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Otto Graham Nostalgia (11/28/08)
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This weeks entry is focused on several NY racers
that called Utica-Rome Speedway's quarter mile paved
oval their home stomping grounds. I only witnessed
one race when U-R was asphalt, was impressed with
the equipment, but unimpressed with the racing.
Seemed like passing was at a premium, it was follow
the leader until the leader made a mistake, or the
pursuers had to resort to the chrome horn.
Nice clean vintage stock car photos that haven't
been seen by most of are getting very rare, and if
you think this is a request for some of those images
that reside in one of your photo albums (ones I
haven't seen) your right on the money. If you have
any of those elusive images (they don't have to be
of a National Champion, maybe a neighbor or somebody
down the road that had a stock car), and you would
like to share them with fans of the Dirt Track
Digest please e-mail me at rgraham57@twcny.rr.com .
Richie Evans, the "Rapid Roman" , 9 time
National Modified Champion. Richie Evans won more
than 400 feature races during his career, won over
30 track championships. In 1980 he won 52 out of 84
races he entered.
Jerry Cook, 6 time National Modified Champion.
Jerry is currently NASCAR's Administrative Director.
Sonny Seamon was the unofficial mayor of
Vernon NY (home to Utica-Rome Speedway).
Dick Clark, the pride of Munnsville NY. Dick
passed away earlier this year, finally freed from an
illness that imprisoned his body but left his mind
still as sharp as a razor.
Canastota NY's Bernie Miller.
Bill Wimble, 2 time NASCAR Sportsman Champion
(in one of the Sportsman Championships Bill was a
co-champion with Moores Forks NY's Dick Nephew).
Bill Wimble's toughest battle was recently finishing
first against cancer, one of mankind's deadly foe's.
"Da Champ" Rene Charland. 4 times National
Sportsman Champion and a member of the famed Eastern
Bandits. The Bandits, as they called themselves,
were a group of New England drivers that found the
competition a bit thinner in the mid-southern States
then back home in the Northeast. Members of the
"Bandits" included Charland, Ed Flemke, Denny
Zimmerman and Red Foote. They traveled together and
spent much of the week at small blacktop tracks in
the Mid-Atlantic states. When I say Rene was "Da"
Champ it's not a put-down, as that's what Rene
called himself, and that's how he autographed my
"Fonda" book. Rene is currently in a nursing home
experiencing dementia, but still enjoys hearing from
his fans. Cards and letters can be sent to Rene @
Rene Charland #24 Pineview Commons, 201 S. Melcher
St, Johnstown NY 12095.
NEXT IS STILL IN THE PLANNING STAGE. You'll
have to check in to find out.
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