Lebanon Valley Speedway

Looking East on NY Route 20 from the present track location. This was in
the early '50's or even late '40's - before track construction began.

Looking West on NY Route 20 from the present track location. This was in
the early '50's or even late '40's - before track construction began.

Early action on the high banks. Russ Blake offered names for most of the cars: # 2 Dave Norton, # 35 Nelson Grignon, # B5 Bud Haskell, #7 Don Antolick, # x 100 Ernie Martin, # 77 John Flach , and # 33 Billy Webb. Wow, thanks Russ. You've been a lifesaver.

This bucolic - looking group is said to be Dee Goodermotte and crew, back when
the Valley first started letting people run V-8's - in larger late model bodies. Judging from a recent Stateline Speedway photo acquisition, I'd say it is Dee because he had #58 there, as well.

I haven't done a lot of research on the track that sprung up in New Lebanon, NY - just south of Bennington, Vermont. The location was one of the best imaginable places for a track, as it was close to Vermont, Massachusetts, and the important Capital District of New York. There was already a base for racing in that region, with tracks like Burden Lake, Pico Raceway, Hinsdale, West Brattleboro, Stateline, and others. It is not my purpose to write a detailed history of who started the track or much about the early years. There is information in books on American race tracks which will give you that data.

Russ Blake, whom I believe is from Pittsfield, Massachusetts is about as loyal the Valley as anyone can be. He has only missed 10 events there since the track opened. Russ has given me some information on the history of the track facility. The track had a rocky beginning, back in 1953. It had very bad track conditions on opening day and was closed entirely on week 2 for repairs. It ran along for a few years and they decided it needed major renovations. So, in 1956, it didn't open at all. Then, they added those high banks and a new surface. In 1957, they tried running Friday nights - to attract cars from Fonda or Stateline, but it didn't work well.

Russ points out that the 1959 season was completely dominated by Howie Westervelt and the first edition of Cliff Wright's #24, a number [and team] that would go on in the mid 1960's to also dominate modified racing in the Fonda/Malta region. Westervelt won 17 of 21 possible races that year, with Stretch Van Steenberg [38] and Doug Garrison [Riiska's Yellow X] sharing the others. The Valley had tended to have years in which somebody dominates, but it fortunately had a more competitive year in 1960. Otherwise, I wonder if fan interest would have continued.

Westervelt leads Van Steenberg in what became a typical scene in 1959. This is the same team as field Westervelt's 83's at Fonda, and later cars for Ken Shoemaker and Donny Wayman.

They began to realize their strong point would be local cars. The track had tried some mid-week shows, for the locals, but soon was forced to go to Saturday nights for the ultimate showdown with Fonda. It worked, and the rest is history. They started developing a strong local base, along with cars from as far away as Stafford Springs and Middletown. I recall the Valley management putting on a demo race at the Rutland Fair in 1960, and it seemed like a very strong, cohesive group. By the later '60's, Fonda was ticking off a lot of people and a migration from there to the Valley brought teams like Pete Corey, Bill Wimble, Jerry Townley [Pop Wilcox car], Jack Farquhar [Vince Barbuto car], and Chuck Kress - to name a few.

The track tinkered with various schemes over the years, including late model bodies on what were basically sportsman cars. This was the era of Link Pettit and that bunch from Great Barrington, MA. Their #200 was a big winner during that time period. Even Pete Corey had to put aside his coupes and build a '55 Chevy to run there when he became furious with Fonda [as only Pete could get] and decided to run the Valley. Many Valley regulars, who had endured roughness from Corey in earlier days, were not happy to see him and often sent his beautiful cars home to Crescent all wadded up.

The Valley had had a few guys like Howie Westervelt and car owner Cliff Wright, who would go back and forth between there and Fonda; but, that was hard to do. Perhaps the multi-car aspect of Wright's team made that possible. When I think of the heart and soul of Lebanon Valley, names like Ken Tremont and Fred Searing come to mind. The Valley benefited from some very established veterans like Doug Garrison and Westervelt, as well as the new breed like Butch Jelley and Tommy Correllis. The Valley may not have managed to attract the NASCAR Grand National North Tour races of the mid 1960's, but its acquisition of a World of Outlaws race may have been the trump.

Today, second and third generation Valley competitors keep the spirit alive down there. I'd love to visit and see one there sometime.

Irv Conroy Photo Courtesy of Chris Companion
We now believe this bunch of characters may be posing at the Valley. We have ascertained that Howie Westervelt is at far left, Lee Palmer is second from left, Ollie Palmer is third from left, and Lou Hacker is third from right. The guy on the far right may be named Henry Bouchard. The shortest guy is apparently Bob Kudlate. Thanks to Ron Hedger and Ken Tremont, Sr. for help, as well as the boys at the Watervliet Breakfast Club.

We have learned a few interesting facts about some guys in this photo. Of course, Westervelt went on to be one of the best the Valley had to offer. Lee Palmer ended up driving one of the first Bob Hackel, Sr. cars. Jollie Ollie went back and forth to tracks all over the area, and becoming the first driver of Bill Fowler's 27 Jr. car ownership period. Hacker became a regular at the Valley. Bob Kudlate raced the number P38 [click here to see below]. Henry [Henri] Bouchard won tons of races in Massachusetts, New York, and probably even Vermont. He went on to have a salvage yard in New Lebanon , NY [where the Valley is] and he would promote at the East Greenbush, NY track.

Courtesy of Russ Blake Bob Kudlate at Route 66 Speedway, 1953	Ray Williams Photo Courtesy of Russ Blake Chuck Irving, New Baltimore, NY	NE Vintage Mod Site Stan Disbrow, Poughkeepsie, NY
Garrison Family Photo Doug Garrison, Greenport, NY	Cavalcade of Racing Photo Fred Searing, Oak Hill, NY CLICK HERE for the Searing Page	Cavalcade of Racing Photo Stretch Van Steenberg, Saugerties, NY Arnie Ainsworth Photo
Arnie Ainsworth Photo D.D. Rebel Harris, Poughkeepsie, NY	Bill Ladabouche Photo Frank Hatch, N. Adams, MA	Bob Frazier Photo Butch Jelley, Pownal, VT
Courtesy of Joe Grossetti Link Pettit, Schectady and the 200 Crew, Great Barrington, MA Cavalcade Photo link to the Pettit page	Courtesy of Rounds Family Don Rounds, Warwick, RI	Midstate Club Site Johnny Flach, East Westerlo, NY.
Dan Goewey Photo George Gowey, DeFreestville, NY	Photographer Unknown Howie Westervelt, Ravena, NY The Wright / Zautner 83	Riverside Speedway Site Kenny Goodermotte
Photographer Unknown Joe Messina, Troy ?, NY The Al Green 3 and 1/7	Courtesy Chris Companion Dee Goodermotte, and Crew Cavalcade Photo	Photographer John Grady George Welch, Schenectady, NY
Jeep Herbert, Rotterdam, NY	Ladabouche Photo Don Wayman, Cobleskill, NY	Courtesy of Ed Fabian Barry Purdy, Bennington, VT
Ladabouche Photo Chuck Ely, Pownal, VT Cavalcade Photo	Photo Source Unknown Bill Wilson,	Courtesy of Ed Fabian Bob Gaskill, NY
NE Vintage Mod Page Ray Delisle	Cavalcade Photo Courtesy of Joe Grossetti Lou Hacker, NY	A. Ainsworth Photo Bruce Carmen, Shaftsbury, VT Future Carbuilder Extraordinaire Ladabouche Photo
Cavalcade Photo Mike Ehring, NY	Cavalcade Photo John Rohan, NY	Bob Frazier Photo Ralph Chittendenn, New Lebanon, NY
Cavalcade Photo Rip Riley, NY Courtesy of Norm Vadnais	Courtesy of Norm Vadnais Mike Schubert, NY?	Courtesy of Norm Vadnais Bobby Leach, Stafford Spgs, Conn.
A. Ainsworth Photo Stretch vanSteenberg, Saugerties, NY Car also ran the Pine Bowl	A. Ainsworth Photos Joe Messina, Troy, NY Tremont 115	Ladabouche Photo RussBlake, Pittsfield, MA
Garrison Family Photo Doug Garrison, Poughkeepsie, NY	Russ Blake Photo Ted Lott, according to Russ	Russ Blake Photo Dennis Proper , losing a wheel

A. Ainsworth Photo Dexter Dorr, Cohoes, NY Another Carbuilder Extraordinaire	A. Ainsworth Photo Ralph Chittenden, New Lebanon, NY	A. Ainsworth Photo Vince Quenneville, Whiting, VT
A. Ainsworth Photo Joe Messina, Troy, NY	A. Ainsworth Photo Doug Garrison, Poughkeepsie, NY	A. Ainsworth Photo Butch Jelley, Pownal, VT Will Cagle's 24
A. Ainsworth Photo Butch Jelley, Pownal, VT Newer Martin Riiska X