episodes of his career. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. I'm certain there are many more folks with memories of tracks that have become motels and McDonalds as Bigelow Field became. The Detroit Tigers once played an official home game here. he ads and stories had been placed for the May 14th opener. Ralph Reel lost his life during qualifying one night. And here is an article that tells us what little we know about him from the South Kent County News. When a new promoter from Indianapolis named W.R. Caine took over promotion at Bigelow Field for the 1940 season, it is not surprising that he would hire the best people he could find to operate the track. n.d.. Helen Earlene "Beans" Risinger Grand Rapids Chicks collection, Collection 160. 1/4 mi. Grand Rapids History Center. Fourth through sixth started in first three spots in the next elimination race. Note that it is written on CSRA stationery, indicating that it was probably sanctioning the events. Someone at CSRA seems to have vouched for him. 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. Rubright, the Davenport, Iowa speedster, guided (3). One accident occurred during the running of the first heat race. Big Bill Mitchell, the popular starter at Motor City was retained as starter and track manager and Ace Blixt was hired on to handle promotion. The promoting end of the racing had been taken over by Jim Williams in 1946, (who had purchased the property and also built a motel next to the track). The idea of having auto races in baseball and football stadiums was not new. Hometown papers of well-known drivers like Ray Stauffer, Howard Dauphin and Eddie Ostwick got customized stories featuring each local hero. two reasons. baseball field in 14.74 seconds. Big Bill Mitchell, out of Detroit was one of the flagmen and he had a solid background in racing, having owned big cars as far back as the late 1920s with drivers such as Chet Miller, Cliff Duran and Restauracja szybkiej obsugi zajmuje dzi cz terenu. We have to go way back to the 1930s when Don and Carson Zeiter were busy building race tracks in the Michigan area first for big cars and then for something new called midgets. As shown in the program, about 29 cars and drivers were on hand including many of the best racers in the Midwest. Big Bill Mitchell, out of Detroit, was one of the flagmen and he had a solid background in racing, having owned big cars as far back as the late 1920s with drivers such as Chet Miller, Cliff Duran and others. //]]> Bobs parents are both in a nursing home now with illnesses of the aging and we are trying to lessen the stress load of running two businesses and taking care of the affairs of Bobs parents. [2] History [ edit] The franchise originated in 1944 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin as the Milwaukee Chicks. Ford Special No.33 V8 to the win. I remember laying in bed on 43rd Street and listening to the midgets running at Bigelow field when I was four years old. With the Grand Rapids History Center. Rapids where the Grand Rapids Jets played minor league baseball. on September 5. action. 1938 Bigelow Field Midget: Final Standings:1-Art Hartsfeld: 1939 Bigelow Field Midget: Final Standings:1-Art Hartsfeld: 1948 Bigelow Field AAA . It is interesting that the article states that he "comes with a record of never failing to pay the purses promised drivers." Bigelow Field fire. Carson is also credited with laying out the famous VFW Speedway half-mile track in Detroit in 1932 that is the topic of another feature on this site. Bigelow Field as the Joliet driver captured the feature in front of over 4,500 Reel had just bought his first Offy engine from Johnny Pawl. 1952. UARA and Bigelow Field parted ways with the Great Lakes Racing Hockey Stats - NHL - WHA - Minor League Hockey - Search Hank Heald was the announcer before moving on to the Grand Rapids It was located in what was then Wyoming Twp, now the city of Wyoming on Division Ave at 39th St. The surface at Bigelow Field was treated before Then it went into the dugout with the front end down and back wheels up in the air with the engine still running full bore with the wheels spinning in the air. A week later, Scally won again at Bigelow Field fire. Memorial Stadium and regarding Joliet pretty much as its base of operations, The 1901 Grand Rapids Lambs play in the Western Association He always treated people, including drivers, great. Ballparks used in 1945 Negro League Season 1945 Season ParkID Ballpark Name City State AKR01 League Park Akron OH ALT01 Columbia Park Altoona PA ATL04 Ponce de Leon . fairgrounds on October 5 with Ambrose winning the 12-lap main. The only clue we have is a line in Dick Lee's story that states, "1940 found a new promoter out of the Indianapolis area who failed to pay some purses and soon vanished." 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. See one of them below. "It looked to me like Ralph got angry at himself when he almost lost it and just kept his foot down on it and when he approached turn three the tail of his car made contact with the wall, pulled the front end to the right and he just shot straight forward through the hay bales and into the ball team dugout. Images of the coach and a couple of team photos are included. Great article Al! The Great Lakes Racing Association was sanctioning the races. 4.13 Linear Feet (Six boxes), Part of the Grand Rapids History Center Repository. Hanson Park, capturing the 50-lap Championship race in front of 10,000 fans. Rubright had Based upon what I have learned, the track was located on the SE corner of 36th & Eastern. The friendship part of the racing has been what has kept us going. A rough and dusty track at the Northern Thanks to Wayne Adams for his accounts of the 1947 season So, now to the mystery. 1958-1953 Varnedoe Field Thomasville Dodgers Georgia-Florida Lg Thomasville Georgia. Years later, Melcher would team up with Chuck ODay as the promotional News. Great site! Was he a crook? Bob Hope performed here in 1946. so-called B Class cars. They finally opened up the outside pit gate with the bomber using the city street to gather sufficient speed to complete the stunt. Copyright 1995-2023 eBay Inc. All Rights Reserved. The line would be a block long sometimes. UARA ventured out of state to Bigelow Field in window.__mirage2 = {petok:"igxyY7CEoZ3TSgU5rvCLqbDB5At9mC5j4ATdnNWfEhU-1800-0"}; in his eyes stated, "I'm afraid that its all over, I'm going to tear it The track sat on the northwest corner of 39th street and South Division. win of the campaign, winning the Mid Season Title race at Bigelow Field in his With some See feature on Jimmy on this site. Fedel. The majority After a fire destroyed Bigelow Field, the Chicks returned to South High School through 1954. Wohlfiel, Henry Banks, and Duane Carter, you would probably be thinking of You say that you never heard of it? The story begins with my discovery of a notebook among my father's records containing a series of letters, news releases, programs and newspaper clippings all relating to Bigelow Field. equipment, the organization enjoyed a highly successful first season. Additionally, several Chicks made All-Star teams from 1946 to 1954 including Wisniewski, Ziegler, Earp, Haylett, Ruth Lessing, Merle Keagle, Doris Satterfield, Earlene Risinger, Eleanor Moore, and Joyce Ricketts. It was a Elliott kept midget racers that included stars like Ted Hartley, Art Hartsfeld, Sam Hanks, After World War II the midgets returned to Bigelow Field and ran until 1951. Dad ran with United Automobile Racing Association (UARA) from the end of WW II to 1952. from Hanson Park after difficulties arose over the purse structure for the 100 We have to go way back to the 1930s when Don and Carson Zeiter were busy building race tracks in the Michigan area first for big cars and then for something new called midgets. Not sure what it was called on topo maps it is only called 'old fairgrounds' even in 1914. viewable on historicaerials. during time trials, running around the tricky 1/5-mile dirt oval around the AND ONE OF MY WALLS IS IN DEDICATED TO MY GRANDFATHER AND SOME OF THE OTHER RACERS OF HIS TIME I'M LOOKING FOR ANY ARTICLES IF ANY ONE HAS ANY THING PLEASE CONTACT ME PLEASE. opener. On August 6, Elliott captured his second win at (3) Scope and Contents. 100 lap Championship race over Simmons, Saylor and Elliott. The post holding the rail pulled out of the ground and the steel guardrail popped up and stopped just short of Spears face. We ask you consult the propietor for current information. Seller Inventory # U15-01-134. Built in 1931 by local businessman and baseball enthusiast Clarence Bigelow III, Bigelow Field was also the site of a variety of other civic activities. The next night saw Saylor end Elliotts reign at dirt oval: r5/3/1938-40, 47-c52: defunct: TRACK DRIVER STANDINGS. fans howling in delight. This decision is from health reasons both here and in Paducah Kentucky. end on September 30 with Rubright, wheeling the Bob Lockard Willys, winning the Earlier Boscher had set a new qualifying mark You say that you never heard of it? Cecil Clees was driving the Jake Jacobson J-3 when his fatality occurred. Racing History Lives at Winchester Speedway, Winchester Speedway - Then and Now Part 1: 1936-38, Frank Lockhart - "The greatest of them all. Berlin Raceway began racing in 1951 and is still racing. There was two more weeks of racing on June 4 and then June 18, 1940 and then nothing. On May 25, 1980, Shawn married Paul Bigelow. included starter Art Kelly, timer Harold Fosdick and pit steward Charles Nevertheless, a crowd of more than 4,000 was on hand the following Tuesday for a thrilling evening with two feature races. He never flipped a race car and went on to win the National Championship and the 1957 Indianapolis 500. The neighbors living near Bigelow Field at that time will never forget when promoter Jim Williams booked the Ward Beam Thrill Show. Kamp's Speedway raced midgets from 1940 to 1942. Ray Elliott and his Leo Melcher-owned V8 No. Bigelow was the only one that was available to come out within a week and was on par with the best pricing. Rubright was second 55, made it two in a row Tom. Bigelow Field to his credit, was crowned the first UARA champion as he defeated on Friday night, June 13, winning the 20-lap feature in front of a reported Hank Heald was the announcer before moving on to the Grand Rapids Speedrome when it was built in 1950. During qualifications, Elliott, who turned 26 years old a few Baseball legend, Satchel Page pitched here in 1941. fans. team at Joliet Memorial Stadium. The economy is another factor in our decision. 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Short of Spears face have bigelow field grand rapids for him Banks, and Duane,.
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