From Jalopies
to Late Models
While we seem to focus on the modified accomplishments in the history of racing
at Merrittville Speedway, we shouldn't forget the novice divisions where many of
Merrittville's modified stars got their start. In 1957 the Jalopy division was
formed by track owners Ken Kavanagh and Bill Russell to allow young would-be
racers a place to start their career and learn their skills. There was one rule
in the jalopy division in that the drivers who finished in the top ten points
standings had to move up to the stock car division so that one driver could stay
and dominate that division. A good rule for the time and it also infused new
talent into the upper stock car division ranks. During the 1950's these
basically stock coupes and coaches, provided a proving ground for many rookies
to show their talent. Drivers such as Ted Renshaw, Lloyd Holt, Neil Truesdell
and Bob St. Amand all started in this division.
For example, during the 1959 season, it
was truly a jalopy season dominated by St. Catharines native
Lloyd Holt driving the J-15 coupe. While George Winger was
winning steadily in the stock car division, Lloyd Holt won a
record 7 features breaking the previous record of six
victories previously held by Dave Halliwell also of St.
Catharines.
The final race of the 1959 season saw
Lloyd Holt winning convincingly over Neil Truesdell of
Ransomville New York and Bob St. Amand of St. Catharines.
All three of these drivers would move on to the stock car
division and also claim many victories during the 1960's and
1970's. During the 1960's the availability of 1930's cars
was starting to dry up and in 1962-63 the jalopy division
evolved into the late model division, featuring full bodied
post-war cars. During this period the late model division
became the proving ground for tomorrow's modified stars.
The late model division also offered a
diversity in car make. We not only had Fords and Chevrolets,
but also Plymouth, Dodge, Chrysler, Studebaker, Buick,
Oldsmobile, Pontiac, Mercury and Edsel. It became a very
popular division which pitted not only driver against
driver, but car make against car make. If you will show me
some leniency, I would like to list a few of the names and
their cars and see if it brings back some memories for you.
Harry Sittler #37 Pontiac Ralph Book #47
Studebaker Ken Aspen #81 Studebaker Don Turner #39
Oldsmobile Jim Burger #10 Ford (also shared by Keith Winger)
Mike Zajac #88 Chevrolet Lynden Wood #38 Chevrolet Frank
Fields #27 Chevrolet Bob Webster #5 Plymouth and Dodge Don
Shirton #55 Dodge and Plymouth Pete Bicknell #42 Chevrolet
Brian Stevens #14 Chevrolet Harvey Hainer #2 Chevrolet Roger
Treichler#74 Studebaker Merv Treichler #58 Studebaker Bill
Spiece #88 Plymouth
These sixteen individuals definitely are
only a sample of the drivers that went on to further their
careers at area tracks, some staying in a late model class,
but most moving up to the powerful sportsmen modified class.
I will try to cover some of these individuals in upcoming
articles but I would like to focus on one individual who
made a career out of the late model division. That was a
fellow named Bob Webster of Hamilton, Ontario. Briefly, he
was one of those drivers whose talent showed immediately. If
memory serves me correctly, his ultra smooth driving style
was a sight to behold
Week after week, his pristine white
#5 Plymouth, usually a 1959 body style, would appear
unscathed to drift and weave around the competition.
I'm sure his bodyman was kept busy, while
by mid-season most other competitors cars appeared crumpled
by the binging and banging of close competition. No matter
which area track he raced at, either Merrittville Speedway,
Speedway Park, or Humberstone, he was the man to beat in
that division.
The last time I saw Webster race was in
the late 1960's driving a 1964 Dodge, again painted pristine
white with #5 on its flanks. I'm sure Bob is retired today
and still living in Hamilton. It would be great not only to
re-unite the modified drivers but also those that made their
careers racing in the jalopy and late model divisions.
The legacy of the once proving ground
carries on today as veterans such as Dan Turner, Brian
Stevens, Harvey Hainer Jr. and perennial champion Pete
Bicknell continue their careers today in the modified
division. Sincerely, Rick Kavanagh