My uncle and I were suffering through one of
the longest droughts in seeing a stock car race since he and my parents had
first brought me to see racing
at Rutland, Vermont's Pico Raceway in 1951. It was
around 1957. I was invited to go with my aunt and uncle to visit her aunt on
Staten Island. That was quite an
adventure for someone who had traveled no farther than the Springfield, MA area
in his life. The long trip, the sight of metropolitan New Yor CIty, the Staten
Island ferry, and more was quitemid boggling. But then it happened...
We were not far from Aunt Selma and Uncle Bill's address when a vehicle went by
pulling a stock car. It didn't take long - upon arrival - to determine where
races were bing held on the island and off we went ! We arrived at Weissglass
Stadium, an actual sports stadium erected durung the Depression. We were not
used to seeing
races in what appeared to be the middle of a city. [In this case, Port
Richmond]. Some of the pits had to be located in the premises of the local
Chrysler dealer due to the severe lack of space.
I cannot remember much about the racing other than one driver's name was Al
Lucky [turns out to be a racing pseudonym] and that the cars were pretty
banged - looking affairs. It worked out well for us, as there were few ,more
opportunities to see racing back home unitl 1961 and 1962. I always remembered
that
wonderful and unexpected night of racing deep in the big, bad city. I never got
much reaction from anyone until I met a guy who raced at Airborne Speedway named
Curt "Metalman" Giventer, who raced at Weissglass Speedway [also known as
Weissglass Stadium]. It gave it all a little more human perspective. The whole
place has been gone for decades now, sadly, but Marty Himes and George Leblanc
have done a lot to keep the memory alive. Gabe Rispoli is the only promoter
there I know of.
Historic Aerials.com Photo
While not being 100% sure, I beleive this to
be an aerial photo of Weissglass Stadium. while it still stood. The track seems
to be gone.
Charles Zulla Photo via Ken Edsell
This is arguably the most icnonc photo of
Weissglass Stadium.
Courtesy of Richard Amo via Curt Giventer
You probably could buy these decals at the
concession stand.
|
Via Edward Brown II
Dave Inness Phot via Joe McKenney
Sedan 16. Could be Buddy Laureno
 Dave Inness Photo Via Charles Edkins I don't know if this car's "decor" is intentional or due to an serious urban problem. |
 Via GSCVSCC A driver named Doggie with a really neat Studebaker |
 Chas. Zulla PhotoVia Ken Edsell Car 1 and crew. |
 Dave Inness Photo via George LeBlanc George LeBlanc |
 Chas. Zulla Photo via Ken Edsell Check out the inside front wheel size. The track was a fifth mile. |
 Dave Inness Photo Via Larry Housman A rare Henry J |
 Dave Inness Photo Via Charles Edkins Charlie Edkins in a support class win. |
 Via Joe McKinney MIke Rudino |
 Via Sandy Menzak Steve Uslan |
 Source
UnknownFrankie Schneider would sometimes run Weissglass. |
Langhorne Program Page Via the Starin Family
Howie Brown is seen as the Weissglass rep in
one of the Langhornme races.
That must have been quite the experience after usually running on a
fifth mile paved track.
Via the Edward Brown II
Howie Brown
Via the HAMB Message Site
'Nuther of them nifty
dee-kals.
 Via Cliff Bessett George Kaufman with different car |
 Dave Inness Photo Via George LeBlanc George LeBlanc with a different car. |
 Dave Inness Photo Via Dennis DiBrizzi Dennis DiBrizzi |
 From Geo. LeBlanc Via flickr Jack Duffy |
 Via Edward Brown II Howie Brown with a Weissglass win. |
 Via Cliff Bessett Jake Goodski, Elizabeth, NJ 1961 Champ |
 Via Edward Brown II Johnny Lee gets a model from a young fan. |
 Via Edward Brown II Another DiBrizzi car. Check out the rear bumper. |
 Via Edward Brown II A LeBlanc closeup |
 Via Edward Brown II Howie Brown with a different pose. |
Via Edward Brown II
A beautifully restored stock car, apparently
which used to run at Weissglass.
Via George LeBlanc
One of the reunions held for Weissglass.
 Via Edward Brown II Oops |
 Chas. Zulla Photo Via Ken Edsell Close action at the finish. |
 8 MM Film Source Unknown Action in the turn. |
 8 MM Film Source Unknown More action in the turn. |
 8 MM Film Source Unknown Support class car in action. |
 Chas. Zulla Photo Via Ken Edsell Kind of looks like Dutch Hoag in action at the finish. |
 Via Mike Bauer Action in the turn. |
 Chas. Zulla Photo Frankie Schneider has a match race with a sports car. |
 Chas. Zulla Photo A tangle puts car 8 into the fence. |
 Chas. Zulla Photo Via Ken Edsell The Brits would call this "a shunt at the barriers". |
Chas. Zulla Photo Via Ken Edsell
I love this shot. It shows how the
stadium was edged into a very crammed urban environment where it stood.
WEISSGLASS SCENES AND SUCH
 8 MM Film Source Unknown The front entrance. |
 Via Pinterest Front entrance, at a different time than at left. |
Chas. Zulla Photo via Ken Edsell Can't resist re-using this one. It's truly a Weissglass scene. 16 is Buddy Laureno. |
 Via Photoslive.com The Coke sign outside the facility. |
 8 MM Film Source Unknown People waiting near the entrance. |
 Chas. Zulla Photo via Ken Edsell Another crash photo. |
 Chas. Zulla Photo via Ken Edsell This shot of two drivers gives a good view of some of the grounds. |
 Dave Inness Photo via Chas. Edkins There was a Bardahl man at most every track in the 1960's. |
 Chas. Zulla Photo via Chas. Zulla The judges' and announcer's stand. |
 Dave Inness Photo via Steve Moreno Support class wreck. |
Via Curt Giventer
Curt Giventer, with his support class
car. He actually still raced last year at Airborne Speedway.
Dave Brown Photo
Curt Giventer pacing an Airborne field
win a restored car he said ran at Weissglass.
Cavalcade of Auto Racing Photo
Al Lucky [a racing name] shown as the
track's Langhorne qualifier. Again, when you're used
to a fifth mile paved track, Langhorne must have been a chamber of horrors.
 Via Bill Connolly Pippy Scarmadella. |
 Weissglass Spdwy Museum Bruno Brackey |
 Weisglass Spdwy Museum Jack Zackian. |
 Weisglass Spdwy Museum John Bate. |
 Weisglass Spdwy Museum Johnny Kronyak Jack Rugerillo 5Jr. |
Weisglass Spdwy Museum
All - time feature winner George
Kaufman.
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Dunkelman
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