NEAR Hall of Famer Art Rousseau Passes at 87
Sad news this week from Florida as NEAR Hall of Famer Arthur Rousseau passed away on Monday March 16, 2009 at age 87. He was born on August 5, 1921 in Keene, NH. Rousseau competed at a number of tracks including Hudson, Langhorne, Stafford, West Brattleboro, Westboro as well as tracks in New York State. He was also successful at his home track, the Cheshire County Fairgrounds in Keene, NH.
He was a World War II veteran in the Army Air Force. He was a member of the Stock Car Drivers’ Hall of Fame in New York State as well as a NEAR Hall of Fame inductee in 2001.
Art Rousseau began his racing career in a Model A Ford in 1937 on a frozen lake in Swansey, NH. Soon Rousseau began competing at the Cheshire Fair in nearby Keene, NH and later track in New York State. A trip to the famed and treacherous Langhorne Speedway dirt mile ended with a bad crash as Rousseau’s sprint car left the track. Rousseau survived the crash; others who drove at Langhorne were not as fortunate.
Rousseau drove for his brother Harvey along with Frank Campanelli, Bill Boudreau, and Bob Oliver. The Oliver #621 cutdown coupe piloted by Rousseau was victorious at Stafford Springs, Connecticut on the dirt 1/2 mile oval and the 1/4 mile paved oval in the infield as well. Closer to home at Keene, Rousseau won against the likes of fellow Hall of Famers Rene Charland and Ernie Gahan.
Peter vonSneidern of Temple, NH, a member of the Yahoo Racing History group, posted there earlier today with his thoughts on Rousseau. “Very few took a non roll bar sprinter out of the park at Langhorne, PA and lived to tell the tale. Arthur was always a joy and he got to run the restored #73 flat tail big car. He first drove the car in 1947 when owned by Roy Stone and then again in 1992 after I restored it. Arthur will be missed! “
Sources: NEAR/Yahoo Racing History Group/Palm Beach Post