The New England Antique Racers club is a non-profit organization that
supports the history of New England auto racing. NEAR has been in existence since 1981 and
has a growing membership of approx. 350-400 members and 80 antique race cars. Members live
throughout New England and are available, on a no charge basis, for exhibition events
at local race tracks in New England and several tracks in the New York area, with
both original and historical replica race cars.
Since 1998, we have inducted 102
individuals into the New England Auto Racers Hall Of Fame,
which is administered by the New England Antique Racers. Some very notable inductees
include Richie Evans, Ron Bouchard, Bugs Stevens, Rene Charland, Pete
Hamilton, Fred DeSarro, Ed Flemke, Sr. and Billy Greco.
UPCOMING EVENTS
N.H.M.S.
Vintage Celebration
Rt 106, Loudon, NH
*Non NEAR event
*Special Registration
www.nhis.com/vintageschedule.pdf Tue. - Thur. May 13- 15
Norwood
Arena Reunion
Bezema Pontiac
Rt 1 Norwood MA Sunday June 1
11:00 A.M.. to 5:00 P.M.
Sign-In 9:00 A.M
Thunder
Road
Barre, VT Track time
1-3:30 Thursday
June 12
12:00 P.M.
CLUB NEWS
Three Veterans Added To NEAR Hall of Fame Click On Photos For Full Size
A
trio of “big winners” from the 1950s and 60s – Connecticut’s George Lombardo,
Rhode Island’s Fred Luchesi and Vermont’s Johnny Gammell – have joined the New
England Auto Racers Hall of Fame Class of 2008. The trio, representing hundreds
of victories, was selected by the Veterans Committee.
They join drivers Dave Alkas, Dave Darveau, Dick Batchelder and the late Howie
Brown, car owners Joe Brady and the late Mike Scrivani Sr., the multi-talented
Dr. Dick Berggren and writer Pete Zanardi. The entire class will be inducted at
the LaRenaissance Banquet Hall in East Windsor, CT on Sunday, January 27th.
Ticket forms for the 11th annual NEAR Hall of Fame banquet are available
NOW on the New England Antique Racers website
www.near1.com.
Gammell,
a St. Johnsbury, VT resident, twice won Vermont State Stock Car championships
and includes among his victories the 1969 Milk Bowl at Thunder Road Speedway. He
started in 1949 but hit his stride after service in the Korean War. He had early
successes at Mallets Bay and Waterford Speedbowl (VT) followed by wins at
Catamount Stadium and Riverside (Groveton, NH) in addition to Thunder Road.
A New Britain, CT native, Lombardo was a United Stock Car Club stalwart from
the late 1940s through the mid 1960s. “Always after the money,” he posted well
over a hundred victories, achieving major success at Riverside Park, the
Waterford Speedbowl (CT), West Haven Speedway and Plainville Stadium, winning
two championships at the latter.
Luchesi,
a Pawtucket, RI product, was a dominant force during the 1950s in the “Cutdowns,”
winning championships at Waterford Speedbowl (CT) and at Seekonk, Lonsdale and
Westboro Speedways. He was also very successful at Norwood Arena. He started at
Thompson and Kingston Fairgrounds in 1948 and raced into the early 1960s,
scoring well over 100 victories in a number of cars including his own “Lazy
Deuce.” Photo
Credits:
www.CatamountStadium.com Johnny Gammell Photo
www.VintageModifieds.com George Lombardo & Fred Luchesi
New England Auto Racers Hall Of Fame Inductees Announced
Click On Photos For Full Size
Four
drivers, two car owners and two media members make up the New England Auto
Racers Hall of Fame Class of 2008.
Drivers Dave Alkas, Dave Darveau, Dick Batcholder and the late Howie Brown, car
owners Joe Brady and the late Mike Scrivani Sr., the multi-talented Dr. Dick
Berggren and writer Pete Zanardi will be inducted at the LaRenaissance Banquet
Hall in East Windsor, CT on Sunday, January 27th.
Still to be announced are the three selections from the Veterans Committee and
the Jack Ratta Memorial Media Award winners.
Ticket forms for the 11th annual NEAR Hall of Fame banquet are available
NOW on
the New England Antique Racers website www.near1.com.
A true “Saturday night racer,” Alkas was a Southern New England powerhouse from
the late 1960s through the 80s. Centered at Connecticut’s Plainville Stadium
(where he won five championships) he was also a factor at Riverside Park,
Eastern State Fairgrounds and Monadnock Speedway.
Batchelder, born in North Hampton, NH, was a New England Super Modified Racing
Association stalwart, winning the 1979 championship. Winning his first feature
at Dover, NH in 1960, he went on to well over 50 triumphs from Canada to
Florida. He had a pair of Star Speedway championships and twice captured the
prestigious Star Classic.
Berggren,
a Manchester, CT product, has driven race cars, wrote about them, talked about
them and took their pictures, the latter three on the highest of levels.
Starting out at Arundel (ME) Speedway, he is presently one of the most
recognized TV announcers in the country. His writing career has gone from local
publications to editorship of Speedway Illustrated.
A Brockton, MA native Brady has teamed with a host of accomplished drivers – Leo
Cleary, Bobby Santos, Bugs Stevens, Steve Park, Ted Christopher – to win over a
100 features and at least 10 championships over five decades. Starting in 1960,
Brady, among the most accomplished “low buckers,” won championships at Norwood,
Thompson, Westboro and Seekonk Speedways.
Known as the Epping Express, Brown raced for 40 years. He raced and won in
modifieds, late models and bombers but was best known for his Super Modified
exploits that included three NESMRA titles and three Star Speedway crowns. A
champion at The Pines and Hudson, he won over 130 races, 93 in NESMRA action.
A driver/owner for almost 40 years, Darveau collected a host of victories and 10
championships across his native Maine. He began at Unity Raceway in 1952 and won
his first championship there in ’55. A multi winner at Wiscasset, Oxford and
Beech Ridge as well, he won his last title at Unity in ’83 and retired soon
after.
A larger-than-life character, Scrivani’s participation with racing started in
the late 1930s. A stock-car pioneer in the late 1940s, he switched back to
Midgets and won NEMA and ARDC championships with Butch Walsh and Nokie Fornoro.
Back to the Modifieds, his M-2 was driven by Hop Harrington and Leo Cleary, the
latter winning Norwood and Thompson championships.
Zanardi,
a Connecticut native, has spent 40 years as an auto racing writer/media
coordinator. He brought “basic journalism” to the coverage of auto racing at the
Hartford (CT) times in the 1960s. While working for Stafford Motor Speedway and
Waterford Speedbowl, he continued to write for national and local publications.
Source: NEAR, Public Relations
Photo Credits: Howie Hodge
VintageModifieds.com
NEW ENGLAND AUTO RACERS HALL OF FAME MEMBERSHIP
Gene Angelillo 2006, Dick Armstrong 2005, Jack Arute Sr. 2001, George Barber
2007, Gene Bergin 1998, Len Boehler 2004, Red Bolduc 2005, Vic Bombaci 2006, Ron
Bouchard 2000, Smokey Boutwell 2005, Hully Bunn 2001; Moon Burgess 2003, Jean
Paul Cabana 2007, Fats Caruso 2000, Rene Charland 1998, Leo Cleary 1999, on
Collins 2005; Russ Conway 2006, Robbie Crouch 2006, Joe Csiki 2005, Red Cummings
2006, Ralph Cusack 2001
Fred DeSarro 1999, Dave Dion 2007, Dick Dixon 2004, Beaver Dragon 2004, Homer
Drew 2000, Dick Eagan 2007, Charlie Elliott 2000, Richie Evans 1998, Stub Fadden
2003, John Falconi Sr. 2007, Ed Flemke 1998, Red Foote 1999, Nick Fornoro Sr.
2002, Fred Frame 2004, Ernie Gahan 1998, Dick Garrett 2007, Sharky Gaudiosi
2006, Harry Grant 2005, Billy Greco 1999.
Pete Hamilton 1998; Billy Harman 2004, Hop Harrington 1999, John Hoenig 2003,
Dave Humphrey 2000, Charlie Jarzombek 2004, Bob Johnson 2007, Booker Jones 2003,
Bob Judkins 2003, Johnny Kay 2006, Buddy Krebs 2000, Sonny Koszela 2002, Don
LaJoie 2000, Bob Libby 2006, Phil Libby 2006, Don MacLaren 2002, Don MacTavish
2001, Dick McCabe 2002, John McCarthy 2007, Jim McGee 2006, Jocko Maggiacomo
2000, Ray Miller 2002, Ralph Moody 2000
Ron Narducci 2000, Sammy Packard 2004, Bob Polverari 2003, Bob Potter 2007,
Sonny Rabideau 2005, Billy Randall 2006, Oscar Ridlon 2005, Marvin Rifchin 1999,
John Rosati 2007, Joe Rosenfield 2006, Fred Rosner 2001, Don Rounds 2001, Art
Rousseau, 2001, S-Bobby Santos 2001, Ollie Silva 1998, Bill Schindler 2004,
Boston Louie Seymour 2006, Bill Slater 1998, Ken Smith 2006, Joe Sostilio 2003,
Ken Squier 2002, Bugsy Stevens 1998, Chick Stockwell 2001, George Summers 2000
Harvey Tattersall 1998, Johnny Thomson 2002, Paul Tremaine 2004, Reino Tulonen
2005, V-D.Anthony Venditti 1999, Bob Vitari 2006, Bentley Warren 2007, Dick
Watson 2003, Phil Walters (Ted Tappett) 2002, Bill Welsh 1998, Eddie West 1999,
Bill Wimble 2002, Dick Wolstenhulme 2006, Dennis Zimmerman 2001.
