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Senior Moment by Russ Dodge:
Great Expectations for 1961
The “Flying V-8 is hooked
up and ready for the opening show at Vineland Speedway in April of 1961. The
blue and white color combination really looks sharp and a great 1960 season,
with a coupe “V-8” being successful both on dirt and asphalt with Bunky
Higbee at the wheel, supports a bright outlook for the new season!
Brothers Andy and Carl Ford, from Paulsboro, N.J., were the owners of this
strong running limited sportsman (NASCAR Hobby Car Division) stock car. The
coupe mentioned, winner of features at Vineland and Alcyon Speedways, was
far from a beauty. The body cut and battle scared dents and bents, some how
seamed appropriate on the “Alley Oop Coupe”. A big caveman like arm and a
large club, painted on the trunk came from a popular rock and roll song of
the period!
Darn, another Senior Moment before finishing the first one! I have to tell
this story before I forget it! In 1960, Bunky Higbee’s toughest competitor
was Ed “Lil’ Abner” Goeke. Ed, by the way, won the NASCAR Hobby Division
championship at both Vineland and Alcyon Speedway that year. Bunky wanted to
win a feature at Alcyon Speedway in Pitman, N.J., more than anything!
Alcyon Speedway was in its last year of operation and perhaps facility
maintenance was not what it should have been. During the Hobby Stock feature
Bunky, in the “Alley Oop Coupe”, was leading the feature with Ed Goeke in
his 19X, was running second. All of the sudden the track lights went out and
the feature halted! Unable to make a quick repair, the feature was move to
the following week, to be completed with the cars starting in the order they
were running when the race was stopped.
With the feature ready to restart the following week, Bunky knew he was
going to have to get the lead if he was to have a chance of beating the fast
running Goeke, for the checkered. As the cars came out of the 5th turn onto
the straight away, Bunky pulled the “old point franticly” to the grandstand
trick! Ed, looking over, saw Higbee pointing with his arm in motion, so
naturally Ed, looked to see where Bunky was pointing! You guessed it! That’s
when Bunky took off and got the jump on “Lil’ Abner”, holding him off for
the win at Alcyon speedway.
After the feature, Ed went over to Bunky and asked, ”What were you pointing
at?” Bunky said, ”That guy standing up at the fence was yelling for you.
Didn’t you see him?” Ed didn’t know what to say!
Now, back to the beautiful sedan pictured. You’ve heard of “more show than
go”? Well unfortunately that could help describe the sedan during 1961
season. The old “Alley Oop” coupe had been “no show and ALL GO!” Yes, the
beautiful sedan won a feature at Vineland and had a few seconds and top
fives, but it just was a “comfortable” as the old coupe!
After the 1961 season the Ford’s sold the “Flying V-8” to the Dodges. My
brother Charles bought the car and he ran it a couple times at Vineland the
following season as a red and black number 11. The history of the car from
that point on could be another Senior Moment” in itself!
Senior Moment By: Russ Dodge
Photo By: Andy Ford
Location: Paulsboro, N.J. 1961
Provided By: Russ Dodge |