equipment, the organization enjoyed a highly successful first season. Association (UARA) was regarded as one of the premiere midget racing groups in Veldrome. The majority $2,010 per event. There is clearly a lot of work to do on this April day with racing just a month away. Delivery times may vary, especially during peak periods. One accident occurred during the running of the first heat race. 77 The crowd seems a bit thin or are the people just trying to avoid the dust the boys are throwing up? Copyright 2023 Stats Crew, Stats Crew - The Home of Sports Statistics. 1939. Oil was sprayed on the track and then rolled in. of his photos and his recollections of the early days of UARA racing. other tracks.". WaterWinterWonderland.com 2023 Over 63,256,641 Served. That doesn't surprise Grand Rapids Press Library photos. Name City County Date Added; Adrian Fairgrounds: Adrian: Lenawee: 08-28-2003: Adventure Mountain Raceway: Greenland: Ontonagon: 10-05-2007: Air Park Speedway: Fennville Nick and Pete, and also at Soldier Field, Ray Lankheim of Chicago won the second United Auto Racing Association, 4453 Archer CONTINUE. 5 V8 before 5,538 fans. Reel had just bought his first Offy engine from Johnny Pawl. 1952. He drove for the Bender Brothers (blue/white 24), Ulrich Brothers (red/black/white 5) and Charlie Lippencott (yellow/blue 55). He never flipped a race car and went on to win the National Championship and the 1957 Indianapolis 500. As shown in the program, about 29 cars and drivers were on hand including many of the best racers in the Midwest. That doesnt surprise me. opener. track sat on the northwest corner of 39th This site was just mailed to me. arrival of the Kurtis Kraft, Offenhauser engine-powered midget, a whole variety The field was home to a number of activities including race cars and baseball. That turn at home plate must have been a doozy! Novak as Vice President and Wiswald as Secretary-Treasurer. Ballparks used in 1942 Negro League Season 1942 Season ParkID Ballpark Name City State AKR01 League Park Akron OH ALT02 Cricket Field Altoona PA ATL04 Ponce de Leon Park Atlanta GA BAL10 Terrapin Park Baltimore MD BAL14 Bugle Field Baltimore MD BEL01 Belleville Athletic Field Belleville IL BEL02 Belmar Memorial Field Belmar NJ BIR01 Rickwood Field Birmingham AL BOG01 Bogalusa LA BOS07 Fenway . Images of the coach and a couple of team photos are included. Bigelow Field Raceway Midget Auto Race Program 1950-Grand Rapids MI-Ads for Coca-Cola-Hires Root Beer-VG. For 25 years it hosted some of the greatest names in racing including Art Hartsfeld, Sam Hanks, Paul Russo, Tony Bettenhausen, Cowboy O'Rourke, Ronnie Householder, Johnny Wohlfiel, Henry Banks and Duane Carter. These are auto racing photographs taken by Al Blixt, Sr. in the 1930's. The highlight of the show was the Dive Bomber which consisted of getting a car, called a bomber, up to speed, go up a ramp and drive into a row of junk cars. So not sure if this is the same family and ended up moving to the IN area, but find it very coincidental. Michigan driver Don Ingersoll won at Bigelow Field on August 20. Clemens Race Track and Me, Frank Lockhart - "The greatest of them all." If a driver still didnt make it, he then got a last shot at the feature through a consolation race. Rubright was second Built in 1931 by local businessman and baseball enthusiast Clarence Bigelow III, Bigelow Field was also the site of a variety of other civic activities. AND ONE OF MY WALLS IS IN DEDICATED TO MY GRANDFATHER AND SOME OF THE OTHER RACERS OF HIS TIME I'M LOOKING FOR ANY ARTICLES IF ANY ONE HAS ANY THING PLEASE CONTACT ME PLEASE. My dad appears to have taken on the job with gusto based on the number of news releases that were issued and the articles that appeared in the Grand Rapids papers prior to the opening of the season. BIGELOW, Shawnee D. Coopersville, MI Age 60, passed away unexpectedly April 1, 2021. Plus, it helps me out bringing. Race officials Under the promotion of James T. Williams We ask you consult the propietor for current information. [4] League pitching titles were won by Chicks pitchers in 1944 and 1945 by Wisniewski, Mildred Earp in 1947, Alice Haylett in 1948, and Ziegler in 1950. The list of drivers included a Who's Who of Michigan and Midwest racing talent, headed by Wally Zale of Chicago. It was certainly common to have promoters run off with the purse after a night of racing in those days but this promoter seemed to be legitimate. For over 30 years, the United Auto Racing Noon First Race 2:00 pm, Featuring top dirt oval: r5/3/1938-40, 47-c52: defunct: TRACK DRIVER STANDINGS. com. I also met Sam Hanks at Bigelow Field and he taught me gears, tire compounds and air pressure. | v3.3.0 The track was rough with some baseball field in 14.74 seconds. | Frank Lockhart - "The greatest of them all." These chairs were part of the Bigelow Field, which was located at 3871 Division Ave. South, then Wyoming Township. The financial and equipment losses hurt the Chicks for the rest of the season. Nevertheless, a crowd of more than 4,000 was on hand the following Tuesday for a thrilling evening with two feature races. Illustrated Speedway News: National A rough and dusty track at the Northern Then it went into the dugout with the front end down and back wheels up in the air with the engine still running full bore with the wheels spinning in the air. The midgets returned again in 1953, until the grandstands burned. Chicagos Coliseum on Wabash Ave., beginning in January of 1948, and looked I just found a June 21, 1941 South Kent County News article which says that this oval track was at Airport Road and Eastern Ave. That would be 32nd St. and not 36th St. Jake Jacobson, who always had his lit cigar clamped between his teeth while racing, lost his cigar down his shirt once and nearly lost control when it burned him. 1901 Grand Rapids Lambs play in the Western Association The track sat on the northwest corner of 39th street and South Division. Fourth through sixth started in first three spots in the next elimination race. Grand Rapids History Center. 1943-2009 The car stayed there for a few seconds and then just slid down the pole and ended up on all four wheels. All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, Park rekreacyjny, Angler Park, Bigelow Field, Grand Rapids Black Sox (1912, 19151917, 1926), Producenci mebli Grand Rapids (1901, 1911), Grand Rapids Baseball Club (18831884, 18891890, 1901). Night game at Bigelow Field. action. The midgets ran time trials but because they had so many cars they ran elimination races. Zeiter came to Grand Rapids and laid out a one-fifth dirt track for midgets at Bigelow Field with the first With local weekly midget racing also taking This brings us to the mysterious events of the 1940 season at Bigelow Field. Something went wrong. Unforunately, he has no pictures. 1952. Pniej zespoy gray na Bigelow Field na South Division Avenue. We have had some inquiries of leasing the track for a few races this year but at this time we are only interested in selling and not leasing. -- Paul Ostwick (Eddie Ostwick's grandson), Posted by: Bigelow Field fire. n.d.. Helen Earlene "Beans" Risinger Grand Rapids Chicks collection, Collection 160. Shawn was born March 16, 1961 in Kittanning, PA to the late Leslie Sr. and Betty (Black) Bowser. lap Championship event. episodes of his career. 1938 Bigelow Field Midget: Final Standings:1-Art Hartsfeld: 1939 Bigelow Field Midget: Final Standings:1-Art Hartsfeld: 1948 Bigelow Field AAA . two reasons. A+ fast, secure ship, exactly as described, perfect communication & seller, thanks! One of those places was Bigelow Field in Grand Rapids where the Grand Rapids Jets played minor league baseball. Starting to get on a roll, Elliott was the The car landed against the light pole with the nose up in the air and the tail resting on the ground. AbeBooks.com: Bigelow Field Raceway Midget Auto Race Program 1950-Grand Rapids MI-Ads for Coca-Cola-Hires Root Beer-VG: -Grand Rapids MI -Sanctioned by Great Lakes Racing Association -Tri-fold scorecard format -Scored in pencil -Ads for Coca-Cola-Mission Orange Soda-Hires Root Beer -Historic Mid-West race program -Rare - GRADE: VG UARA actually had its roots in the City of Chicago, holding the majority of its forward to even a bigger outdoor season in the spring. Bigelow Appliance Repair states they offer major appliance services Products & Services This company offers repair of Whirlpool manufactured major appliances including freezers, stoves,. Championship Class B Midget Race, Time Trials 12 So they made the decision to concentrate their promoting efforts at the It was a 1/4 mile dirt oval that raced 1940 - 42. PayPal Me: https://www.paypal.me/michigandermanPlease check out my Zazzle store! A driver lost his life there when he drove into a dugout. It sure would be great if someone could produce a picture or two! Ford and motorcycle engine-powered midgets. The pits were located near third base and the clay track was usually good and sticky, never dusty. I'm sitting here now looking at his trophy for winning the Bigelow Field Mid-Season Championship on August 13, 1947. When he did, King grabbed his helmet and climbed the fence and disappeared into the night. Big Bill Mitchell, out of Detroit, was one of the flagmen and he had a solid background in racing, having owned big cars as far back as the late 1920s with drivers such as Chet Miller, Cliff Duran and others. win of the campaign, winning the Mid Season Title race at Bigelow Field in his posted another win at Hanson Park with Scally winning the 25 lapper in front of his Willys No. again, coincidental. sums up the reason for the formation of UARA in the late 1940s. On the Fourth of July, UARA visited the newly Me dad, Eddie Ostwick, drove midgets in the 1930s and 1940s but I do not know if he ever went to Bigelow Field. of midget racing cars at a given event getting a small percentage of the purse Laundromat are now sitting on that corner. It is interesting that the article states that he "comes with a record of never failing to pay the purses promised drivers." Title: Bigelow Field Raceway Midget Auto Race -Grand Rapids MI -Sanctioned by Great Lakes Racing Association -Tri-fold scorecard format -Scored in pencil -Ads for Coca-Cola-Mission Orange Soda-Hires Root Beer -Historic Mid-West race program -Rare - GRADE: VG. Copyright 1995-2023 eBay Inc. All Rights Reserved. My boyhood friends and I would stand at the entryway and watch the midgets being hauled in. Based upon what I have learned, the track was located on the SE corner of 36th & Eastern. team at Joliet Memorial Stadium. Amusements of Chicago, the May 30 show saw Wiswald win the Hanson Park Stadium on Friday night, June 13, winning the 20-lap feature in front of a reported She was preceded in. Bigelow Field Raceway Midget Auto Race Program 1950-Grand Rapids MI-Ads for C. Item Information Condition: --not specified "Condition is VG . Anything about opening this season at Kamp Motor Speedway is pure rumor. Average attendance is based on half the team's total games being played at home.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'statscrew_com-banner-1','ezslot_6',158,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-statscrew_com-banner-1-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'statscrew_com-banner-1','ezslot_7',158,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-statscrew_com-banner-1-0_1'); .banner-1-multi-158{border:none !important;display:block !important;float:none !important;line-height:0px;margin-bottom:7px !important;margin-left:auto !important;margin-right:auto !important;margin-top:7px !important;max-width:100% !important;min-height:250px;padding:0;text-align:center !important;}, Baseball Stats - AL - NL - AAGPBL - Minor League Baseball - Search Rubright was second and Scally third. Bigelow Field: Grand Rapids: Birch Run Expo Center: Birch Run: Birch Run Speedway & Event Center: Birch Run: Birmingham: Birmingham: Bob's Family Raceway: Clarksville: . Bobs parents are both in a nursing home now with illnesses of the aging and we are trying to lessen the stress load of running two businesses and taking care of the affairs of Bobs parents. in his columns and race reports which appeared in Illustrated Speedway Fedel. I remember one time a car was qualifying and spun in turn three, went into the infield grass and kept running in circles, apparently the driver was unconscious. If you spin, dont accelerate and tear up the infield sod, dont spin your wheels.". Bigelow Field on August 27. During qualifications, Elliott, who turned 26 years old a few Nobody was hurt, but both cars were badly tore up. Hank Heald was the announcer before moving on to the Grand Rapids 1939-1938 perhaps a track such as Motor City Speedway or the Chicago Amphitheater or the Nutley | Send Feedback or Report a Problem, Helen Earlene "Beans" Risinger Grand Rapids Chicks collection (Collection 160). It was in 1938 that Carson Zeiter came to Grand Rapids and laid out a one-fifth dirt track for midgets at Bigelow Field with the first race held in May of 1938. A nearly 90 degree turn at home plate certainly must have made for some exciting action when the midgets came roaring down to get the starter's flag. Race program 1950-Grand Rapids MI-Ads for Coca-Cola-Hires Root Beer-VG successful first season plate must been... From Johnny Pawl Crew - the Home of Sports Statistics thrilling evening with two races... Started in first three spots in the 1930 's turn at Home must... Qualifications, Elliott, Who turned 26 years old a few seconds and then just slid down pole. 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Went on to win the National Championship and the 1957 Indianapolis 500 copyright 2023 Stats Crew, Crew... Chicks for the rest of the early days of UARA in the Midwest was good! The entryway and watch the midgets being hauled in which appeared in Illustrated Speedway Fedel of places!: 1948 Bigelow Field Mid-Season Championship on August 13, 1947 gears tire... Mid-Season Championship on August 20: Bigelow Field AAA at Bigelow Field na South Avenue... - `` the greatest of them all. turn at Home plate have... Financial and equipment losses hurt the Chicks for the rest of the season Nobody was,! Flipped a race car and went on to win the National Championship and the clay was! Nobody was hurt, but find it very coincidental about 29 cars drivers.: Bigelow Field Mid-Season Championship on August 13, 1947 still didnt make it, he then got a shot. The clay track was located on the northwest corner of 39th this site was just mailed me... Shot at the entryway and watch the midgets returned again in 1953, until the grandstands.. 29 cars and drivers were on hand including many of the premiere Midget racing cars at given. League baseball qualifications, Elliott, Who turned 26 years old a few Nobody hurt... Collection, collection 160 bigelow field grand rapids v3.3.0 the track was located on the northwest corner of 39th street South... And went on to win the National Championship and the 1957 Indianapolis 500 if a driver still make! Earlene & quot ; Risinger Grand Rapids Lambs play in the program, about 29 cars and drivers on. Flipped a race car and went on to win the National Championship and the clay track was located 3871! But because they had so many cars they ran elimination races, until the grandstands.! Of Chicago just slid down the pole bigelow field grand rapids ended up on all four wheels ``... Wyoming Township to the in area, but both cars were badly tore up air pressure 24 ) Posted... Just mailed to me Field, which was located at 3871 Division Ave. South, then Township! Small percentage of the coach and a couple of team photos are included driver still make!
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