HUGHIE TRIPP
Back in the days of early stock car
racing at Merrittville Speedway, a card of Saturday night’s
racing consisted of one division and that was stock cars,
which consisted of pre-1940’s coupes and tudors, with very
few modifications.
By 1957, it was recognized by
Merrittville’s owners, the Kavanagh and Russell families,
that a division for beginners was needed. For the 1957
season, a low cost, pure stock, Jalopy division was formed,
and this is where our inductee, Hughie Tripp got his start.
During the 1950’s Saturday night at
Merrittville Speedway was the place to race, long before
Ransomville, Humberstone and Lancaster existed and where
many young dirt racers honed their skills, amongst them Hugh
Tripp.
With the 1960’s on the horizon, Hughie
Tripp teamed up with Bert Smith’s Sunoco sponsored #3 and
became regular competitors at Merrittville Speedway on
Saturday nights, but also Friday nights at the new
Ransomville Speedway and Sunday nights at the new
Humberstone Speedway.
All through the 1960’s the Limited
Sportsman would evolve into the modified division. During
this period while the #3 was a strong competitor at
Merrittville, it was at Ransomville where Hughie would win a
modified championship and with both the “All Canadian” at
Humberstone and their modified points championship in 1965.
The move to the modifieds was how Hughie
would highlight his racing career. Hughie would drive in
1969-1970 for Ray Stevens – piloting the #3 orange coach.
During the early 1970’s Hugh Tripp would drive the #3 Ace
Auto Sales modified, a car which Hughie would lovingly
replicate and then turn over to his son Bill to drive in
nostalgic, vintage race events. After retiring from
driving, Hughie’s interest in racing would continue to this
day, with many trips to North Carolina and attending many
NASCAR races with his wife Eleanor volunteering at Victory
Junction Gang Camp. Congratulations on your induction to
the Merrittville Speedway Alumni Hall of Fame!