NORA SBS (Small Block Supermodifieds)

Link: http://norasbs.blogspot.com/

A special thanks to NORA Vice President Sue Delong

A few SBS photos below by: Rich - Arnold, Missouri

Photos taken at Oswego Speedway, New York

Have a good day...see you at the races

Rich - Arnold, Missouri

Chuck Amati passed away on Tuesday 18 November 2008

Chuck Amati - Auto racing veteran, champion, legend, and friend, passed away on 18 November 2008.

My heartfelt sympathies and prayers go out to Chuck Amati's family.

Chuck - it was a lot of fun watching you race over the years. I enjoyed talking racing with you at the race track.

I am going to miss you my friend - RIP.

"Thanks for the Memories"

Chuck Amati Obituary: http://www.hughesfuneralhomes.com/pages/obituariesDetails.php?personID=1990&xTS=1226988000

Highly Recommend Reading World of Outlaws:

Catching Up With....Chuck Amati (The One Arm Bandit)

http://www.worldofoutlaws.com/sprint/News/2008/March/033108_SP_Amati.aspx

2008 Jackson Motor Speedway Reunion

My good friend Terry Woodin with his awesome BINGO 151 supermodified.

The BINGO 151 story and a great one it is.

My friend Gary Hollis securing the wing on his awesome supermodified R-10.

The "Prison Car"

The "Prison Car" story - a unique and interesting one it is.

I am getting ready to take one more lap around the famed Jackson Motor Speedway with some good friends. L-R: On the left is one of America's greatest auto racing veterans, champions, and legends all time - Rollie Beale, in the middle is Cliff Harris, and on the right is Marty Blume.
Thanks Marty for the awesome tour around the track - you are a good friend indeed. Seated L-R: "Jungle" Jim Gresley, Art Bennett, and Marty Blume's wife Linda. Standing L-R: Dan Logan son of racing veteran Johnny Logan, and next to Dan is Marty Blume.

These are the gentleman that towed there racing cars to the reunion for all of us to see. Thanks to you all.

The Reunion looking to the right- The gentleman seated with his back to me and a purplish jacket is veteran car owner O.B. Granger.

The Reunion- you guessed it, looking to the left.

This group of gentleman raced at Jackson Motor Speedway when it was a 1/2 mile - "A Few Years Back."
American auto racing all time great - veteran, champion, and legend Rollie Beale. Thanks Rollie for bringing your scrapbook for us all to look at - talk about a racing history - amazing, simply amazing

L-R: Jim Gresley, Gary Lindahl, and Art Bennett.
Thanks to Harold Schill - it was a pleasure meeting and talking with you.
A photo I took of #65 Harold Schill at Oswego Speedway, NY in the 60's.
Mel Gillette - good to meet you and chat a while.

#58 Mel Gillette at Oswego Speedway, NY

Johnny Logan wins the 1st Annual Northern 200 for Supermodifieds at Jackson Motor Speedway, Michigan - 1961. Johnny Logan seen here in the photo with this trophy that he won that day.

A Few Final Thoughts
A good time was had by all. At this time I would like to thank Dick and Nita Decker, Marty Blume and all of the people who helped organize and put this reunion together. It is a lot of fun and I look forward to seeing all my friends up in Michigan in 2009.
To my good friend Wayne Landon - my heartfelt thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family on your recent family losses.
To Mike and Dan Logan it was a pleasure meeting you and chatting about your dad.
It was good to see Art Bennett, Jim Gresley, Wayne Landon, Mel Gillette, Harold Schill, Bob Seelman, Don Friend, etc., the list of Jackson Speedway drivers is long and a great one.
Art Braithwaite and Johnny Logan - two good friends that we all miss and will always be rememberd.

Art Braithwaite

Johnny Logan


So for now, have a good day...and see you at the races.

"The Arnie Knepper Memorial"

 

Arnie Knepper 

 (October 10, 1930 - June 6, 1992)

Auto racing veteran, Indy 500 veteran, Little 500 winner, a champion and a legend.

Five time St. Louis Auto Racing Association Midget Champion.

USAC Champ Cars, sprint cars and midgets:  

1963 - 1972

Indy 500 Veteran:  

1965 -1969

Little 500 Veteran:

1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1962, 1963

Little 500 Winner in 1962

 

 

 

A Special Thanks to Wanda Knepper for sending me the two photographs above of Arnie Knepper, and for her guidance and support.

 

 

The Arnie Knepper Memorial

at Belle Clair Speedway

in Belleville, Illinois

 

The 17th Annual Arnie Knepper Memorial

on 6 August 2008

O'Reilly POWRi Midgets

The 600cc mini sprint feature was won by

Austin Brown

 

# 25 Steve Knepper

 

# 55 Nick Knepper

 

#11 - 2008 Arnie Knepper Memorial feature winner Brett Anderson from Belleville, Illinois

 

#86 - ARCA star Justin Allgaier from Riverton, Illinois - 2nd place

 

# 13 - Adam Clark from Australia - 3rd place

 

# 17 Kenny Brown

 

# 7 Austin Brown

 

# 114 Hud Cone

 

# 12 Don Cunningham

 

# 114 Hud Cone    77x Mike Hess

 

 #25x Derrick Myers    #87 Rich Camfield     #67 Bubba Altig  

 

# 87 Rich Camfield   #11 Brett Anderson

 

#31K ? Tischauser   #25x Derrick Myers   31L Donnie Lehmann

 

  

# 24 Daniel Robinson

 

# 87 Rich Camfield

 

# 67 Bubba Altig

 

# 8 Dan Mecum

 

 

aoljurlAdd, aoljurlAdd_2

"From A Few Years Back" - Vintage Cars at the Tony Bettenhausen 100

Vintage Cars

 The Tony Bettenhausen 100 at Springfield, Illinois 

 16 August 2008

Photos by Rich Edwards - Arnold, Missouri

I highly recommend reading: Tony Bettenhausen the International Motorsports Hall of Fame

http://www.motorsportshalloffame.com/halloffame/1991/Tony_Bettenhausen_main.htm

Have a good day...see you at the races

2008 Tony Bettenhausen 100 winner Brian Tyler from Parma, Michigan

 

 

 

2008 Oswego Speedway Oldtimers Reunion

Oswego Speedway Oldtimers Reunion: Veterans, Legends, Champions and Friends

 

12 July 2008  

 

A special thanks to Jim Ferlito and Jim Liccardi for their timeless efforts and very hard work planning and organizing one of America's greatest gatherings of auto racers ever assembled.  It took me back to those thrilling days of yesteryears at the historic and prestigious Oswego Speedway - "The Home of Champions."

 

I hope everyone enjoys looking at the following photos and info.  And, to all of the oldtimers: drivers, mechanics, owners, organizers, fans, etc., "Thanks For The Memories."  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oswego Speedway co-owner and 1976 Oswego Speedway International Classic winner Steve Gioia, Jr. - special thanks Steve for your permission to browse around the Oswego Speedway to take photos.  It was a lot of fun chatting and visiting with you.

 

 

 

"Smiling" Eddie Bellinger

 

Bentley Warren

 

"The Pine" - Jimmy Shampine

 

At Oswego Speedway Nolan Swift drove the 10Pins and "Irish" Jack Murphy drove the Shamrock 6.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My all time favorite supermodified driver Art Bennett - 1961 Oswego Speedway Classic winner.  Note: Art Bennett and Gordon Johncock ushered in the supermodifieds at Oswego Speedway - 1961.

 

l-r: Art Bennett, Mark Letcher, "Jungle" Jim Gresley

 

l -r: "Jungle" Jim Gresley and Art Bennett

 

Wayne Landon

 

l -r: Norm Mackereth and "Jungle" Jim Gresley 

 

Mark Letcher

 

Jack Conley

 

Bob Seelman

 

 

Bob Seelman autograph

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paul Strasser

 

Gary Reddick

 

Ed Thompson

 

 

The following photos were given to me by 2007 Michigan Motorsports Hall of Fame Inductee - Tom Straley.  Thanks Tom, I greatly appreciate the photos, and the opportunity to meet and visit with you at the Reunion.

 

Tom Straley

 

Tom Straley

 

Tom Straley

 

Tom Straley autograph

 

 

I would like to say at this time, to all of the Oldtimers that I didn't get a chance to visit with this year, I will look for you all next year.  So, for now, you all take care and I will see you in 2009.

 

Have a good day...see you at the races,

 

Rich - Arnold, Missouri 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oswego Speedway Old Timers

OSWEGO SPEEDWAY OLD TIMERS

 

“more than just memories”

 

3rd Annual Oswego Speedway Old Timers Reunion – Picnic

Saturday, July 12th      10am to 4:30pm

WE NEED YOUR RESPONSE PLEASE……

 

As we prepare for this years’ Reunion-Picnic we have noticed again this year almost 40 percent of the tickets sold are for fans attending for the first time!!!   That’s great!! 

 

However, just like the last two years it may cause a problem.  The first year over 80 people showed up without requesting tickets in advance.  Last year we had over 50 do the same.  We love to accommodate as many as possible.  In the past many of you have just showed up without giving us a ticket request and we have always honored it because we wanted to see as many of our racing friends and family as possible!!!!

 

On July 12th, Garafolos will be catering three events in the Oswego area.  They have asked us to be as accurate as possible with our head count for the Reunion.

 

With that in mind, would you PLEASE let us know by either email or telephone if you will be attending the Reunion.  We would appreciate a response by July 1st PLEASE.  

 

Just let us know one of the following:    YES we will attend and give your ticket request……. NO we will not be attending this year…. OR ….. We are still not sure but will let you know soon.

 

We THANK YOU in advance for your cooperation.  Naturally, we hope everyone will be able to attend.  It has been wonderful seeing so many of the racing gang from the past. 

 

Also, we still have 7 Motel Rooms available out of the block of 25 we put aside for the Reunion.  If you are attending and need a room, please email Jim Ferlito at jferlito@nc.rr.com or by telephone at 919-233-9437 (call evenings please).

 

THANKS AGAIN.   Here’s wishing you and your family are doing well and we hope to see you on July 12th at the BIG “O”. 

 

Racingly,

Jim Liccardi   315-342-5149

Jim Ferlito     919-233-9437

Drivers:   Norm Mackereth, Art Bennett, Todd Gibson, Wayne Landon, Jim Gresley, Jamie Moore, Mark Letcher, Jim Gray, Kemp Dates, Doug Syer, Steve Gioia Jr, Irish Jack Murphy, Bill Rowse, Sammy Carista, Eddie Carista, Mel Dodge, Howie Scannell, Eddie Thompson, John Sheradin, Johnny Torrese Sr, Johnny Torrese Jr, Bernie Bellinger, Billy Vess, Hugh Darrow, Bill Kolb, Andy Mackereth, Joe Gosek, Lee Bliss, Gary Kelly, Bobby Barzee, Harv Lennox, Buddy Diehl, Den Wheeler, Barry Cann, Hal LaTulip, Paul Strasser, Brian Mackereth, Tom Straley, Eldon Schrader, Jack Conely, Don MacLaren, Bob Cloutier,

 

Owners:  Ron Ryan, Marty Crucetti, Diane Seelman Dewitt, Eddie McAuliffee, John Nicotra Sr, John Nicotra Jr, Billy Wright, Billy Law, Al & Janet Bush, Andy Susco, Bob LaTulip, Bill March, Steve Miller,

 

Officials:  George Caruso, Dick O'Brien, Jerry Rich, Bill Foley

 

Thanks to Jim Ferlito for sending the above list of drivers, owners, and officials that are planning on attending the reunion on 12 July 2008.

 

 Art Bennett

 

BINGO 151 Art Bennett 

Note: 41 Jack Nichols (deceased) is to the left of the BINGO 151.  BINGO 151 car owner Pete Webster is behind Jack Nichols giving a helping hand.

 

 Norm Mackereth

 

 Todd Gibson

 

Tom Straley

 

Wayne Landon

 

Sam Carista

 

Jim Gresley