Old_Bridge_Memories

A Few "Old Bridge Memories"

...from the vistors of the "Vault"

OLD BRIDGE SPEEDWAY EVENT
Oct 11th and 12th

...commemorating the OLD BRIDGE SPEEDWAY! From 1953-1968. The Old Bridge Speedway provided family fun for Old Bridge (formerly Madison Twp.) and all of central New Jersey.

Come for two days of Food, Fun, and Racing Memorabilia at the Thomas Warne Museum!!! Saturday and Sunday Oct 11th and 12th.
Doors open at 10am and Close at 4pm - Adults $5 donation to support the Museum -
Call for additional info, (732)566-2108 and keep an eye on the website!
http://www.thomas-warne-museum.com/events.php

Photo (left) by Ron Barnsted of flag purchased by his dad and given to him during a 1961 visit to the speedway.

(Comment from George Pavlisko: This was the last race I ever went to at Old Bridge. The Tree folks where there as always. ARDC put on a great show. That was the day that Sonny Saunders flipped on the backstretch, get ejected from the car and some how was not badly hurt, from what I remember.

My dad and I lived on the top row in turn one every Friday if my homework was done and I helped him in the shop. His passion was open wheel cars but was also into the stock cars back in the Jersey City days.

Remember Nick Deaden driving the XL-1. Richie Massing try to be an space man coming off turn two and getting as high as the lights. Joe Kelly in the XL-1 driving so smooth that nobody thought he had the fastest time but Did. Bill Slater in the V8, Eddie Flemke in the $, Pete Frazze in the 68 Tommy in the #4 the 2jr of Bill Cheviler. That was when racing was more for pride and fun not Big bucks. I could just see Jeff Gordon towing up to Old Bridge with a TOW BAR and red lights hooked on the roof for the tow home.

Take Care
George Pavlisko

$ Bill photo above shows what it was like to sit on the frontstretch some 45+ years ago...

Many of the visitors of the Vault have expressed an interest in posting some of your favorite memories of Old Bridge, so please send them in and I'll see to it that they are posted!

To Add Your Own Old Bridge Memories, Click Below:

Add Old Bridge Memories

or email to: 3wide@optonline.net

(If typing's not your thing, please send us your comments and we'll re-type them and add them below!)
3 Wide's Picture Vault
Post Office Box 22
Allentown, NJ 08501

Facts and Figures....

Old Bridge Memories:

Richard F. Lacey   10/04/08

Do I remember Old Bridge? I can still smell the burning methanol, tires, tempers and those horrible sausage sandwiches sold in the pits. I was part of Wally Dallenbach's pit crew for a while - I was there the night he won in that 671 Blown Buick Stock car. Al Keller won almost every night but not that night. B&B Welding built Al's car in Gasoline Alley up Paterson way. I remember Tommy Elliot too - trying to sell a baby in the pits, the demolition derbys and the driver who won one night driving and destroying everyone in reverse! The packed stands and those massive pile-ups still exist as happy thoughts in my memory. If you lived nearby Old Bridge was the place to be on Tuesday and Friday nights. There was an atmosphere back then at that "track" that doesn't exist today at the big places to race. Back then it was all friends and family -- you could build a car for a thousand bucks -- today it's all Corporate America and you couldn't build a car for a million. After the race our gang would meet at Dietrich's Drive-in on Route 18 in East Brunswick for a cheeseburger and a milkshake, for .95 Cents. How I wish I could still brush off the the "track's" parking lot dust when I got home. I bet there's thousands out there who still wish they still could too.

Duane Smith 08/15/08

I can remember back in the late fifties my dad taking me and my older brother to old bridge speedway. my dad was on the old bridge volunteer first aid squad. he would set me and my brother down in the stands with a soda pop and go to the infield and do his thing..... There at old bridge I got to meet and know some of the great local drivers and the famous Tex Enright.   To watch a man run down the center of the cars waving the green flag was amazing if not just a little crazy. I am happy for the memories of those days gone by. My dad Al (SMITTY) Smith also lettered a number of race cars on the side.... I can remember the days he would take me to Beetles Garage to work on and letter and number the cars.   Thanks for all the great memories!

Bob W    08/06/07

I was only there once, and I hope I have the right place, but the night I attended in the early 60s, they ran a 1/16 mile drag race on the back stretch!   The fastest ET car, if I remember correctly, was a 1955 Olds, even beat out a "rail job." I got a T-shirt someplace some kid in the dirt lot airbrushed for me, 5 bucks, outrageous.
Bob W - New York

Jim Lamprow    7/13/07

I was born in Newark in 1943 and by the time I turned ten my uncle started taking me to the Old Bridge races every friday night. Oh! how I loved to go! It was better then mom's apple pie.

My uncle was one of the drivers and he would put me in the trunk of the tow car to sneek me into the pits, it was really funny that as a kid I wasn't allowed in the pits, but once I was in nobody ever said anything to me, even when I sat on the fence between the pit and the track. I can still smell the alcohol and picture the blue flames coming out of the gutted muffler shells that were mounted to the running boards as the drivers backed off in turns 3 & 4.

I remember one year my uncle and a friend built two Ford coach's that were blue and white, the numbers were 07 & 70. The first race of the season they raced they both were in an accident in the first turn of the first lap of the first race. That was the end of the #70 car, but the 07 returned again and again. The driver was Ed Schaefer who passed away in February 2006 at the age of 72.

There's a few cars I remember, like the XL & XL1, I remember one of the first slant six engines that came to the track and ran away with the winnings, can't remember the number though. There was also a green coupe #13 and I think the driver's name was Lenny Gould, can't be sure.

All I can say now is, Thanks for the Memories "OLD Bridge" & My uncle Ed.

Jim Lamprow
Pearl River, La.
7/13/07

Vincent Gabriel jr.     11/3/06

i was born in new jersey-in fact my whole family on both sides were from new jersey----my dad was a building contractor in morgan, new jersey-- just outside of south amboy and sayerville--i first met ace lane somewhere around 1960 or 61--i knew ace first as a skilled carpenter who at the time was working with my dad---i had know idea that he was a very well known race photographer--- in fact in my book he was a famous race car photographer---most of all he became a near and dear friend of my family and myself.

we were friends of his family and ace actually took family portraits of me --my brother and my four sisters back in 1962 or there about -which we all still have---it was ace who took me -my brother and my dad to old bridge speedway for the first time and actually introduced me to auto racing--

i'm a big auto racing fan to this day. ace was the guy who got us into the pits and introduced us to many race car drivers---at the time we had no idea who these drivers were and did'nt realize until years later how famous these drivers would become-

when i think of old bridge i think first of ace lane-- he was a wonderful-humble and talented man and most of all he was a friend of mine-my brother -my father and my family---when i found out that he passed away--i felt like i lost part of my childhood-- ace never bragged or let on how really well known he was in the racing world---but that was the kind of guy he was---

i will always remember him as the friend who took us to old bridge speedway and introduced me to auto racing--- ace-- we miss you'' i must close for now, it' time for my sunday nascar race to start---peace' vincent gabriel jr

Ken     07/15/05

Your web site brought back may fond memories of my youth. As a young boy, my parents frequently took me to the Old Bridge Stadium to watch the races. I remenber the track and cars as if it was yesterday. Both parents are now deceaseed and I will remember the good times with them at the race track. The times I spent at the Old Bridge Stadium were memorable and I appreciate the work and effort of everyone at the track and the racers who made it possible. Thank you - Ken

Jim Murrow     03/31/05

I only went to Old Bridge once, I think. That was for a what is now NEXTEL CUP , was before, WINSTON CUP, and back then GRAND NATIONAL race.

I liked the track a lot, but it was really too small for the full size sedans to get around too fast. Don't forget, back in those days they were off the showroom cars, on showroom frames, just beefed up a little.

I was just a kid, and I don't remember too much about that night, so maybe somebody can fill in the details for us. I'm pretty sure Rex White was there, I think Ned Jarrett, and several other big names. I'm guessing it was about 1960.

The field was very small, so they allowed a stock 1956 Mercury to run. It was a street car with mufflers still on it, and the brake lights were working. I'm sure some guy drove it to the track and drove it back home. It finished about 15 laps behind I think.

Anybody who has more information on that race please send it to 3wide. It seems to me Rex White won, but I really don't remember. I think Lee Petty was there too. It was my first Grand National race, and we only missed the first Daytona 500 when the big track opened, after that we went every year But...I think this may have been before that.

Russ Barsky 03/20/05

I just came across your outstanding web site and have spent the better part of this morning paging through its contents . I am only 43 years of age but I spent many years (since I was an infant I am told) at Old Bridge Stadium before it was closed.

After the track closed Wall Stadium became my 'home' track. I saw some great modified racing there but I could never forget Old Bridge Stadium. In fact, it was impossible not be reminded of the place! You see, I lived in Old Bridge, NJ - literally in the development across the street! I watched the old speedway sign in the parking lot slowly decay away (I still regret not 'rescuing' and preserving that sign!)   I witnessed the weeds grow over and through the track pavement. I saw the propery used for a travelling circus, a golf driving range and many other forgettable events before permanent buildings finally erased all visible evidence of the speedway.

I am still a fan of modified race cars and spend as much time as I can traveling to Nascar Modified Tour events in the northeast and visiting Wall Township Speedway but I will always think back fondly to the time I spent at Old Bridge Stadium. I can recall many trips down the bleachers with my grandfather to meet the drivers through the tire fence on the front stretch during intermissions in the program.

Being so young at the time leaves me with very few detailed memories but this web site helps me connect some of them together. I have attached some files you may find interesting. They are scans of two program covers from Old Bridge Stadium. Both are older than me and were aquired a few years ago. Feel free to use them on your site if you wish.

Oldbridge_Program_2.jpg (71621 bytes) Oldbridge_Program_1.jpg (61592 bytes)
Thanks for the memories, Russ Barsky - Kendall Park, NJ

Kurt Grotyohann 01/21/05 (1/16/07: Kurt, please contact us here at the Vault 1/16/07 - Thanks)

It was nice to read George Perkins memories of the Old Bridge Drags, especially about how efficient they were run. My father Art Grotyohann, was the manager of the drag races and he invented the colored starting light system, (later to become Chrondek's "Christmas Tree"). He also built the fourth turn timing stand, and all of the photo cells and the clocks of the timing system.

The telewriter was another innovation that he brought to the track that allowed you to pick up your time slips at the pit gate. He always got a chuckle when racers who lost would come up to him and complain that the guy who was holding his car from rolling down the banking didn't let go in time and that's why he lost! I have some of my Dad's black & white Polaroid picture's around some where if I can find them I'll send them in to post.

Kurt Grotyohann

George Perkins     01/10/05

First off , let me tell you I really enjoy your site. It really brings back the memories. I have lived in Tennessee for 35 years but I still remember all the good times I had at the east coast tracks. I made at least one time to the following tracks. Trenton, Langhorne, Harmony, Nazareth, Reading, Allentown, Flemington, East Windsor, Wall, Old Bridge, Vineland, New Egypt and Weisglass...probably forgot one or two.

Old Bridge was my first. I grew up in Avenel and used to see the XL-1 all the time. I finally talked my Uncle into taking me to a race at O.B. in 58, I was twelve, I haven't been the same since. Later in my teens we used to drag race at O.B., they called it shotgun drag racing. We'd race on Saturday nights. The starting line was in turn four , the
banking made the cars roll forward, so they would have guys hold onto the fenders of the standard shift cars to keep them from rolling through the lights. The finish line was down by the flag stand. The most efficient drag strip ever. If you won, you picked up your time slip on the backstretch by the pit gate then lined back up in three and four. O.B had a starting lights before any of the other drag strips in the area.

Memories of the oval track are many

The great fields of cars that ran on Sunday night. All the regulars like Kelly, Dallenbach, Hoffman, Frazee, Elliot, Hildreth, Stumph...the Long Island stars, Hendrickson, Harbach, DeAngelo, the New Englanders like Bergin, Slater, Gallulo, Flemke, Caruso, Zimmerman. It wasn't til many years later did I realise the scope of that weekly field.

Nat Klienfields cries of "Whoa.....spinout!!!!!!"

"Hey Ice Cream!!!!!! you scream, I scream we ALL scream for ice
cream" The ice cream vendor and his little hat. He also sold at Flemington and we'd get the results from him on weekends we went to Wall.

Ace Lane in his suit, making his way accross the infield.

The kids in the trees behind turn two. Seems like there were always about a dozen of them.

Looking over our shoulders during intermission, to see if the "Eastern Bandits" Flemke and his bunch, would make it in time from running Manassas, Va, that afternoon, to make the consi.....they always did, many times by the skin of their teeth.

The whine of the quick change gears. Old Bridge had long fast straightaways, the turns weren't banked much , so the cars had to back off pretty early compared to most tracks. We were first turn sitters. You could really hear the sounds of the quick changes whineing

The night the throttle stuck on the purple 4 and Tommie Elliot crashed through turn ones fencing and took out a light pole.

The night of a hundred lapper when Dallenbach led Kelly (normally the gentleman, who this night was trying to knock the rear bumper off the 14) for 99 3/4 laps til Kelly used Danny McGlaughlin as a pick and passed Dallenbach in four to take the win.

"Bye Bye Love" why is it racetracks seem to only have three songs to play during intermission?

The blue flame from the 659.... no, the sound wasn't as booming as it was at Wall but the flame sure was spectacular....I think it set the starters flag on fire one time.

Mike Grbac hanging his head out the window of his 55 chevy in the turns, the deck lid flapping. He went on to be one of my favorites.

The superior straightaway speed of the XL-1.

Elton Hildreth hanging the rear end out like he was on dirt.

The night they ran a powder puff and one gal just blistered the field, she was so far ahead she took a lap around the quarter mile and still kept the lead. When the race ended they couldn't get this "wild woman " to stop. They disqualified her and when they finally got her to stop the car, they presented the flag to another lady. The "wild woman" turned out to be "the wild man".....Elton Hildreth...........in a wig..............and a house dress! You had to see it to appreciate it. To this day, I've never heard such laughter at a race track.

They say you never forget your first. Old Bridge was really nothing special, not scenic like wall, no carnival atmosphere like Flemington, but she was the first, she was our home track and for that I'll always have a fondness for here.    George Perkins 10/10/05

Ed Duncan    08/22/03

Boy was I lucky as a kid, living only a half mile from this famous Speedway. I went to my first race in 1955. The sight and sounds of those brightly colored coupes an sedans still give me thrill almost fifty years later. I was fortunate enough to see some of the greats of racing compete there such as Pete Frazee,Tommy Elliott, Parker Bohn, Lenny Brown an many more in the stock cars. Len Duncan, Dutch Schafer, Johnny Coy, Tony Bonadies and a bunch more in the
midgets. Lee & Richard Petty, Jim Reed, Ralph Moody, Bob Welborn and the rest of the great Grand National stars.

I have so many great memories of the track I could fill a book. P.S. Thanks Joe for having such a great sight. If i can help you to ID any photos feel free to contact me.

Walter Onora 08/09/03

I have two small checkered flags from Old Bridge. Back in the 60's our regular track was Weissglass Stadium. Old Bridge would run sunday afternoon shows in the spring. Usually combination shows with the ARDC midgets. I also have a handbill form Old Bridge (listing such drivers as, Bob Rossell, Joe Kelly, Ed Flemke, and "Wild Bill" Slater.) My Father and I were at the last races held at this track for both the stock cars and midgets. Fred Harbach won the stock feature and Bill"Wiggles" Johnston won the midget feature. Both events took place in 1968.

Joe Macfarlan 08/07/03:

I was only at Old Bridge once or twice and I think it was a mid week show back around 1966 or 67 so I couldn't have been more that 6 or 7 years old. I just remembering thinking how cool it was and how the people there really seemed happy that they had their special place to come and enjoy the races at. I'm glad I got to go when I did as unfortunately I think it closed very shortly after this.

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