victoria Speedway pass.

Courtesy of Danny Ody
Cars pull off into the infield after a heat. 33, Wimble' 61, Danish; 40, George Janoski; unknown 23;
and 87 Lou Smith.

Courtesy of Otto Graham
A typical early Victoria start: 7-11, Frank Trinkhaus'; 62, Jeep Herbert; 61, Steve Danish; RU21, Link Pettit;
54, Willie Chest; and the JR Earl 1, Jeep Herbert.

Frame from Dan Ody's Vintage Tracks DVD
Chet Hames, the region's premier flagger, surveys the field at Victoria [probably after NASCAR
approved the track].

Herbert Family Photo
Jeep Herbert wrestles Frank Trinkhaus' heavy 1950 Chevy coupe as he tries to hold off Kenny Shoemaker
in the Chris Drellos 111. I doubt he could manage to keep the evil - handling beast ahead of Shoe, who had the
hottest car on the circuit at that time. NASCAR had allowed bigger motors in these later model cars;
but they wouldn't handle like the pre - WWII coupes.

John Grady Photo via Dave Dykes' Website
Towards the end of the track's life the fields were an eclectic mixture of whoever they coould attract to run there. This 1965 shot includes
Dexter Dorr [inside 2nd row], Jerry Townley [Pop Wilcox 32 renumbered 62], Dick Hansen [Tom Chewins 108], and George Proctor [rar right].
The Cross 47 may be outside car 34. That would likely be Jack Farquhar.

Ed Biitig Collection via the Fonda Book
A Victoria lineup from its best years: Lazzaro on pole, Gahan [15], Shoemaker [24, Andy Romano [97]
Stretch Van Steenberg [1], Bill Gurney [64], Bob Leach [M3]and Jerry Townley [108].

Historic Aerials Website
The Victoria site, as it looked from the air in 2006. The track is still used for horses, apparently.

Russ Bergh Photo
Jim Kelly Photo Coll.
Chet Hames flagged from the outside of the track at Victoria. This shows Ronnie Battaglia [232], Al Ristau, and 74 - either Bob Ruschdeschel or Wayne Coon.

Russ Bergh Photo Jim Kelly Photo Collection
This photo sequence shows some seldom - photographed entries: from left -61, Steve Danish; J1, John Madej; 109, Larry Norgrove; 43, Howie Fassett [striped hood];
148. Robbie Kotary; and maybe an early Bruce Dostal 69. It's more likely to be Ed Zykowski, in the Klonowski 69 out of Schenectady [an Irish team :) ]

Russ Bergh Photo Jim Kelly Photo Coll. Peppy Peppecelli, Schenectady, NY	Russ Bergh Photo Jim Kelly Photo Coll. Vince Quenneville, Sr, Whiting, VT	Russ Bergh Photo Jim Kelly Photo Coll. 113 Rebel Ross, Broadalbin, NY. *Someone has their hood in the way.*	Russ Bergh Photo Jim Kelly Photo Coll. Roger Gauthier, Fort Edward, NY *An early Joe Romano car.*	Russ Bergh Photo Jim Kelly Photo Coll. Roger Gauthier, Fort Edward, NY *It was a later Joe Romano car.*	Russ Bergh Photo Jim Kelly Photo Coll. George Baumgardner [left] in a scuffle in Ray VIne's 75 with Valley regular Schooch Schoonmaker at right.	Russ Bergh Photo Jim Kelly Photo Coll. Schooch Schoonmaker, Saugerties, NY. A Wright / Zautner car.
Russ Bergh Photo Jim Kelly Photo Coll. Andy Romano, in his first year, being re-arranged by Bill WImble.	Russ Bergh Photo Jim Kelly Photo Coll. Vince Barbuto, Jr. briefly tried dad's car before giving the seat up to Jeep Herbert.	Russ Bergh Photo Jim Kelly Photo Coll. A strange mixture of cars: Fonda regular Jeep Herbert [2], Accord regular John Henry [3], and Loren Holland [280].	Russ Bergh Photo Jim Kelly Photo Coll. Lou Lazzaro sails on as Robbie Kotary [148] and Jeep Herbert spin. Valley regular George Gowie is in the #1.	Russ Bergh Photo Jim Kelly Photo Coll. Neal Dunstan, Voorheesville, NY *Chased by Steve Danish.*	Russ Bergh Photo Jim Kelly Photo Coll. Wes "Slugger" Moody, Saranac Lake, NY *The young northern NY driver was rese nted by Fonda and Valley regulars alike. He didn't give a damn.*	Russ Bergh Photo Jim Kelly Photo Coll. Louie, looking at Blackie or Troup in Vic Lane.
Russ Bergh Photo Jim Kelly Photo Coll. Lazzaro with another Victoria trophy.	Russ Bergh Photo Jim Kelly Photo Coll. Lazzaro with another Victoria trophy, this one presented by Wimble.	Russ Bergh Photo Jim Kelly Photo Coll. Lazzaro with another Victoria trophy, this one presented by Chet Hames.	John Grady Photo via John Chris Grady Russ Bergh, being snapped himself.	Russ Bergh Photo Jim Kelly Photo Coll. Victoria action..can't make out the cars.	Russ Bergh Photo Jim Kelly Photo Coll. Victoria action..can't make out the cars.	Russ Bergh Photo Jim Kelly Photo Coll. Victoria action..somebody chasing Wimble, i think. Jim may have taken these shots himself.
Jim Kelly Photo Coll. Victoria action..looks like Lazzaro spinning, collecting the Vine 75 and Schoonmaker's 42.	Jim Kelly Photo Coll. The aftermath of the prededing spin: the Vine 75 and Schoonmaker's 42.	Jim Kelly Photo Coll. Victoria action.	Jim Kelly Photo Coll. Somebody'scar 30 did not fare well.	Jim Kelly Photo Coll. Victoria action.UNK white 96 leads the Chewins 108 with Karl Hauessel on the very outside and Bob Leach spinning.	Jim Kelly Photo Coll. Non NASCAR field. The only one I might recognize is Burl Jay's 67 from Pine Bowl.	Jim Kelly Photo Coll. Victoria action. That 78 that is in a lot of shots, along with maybe Lou Christopher in the 13.
Jim Kelly Photo Coll. This is said to be John Madej.	Jim Kelly Photo Coll. Someone in Dick bennett's 71 leads Jim Koehler, 31; Lefty Quant, 21B, and what looks like DIck Nephew's 6 in the back.	Jim Kelly Photo Coll. Victoria action..too blurred to ID.	Jim Kelly Photo Coll. Victoria action..too blurred to ID.	Jim Kelly Photo Coll. Victoria action..car rolls while the ever - present car 28 [maybe Harry Alexson] avoids.	Jim Kelly Photo Coll. Victoria infield and safety vehicles. There is another 28.	Jim Kelly Photo Coll. Victoria vic. lane, with Howie Westervelt.

Jim Kelly Photo Coll.
Victoria action. There's another of those 28's - either Alexson or maybe Bill Henry.
The 113 is probably Rebel Ross; I think Knoblauch was done by then.

Jim Kelly Photo Coll.
Bad quality photo said to show Earl Whitebeck in Victoria victory lane.

Jim Kelly Photo Coll.
Victoria pit meeting with Lou Lazzaro, Mr. Danish, and Ken Shoemaker.

Bob Novak Collection Roger Gauthier, Fort Edward, NY *Chas. Habreck* 53	Teresco Family Photos Jack Farquhar, Euphrata, NY Teresco & Mancini 685	Herbert Collection Photos Jeep Herbert, Rotterdam, NY The Vince Barbuto 2	Bob Novak Collection Blackjack DuBrul Shelburne, VT	Courtesy of John Grady Lou Lazzaro, Utica, NY
Ladabouche Collection Howie Westervelt, Ravena, NY The Cliff Wright 83	Herbert Family Photo Jeep Herbert, Rotterdam, NY The Frank Trinkhaus car	HAMB Photo Steady Eddie Flemke, New Britain, CT	Courtesy of Dan Ody Ken Shoemaker, Westmere, NY The Cliff Wright 24	Otto Graham Collection Jerry Townley, Catskill, NY *Pop Wilcox 32*
		NECOT Calendar Photo Al Poole, Athens, NY

8MM DVD - Dan Ody Spencer Parkhurst, Saratoga Sprgs, NY *Red and Black car*	8MM DVD - Dan Ody Don Wayman takes his turn in the Smith & Son Jewelers 00.	8MM DVD - Dan Ody Jerry Townley, Catskill, NY *The Cross 47 car*	8MM DVD - Dan Ody Ed Ortiz, Ransomville, NY	8MM DVD - Dan Ody Doug Garrison, Poughkeepsie, NY *Martin Riiska's Yellow X*
8MM DVD - Dan Ody Howie Westervelt, Ravena NY Cliff Wright's Ford	8MM DVD - Dan Ody Jeep Herbert, with the seldom - seen Chris Drellos 111A	8MM DVD - Dan Ody Pepper Eastman on the hook with the ill-fated Bob Zimmerman 72 in which he would be killed later that season.	8MM DVD - Dan Ody The Frank Trinkhaus late model Chevy coupe giving kiddie rides around 1960.	8MM DVD - Dan Ody The more conventional Trinkhaus coupe in Victory Lane.
8MM DVD - Dan Ody The driver of Welch's late model Chevy coupe climbs in.	8MM DVD - Dan Ody Chet Hames gets the flag back from Donny Wayman.	8MM DVD - Dan Ody Don Wayman, Cobleskill, NY Cliff Wright's Ford 9A	8MM DVD - Dan Ody Richard Welch's late model Chevy coupe.	8MM DVD - Dan Ody Steve Danish [left] and Ray Sitterly come down for the green.

Jim Kelly Photo Bobby Adams of Utica with his potent but unreliable Mustang.	Russ Bergh Photo Jim Kelly Photo Collection Bill Wimble holding the checkers. Honest, he's not giving you the finger.	Jim Kelly Photo Bob Rees, Fort Plain, NY.	Jim Kelly Photo Bobby Adams of Utica with his $ Falcon.	Jim Kelly Photo Bruce Dostal, Johnstown, NY. He would destroy this car at Fonda.	Jim Kelly Photo Working on the Buck Peek car.	Arnie Ainsworth Collection via Jim Kelly Collection Butch Jelley with his first Martin Riiska car, a recently - bought former Garuti Bors. 28.
Frank Simek Photo Jim Kelly Photo Coll. Ray Sitterly misses a spinning Charlie Peters.	Jim Kelly Photo Collection Bobby Adams is my guess on who this is.	Jim Kelly Photo Ernie Gahan, with what might be a Rich Mazza entry.	Russ Bergh Photo Jim Kelly Photo Coll. Chuck Kress, The Outlaw, Schenectady, NY.	Russ Bergh Photo Jim Kelly Photo Coll. This could be Fonda, but Pete Corey and A.C. Caprara ran this car at Victoria, too.	Russ Bergh Photo Jim Kelly Photo Coll. Corey, with fans, during the Caprara/ Villano era.	Russ Bergh Photo Jim Kelly Photo Coll. Corey with a win in the Frank Trinkhaus 62.
Russ Bergh Photo Jim Kelly Photo Coll. orey, with an early version of the Falcon at Victoria.	Russ Bergh Photo Jim Kelly Photo Coll. Corey, with young fans, during the Caprara/ Villano era.	Russ Bergh Photo Jim Kelly Photo Coll. Corey gets a model of one of his older cars during the Drellos era -1964.	Russ Bergh Photo Jim Kelly Photo Coll. Corey, with a Victoria win in the A.C. Caprara 37.	Russ Bergh Photo Jim Kelly Photo Coll. Lazzaro, Danish, and Shoemaker, at a pit meeting.	Russ Bergh Photo Jim Kelly Photo Coll. Future star car builder Dexter Dorr, then coming to Victoria all the way from Manchester, VT.	Russ Bergh Photo Jim Kelly Photo Coll. Donnie Wayman, Cobleskill, NY A Wright/Zautner car.

Russ Bergh Photo Jim Kelly Photo Coll. Not sure who this Victoria driver is.	Russ Bergh Photo Jim Kelly Photo Coll. George Proctor did well at Victoria, which suited the gear ratio in his Plymouth sedan.	Russ Bergh Photo Jim Kelly Photo Coll. Henry Smith, Rotterdam, NY	Russ Bergh Photo Jim Kelly Photo Coll. The Tom Douglas - owned 91 Falcon, driven by Jack Johnson.	Russ Bergh Photo Jim Kelly Photo Coll. Ken Shoemaker with Victoria hardware.	Russ Bergh Photo Jim Kelly Photo Coll. Future star car builder Dexter Dorr, then coming to Victoria all the way from Manchester, VT.	Russ Bergh Photo Jim Kelly Photo Coll. Shoemaker in Vic Lane with the Wright / Zautner 24. People say this is Lou D'Amico with Ken, but it doesn't look like him.
Russ Bergh Photo Jim Kelly Photo Coll. Lou Lazzaro is awarded by Bill Wimble.	Russ Bergh Photo JLazzaro Family Photo Coll. This is that first win that happened at Victoria. Longtime Lazzaro friend Junior Bianco is in the background.	Russ Bergh Photo Jim Kelly Photo Coll. Louie with another trophy. Ho hum.	Russ Bergh Photo Jim Kelly Photo Coll. Lazzaro awarded at Victoria.	Russ Bergh Photo Jim Kelly Photo Coll. Lou with longtime friend and sponsor Vinnie Maugeri.	Russ Bergh Photo Jim Kelly Photo Coll. Lee Millington in Dick Bennett's Bernie's Liquor Shop 71.	Russ Bergh Photo Jim Kelly Photo Coll. Promoter Lou D'Amico gets a trophy from the staff for managing to roll over the water truck.
Russ Bergh Photo Jim Kelly Photo Coll. Mel Austin, Vails Mills, NY	Russ Bergh Photo Jim Kelly Photo Coll. An early car for transplanted Southerner Luke McLean.	Russ Bergh Photo Jim Kelly Photo Coll. Mel Austin, whose name will be forever linked to Victoria...	Russ Bergh Photo Jim Kelly Photo Coll. ..because he sort of introduced himself to the Victoria announcer's stand. The car would become Tom Douglas's 991.	Russ Bergh Photo Jim Kelly Photo Coll. Bill Fowler's 271 before it became 27Jr and had hired drivers.	Russ Bergh Photo Jim Kelly Photo Coll. Jolly Ollie Palmer is known for twice dumping Fowler's 27Jr at Fonda, but he apparently did it at Victoria, too.	Russ Bergh Photo Jim Kelly Photo Coll. The 7-11Jr of big Paul Marshall is extricated from trackside.