4th Annual Norwood Arena Reunion Pulls a Big Crowd
Norwood, MA — Sunny weather with temps in the high 70’s contributed to the largest turnout ever at the 4th Annual Norwood Arena Reunion this past Sunday. Among the competitors of the track that turned out included; Sprint Car and Midget driver Jim McGuire who traveled up from Bridgewater, NJ to take in his first event. Modified drivers on hand were Leo Cleary, Bill Slater, George Summers, Jerry Capazzolli, George Summers and Deke Astle. Also Don McCullough, Lew Austin, Pete Desjardin, Fred Luchesi, Dick Jackson and Doug McCarthy, Jeff Horn, Jim Callahan, George Savary, Jim Callahan and Doug McCarthy. Among the officials who turned out were Carlton Merrill, Dan Brundage, Earl Grant, Jim Power and Mike Scravani, Jr.
Race cars from NEAR, STARS and ACOT combined with a classic car show had a very strong turnout with over 60 vehicles in attendance along with other displays. Coastal 181, the racing publishing house, offered some fantastic new books for sale. Also the NEAR Hall of Fame mobile unit was on hand. Each vehicle received a dash plaque for the occasion. Don Seith of Brookline got the Classic Car Trophy for his very impressive restored ’36 Ford Coupe street machine while Dave Poskitt of E. Bridgewater was awarded the Best Looking Race Car a Modified Coupe.
The big crowd got to see old acquaintances and look at memorabilia and scrap books to jog their memory of some of the greatest racing ever at the now shuttered Norwood Arena just down US Route 1.
Host Marty Bezema, Sr., a former competitor at the Norwood Arena, feed the assembled masses hot dogs, hamburgers, cole slaw and potato salad for lunch. Plans are in the making for the 5th Annual Norwood Arena Reunion on the first Sunday in June, 2009.
Sources:Lou Modestino/Norwood Arena PR