THE ARGYLE RACING TEAM

Courtesy of Ron Hoffer
Bob,Sr. , by one of the family barns, with his first car. Note the football and the admiring neighbors.

When I first went to races at the Fairmont Speedway in 1962, it had been a long time since I had gotten to see racing on any regular basis. Therefore, I had no idea what to expect - in terms of what the cars were like. Very similar to observations that Ben Gurney would send by email some 45 years later, I noticed one team that seemed a little more professional - looking than most of the others at CJ's track that first month : The Argyle Racing Team, with its X9 car. Ben had said the same thing about the same team when he saw them at Warrensburg, in the 1950's. Although Bob Hoffer didn't win much, he always had that great look, so I have remembered him.

Courtesy of Ron Hoffer
The color - coordinated tow truck added to the professionality of the team.

I took a good photo of the Hoffer car at the Vermont State Fairgrounds, that first CVRA year. I wish I could have gotten more detail because the late Bob, Sr. was backing it into their pit area, and the car still had one of those driver's doors you could open. It would have been a good shot for the family.

Ladabouche Photo
Bob backs up the X9 in the infield at CJ Richards' 1962 stock car race. Note the driver's door still opens.

Courtesy of Ron Hoffer The first car with eddy Porter, a driver.	Courtesy of Ron Hoffer The first car, with family and friends checking it out.	Courtesy of Ron Hoffer On the pole at the old Schuylerville track.	Courtesy of Ron Hoffer Lining up the 1st car at Schuylerville, NY.
Courtesy of Ron Hoffer The 1st car renumbered or maybe the 2nd car.	Courtesy of Ron Hoffer The Hoffer car in the pits at Schuylerville.	Courtesy of Ron Hoffer The original car by the Hoffer barn.	Courtesy of Ron Hoffer A later car, probably at Stateline with checkers. driver is likely Bob Platt. Even then the signature twin exhausts are in evidence.
Courtesy of Ron Hoffer The 1934 Ford before the dual exhausts and X9 were put on.	Courtesy of Ron Hoffer The 1934 Ford after the dual exhausts and X9 were put on.	Courtesy of Ron Hoffer The more familiar- looking X9 Ford. It ended up the familiar red and white scheme later.	Courtesy of Ron Hoffer One of the last X9's at the beginning of construction.
Courtesy of Ron Hoffer Fred Winchell's wild #11, driven at Fairmont by Bob Hoffer. That is one of the Hoffer kids.	Courtesy of Ron Hoffer Winchell car.	Courtesy of Ron Hoffer L to R, Bill Kelly, Bob Hoffer, Fifi (on hood), Bill Barker, Bobby Hoffer Probably at Warrensburg.	Courtesy of Ron Hoffer Bob Hoffer, on track for warmups at Ashland Park, Warrensburg, around 1960.
Courtesy of Ron Hoffer The Stateline car, at home on the Hoffer farm.	Courtesy of Ron Hoffer The Stateline car, at home - not fully prepared yet.	Courtesy of Ron Hoffer The more familiar- looking X9 Ford. It ended up the familiar red and white scheme later.	Courtesy of Ron Hoffer The more familiar- looking X9 Ford. This ran at Warrensburg and once at Syracuse.
Courtesy of Ron Hoffer The more familiar- looking X9 Ford. Apparently out to pasture with the tractor for the year.	Courtesy of Ron Hoffer Bob poses with some family members at Ashland Park in 1960.	Courtesy of Ron Hoffer Argyle Racing Team. What is with the pants ?.	Courtesy of Ron Hoffer Pit crew of second X-9, L to R, Robert Hoffer Jr., ?, ?, Bob Corrigan, and kneeling is "Joker" Case
Courtesy of Ron Hoffer Bob on track at Syracuse. Car is on track above the seat number 28.	Courtesy of Ron Hoffer Bill Clippinger, Bill Barker, Bob, Jr. and Bill Kelly at Warrensburg in 1960.	Courtesy of Ron Hoffer A view in of the old Fairmont Speedway in early 1950's..

Courtesy of Ron Hoffer
Bob on track at Fairmont Speedway, 2nd version in 1962. That is he in the T - Bird. Noticeable cars in photo:
F4, Beryl Fitzgerald, Gansevoort, NY; 61 John Ballantine, Hubbardton, VT; [2nd inside] 737, Dick Gerard,
Claremont, NH; [3rd inside] 7, Joe Spellburg, Glens Falls, NY: and [between officials]M2, Frank Hatch, North Adams, MA.

Courtesy of Ron Hoffer
Bob Hoffer, down South, with Norm Scarborough [3rd from left] and two of the Ryan family from Whiting.