DON ROUNDS
Apponaug, Rhode Island

            
Cavalcade of Auto Racing Photo


Bill Rankin Drawing via Don Rounds, Jr.


Courtesy of Don Rounds, Jr.
Don puts it sideways at the Waterford Speedbowl in 1951 when the bowl was dirt. According
to Don, Jr. he won one of the three dirt features the track had.


Courtesy of Don Rounds, Jr.
Don [2nd from Right] and George Janoski [2nd from Left] receiving trophies at Stafford Springs yet to
be indentified. Far left is started Red LaBelle, middle is Charles Benton, fair manager, and far right is NASCAR
representative Bob Sall. Don was the Connecticut champion and was invited to the banquet at Daytona. That year,
Don was NASCAR Connecticut Sportsman champion. CLICK HERE to see some of the paper artifacts Don, Jr.
sent me from Daytona.



McDowell Photo
Don at Stateline Speedway
in the 1950's. Note the
Bennington sponsor for
 this Rhode Island car.

Leb Valley Site Photo
The most typical shot
of a Don Rounds car I've
seen yet. Probably at
Lebanon Valley

 


Rounds Family Photo
Don at home in Rhode Island
with the car ready to head off
for races somewhere behind
a sharp 1954 Mercury..

Rounds Family Photo
Don at the Valley,
with the Riiska X in
the background.

 


Rounds Family Photo
Brother Harold with
the sister car to Don's
101.

Rounds Family Photo
Another shot of the sister
car, #100.

Rounds Family Photo
Don at Stafford. Some
sort of early trading
or promo card.

Rounds Family Photo
Don at the Apponaug Garage
after some car landed on
top of him at Stafford in 1958.

Photo Source Unknown
Don's car in the exact condition
 it was in having finished
racing at Lakeville in 1972.

      
Bill Ladabouche Photo
Don at the Swanzey vintage met in 2005. At left, with Sonny Rabideau.


Rounds Family Photo
Don in some sort of late
model. I don't know if it
was a United Racing Club
Grand American or what.

Rounds Family Photo
Don at Lebanon Valley.
Year Unknown

Rounds Family Photo
Don avoids a spinning
modified at Lakeville IN
the early 1970's. The car was
put up just the way it
ended its career at Lakeville.
 

Rounds Family Photo
Stafford Springs 1954. From left:
Harold, Lewis and Don Rounds.

Rounds Family Photo
Some of Don's crewmen at
Lebanon Valley: Frenchy Meunier,
Charlie Worthington, & Harold Rounds
 

Rounds Family Photo
The full Rounds crew at
Lebanon Valley in the 50's.

 

 


Courtesy of Don Rounds, Jr.
A win at Lebanon Valley on June 16, 1961



Courtesy of Don Rounds, Jr.
Don in the 99B at Stafford in 1964. Beside is George Janoski
and behind is Ernie Gahan. Pretty impressive company !


Courtesy of Don Rounds, Jr.
A win at Cheshire Fairgrounds in the 1950's

DON CATCHES THE EYE OF NASCAR IN 1959

 


Rounds Family Photo
The cover of the program from the
1960 NASCAR banquet.
 

 


Rounds Family Photo
First inside page of
that 1960 banquet program.
 

 


Rounds Family Photo
The second page inside
the 1960 banquet program.


Rounds Family Photo
Third inside page of
that 1960 banquet program.

Rounds Family Photo
A letter to Don, from
Autolite, recognizing him
as 1959 Connecticut state
Champion.

Rounds Family Photo
A letter to Don, from
NASCAR, recognizing him
as 1959 Connecticut state
Champion.

 


Courtesy of Don Rounds, Jr.
2 Rounds cars pitting at Cheshire Fairgrounds in the 1950's.

A STRIKING MODEL OF DON'S FAMILIAR 101
[Builder, as yet - Unknown]

 

    My father has a million stories and I ‘ve heard them all a hundred times.  His favorite one is when they towed all the way up to Middletown early 60’s or late 50’s. When they got to the pit entrance the pit steward wouldn't let them in because the 101 only had a flathead in it.  He told them he wouldn't be able to compete with all the big  overheads  but they could park the car and he would let them in for free to watch the “Big Boys”. To make a long story short they talked there way in to the race and finished 4th and a pretty decent payout. Next time you run into him ask him about it. I think he said Rags Carter won the race, the track was then known as Victory Speedway.

- Don Rounds, Jr.

 

Return to the Stateline Page

Return to the Main Page