Month: October 2017

Attention!! Original M&H Tires Available For Your Vintage Race Car!!!

Ken Bouchard has the finishing touch for your vintage race car. We have over 90 Original M&H sticker tires for sale. Please call and leave a message 508-314-6013

 

Ken Bouchard’s Motorsports
520 Fairmount Street
Fitchburg, MA  01420
(508) 314-6013 
www.drivetovictorylane.com 
kbrace4fun@yahoo.com

Schaefer, Barbeau, McNulty Get NEAR Hall of Fame Bids

Submitted by Justin St. Louis

 

Veterans Committee elects three pioneers to join NEAR’s 20th Class

SOUTH WINDSOR, Conn. – A trio of well-travelled post-World War II drivers – Midget icon Dutch Schaefer and Modified standouts Joe McNulty and Henri “Red” Barbeau – are the Veterans Committee selections for induction into the New England Auto Racers Hall of Fame. All three inductions will be made posthumously.

Long Islander Schaefer and New Englanders McNulty and Barbeau join drivers Russ Wood, Bobby Gahan, Gardiner Leavitt, and brothers Jeff and Rick Fuller, crew chief Steve Bird, car owner Tom Dunn, and announcer/promoter Ben Dodge Jr. in the Class of 2017. The induction ceremony is Sunday, Nov. 12, at Maneely’s Banquet Hall in South Windsor, Connecticut.

“Schaefer, who battled in Midget racing’s post-World War II golden era, and McNulty and Barbeau, who helped the Modified become New England’s signature division, are pioneers in every sense of the word,” said R.A. Silvia, chairman of the NEAR selection committee. “They had a definite impact on New England auto racing history.”

Active from 1933 until just short of his passing in 1978, Schaefer, a four-time ARDC king, was among the country’s Midget superstars and is a member of the National Midget Hall of Fame. A multi-time ARDC president as well, Schaefer included three Danbury Fairgrounds titles among his championships. A frequent NEMA competitor as well, the mustached driver won at a dozen New England tracks, including legendary ovals like Eastern States Exposition, Pines Speedway, Cherry Park, and Candlelight Stadium.

The personable McNulty, known for “taking care of the race car,” was a force in Southern New England in the 1950s and ‘60s, posting wins at Lonsdale, Seekonk, and the Waterford Speedbowl. He was also a winner at Norwood and the demanding Old Bridge in New Jersey, the latter two under the NASCAR banner. Bertha Small’s #23 and Slim Ross’ #222 were among the rides for the Providence native who raced out of Quaker Hill, Conn.

A Woonsocket, R.I., product, Barbeau was a familiar figure from the late 1940s into the early 1970s in both Modifieds and Cutdowns. Heading up Barbeau’s résumé is a major win at Pinecrest Speedway in Toronto in 1959 and a late model championship at Seekonk in 1973. Usually associated with the Reveraux/Auclair #L1 car, Barbeau was a force on a circuit that included, among other stops, Lonsdale, Westboro, West Peabody, Norwood, the Pines, and Seekonk speedways.

More information, including ticket purchases, is available at www.NEAR1.org.

NEAR Attends 2017 Danbury SNYRA Reunion

Article and Photos courtesy of Bill Henry

 

 

 

 

September 17, 2017 found the New England Antique Racers at the P.A.L. building  for the annual  Danbury  SNYRA  Reunion.  This always popular show brought out the crowd, even though the morning started out with clouds, mist,  and fog. By noon, the weather had cleared and we were in a summer sweat down.  Fortunately, this event is inside. The  hot weather had little impact on those shining up their cars. They all displayed well and  received the admiration of the masses.

In addition to the cars, the Hall of Fame Museum was also in attendance. This traveling catalog of racing memorabilia was, as always, a hit with those who toured. 

It is hard to believe that after 36 years race fans still come out to view the cars, and obtain autographs from their drivers.  Many  take pictures of cars which now only race in their memory. Some are still on the track at vintage events where some tracks allow  NEAR to participate. These are demonstrations. not at top speed and racing, as set forth in our bylaws. If you have not been to a facility where NEAR actively takes to the track, you have missed the sounds of open exhaust, the smell of rubber being ground into the track, and the scent of hot oil. The 2018 schedule is under construction as this is being written.  Please  check the website and make plans to support NEAR at a local race track. Come show your support for the facilities, and the members who do this as a labor of love for the sport.

Also for the fan’s viewing delight were late models, modifieds, dirt cars and go karts from the surrounding area.   They all came out to support the reunion. Outside the facility a good number of street vehicles made the trek to strut their stuff for the pleasure of the attendees.

 

 

On behalf of NEAR and the Danbury Racearena Reunion Committee,  I would like to thank  the following:  Don Moon, George Cleveland, Don Lajoie, Pete Ballard, Dale Cote, Bill Kemp, Jojo Farrone and Angie Bullock.  Your efforts were paramount to making  the show happen by bringing  your  cars and donating  your time. Much appreciated.

 A big tip of the hat goes to Steve Zukowski.  Steve drove  the HOF truck from Rhode Island to Danbury and back so that it was available to the fans.

On to The Plainville Reunion!