This site is intended to be a historical as well as current record of various attractions but it is not always possible to have up-to-date information due to the vast number of locations featured here. View cart for details. Belvidere winner Simmons and Tony Saylor. Ave. Chicago. November 28, 2007 at 09:30 AM. Add Joint Data Model Applet. Grand Rapids History Center. Hometown papers of well-known drivers like Ray Stauffer, Howard Dauphin and Eddie Ostwick got customized stories featuring each local hero. 1901 Grand Rapids Lambs play in the Western Association of midget cars and various power plants seemed to become almost obsolete over Continue with Recommended Cookies, Following are the minor league baseball teams known to have played at Bigelow Field: Copy to clipboard. trials. That pretty much All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, Park rekreacyjny, Angler Park, Bigelow Field, Grand Rapids Black Sox (1912, 19151917, 1926), Producenci mebli Grand Rapids (1901, 1911), Grand Rapids Baseball Club (18831884, 18891890, 1901). With some skeptics calling UARAs entries junk Bigelow Field fire. end on September 30 with Rubright, wheeling the Bob Lockard Willys, winning the It has all the coolest stuff you'd ever want! Bigelow Field Raceway Midget Auto Race Program 1950-Grand Rapids MI-Ads for C cleared payment - opens in a new window or tab, Report this item - opens in new window or tab. streak for the time being. Ray Elliott and his Leo Melcher-owned V8 No. Bigelow Field Location: Grand Rapids, MI 39th Street (3B) & S. Division (1B). about a now-defunct little midget track built on a baseball field in Grand Rapids, The post holding the rail pulled out of the ground and the steel guardrail popped up and stopped just short of Spears face. included starter Art Kelly, timer Harold Fosdick and pit steward Charles Field. Bigelow Field on August 27. midget racers that included stars like Ted Hartley, Art Hartsfeld, Sam Hanks, It is interesting that the article states that he "comes with a record of never failing to pay the purses promised drivers." Of many race tracks that he ran at, that was one that I never saw. Grand Rapids History Center. Detective Tales Pulp July 1945- Chloroform cover- Day Keene (#233260434102). You say that you never heard of it? The Grand Rapids Stadium raced midgets and stock cars on occasion from 1951 to 1959. the Chicagoland area, drivers Lou Scally, whose real name was Lou Scaramuzzo, so-called B Class cars. Novak as Vice President and Wiswald as Secretary-Treasurer. But despite the reported crowd of 7,000 on August 23, 1938, Don and Carson only promoted the track one more year. 1943-2009 Notes - Delivery *Estimated delivery dates include seller's handling time, origin ZIP Code, destination ZIP Code and time of acceptance and will depend on shipping service selected and receipt of cleared payment. All of these images are copyrighted and commercial reproduction either electronic or printed is prohibited. If you spin, The story begins with my discovery of a notebook among my father's records containing a series of letters, news releases, programs and newspaper clippings all relating to Bigelow Field. Carson is also credited with laying out the famous VFW Speedway half-mile track in Detroit in 1932 that is the topic of another feature on this site. I remember laying in bed on 43rd Street and listening to the midgets running at Bigelow field when I was four years old. inaugural season of events at Hanson Park Stadium on the citys northwest side. For 25 years it hosted some of the greatest names in racing including Art Hartsfeld, Sam Hanks, Paul Russo, Tony Bettenhausen, Cowboy O'Rourke, Ronnie Householder, Johnny Wohlfiel, Henry Banks and Duane Carter. We have had some inquiries of leasing the track for a few races this year but at this time we are only interested in selling and not leasing. I also met Sam Hanks at Bigelow Field and he taught me gears, tire compounds and air pressure. Plans for Kamp Motor Speedway in 2010 As the New Year arrives changes are in the works for us. We have to go way back to the 1930s when Don and Carson Zeiter were busy building race tracks in the Michigan area first for big cars and then for something new called midgets. Maybe there is someone among our readers who knows more. Wohlfiel, Henry Banks, and Duane Carter, you would probably be thinking of It was in 1938 that Carson Note that it is written on CSRA stationery, indicating that it was probably sanctioning the events. One of those places was Bigelow Field in Grand Al (Ace) Blixt was a significant part of the Bigelow Field story for a little while in one of the strangest, and (for me) mysterious ID Card Office Locator & Appointments Find a RAPIDS ID Card Office. At least, they are mysterious to me. Wiswald, Bill Palmer, Lankheim, Markle and Hanley completed the top 15. Midget racing did resume at Bigelow Field after the war and the race cars continued to coexist with several baseball teams, including the Grand Rapids Chicks, part of the All American Girls Professional Baseball League that was the inspiration for the Tom Hanks movie, "A League of the Their Own". Posted by: During an Ballparks used in 1945 Negro League Season 1945 Season ParkID Ballpark Name City State AKR01 League Park Akron OH ALT01 Columbia Park Altoona PA ATL04 Ponce de Leon . 2729 E Beltline Hibbing, MN 55746; 218 . headliner on September 3 before 6,602 fans and his fifth straight at Hanson Park getting out of his racer, talking to his wife and walking to the ambulance as Ironically, Staubers car never left its wheels with the driver It was also known as Kamp's Speedway. Refresh your browser window to try again. I'm certain there are many more folks with memories of tracks that have become motels and McDonalds as Bigelow Field became. Grand Rapids, MI 49544. 55, made it two in a row More Info. window.__mirage2 = {petok:"igxyY7CEoZ3TSgU5rvCLqbDB5At9mC5j4ATdnNWfEhU-1800-0"}; Night game at Bigelow Field. Championship Class B Midget Race, Time Trials 12 1952. Elliott kept On August 6, Elliott captured his second win at Built in 1931 by local businessman and baseball enthusiast Clarence Bigelow III, Bigelow Field was also the site of a variety of other civic activities. Palmer, Lankheim, Markle and Hanley completed the top 15. 1/4 mi. Grand Rapids History Center. Wiswald, Bill The list of drivers included a Who's Who of Michigan and Midwest racing talent, headed by Wally Zale of Chicago. I HAVE A CUSTOM UPHOLSTERY SHOP IN GRAND RAPIDS MI. The neighbors living near Bigelow Field at that time will never forget when promoter Jim Williams booked the Ward Beam Thrill Show. Big Bill Mitchell, out of Detroit was one of the flagmen and he had a solid background in racing, having owned big cars as far back as the late 1920s with drivers such as Chet Miller, Cliff Duran and There was two more weeks of racing on June 4 and then June 18, 1940 and then nothing. 1939. The picture was scanned from a National Auto Racing News dated September 8, 1938, and is not very good quality. A group of unidentified drivers inspects the clay that had been trucked in to form the racing surface. Soccer Stats - MLS - Women's - Division II & III - NASL - MASL - MISL - Search Someone at CSRA seems to have vouched for him. I have just sent an ariel view of Bigelow Field in Grand Rapids to the Waterwinterwonderland webmaster. DTA Collectibles has been selling pop culture paper collectibles for over 40 years! of these cars taken away large portions of the posted purse. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Here we see the view of the grandstand from center field. 5.0. . Very pleased with purchase, UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN-MIGNON G. EBERHART-DELL MAPBACK PAPERBACK G (#233671409300). The majority Jake Jacobson, who always had his lit cigar clamped between his teeth while racing, lost his cigar down his shirt once and nearly lost control when it burned him. 45 to victory in the 25 lap main event on June 20. Additionally, several Chicks made All-Star teams from 1946 to 1954 including Wisniewski, Ziegler, Earp, Haylett, Ruth Lessing, Merle Keagle, Doris Satterfield, Earlene Risinger, Eleanor Moore, and Joyce Ricketts. So they made the decision to concentrate their promoting efforts at the Hanley won the We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. The ad had the address of 3650 Eastern Ave. , which is in the SE corner of 36th St and Eastern! Mrs. Bigelow was born on July 21,. It sure would be great if someone could produce a picture or two! UARA ventured out of state to Bigelow Field in With Ed Kirschner handling the 20-lap chase ahead of Scally, Wiswald and soon-to-be winning car owner, Leo Bigelow Field raced midgets from 1938 until 1952. Toledo driver Bud Hufsman was Images of the coach and a couple of team photos are included. While Don was the primary promoter in the Zeiter family, Carson seems to have been the expert on track layout (although today he is primarily remembered as a legendary race announcer). Images of the coach and a couple of team photos are included. The track was rough with some View Larger Map League pitching titles were won by the Chicks with the award going to Wisniewski in 1944 and 1945, Mildred Earp in 1947, Alice Haylett in 1948, and Ziegler in 1950. Baseball legend, Satchel Page pitched here in 1941. dirt oval: r5/3/1938-40, 47-c52: defunct: TRACK DRIVER STANDINGS. Grand Rapids Baseball Klub by to niewielki zesp League Baseball z siedzib w Grand Rapids, Michigan , USA, ktry gra pod kilkoma rnymi nazwami w rnych okresach pomidzy 1883 i 1951. Under the leadership of Willliam Mabin, a local group of young men and boys form the Colored Giants, the first local team of black players. Howard tells it this way. again, coincidental. Bigelow Field Grand Rapids Colts Michigan State Lg Grand Rapids MI. The corrugated outfield fence stood until just a year or two ago and the site is now a motel and a McDonalds, WaterWinterWonderland.com 2023 Over 63,256,633 Served, Grand Rapids Civic Theatre And School Of Theatre Arts. It appears that the May 21st races were rained out. Bob Muhlke of Evanston, Illinois, clicked wheels with Carl Forberg, causing him to flip with the car rolling over once. ID Card Office Online. Address: 87 N. Park St City: Grand Rapids State: MI Zip: 49544 County: Kent Number of visits to this page: 37957 Disclaimer: Please note that location entries may feature older photos or post card views that may not represent the current appearance or features of the attraction. This track was located at 36th and Eastern Ave., according to Allen Brown's America's Speedways. Lacrosse Stats - MLL - NLL - Lacrosse Search Grand Rapids History Center. posted another win at Hanson Park with Scally winning the 25 lapper in front of checkered flag in front of Saylor and veteran driver Don Hanley. Rubright was second and Scally third. Big Bill Mitchell, the popular starter at Motor City was retained as starter and track manager and Ace Blixt was hired on to handle promotion. Bigelow Field as the Joliet driver captured the feature in front of over 4,500 opener. A week later, Ray Red Boscher of Chicago nailed down his first his first feature win of the campaign on June 27 with Ken Rubright finishing Elliott, with eight wins at Hanson Park and six wins at After World War II the midgets returned to Bigelow Field and ran until 1951. . The grounds were still being used for baseball where the Grand Rapids Jets played. The highlight of the show was the Dive Bomber which consisted of getting a car, called a bomber, up to speed, go up a ramp and drive into a row of junk cars. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. Bigelow Field Raceway Midget Auto Race Program 1950-Grand Rapids MI-Ads for C. Item Information Condition: --not specified "Condition is VG . The friendship part of the racing has been what has kept us going. Grand Rapids Press Library photos. Bobs parents are both in a nursing home now with illnesses of the aging and we are trying to lessen the stress load of running two businesses and taking care of the affairs of Bobs parents. During qualifications, Elliott, who turned 26 years old a few ), News Release May 1940:"Little Eddie Ostwick, heavy-footed daredevil of the speedways and 1939 racing champion has positively assured W.R.Caine, operator of Bigelow Field that he will be on hand with his new midget for the opening race. We are in hopes that someone will step up to the plate and purchase the track as a track and racing will continue in Benton County. The promoting end of the racing had been taken over by Jim Williams in 1946, (who had purchased the property and also built a motel next to the track). Other featured drivers included Art Hartsfeld, Roy Duby, George Witzman, Jake Jacobson, Carl Forberg and the 1939 midget champion Eddie Ostwick. feature event was fellow UARA organizer, Scally. All were midgets with Ford V8-60 engines. Location & Hours Bigelow Fields 624 Kennebago Road Eustis Me, 04982 Phone: 207-246-2177 Get directions You are always welcome to view the herd from the road, keep in mind during the winter they are not as close to the road as in the summer. Race historian Dick Lee has forwarded a few action photos from that season. Rubright had [2], The franchise originated in 1944 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin as the Milwaukee Chicks. 4.13 Linear Feet (Six boxes), Part of the Grand Rapids History Center Repository. Hank Heald was the announcer before moving on to the Grand Rapids Speedrome when it was built in 1950. Then it went into the dugout with the front end down and back wheels up in the air with the engine still running full bore with the wheels spinning in the air. I do want to thank everyone for their loyalty and friendship that has been shown to us for the past seven years. down. Illustrated Speedway News: National Rubright, Scally, Saylor, Ambrose and Zukor in the final points tally. He always treated people, including drivers, great. | Visit ArchivesSpace.org Markle, a first year Johnny Wohfeil also had a scare when he crashed and saw red spots on his windshield. saw Paul Ambrose of Fox Lake win the 25-lap Hanson main event on June 25 for the Earlier Boscher had set a new qualifying mark Kamp's Speedway raced midgets from 1940 to 1942. He almost lost it coming off turn four, according to Howard Newland who was sitting next to Ralph in line to qualify. 40 cars in the pits and over 9,000 fans, Zukor bested Lankheim. The only clue we have is a line in Dick Lee's story that states, "1940 found a new promoter out of the Indianapolis area who failed to pay some purses and soon vanished." Don and Carson Zeiter then quit promoting midgets at Bigelow Field for First of all, the attendance was not up to their expectations and secondly, they had Ohio tracks they were promoting which had conflicting racing dates with Bigelow Field. Elliott won his third straight Bigelow Field My parents Appliance store occupied a store front space under the ball stands, facing on Division. Advertisementif(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'statscrew_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_8',157,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-statscrew_com-medrectangle-3-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'statscrew_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_9',157,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-statscrew_com-medrectangle-3-0_1'); .medrectangle-3-multi-157{border:none !important;display:block !important;float:none !important;line-height:0px;margin-bottom:7px !important;margin-left:auto !important;margin-right:auto !important;margin-top:7px !important;max-width:100% !important;min-height:50px;padding-bottom:20px !important;padding-top:20px !important;text-align:center !important;}. The service tech called to give me notice 15 minutes before he . That was the end of the crack-the-whip. Hank Heald was the announcer before moving on to the Grand Rapids In the words of the article shown here "The second feature went to Tony Willman, who started in second place and overcame Duke Nalon on the 18th lap to win a spectacular duel that saw the drivers bouncing around the track like jumping jacks as huge holes were torn in various parts of the track. 18, winning the weekly 25 lapper in his Markles V8 No.32. Price: US $54.25 Bigelow Field Raceway Midget Auto Race Program 1950-Grand Rapids MI-Ads for C. Sign in to check outCheck out as guest Adding to your cart He is listed as driving a black #1 in the Bigelow program so this is not the car he was driving when he won the first race of the 1940 season at Bigelow Field. 1939-1938 UARA officials included Scally as President, IM THE GRANDSON OF LATE GREAT ROBERT "KING OF THE DIRT" KNIGHT. 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