| Photo ID # | b11.25.05_GRP_DEY_HGT_0054_1 |
| Car #: | #52, #42 & #240 |
| Driver (s) : | Francis Reynolds, Shrimp Hewitt, and Fred Dey |
| Location: | Hightstown (Route 130 & Rt 571) |
| Date: | 1954 |
| Photographer: | Francis Reynolds |
| Photo provided by: | David Reynolds |
| Comments: | Comment
from David: Before Hendrick and Rousch there was Dey's Garage. The 42
is owned by my father Francis Reynolds, 52 is Shrimp Hewitt, and the 240 Fred Dey.
These are from 1954 taken at Dey's Garage on Rt.130 and Princeton-Hightstown Road by
Francis Reynolds. My father said that the Dey's Garage Super drivers often
switch cars. He told me a story of one night at Hightstown Speedway Ed Prior was driving the #240 "sed-oupe" (sedan/coupe). He complained during practice that the car did not want to turn. Fred Dey checked the car and said there was nothing wrong with the car. During the heat the car came to a stop in the first turn. Fred ran out to the car to see what was the matter. Ed got out of the car holding the steering wheel with the steering column attached and handed it to Fred and said here see if you can get it to turn. |
| Visitor's Comments | To add your comments about THIS PHOTO - Click Here | |
| Date: | Visitor's Name: | Comment: |
| 12/25/05 | Bob Stives | This is a great shot! Fred owned the gas station at this intersection
which had a State Trooper's barracks on the second floor. To the back of the photographer
would have been the old Dairy Queen. Growing up in the area, I have been through this
intersection thousands of times. Each time I would always remember Fred's operation, even
after it was torn down. Once at the old Hightstown track, Fred was checking an engine problem. They had the spark plugs out of the flathead, and Fred told somebody to turn the engine over. Being that the spark plugs were on the top of the old V8s, alcohol came gushing out of one of the plugs holes. Fred got sprayed in the eyes, and required medical attention. Years later, around 1974, Fred worked as a part-time delivery driver for Cranbury florist. I got a job there watering plants while I was in college. The owner wanted me to help Fred on a delivery one day. When I got in the van, I introduced myself and recalled the fuel incident. He was amazed I could remember that since I was not more that 3 or 4 at the time. I also recall someone at the old Hightstown track with three cars. This posed a towing problem. The way it was solved was they towed one racecar behind another in tandem. The third was driven home in the dark! Not sure if the was Fred's doings or not. The first turn of the old track was about where the grandstand entrance was to the East Windsor Speedway. Bob Stives 12/25/05 |
| 12/27/05 | David Reynolds | Another Fred Dey story: Fred caught the state police using the
junk cars behind the gas station for target practice, shooting out the windows. Fred was
enraged and made them pay to have all the windows replaced. He then took them to the junk
yard to scrap them. |
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