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Photo ID # H06.29.11_TAS_STU_VIN_0055S_1
Car #: #NA
Driver (s) : Al Tasnady and Don Stumpf
Location: Vineland, NJ
Date: 1955
Photographer: William Curley
Photo provided by: Russ Dodge
Comments: Senior Moment From Russ Dodge:

Hotter Than A Firecracker On The 4th of July
 

It was a real scorcher on the 4th in 1955. The photo shows feature winner Al Tasnady on the right and runner-up Don Stumpf, on the left, both still in their driving uniforms! Along with the heat of the day, the dust at Vineland in the early years was unbelievable.

When the 55 acres of wooded land was cleared for the speedway, it was found that there was nothing but South Jersey sugar sand as a base on the property. 6 inches of gravel was placed on the entire property before construction of the speedway could continue. Even with the placement of quality clay as a track surface, the sand would work its way into the surface creating "clouds of dust"!

Every time I look at this photo I see the beverage can they are holding. I know early brands of beer came in that design can, but so did brake fluid. I'm sure they got the right one!

Not being at Vineland for this show, speedway photos and some 8mm film of racing from that day, are my source of information. There were many beach umbrellas used that day at various places on the grounds. In the pits, a few in the grandstand and even one on the flagger's stand were evidenced. Many of the old 37 Ford cars were racing with their windshields cranked "wide open"! The front windshield was hinged at the top and the bottom would crank out to allow fresh air to enter and cool the car.

Back in the 50's and early 60's I recall Holiday shows being an additional show on the tracks schedule, run on the actual holiday celebrated date. I also recall, while I wouldn't miss a show if I could help it, I never really liked day racing on a small track. The illusion of speed created by the cars under the lights was missing.

Looking at this photo reminded me of the hottest race day I recall. In 1958 being a regular fan at Alcyon Speedway, it was a tough decision to forgo the Memorial Day show in Pitman and attend the NASCAR Northern 500 at Trenton! Not being old enough to drive, a chance to go was a special opportunity for me. Fireball Roberts won that day, followed by Junior Johnson, Lee Petty. Also some others in the field were Buck Baker, Joe Weatherly, Speedy Thompson, Curtis Turner and Cotton Owens. It was a "Who's Who" to me and I'll always remember that race. With this said and done, the one thing I remember about the day the most was the HEAT!

The buck we saved by sitting in the open bleachers on the front straight instead of paying extra to sit in the covered grandstand, was a huge mistake. 6 hours in the sun with no hat or sunglasses ( which was my youthful stupidity) produced one major head ache! I remember when the guys let me off home I went directly to bed. Fortunately, after a couple hour nap, I was ready to roll again!
That's my "Hot Day" racing memory, how about yours. Any day racing stories out there?

Thanks for listening. Senior Moment by Russ Dodge

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Comment:

06.29.11 3-Wide Hey Russ - Had the same thing happen to me after spending all day in the infield sun at Langhorne around 1967.  I think it was the first time I can remember getting sick from spending too much time in the sun.

Question Russ - is this photo taken looking into turn one?  I'm just trying to figure where they are standing in relation to the day last winter when the group of us visited Vineland and walked the track.
06.30.11 Steve Elias From what I can see that is turn one.
06.30.11 Russ Dodge You're right about it being the first turn. One way of telling on old Vineland Speedway photos is the "corrugated" fence on the outside of the track to block people from standing in the woods and watching the race. It made them at least have to climb a tree to see! That fence was only located on the end of the speedways first and second turn.
06.30.11 3-Wide Thanks Steve and Russ.  For those who hadn't seen it before, here's a few pictures from a return visit to Vineland Speedway from March 2010: 
https://3widespicturevault.com/FRONT%20PAGE%20STUFF/Vineland_Visit_G03.30.10_.htm
06.30.11 George Gwynn What a great photo of two of the greats.

I don't remember seeing many photos of Don Stumpf over the years. But I do remember seeing him many times, in the pits, after the races. I can only remember him sporting a mustache and don't ever remember seeing him without one. I would not have recognized him in this picture without some help from Russ.

I do remember a day race, at the old Delmar track, where the heat was extremely oppressive one mid-summer afternoon. Iced tea stored in those old plastic thermos jugs were in evidence everywhere in the bleachers that day. That was a looong time before personal water bottles were ever considered.

George Gwynn
Frederick, MD
07.01.11 Russ Dodge
One other comment on the Vineland fence. It was located at least 20 yards from the track guardrail in the first turn. The road which the cars followed into the pit area ran between the first and second turns of the track and the fence. Here Otto Harwi in the Dornberger-Nicotra 999 made it all the way out of the park. Well almost. Al Tasnady fans can you pick out the well known car owner on the photo checking things out?
 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

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