Stock Car Racing in the 50’s, with winning moments and the agony of defeat sometimes.
The 13th annual Cuba Lake Raceway (CLR) reunion and luncheon will be held on Wednesday, July 29, at Moonwinks Restaurant just north of Cuba, N.Y. on Route 305 and one half mile from the site of the old CLR track.
Many drivers, including those from the greater Towanda and Troy area that are from the 50s era, such as DeVere Bliss, Bucky Dew, Dick Ferraro, Otto Goodwin, Dolly Gosper, Cal Lane, Ted Renshaw, Sammy LaMancuso, Blinky Litzinger, Al Birath, Tom Danielson, Paul Higbee, Chuck McKeirnan, Doug Pringle, Leon Reed, Billy Schroth, Jim Leonard, Jim Scott, Ken See (the mystery man), Al Skiver, Ron Williams, Sonny Wittmeyer, Dick Close, Herb Layfield, Bill Tingue, Art Clark, Dick Hurd, Ed Ortiz, Squirt Johns, Tom Dill and Basil Shutt, just to name a few, are planning on attending.
Several 50’s track owners and builders are planning on attending as well to include Paul Amidon (Hornell Raceway), Howard Boyce (South Seneca Speedway), and Don McNitt (Roll – O – Bowl Speedway). Past CLR luncheon and reunions have had drivers and other notables of that era of racing from seven states, as well as Canada, attending.
Registration starts at 10:30 a.m. with lunch at 12:15 p.m. The luncheon has a choice of Scampi style Haddock, or Roast Turkey with a Stuffing and Gravy entree along with all the trimmings. The cost of $14, and includes a full meal and beverage (alcoholic drinks are not included but may be purchased if desired), tax and gratuity.
With the release of Ford Easton’s book, “Stock Car Racing in the ’50s in WNY and NWPA” last July at the CLR reunion, a large number of readers are planning on attending this year to meet and talk with the “stars” that are in the book and will be attending.
With this being the case, reservations will be on a first come first served basis.
RSVP and a payment of $14.00 per person is required and must be received at Easton’s Florida address by July 15, along with name(s) of person(s) attending and choice of entree for each. Easton will also need your phone number this year in the event the reunion is sold out. Send your check or money order made payable to Ford Easton, to 5200 28th St. North, #651, St. Petersburg, Fla. 33714.
The guest speaker is Ken Parrotte from West Monroe, N.Y. near Syracuse. Ken has been a fan of all forms of motor sports since attending his first race at Brewerton Speedway in 1963. He has done research for years and will be sharing a very interesting audio and visual program on the NASCAR Late Model Short Track Division (1951-1959).
The most enjoyable part about auto racing for Easton is the research part, which started at that first race in 1963. Easton has provided articles for local race programs, provided research for a few books, and created over 50 unpublished research projects for his own satisfaction (a few examples of these can be found on FirstSuperSpeedway.com).
For the past four years, Easton has been a presenter at the November Saratoga Automobile Museum’s “Lost Speedways” program on such topics as the All Star Stock Car Racing League (1967–1973), Jim Reed and the 1959 Darlington 500, NASCAR Late Model Short Track Division (1951–1959), and Oswego Speedway Stock Cars (1951–1961).
Contact Ford Easton at fjeaston@aol.com or call (727) 522-4042 for any questions. No day of event registration or payment will be allowed. Dress code is casual. Payments are non refundable because of restaurant requirements.
