Attention Members!!
Mark your calendars for our Annual Members meeting being held at the Danti Club in West Springfield Ma on Sunday February 26th starting at noon.
We will be having a catered hot lunch.
Due to the high cost of everything, we are asking that you RSVP by Saturday February 18th to neantiqueracers@gmail.com so that we can ensure we have enough for everyone, but not too much that it ends up getting wasted. We will also be asking for a minimum $10.00 per person donation to help defer the costs of the meal, and there will be a cash bar available.
We hope to see a strong count of members, it has been a while! The Board of Directors had their meeting this past Sunday, January 29th, and have a lot to report out.
So again, please RSVP by Saturday February 18th to neantiqueracers@gmail.com if you are able to attend.
Month: January 2023
Don’t forget to renew your membership!
As you know we are a nonprofit organization and rely on you for your annual membership to help keep our club alive, this is our forty second year and we are looking forward to the continued dedication to the preservation of the fellowship and nostalgia of automobile racing by all of you; lest we forget the efforts that went into the making of this great sport.Without your membership we would not be able to continue with our Creed. If you haven’t renewed why not do so today. If you know of someone who you think would be an added asset get them to sign up today. If you are a hall of Fame member and wish to help us continue, please consider completing the membership form with a donation. No amount is too small, and every donation is sincerely appreciated. While most of the information you can glean from the NEAR organization is available on social media, and our newsletters, without your memberships and donations we would not be able to maintain our social media presence or produce our newsletters, etc. $25.00 is a very reasonable expense in today’s economy, you would be hard pressed to bring a family of four to a track in your area for that amount! So please take a moment renew your membership, sign up someone new, and help us all to ensure that New England Antique Auto Racers continue on for another forty years! It is not too early to get in your 2023 membership renewal. The form is two sided, please complete both sides!If you can’t download the form, please reach out to me and I will send you one in the mail. Thank youApril May Preston-Elms Treasurer
http://near1.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/NEAR-Membership-Form.pdf
http://near1.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/NEAR-Membership-Form_Page_2.jpg
2022 Hall of Fame Special Award Winners
Our 5th “Special Award” winner for the Frank Maratta Award, for outstanding contributions to auto racing in New England. Your 2022 award winner Ric Mariscal
Ric Mariscal has always been a racer. Besides his own short career and helping with NEAR, Ric loved the history and memorabilia side of racing. Ric has been the curator of the ProNyne Motorsports Museum in Pawtucket, R.I. for many years. To step inside reveals everything from historic cars to uniforms, trophies, pictures, anything from the last 60 years. To think that he has done all of this in his own building and from the donations of others through the years is amazing. Ric has a small team of dedicated folks that help make this feat doable. Ric, a NEAR Hall of Famer, truly is the driving force behind the effort. He is very deserving of this award today.
Our condolences go out to Jeannine for the loss of her husband, NEAR member Gene Gosselin taken from us last month.
Eugene A. “Gene” Gosselin 79, of North Smithfield, died December 6, 2022 in the Philip Hulitar Inpatient Center, Providence. He was the husband of Jeannine (Cardin) Gosselin, whom he fondly referred to as his angel in life. They were married Septmeber 5, 1964 in St. Ann’s Church, Woonsocket. Born in Woonsocket, he was the son of the late Alphonse and Sophie (Petrosky) Gosselin. He lived in North Smithfield his entire life.
Gene was a 1960 graduate of Mt. St. Charles Academy, and a 1962 graduate of Johnson & Wales School of Business. He worked as an accountant, and spent the latter part of his career as the CFO of MJ Enterprises, Johnston, retiring in 2005. Eugene served in the RI Army National Guard for six years. He was an avid hunter and fisherman, and lifetime member of the Woonsocket Sportsman’s Club. A racing enthusiast, he was a member of the New England Antique Racers. Gene was a former coach for the North Smithfield Youth Hockey Association.
Besides his wife, Jeannine, he leaves their children, Bruce Gosselin of North Smithfield, Pamela Smith of Cape Coral, FL, Dwayne Gosselin of Napa Valley, CA, and Keith Gosselin of Weston, FL; nine grandchildren; six great grandchildren. He was predeceased by his grandson, Brandon Gosselin.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.
Our condolences go out to Dave Baribeault, our HoF ceremony MC, for the loss of his mother last November.
THERESE BARIBEAULT OBITUARY
Therese G. “Terry” Baribeault, 90, wife of the late Ernest Baribeault, passed away Wednesday, November 30, 2022 after a long battle with cancer. Born and raised in Woonsocket, R.I., on April 20, 1932, she was the daughter of the late Alfonse and Florence Bourgeois. She spent most of her life in Meriden.
Therese was employed by International Silver, Aero Gasket Corporation, Greenbackers Restaurant, and Hunter’s Ambulance. She loved all auto racing especially NASCAR and watching races at Stafford Motor Speedway and Waterford Speedbowl. She especially enjoyed watching her sons racing the 1/4 midgets and playing Dek-Hockey. Terry also enjoyed watching horse racing at Saratoga Raceway, going to Foxwoods Casino, hockey, and was an avid Yankee fan.
She is survived by her two sons, Dave and his partner Sharon-Lee Augur and Billy and his partner Karen Harris. She is also survived by many nieces and many nephews. Therese is the last of her 11 siblings: Peggy, Florence, Luella, Marjorie, Albert, Walter, Judy, Barbara, Connie, and George.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hope After Loss, 900 Chapel Street, 10th Floor, New Haven, CT 06510. For online condolences, please visit jferryfh.com.
2022 Hall of Fame Special Award Winners
Our 4th “Special Award” winner for the Charlie Stebbins Award, for outstanding contributions above and beyond his duties, your 2022 award winner Nicholas Teto
Nicholas Teto is a Rhode Island native and has been attending races for most of his life.
He is one of the up and coming “Young Guns” as far as researching the history of racing in New England. Nick has operated the YankeeRacer.com
website since 2002, reporting on most of the major events since. He is a photographer/videographer and has filmed many of the NEAR HOF Banquets.
He is also a former club Secretary, and serves on the Hall of Fame and Veterans Selection Committees.
He also is a contributor to Auto Racing Research Associates. In his spare time, you can find Nick in libraries all over the Northeast researching track histories, statistics, and locations of lost speedways.
2022 Hall of Fame Special Award Winners
Our 3rd “Special Award” winner for the Ron Bouchard Award, for lifetime achievement to auto racing in New England your 2022 recipient Johnny Morgillo
Johnny Morgillo had quite the career racing Quarter Midgets as a kid at Silver City Quarter Midget Club in Meriden, Ct.
He decided in his late teens to work with kids in Gymnastics. Later on he became the founder of The Region 1 Alumni Association Driver Development Program.
This program offers 30 or so ready to race Phase I cars for entry level families wishing to compete. 30 more Phase II cars are available for experienced kids that display marked talent, sportsmanship, attention to detail, and by learning car maintenance.
It’s all about molding kids to be great respectful drivers and awesome human beings.
The future is bright for our beloved sport with a guy like Johnny guiding these youngsters.
He is a great ambassador for the sport and is one of the most driven people you will ever meet.
Congratulations, and thank you for such a fine effort as a confidant and mentor, Johnny!