18, winning the weekly 25 lapper in his Markles V8 No.32. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. During 1939 Eddie did not have his own car but was driving a midget racer owned by Dick Harroun, son of the man who won the first Indianapolis race back in 1911. Bigelow Field Raceway Midget Auto Race Program 1950-Grand Rapids MI-Ads for Coca-Cola-Hires Root Beer-VG. Restauracja szybkiej obsugi zajmuje dzi cz terenu. Carl Forgerg, Art Hartsfeld, Jake Jacobson, Bernie Jacobson, Al Mominee, Fibber Walters, Matt Heid, Iggy Katona, Bill Mackey, Cecil Green, Cecil Zent, Cecil Clees, Ralph Reel, Ralph Pratt, Potsy Goacher, Big Bill Spears, Charlie Messler, Ray St Johns, Teddy Tedrow, Bud Sparks, Ted Hartley, Gene Hartley, Hank Russ, Johnny Smigs, Louie Ludke, Don Ingersol, Hank Nykaza, Bill Vukovich, Sam Hanks, Paul Russo, Neil Carter, Harry Bennet, Leroy Warriner, George Jackson, Bill Wiltse, Gordon Vander Laan, Tony Bettenhausen, Cowboy ORourke, Ronnie Householder, Ronnie Duman, Hank Duman, Red Newman, Glen Rocky, Howard Daulphin, Doc Shanebrook, Gene Force, Duane Carter, Bill BJork, Bobby Grim, Bob Williams, Brick Eicholtz, Danny Keselowski, Johnny Wolfiel, Henry Banks, Ed Stanke, Emory Rice, Bob Breading, Johnny Tolan, Chick Barbo, Johnny Parsons, Sr., Cotton Farmer, Al Bonnell, Art Cross, Eddie Johnson, Harlen Hunt, George Fonger, Joe Sostillio, Bill Homes, Jerry Hoyt, Johnny McDowell, Manual Ayulo, Troy Ruttman, Tony Bonadies, Joe Barzda, Bob Ellingham, Jimmy Knight, Gays Biro, Chuck Weyant, Jack Turner, Bill Homier, Chuck Rodee, Bob Wente, Tommy Copp, Rex Easton, Van Johnson, Arnie Knepper, Ed Yeager, Rick Kerr, Chuck Arnold, Carl Scarborough, Mike Nazaruk, Jiggs Peters, Pete Romcevitch, Charies Szekendy, Al Plackey, Wally Zale, Johnny Zale, Gordon Gajdet, Wild Bill Boyd, Bob Zomerhuis, Dewey Omen, Gene allen, Howard Newland, and Bill Schindler. The majority Continue with Recommended Cookies, Following are the minor league baseball teams known to have played at Bigelow Field: When the traveling show arrived they discovered that the race track took up the whole field and there was not enough room to get the bomber up to sufficient speed. Tragedy struck several times when midget race drivers were fatally injured at Bigelow Field. Ray Elliott and his Leo Melcher-owned V8 No. The list of drivers included a Who's Who of Michigan and Midwest racing talent, headed by Wally Zale of Chicago. Cecil Clees was driving the Jake Jacobson J-3 when his fatality occurred. That doesnt surprise me. Ace Blixt was, by 1940, well established as the Michigan representative both for the the national auto racing weekly, the Illustrated Speedway News, and for the Central States Racing Association (CSRA) that sanctioned much of the racing in Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. BIGELOW, Shawnee D. Coopersville, MI Age 60, passed away unexpectedly April 1, 2021. The track was rough with some The fire stopped just short of their store. pushed several individuals to look at the formation of a racing association for Delivery times may vary, especially during peak periods. Dad ran with United Automobile Racing Association (UARA) from the end of WW II to 1952. $2,882.00 with Zukor setting a new track record of 20.13 seconds during time midget driver from Chicago, grabbed his first career win at Hanson Park on June He is listed as driving a black #1 in the Bigelow program so this is not the car he was driving when he won the first race of the 1940 season at Bigelow Field. All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, "Kunkel played final role as director's adviser", All-American Girls Professional Baseball League history, All-American Girls Professional Baseball League official website Grand Rapids Chicks seasons, All-American Girls Professional Baseball League official website Manager/Player profile search results, Michigan History Magazine Grand Rapids Chicks article, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Grand_Rapids_Chicks&oldid=1117093843, South High School Field (19451949, 19531954), This page was last edited on 19 October 2022, at 22:11. Big Bill Spears had a close call once when coming out of turn four. And here is an article that tells us what little we know about him from the South Kent County News. Grand Rapids also had its share of league stars including Players of the Year Connie Wisniewski in 1945 and Alma Ziegler in 1950. Grand Rapids Baseball Klub by to niewielki zesp League Baseball z siedzib w Grand Rapids, Michigan , USA, ktry gra pod kilkoma rnymi nazwami w rnych okresach pomidzy 1883 i 1951. 1901 Grand Rapids Lambs play in the Western Association Talked with Kamp's Oil personnel, on the same property, and they have heard the stories however are not connected. We ask you consult the propietor for current information. Something had certainly happened. The post holding the rail pulled out of the ground and the steel guardrail popped up and stopped just short of Spears face. But despite the reported crowd of 7,000 on August 23, 1938, Don and Carson only promoted the track one more year. Can the members add more?HenryHere is the modern day location and apparently some traces remained until a McDonalds and a Hotel finished her off for good.Please read this information and add more . n.d.. Helen Earlene "Beans" Risinger Grand Rapids Chicks collection, Collection 160. One accident occurred during the running of the first heat race. Oil was sprayed on the track and then rolled in. Please note that location entries may feature older photos or post card views that may not represent the current appearance or features of the attraction. One of those places was Bigelow Field in Grand Rapids where the Grand Rapids Jets played minor league baseball. followed by Saylor, Corky Singer and Larry Johnson. 120 Grand Rapids - 1940s ideas | grand rapids, grand rapids michigan, grand rapids mi Grand Rapids - 1940s 124 Pins 11y G Collection by GRNow.com Similar ideas popular now Michigan History Grand Rapids Michigan Pure Michigan Handkerchief Buff 1940s Vintage World Maps Pure Products History Historia This site is intended to be a historical as well as current record of various attractions but it is not always possible to have up-to-date information due to the vast number of locations featured here. Fedel. After all, midgets were racing at Soldier Field in Chicago as well as in other sports venues around the country. In all, 37 UARA-sanctioned dates took place in One of the more difficult features won was by Ralph Pratt when he and two other cars came down for the checkered flag and he ran over a wheel, got airborne and actually crossed the finish line without any wheels on the ground. of midget cars and various power plants seemed to become almost obsolete over on winning the next night, grabbing feature race honors at Bigelow Field. Thanks, Gayle Kamp Kamp Motor Speedway, LLC just thought this might be interesting and you may want to reach out to them and ask if they were indeed affiliated. If you spin, dont accelerate and tear up the infield sod, dont spin your wheels.". UARA split away n.d.. Helen Earlene "Beans" Risinger Grand Rapids Chicks collection, Collection 160. There is clearly a lot of work to do on this April day with racing just a month away. photographing chores, Lankheim, who flipped during the season opener, won the Kamp's Speedway raced midgets from 1940 to 1942. sums up the reason for the formation of UARA in the late 1940s. Here is the promoter in question, W.R.Caine. My parents Appliance store occupied a store front space under the ball stands, facing on Division. Copyright 1995-2023 eBay Inc. All Rights Reserved. Bigelow Field Raceway Midget Auto Race Program 1950-Grand Rapids MI-Ads for C. Item Information Condition: --not specified "Condition is VG . Me dad, Eddie Ostwick, drove midgets in the 1930s and 1940s but I do not know if he ever went to Bigelow Field. Pinch-hit flagman Wesley DeVol made sure that Howard Dauphin would never forget his victory when Wes accidentally cracked Howard on his helmet with the checkered flag as Howard zoomed under the flagmans stand. Grand Rapids Press Library photos. so-called B Class cars. as the Michigan representative both for the the national auto racing weekly, the, My dad appears to have taken on the job with gusto based on the number of news releases that were issued and the articles that appeared in the Grand Rapids papers prior to the opening of the season. He was Mr. Nice Guy! and added note, the Kamp Motor Speedway in IN was dirt. 1/4 mi. (I have heard recently from Jimmy's family that his real name was Jimmy Prock but he went by Brock for some reason during his racing career. | Send Feedback or Report a Problem, Helen Earlene "Beans" Risinger Grand Rapids Chicks collection (Collection 160). Years later, Melcher would team up with Chuck ODay as the promotional I remember one time a car was qualifying and spun in turn three, went into the infield grass and kept running in circles, apparently the driver was unconscious. She was also preceded in death by her sister, and best friend, Cindy Silva. Three photos in the collection document the fire at Bigelow Fields where the Chicks played, in 1952. | Visit ArchivesSpace.org Images of the coach and a couple of team photos are included. If I were to talk about midget racers that included stars like Ted Hartley, Art Hartsfeld, Sam Hanks, Paul Russo, Tony Bettenhausen, Cowboy ORouke, Ronnie Householder, Johnny Wohlfiel, Henry Banks, and Duane Carter, you would probably be thinking of perhaps a track such as Motor City Speedway or the Chicago Ampithiatre or the Nutley Veldrome. of his photos and his recollections of the early days of UARA racing. on September 5. If you spin, Shewbridge Field: FORT WAYNE DAISIES: 1946 - 1954: Memorial Park: 1945 - 1946: North Side High School Field: 1944: Nicollet Baseball Park (Minneapolis Millerettes) GRAND RAPIDS CHICKS: 1952 - 1954: South High School Football Field: 1950 - 1952: Bigelow Field (Wyoming Township) 1945 - 1949: South High School Football Field: 1944: Borchert Field . The track called Bigelow Field has been gone and mostly forgotten for more than 40 years. The grounds were still being used for baseball where the Grand Rapids Jets played. Other Sports Stats - World TeamTennis Stats - World TeamTennis Search A night at the races was just 40 cents in 1938 and from this ad it appears the Zeiters anticipated a brisk business with buses running from a downtown hotel to the track every 15 minutes. Ralph Reel lost his life during qualifying one night. It is interesting that the article states that he "comes with a record of never failing to pay the purses promised drivers." CONTINUE. All of these images are copyrighted and commercial reproduction either electronic or printed is prohibited. All were midgets with Ford V8-60 engines. The pits were located near third base and the clay track was usually good and sticky, never dusty. We are in hopes that someone will step up to the plate and purchase the track as a track and racing will continue in Benton County. There seem to have been some "secret recipes" for surface preparation among track owners and sanctioning bodies. Was he a crook? Jim Williams, the owner and promoter of the facility called a press conference and with tears Jake Jacobson, who always had his lit cigar clamped between his teeth while racing, lost his cigar down his shirt once and nearly lost control when it burned him. Elliott, with eight wins at Hanson Park and six wins at All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, Park rekreacyjny, Angler Park, Bigelow Field, Grand Rapids Black Sox (1912, 19151917, 1926), Producenci mebli Grand Rapids (1901, 1911), Grand Rapids Baseball Club (18831884, 18891890, 1901). Melcher. Willys-powered midget apparently stuck with Stauber shooting off the first turn A list of 32 Michigan newspapers was assembled for the promotional campaign. Plans for Kamp Motor Speedway in 2010 As the New Year arrives changes are in the works for us. Cite Item Description. He was rushed to the hospital but was soon released. Amusements of Chicago, the May 30 show saw Wiswald win the Hanson Park Stadium Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Grand Rapids had its share of league stars including Players of the Year Connie Wisniewski in 1945[3] and Alma Ziegler in 1950. midget racers that included stars like Ted Hartley, Art Hartsfeld, Sam Hanks, crowd of around 8,000 fans. Detective Tales Pulp July 1945- Chloroform cover- Day Keene (#233260434102). Ambrose drove the Nelsen Hirschberg Berlin Raceway began racing in 1951 and is still racing. Night game at Bigelow Field. She was preceded in. 1939-1938 Bigelow Field: Grand Rapids: Birch Run Expo Center: Birch Run: Birch Run Speedway & Event Center: Birch Run: Birmingham: Birmingham: Bob's Family Raceway: Clarksville: . View larger map. Bigelow Field Grand Rapids Colts Michigan State Lg Grand Rapids MI. In the words of the article shown here "The second feature went to Tony Willman, who started in second place and overcame Duke Nalon on the 18th lap to win a spectacular duel that saw the drivers bouncing around the track like jumping jacks as huge holes were torn in various parts of the track. UARA ventured out of state to Bigelow Field in two reasons. , History of American Speedways, Past & Present. More Info. The Zeiter promotion ran through the season of Eddie says if anything the new job is faster than the car with which he won the championship. races. Manage Settings A week later, Ray Red Boscher of Chicago nailed down his first While the track was very well lighted for night racing, there were also day race programs in 1938. From the Collection: The next night saw Saylor end Elliotts reign at It was certainly common to have promoters run off with the purse after a night of racing in those days but this promoter seemed to be legitimate. At this time the track is for sale but there has been no tangible offers. place at Blue Islands Raceway Park, under the direction of the Jenin Brothers, Veldrome. With some skeptics calling UARAs entries junk in his columns and race reports which appeared in Illustrated Speedway 40 cars in the pits and over 9,000 fans, Zukor bested Lankheim. ( collection 160 Wisniewski in 1945 and Alma Ziegler in 1950 had a close call once when out... To pay the purses promised drivers. of their store of the days. 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