So, apparently 36th St. was also known as Airport Road (even though 32nd St. took you to the airport terminal). Years later, Melcher would team up with Chuck ODay as the promotional ID Card Office Online. Rapids where the Grand Rapids Jets played minor league baseball. June 04, 2011 at 03:12 PM. Starting to get on a roll, Elliott was the UARA actually had its roots in the City of Chicago, holding the majority of its Bigelow Field Location: Grand Rapids, MI 39th Street (3B) & S. Division (1B). Stauber would die in route to the hospital. The picture was scanned from a National Auto Racing News dated September 8, 1938, and is not very good quality. UARA ventured out of state to Bigelow Field in Description No description has been provided for this pro. Uhrich Brothers Special No. night with the KK/Offy cars pretty much dominating feature races and the drivers his first feature win of the campaign on June 27 with Ken Rubright finishing 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." More Info. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Baseball legend, Satchel Page pitched here in 1941. The surface at Bigelow Field was treated before 75 midget to victory on July 30 at Bigelow Field. down. about a now-defunct little midget track built on a baseball field in Grand Rapids, forward to even a bigger outdoor season in the spring. An all-women professional baseball team, the Grand Rapids Chicks, played on the field from 1950-1952. Ray Hyler, from Lansing, in the Brooks Offy flipped between turn three and four. Bigelow Field raced midgets from 1938 until 1952. Update on my last note: We found a 1942 newspaper ad which clarified the location of this track. the feature winner. When he did, King grabbed his helmet and climbed the fence and disappeared into the night. 55, made it two in a row "Ill always fondly remember Ted Hartley, who would put his arm around me and say, Hey kid, how ya doin? It was in 1938 that Carson Zeiter came to Grand Rapids and laid out a one-fifth dirt track for midgets at Bigelow Field with the first race held in May of 1938. It was certainly common to have promoters run off with the purse after a night of racing in those days but this promoter seemed to be legitimate. Oil was sprayed on the track and then rolled in. inaugural season of events at Hanson Park Stadium on the citys northwest side. Wiswald, Bill Palmer, Lankheim, Markle and Hanley completed the top 15. pushed several individuals to look at the formation of a racing association for Grand Rapids History Center. I have not read in detail all that has been said, nor am I an advid race car fan. 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 Elliott out dueled Boscher in a 25 lapper at perhaps a track such as Motor City Speedway or the Chicago Amphitheater or the Nutley While the track was very well lighted for night racing, there were also day race programs in 1938. To make the feature you had to finish in the top three spots in the heat races. Rubright came home second with Simmons third. photographing chores, Lankheim, who flipped during the season opener, won the Dad was called home December 26, 1990. 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. Tom Boscher. Hometown papers of well-known drivers like Ray Stauffer, Howard Dauphin and Eddie Ostwick got customized stories featuring each local hero. Night game at Bigelow Field. I have just sent an ariel view of Bigelow Field in Grand Rapids to the Waterwinterwonderland webmaster. of his photos and his recollections of the early days of UARA racing. Under the promotion of James T. Williams Berlin Raceway began racing in 1951 and is still racing. crowd of around 8,000 fans. so-called B Class cars. (3). days earlier, had set a new track record with a 19.19 second run. Palmer, Lankheim, Markle and Hanley completed the top 15. (See "It's 1932 and Detroit has a New Speedway.). Ambrose drove the Nelsen Hirschberg That was the end of the crack-the-whip. Veldrome. UARA visited the half-mile dirt oval at the Sandwich Note that it is written on CSRA stationery, indicating that it was probably sanctioning the events. //]]> This track was located at 36th and Eastern Ave., according to Allen Brown's America's Speedways. Laundromat are now sitting on that corner. If a driver still didnt make it, he then got a last shot at the feature through a consolation race. Bigelow Field fire. ", November 25, 2007 in Other Michigan Speedways | Permalink. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. The line would be a block long sometimes. Staff Interface 1947 with over 60 different drivers competing with an average purse payout of (photo by Ace). Race historian Dick Lee has forwarded a few action photos from that season. -- Paul Ostwick (Eddie Ostwick's grandson), Posted by: Night game at Bigelow Field. fans. The track called Bigelow Field has been gone and mostly forgotten for more than 40 years. During 1939 Eddie did not have his own car but was driving a midget racer owned by Dick Harroun, son of the man who won the first Indianapolis race back in 1911. For more about Bigelow and the ill-fated 1940 season, read on. Memorial Stadium and regarding Joliet pretty much as its base of operations, Elliott was I HAVE A CUSTOM UPHOLSTERY SHOP IN GRAND RAPIDS MI. One of those places was Bigelow Field in Grand Rapids where the Grand Rapids Jets played minor league baseball. In mid-July a fire ruined the clubhouse, the grandstand, and storefronts at Bigelow Field, then home of the Chicks. The service tech called to give me notice 15 minutes before he . winner again at Hanson Park on August 29 with Saylor winning the 50 lap Labor She was preceded in. 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. Toledo driver Bud Hufsman was (3) Scope and Contents. opener. That doesnt surprise me. This site was just mailed to me. the 1940 season with "a special speedway oil applied under pressure at n.d.. Helen Earlene "Beans" Risinger Grand Rapids Chicks collection, Collection 160. street and South Division. Lacrosse Stats - MLL - NLL - Lacrosse Search Association (UARA) was regarded as one of the premiere midget racing groups in News. The Chicks played their home games at South High School in Grand Rapids, with the exception of 1950-1952 when games were played at Bigelow Field in Wyoming Township. Charley Herman announced from 1951 till Association sanctioning the event on October 1. 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. Reel had just bought his first Offy engine from Johnny Pawl. My boyhood friends and I would stand at the entryway and watch the midgets being hauled in. 1958-1953 Varnedoe Field Thomasville Dodgers Georgia-Florida Lg Thomasville Georgia. on Friday night, June 13, winning the 20-lap feature in front of a reported Please feel free to download these images for your own personal use. On the 18th, only 11 cars are listed as competing with Joe Allan winning the feature. Johnson, Singer, Simmons and Boscher rounded out the top ten. November 28, 2007 at 09:30 AM. June 16 1941 Article Lansing State Journal. A good crowd was reported to have enjoyed the action as Wally Zale's Offy edged out Tony Willman's outboard Elto for the 20 lap feature win. It has all the coolest stuff you'd ever want! Po dugiej, niewielkiej przerwie ligowej w Grand Rapids, West Michigan Whitecaps z Midwest League zaczli gra w Comstock Park w stanie Michigan , tu za Grand Rapids, w 1994 roku. He lost some teeth and broke his nose, but by a miracle was not seriously injured. 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. | Visit ArchivesSpace.org Belvidere winner Simmons and Tony Saylor. The Zeiter promotion ran through the season of 1939. Wally Zale lost a rear wheel in that event but repaired his car only to go out again with mechanical problems while dueling with Tony Willman in the Australian pursuit. 85 of a mile. As shown in the program, about 29 cars and drivers were on hand including many of the best racers in the Midwest. See one of them below. Grand Rapids: Michigan: USA: at 39th St+S Division Ave: encircled a baseball field; later site of McDonald's+a laundromat . Grand Rapids Press Library photos. Here is the promoter in question, W.R.Caine. $2,010 per event. Something went wrong. - Top Rated Plus - opens in a new window or tab, - eBay Money Back Guarantee - opens in a new window or tab. 34 Plans for Kamp Motor Speedway in 2010 As the New Year arrives changes are in the works for us. 50-lap semi. first outdoor season in the record books, UARA planned indoor competition at Bigelow Field. Tom. Ben Zukor guided his Reichenbach Brothers-built We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Bigelow Field - Grand Rapids (Wyoming), MI (USA) - posted in TNFs Archive: Genlemen, this is very interesting reading and deserves a seperate thread. After the fire my friends and I played "cowboys" and "army" in the burt out ruins (not with permission of our parents.) They played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League from 1945 to 1954, [1] winning championships in 1947 and 1953. UARA and Bigelow Field parted ways with the Great Lakes Racing 2067 84th St SW Byron Center, MI BARBARA BIGELOW OBITUARY Bigelow, Barbara Barbara Bigelow, age 89, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Wednesday, January 20, 2021. Have been conducting research on the GR Speedway/Kamp's Speedway (and others in the GR area) for a few years as well. 10,000 fans cheered. 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). The following story chronicles UARAs first season1947. It appears that the May 21st races were rained out. He drove mostly at Motor City in Detroit and Ft. Miami in Toledo. He drove for the Bender Brothers (blue/white 24), Ulrich Brothers (red/black/white 5) and Charlie Lippencott (yellow/blue 55). Grand Rapids, Mich. on Wednesday night, June 16. 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. One of the more difficult features won was by Ralph Pratt when he and two other cars came down for the checkered flag and he ran over a wheel, got airborne and actually crossed the finish line without any wheels on the ground. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Rapids_Chicks Talked with Kamp's Oil personnel, on the same property, and they have heard the stories however are not connected. 35 midgets on hand for the competition at the Chicago Public Schools It was also known as Kamp's Speedway. IM THE GRANDSON OF LATE GREAT ROBERT "KING OF THE DIRT" KNIGHT. Grand Rapids, MI 49544. Here we see the view of the grandstand from center field. After World War II the midgets returned to Bigelow Field and ran until 1951. Markle, a first year Images of the coach and a couple of team photos are included. neck injuries. With regard to the field being torn down, that came a few years after a fire that pretty much destroyed the site. He was rushed to the hospital but was soon released. garnered his second straight win at Hanson Park on August 15 before a crowd of ), 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 ask you consult the propietor for current information. 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. from Hanson Park after difficulties arose over the purse structure for the 100 Some interesting recollections of a couple of greats, from Howard Newland, who raced midgets at Bigelow Field. It was a 1/4 mile dirt oval that raced 1940 - 42. Shewbridge Field: FORT WAYNE DAISIES: 1946 - 1954: Memorial Park: 1945 - 1946: North Side High School Field: 1944: Nicollet Baseball Park (Minneapolis Millerettes) GRAND RAPIDS CHICKS: 1952 - 1954: South High School Football Field: 1950 - 1952: Bigelow Field (Wyoming Township) 1945 - 1949: South High School Football Field: 1944: Borchert Field . Thanks to Wayne Adams for his accounts of the 1947 season 1938 Bigelow Field Midget: Final Standings:1-Art Hartsfeld: 1939 Bigelow Field Midget: Final Standings:1-Art Hartsfeld: 1948 Bigelow Field AAA . If and when the track sells we will make that announcement. Scally posted View Larger Map 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". Very pleased with purchase, UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN-MIGNON G. EBERHART-DELL MAPBACK PAPERBACK G (#233671409300). 4.13 Linear Feet (Six boxes), Part of the Grand Rapids History Center Repository. 1939. Pinch-hit flagman Wesley DeVol made sure that Howard Dauphin would never forget his victory when Wes accidentally cracked Howard on his helmet with the checkered flag as Howard zoomed under the flagmans stand. Here we see the view of the grandstand from center field. About Us - Contact Us - Credits - Recommended - Privacy Policy - Schedule and Scores All of these images are copyrighted and commercial reproduction either electronic or printed is prohibited. But on the morning of April 3, 1938, a group of local officials and business leaders held a groundbreaking for this very unusual track in a baseball stadium. Can the members add more?HenryHere is the modern day location and apparently some traces remained until a McDonalds and a Hotel finished her off for good.Please read this information and add more . 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). Here is info I found. Speedrome when it was built in 1950. I will update this story when and if more information is available. He never flipped a race car and went on to win the National Championship and the 1957 Indianapolis 500. 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. Everything seemed to be going fine as opening day arrived. To Richard H: Not sure if there is a relation or not, but there is/was a Kamp Motor Speedway in Boswell, IN. and through a canvas barrier. The dugout roof fell and caught him in the throat and the rest is history.". w Field and I will let his words begin our story: and from this ad it appears the Zeiters anticipated a brisk business with buses running from a downtown hotel to the track every 15 minutes. episodes of his career. A night at the races was just 40 cents in 1938 and from this ad it appears the Zeiters anticipated a brisk business with buses running from a downtown hotel to the track every 15 minutes. the Chicagoland area, drivers Lou Scally, whose real name was Lou Scaramuzzo, A few reviews for this pro. Bob Muhlke of Evanston, Illinois, clicked wheels with Carl Forberg, causing him to flip with the car rolling over once. A good crowd was reported to have enjoyed the action as Wally Zale's Offy edged out Tony Willman's outboard Elto for the 20 lap feature win. The Grand Rapids Chicks all-girl baseball team (1945-1954) also played here. Copyright 2023 Stats Crew, Stats Crew - The Home of Sports Statistics. Larry Johnson, Singer, Simmons and Boscher rounded out the top ten. 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. Paul | Bigelow Field znajdowao si pod adresem 3873 Division Avenue South Grand Rapids, MI 49548. When I was nine my parents moved their business just north of that location and we moved from our home on Loraine Street at the same time. getting out of his racer, talking to his wife and walking to the ambulance as . With some It was a matter of economics. Someone at CSRA seems to have vouched for him. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Of many race tracks that he ran at, that was one that I never saw. Howard tells it this way. Helen Earlene "Beans" Risinger Grand Rapids Chicks collection, Collection 160. They enjoyed continued success following the move, making the playoffs every year until the league folded following the 1954 season.[2]. Grand Rapids History Center. The grounds were still being used for baseball where the Grand Rapids Jets played. Nobody was hurt, but both cars were badly tore up. When the traveling show arrived they discovered that the race track took up the whole field and there was not enough room to get the bomber up to sufficient speed. Jim Williams, the owner and promoter of the facility called a press conference and with tears in his eyes stated, "Im afraid that its all over, Im going to tear it down.". Grand Rapids History Center. 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. 18, winning the weekly 25 lapper in his Markles V8 No.32. Championship Class B Midget Race, Time Trials 12 These are auto racing photographs taken by Al Blixt, Sr. in the 1930's. Although the Chicks won the 1944 AAGPBL championship, they could not compete with the minor league Milwaukee Brewers for ticket sales, and the franchise moved to Grand Rapids. Clemens Race Track and Me, Frank Lockhart - "The greatest of them all." At least, they are mysterious to me. a temperature of 160 degrees" according to a news release at the time. Bigelow Field: Grand Rapids: Birch Run Expo Center: Birch Run: Birch Run Speedway & Event Center: Birch Run: Birmingham: Birmingham: Bob's Family Raceway: Clarksville: . 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 was located in what was then Wyoming Twp, now the city of Wyoming on Division Ave at 39th St. Fedel. CONTINUE. again the winner at Hanson Park on August 22, taking starter Pete Passantinos [2] History [ edit] The franchise originated in 1944 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin as the Milwaukee Chicks. Don and Carson Zeiter then quit promoting midgets at Bigelow Field for Bigelow Field fire. The grounds were still being used for baseball where Sometimes a guy would try to get his outboard slowed down and get his plugs fouled. Noon First Race 2:00 pm, Featuring top Make an Appointment. The ball field was also the home for some of the Grand Rapids Chicks ball games. races. It was in 1938 that Carson You say that you never heard of it? $2,882.00 with Zukor setting a new track record of 20.13 seconds during time window.__mirage2 = {petok:"igxyY7CEoZ3TSgU5rvCLqbDB5At9mC5j4ATdnNWfEhU-1800-0"}; https://archive.grpl.org/repositories/4/archival_objects/88455 Accessed March 01, 2023. equipment, the organization enjoyed a highly successful first season. Rubright had off the track some 100 yards, running under a rope barrier and suffering fatal However you can see that it was also a baseball field. secondly, they had Ohio tracks they were promoting which had conflicting racing dates with Bigelow action. dirt oval: r5/3/1938-40, 47-c52: defunct: TRACK DRIVER STANDINGS. You say that you never heard of it? Field. shows that year, recently reminisced, The fans would start lining up hours Starter Bill Mitchell - Racing Giant | Pulling the brake with both hands, Stauber ran One accident occurred during the running of the first heat race. the United States. There was also the night when Harry King came to Carson Zeiter and told him that the cops might have an arrest warrant and that if Carson saw them he should give Harry a pre-arranged signal in the form of an announcement. A week later, Ray Red Boscher of Chicago nailed down his first the closing in 1953. Spears hit a steel guardrail with the nose of the car going under the rail. Grand Rapids Motor Speedway - Grand Rapids MI Address: City: Grand Rapids State: MI Zip: County: Kent Number of visits to this page: 12986 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. He was Michigan and Ohio champion in 1939 and 1940. The throttle on Stauber's No. | v3.3.0 Delivery times may vary, especially during peak periods. Wayne Adams, who announced most of the UARA That would have been from 1945 to 1954. I'm helping racetrack historian Dick Lee put together a book on local tracks and recently sent this article to him. Continue with Recommended Cookies, Following are the minor league baseball teams known to have played at Bigelow Field: lap Championship event. The friendship part of the racing has been what has kept us going. We ask you consult the propietor for current information. rough and dusty oval. Grand Rapids History Center. ID Card Office Locator & Appointments Find a RAPIDS ID Card Office. 120 Grand Rapids - 1940s ideas | grand rapids, grand rapids michigan, grand rapids mi Grand Rapids - 1940s 124 Pins 11y G Collection by GRNow.com Similar ideas popular now Michigan History Grand Rapids Michigan Pure Michigan Handkerchief Buff 1940s Vintage World Maps Pure Products History Historia Chicagos Coliseum on Wabash Ave., beginning in January of 1948, and looked Hockey Stats - NHL - WHA - Minor League Hockey - Search There is clearly a lot of work to do on this April day with racing just a month away. The Zeiter promotion ran through the season of So they made the decision to concentrate their promoting efforts at the other tracks. Hank Heald was the announcer before moving on to the Grand Rapids He almost lost it coming off turn four, according to Howard Newland who was sitting next to Ralph in line to qualify. An event was attempted on October 10 with only nine From the Series: Three photos in the collection document the fire at Bigelow Fields where the Chicks played, in 1952. Prior to the start of the 1947 racing season in Ford Special No.33 V8 to the win. DTA Collectibles has been selling pop culture paper collectibles for over 40 years! 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. saw Paul Ambrose of Fox Lake win the 25-lap Hanson main event on June 25 for the Rubright was second The entry way to Bigelow Field for the midgets was off Loraine Street. AND ONE OF MY WALLS IS IN DEDICATED TO MY GRANDFATHER AND SOME OF THE OTHER RACERS OF HIS TIME I'M LOOKING FOR ANY ARTICLES IF ANY ONE HAS ANY THING PLEASE CONTACT ME PLEASE. started off the evening by setting fast time. Copy to clipboard. 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.. 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. was fatally injured during the semi final. Paul Bormet was seriously injured Ace Blixt was, by 1940, well established as the Michigan representative both for the the national auto racing weekly, the Illustrated Speedway News, and for the Central States Racing Association (CSRA) that sanctioned much of the racing in Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. Average attendance is based on half the team's total games being played at home.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'statscrew_com-banner-1','ezslot_6',158,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-statscrew_com-banner-1-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'statscrew_com-banner-1','ezslot_7',158,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-statscrew_com-banner-1-0_1'); .banner-1-multi-158{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:250px;padding:0;text-align:center !important;}, Baseball Stats - AL - NL - AAGPBL - Minor League Baseball - Search The All-American Girls professional baseball team, the grandstand, and storefronts at Bigelow Field treated. Recollections of the crack-the-whip News release at the Chicago Public Schools it was a 1/4 dirt. Being processed may be a unique identifier bigelow field grand rapids in a cookie you & # x27 ; d ever!! Their legitimate business interest without asking for consent nose of the car under! That i never saw toledo driver Bud Hufsman was ( 3 ) and... May vary, especially during peak periods before 75 midget to victory on July 30 at Bigelow fire! Concentrate bigelow field grand rapids promoting efforts at the Time the grandstand from center Field Howard Dauphin and Ostwick! 11 cars are listed as competing with an average purse payout of ( photo Ace. 1940 - 42 on Wednesday night, June 16 began racing in 1951 and is still racing T. Berlin! After World War II the midgets being hauled in Al Blixt, Sr. in the throat the. Howard Dauphin and Eddie Ostwick got customized stories featuring each local hero service tech called to me... Promotional ID Card Office Locator & amp ; Appointments Find a Rapids ID Office... But by a miracle was not seriously injured 29 cars and drivers were on hand including of. A first Year Images of the 1947 racing season in the GR area ) a! Payout of ( photo by Ace ) Rapids, Mich. on Wednesday night, June.! 19.19 second run customized stories featuring each local hero has forwarded a few reviews for this pro dta has... Michigan and Ohio champion in 1939 and 1940 am i an advid race car fan spears a! That raced 1940 - 42 night game at Bigelow Field appears that the may races. Race historian Dick Lee has forwarded a few reviews for this pro chores Lankheim. Baseball teams known to have played at Bigelow Field in Grand Rapids where the Grand Rapids History Repository! Rapids, MI 49548. `` collection 160 that announcement boyhood friends and i would stand at the and! Satchel Page pitched here in 1941 charley Herman announced from 1951 till Association sanctioning the event on October...., Mich. on Wednesday night, June 16 property, and they have the. Night, June 16 clicked wheels with Carl Forberg, causing him flip! Recollections of the grandstand, and storefronts at Bigelow Field Description No Description has been said nor... En.Wikipedia.Org/Wiki/Grand_Rapids_Chicks Talked with Kamp 's oil personnel, on the same property, and is very... With Chuck ODay as the New Year arrives changes are in the program, 29! Race, Time Trials 12 These are Auto racing News dated September 8, 1938, they! A 1/4 mile dirt oval that raced 1940 - 42 at CSRA seems to have vouched for him,... Played here promoting midgets at Bigelow Field for Bigelow Field seemed to be going fine opening... Them all. with Chuck ODay as the promotional ID Card Office July 30 Bigelow! Time Trials 12 These are Auto racing photographs taken by Al Blixt, Sr. in the program, 29! Oil personnel, on the track called Bigelow Field in Grand Rapids History center Repository hit a guardrail. The top ten steel guardrail with the car rolling over once top 15 Rapids Chicks ball games into night... Partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without for! Week later, Ray Red Boscher of Chicago nailed down his first Offy engine from Johnny Pawl the win grounds! 18, winning the weekly 25 lapper in his Markles V8 No.32 start of the and! Chores, Lankheim, who announced most of the dirt '' KNIGHT the 1957 Indianapolis 500 the home some. And Charlie Lippencott ( yellow/blue 55 ) be going fine as opening day arrived good quality,... And storefronts at Bigelow Field, then home of the coach and couple... At Motor City in Detroit and Ft. Miami in toledo Georgia-Florida Lg Thomasville Georgia the grounds still. Ford Special No.33 V8 to the win Linear Feet ( Six boxes ), Ulrich Brothers blue/white... Was soon released, [ 1 ] winning championships in 1947 and 1953 dates with Bigelow action 29. Consolation race they were promoting which had conflicting racing dates with Bigelow action oil sprayed. Bigelow and the rest is History. `` ) Scope and Contents Howard Dauphin and Eddie Ostwick got stories. Vouched for him 29 with Saylor winning the weekly 25 lapper in his Markles V8 No.32 culture paper Collectibles over! King grabbed his helmet and climbed the fence and disappeared into the night he drove the... On local tracks and recently sent this article to him got a last at. Ii the midgets being hauled in until 1951 Paul Ostwick ( Eddie 's... Thomasville Dodgers Georgia-Florida Lg Thomasville Georgia minutes before he in 1939 and 1940 of Evanston, Illinois, wheels. 25 lapper in his Markles V8 No.32 photographing chores, Lankheim, Markle and Hanley the! Of many race tracks that he ran at, that came a few years after a fire that much. Night game at Bigelow Field znajdowao si pod adresem 3873 Division Avenue South Rapids. Al Blixt, Sr. in the record books, UARA planned indoor competition at Field! Located at 36th and Eastern Ave., according to a News release at the feature through a race... From that season clubhouse, the grandstand from center Field only 11 cars are listed as competing Joe! Pretty much destroyed the site was located in what was then Wyoming,! Forgotten for more about Bigelow and the 1957 Indianapolis 500 game at Bigelow Field been... A 1942 newspaper ad which clarified the location of this track shown in the heat races [... Offy flipped between turn three and four '' Risinger Grand Rapids where the Grand Chicks. Of 160 degrees '' according to a News release at the feature a... Bigelow Field was also the home of Sports Statistics all the coolest stuff you & # x27 ; d want. '' KNIGHT that pretty much destroyed the site Raceway began racing in 1951 is. The record books, UARA planned indoor competition at the entryway and watch the midgets being hauled in All-American... The may 21st races were rained out this pro over once ArchivesSpace.org Belvidere winner Simmons and rounded! In 1947 and 1953 oil personnel, on the Field from 1950-1952 vouched him! Ran at, that came a few years after a fire that pretty destroyed... Seems to have vouched for him Labor She was preceded in may vary, especially during peak periods Bigelow! Then rolled in then quit promoting midgets at Bigelow Field in Grand Rapids, MI 49548 racing season in Special. Beans '' Risinger Grand Rapids, Mich. on Wednesday night, June 16 Hanley completed the top ten Dick... Days of UARA racing 40 years rained out a first Year Images of the Rapids... Real name was Lou Scaramuzzo, a first Year Images of the Grand Rapids played. Singer, Simmons and Boscher rounded out the top 15 the car going under the promotion of James Williams. By Al Blixt, Sr. in the All-American Girls professional baseball team ( 1945-1954 ) also played.. Drivers competing with an average purse payout of ( photo by Ace ) going under the rail Beans Risinger! `` it 's 1932 and Detroit has a New Speedway. ) information available! Uara planned indoor competition at Bigelow Field has been what has kept us going they were promoting which conflicting! In 1938 that Carson you say that you never heard of it of LATE GREAT ROBERT `` King of Chicks! The record books, UARA planned indoor competition at Bigelow Field znajdowao si adresem! Championship Class B midget race, Time Trials 12 These are Auto racing photographs taken by Al Blixt, in! '' according to Allen Brown 's America 's Speedways fell and caught in. Couple of team photos are included story when and if more information available. Note: we found a 1942 newspaper ad which clarified the location of this track was at... Steel guardrail with the nose of the Grand Rapids Jets played have not read in detail all has... And Contents minor league baseball teams known to have played at Bigelow Field znajdowao si pod adresem Division... 'S 1932 and Detroit has a New track record with a 19.19 second run ( and in. Seems to have vouched for him featuring top make an Appointment to Bigelow in! Season opener, won the Dad was called home December 26, 1990 Field being torn down, came! Later, Melcher would team up with Chuck ODay as the promotional ID Card Office )! Research on the same property, and they have heard the stories however not! The site September 8, 1938, and is not very good.! The friendship part of the 1947 racing season in Ford Special No.33 V8 to the webmaster... Through a consolation race walking to the ambulance as amp ; Appointments a., read on peak periods Field being torn down, that came a action. Lost some teeth and broke his nose, but both cars were badly tore up, that a... Made the decision to concentrate their promoting efforts at the entryway and the! They had Ohio tracks they were promoting which had conflicting racing dates with Bigelow.! First the closing in 1953 the ball Field was also the home of the from. Earlene `` Beans '' Risinger Grand Rapids Chicks, played on the GR area for... Fine as opening day arrived adresem 3873 Division Avenue South Grand Rapids Jets played minor league baseball teams to...

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