While John Grady may not be the man with the most name recognition at this past weekend¹s SpeedwayEXPO, the annual racing trade show that takes place each March in West Springfield, Mass. He certainly seems to have the most fans, who all flock to his booth to see his photos. A Schenectady, New York resident, Grady’s life work has borne a vast collection intrigues generations of racing fans, both young and old. A quick flip through the albums on display and one can find virtually anything their heart desires. Middle-aged racing fans are there to rekindle a childhood memory of a bygone racing hero or to add to their collection.
There are photos from tracks in the 1950s right through to the current decade. Even better is the ability to reminisce about past drivers, whose attire and safety equipment pale by today’s standards.
[John Grady Photo Gallery]
(more…)
MASHPEE — Paul Conley, 74, of Mashpee, formerly of Mansfield, passed away on Monday, March 10, 2008.
Born on Aug. 14, 1933, in Dedham, he was the son of the late John and Helen (Lingley) Conley. He was a graduate of Perkin’s School for the Blind, and worked for the Mansfield public school system for more than 10 years. He retired to Cape Cod in 1998.
He is survived by his wife, Joan (Adams) Conley of Mashpee, and two children, Scott W. Conley and Carrie (Bradley) Kerns, all of Las Vegas, Nev. Also surviving are two brothers, John Conley of Woodstock, Vt., and Thomas (Barbara) Conley of Dedham; and a granddaughter, Elaina Kerns of Las Vegas.
(more…)
North Smithfield, RI — Antonio Cortes, 72, of Wareham, died Thurs., Nov. 8th, at the Woodland Convalescent Center in N. Smithfield, RI, after a period of failing health. He was…
Read more
In May of 1940, Louis J. D’Amore of Dedham, MA found himself with a new challenge. The young racecar owner was excited about the opening of a brand new race track in Thompson, CT. The land on which the track was built had been transformed from a dairy farm into a speedway following the farm’s destruction at the hands of the infamous 1938 hurricane.
D’Amore had been watching races on dirt and board tracks since he was a kid in the early 1930s, but this May 26th opening of the Thompson Speedway was to be something new and exciting. Property owner John Hoenig had constructed the largest race track in the northeast and had bucked conventional wisdom by making the racing surface out of macadam instead of the traditional dirt, clay or wood that topped most tracks of the day. Hoenig had built the first ‘asphalt’ race track in the United States. Racers of the day could not wait to test the all-new, high banked speedway. None had ever raced on a surface like the one Hoenig had used, but that did not keep them or race fans away. A full field of racecars and the huge grandstands were filled to capacity for this grand opening.
Photo Gallery
(more…)
Pico Raceway’s life was short and its memories are sketchy. It was only open for a few years in the 1950s, but it deserves to be remembered. It was a…
Read more
You hear so much about so many lost speedways, but have you ever had a chance to really walk back into time! Well on September 30th the Senior Tour Auto Racers (STAR) took over 1,000 fans and drivers for a complete walk back in time at the Lakeville Speedway, Lakeville Ma. Lakeville has been dormant for better than 30 years. Lakeville driver Lew Boyd said,” It’s just like it was in the 70”s”
STAR has been gearing up for the Lakeville Speedway Reunion for the past several months. President of STAR Charlie Lima and Lakeville native Glenn Chistolini have been clearing the overgrown track to get it back to what it look like in the 60’s and 70’s. The fans, drivers and past promoters were surprised to see this grand old track back into shape. The starter stand still in tacked, held once more the colors of the racing flags. Racing banners were hung all over the fence. The wall surrounding the track was completely uncovered and after 30 years still in great condition. Lakeville Speedway was back, even if it was for only one day !!
(more…)
Punta Gorda, Fla. – Loren A. Card, 82, of Punta Gorda, Fla., died Aug. 27, 2007.
He was born March 29, 1925 in Groton and moved to Florida in 1991.
Mr. Card was a veteran of World War II, serving in the U.S. Army and was a recipient of the Purple Heart. He worked as a semi-driver for the Federal Paper Board Co. in Versailles before retiring in 1990. He was an honorary retired member of the Int’l Brotherhood of Teamsters, Local Union 493. He was an avid gardener, enjoyed fishing and had a talent for wood working.
(more…)
SENIOR TOUR BRINGS “THE GOLDEN SPUR SPEEDWAY ALIVE”
Just like Rip Van Winkle, Lakeville Speedway in Lakeville, Ma has been a sleep for over 30 years. Rip Van Winkle woke in his tatter clothes and long white beard, Lakeville wears is overgrowth of greenery and vines. Thirty years of summer have passed; thirty years of winter snow have passed since the closing of this grand old track, only to be awakening by the roar of bulldozers. As you enter this 5/8 oval dirt Speedway you can see were the track had once been over 60 feet wide now the size of a bike path. No the bulldozers were not going to level and build stores or parking lots like most of the close tracks. The bulldozers were there to give Lakeville Speedway a clean shave.
(more…)
Matthew M. “Matty” Greer
Matthew M. “Matty” Greer, 81, died suddenly on Wednesday, April 23, 2003 at the Melrose-Wakefield Hospital in Melrose, MA. Matty was the owner operator of the former Greer Garage on Lebanon St. and later on Broadway, Malden where he worked for 45 years. Matty was born in East Boston and educated in the Malden School system. He was a graduate of the Class of 1941. After high school he joined the US Army in April of 1943. After returning home from the war, Matty worked for the Fore River Ship Yard in Weymouth as a welder. He later opened the Greer Garage on Lebanon St. Malden in 1947. After six years he changed the name to Maplewood Motors and moved to Broadway in Malden. His younger brother Ralph Greer came into the business and the two worked together until Matty retired in 1992. Matty was a lifetime member of the Malden Chapter #1910 of the Loyal Order of the Moose. He loved dancing to country & western music and was an avid fan of auto racing and was at times an owner of cars himself. He was the former President of the West Peabody Speedway and was also an avid photographer. Matty lived in Malden for the last 65 years.
He is survived by his wife Marie C. (Plummer) Greer, his sons Charles M. Greer of N. Reading, Matthew M. Greer II of Saugus and his daughters Grace L. Costanza of Lynnfield, Dawn M. Zanazzo of Malden, Laura L. Greer of Randolph, his brother Alfred Greer Jr. of Hooksett, NH, Alvaro Greer of Framingham, George Greer of Wolfeboro, NH Ralph Greer of Malden and his sisters Theresa Whooley-Locke and Edith Smith both of Malden and his fourteen grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
(more…)