BAUMIE

Russ Bergh Photo Button, Ladabouche Collection
This tired little half-smirk was typical of Baumie

George Baumgardner was clearly of the Old Guard in stock car racing. Having come from the open wheel circuits immediately after World War II, Baumie was there when stock car racing took its first tentative steps in New York state at tracks like Burden Lake, White's Beach, and the Hollywood Bowl. I can't intelligently discuss his really early rides yet, but I have clear information about gigs with Henry Caputo, Richard Welch, and the Jim Young / Ray Vine team.

Vogel Family Collection
Baumgardner had some of his best seasons with Ted Vogel's cars at Stateline Speedway.

My clearest memories of George are both at Fonda and at the bucolic little cow pasture track near Vergennes, Vermont called Otter Creek Speedway. When Baumie was running the 75, they were regulars at the little Vermont track when it first opened. It was my first look at the New York sportsman cars that were definitely a step above our local cars and the New Hampshire flatheads.
Perhaps the best single performance at any track in his career was when George ran the Ted Vogel #95's at Stateline Speedway, near North Bennington, Vermont. He ran a variety of sedans and coupes in those days in the early to mid 1950's; and - from all appearances - had the track all figured out. Many different photos show him with Stateline checkers.

Courtesy of Bob Novak
Baumie poses with a couple of young fans with the 75, around 1960.

After the Ted Vogel rides at Stateline, George seemed to gravitate back to Fonda and Victoria. He hooked up with the team of Jim Young and Ray Vine, who had been using Irv Taylor as driver prior to Baumie. From the few photos I have seen, it looks like the 75 won at least some races. It was during this period that Otter Creek Speedway opened its dusty, NASCAR - sanctioned half mile in northern Vermont. Probably sensing a chance to run NASCAR without the stiff Fonda fields, the 75 team attended several of the early shows in Vermont.

This clipping shows the second year [1962] the 75 attended Otter Creek, finishing in points ahead of feature winner Reed, National Champion Nephew, and landing a 10th place finish. Baumgardner had more points in 1961.

The last rides that I can recall for George were at Fonda. He got a ride in Richard Welch's nice little red Ford coupe, the 77, around 1963 - about the last they ran that car. He ran it at Fonda, Victoria, and even Stafford Springs. The only other ride I can accurately relate to Baumie was Red Cromer's 49, a 1950 Chevy coupe. I don't believe that lasted for long - and it may have been before the Welch and Young/Vine rides. After a fashion, I didn't hear any more about George Baumgardner. I would have to guess his fondness for liquid refreshment may have contributed to health problems.

From the Schenectady Collection, Otto Graham Website
Little is known about this car.

Vogel Family Photo Another win at Stateline	Herbert Family Photo Crossing the line ahead of Jeep at Stateline	Photo Source Unknown A pose at Stateline
Vogel Family Photo Yet another win at Stateline	NE Vintage Mod Photo Running the Welch car at Stafford	LadaboucheCollection Opening night, Fonda, 1963
Vogel Family Photo More Stateline	Schenectady Collection Otto Graham Website Driving for Henry Caputo - the Plymouth	Source Unknown A flag for Jim and Ray
Bob Mackey Photo Courtesy of John Rock & Bobby Castine Driving for Henry Caputo- the Chevy