DOUG GARRISON
A Champion For Many Years


Courtesy of W. Schwinning

         Doug Garrison is a name that needs no explanantion or embellishment if you are from most of the northeastern U.S. I had only known of him as a Lebanon Valley driver until I got into this history work in the 2000's, but his career went back - as far as the later 1940's. He was a winner from the earliest days of his career for owner like Mannie Tompkins, Barney Thompkins [any relation ?], and Clyde Smith before his defining stint with the Martin Riiska Yellow X in 1958.

 
McDowell Photo
Courtesy of Amy Garrison Dauski

A much younger Doug Garrison, in the 1950's.

         He would later drive a Gordon Ross car before buying it, modifying it, and pretty much ending his career with it. He was a champion, a multi- feature winner, and a good money earner for whomever he was driving. Many argue he was one of New York's top three drivers of all time. It's about time he got his own page. Many of his photos are kept alive not only by daughter Amy but in the Ross Collection, maintained by Ginny Ross.

EARLIER YEARS 

 
McDowell Photo
via Ken Gypson
Maybe Doug's first car.
Could be the Mannie
Tompkins entry.
 
Via Amy Garrison Dauski
Doug in action at Greenport Speedway with that same
car.

 
Courtesy of Amy Garrison Dauski via Joe Grossetti
Doug drove this car at Greenport, Coxsackie, Rhinebeck, Stateline, and other venues.

 
George Morgan Photo
via Donna K Mateer and Joe Grossetti
A win at Greenport or Coxsackie.

McDowell Photo
via Ken Gypson
Doug and the 5 car
at Stateline. This car is likely why he ended his career with a car #5.
 
Courtesy of Joe Grossetti
Victory Lane at Coxsackie.
 
 
Courtesy of  Amy Garrison Dauski via J. Grossetti
Doug inVic Lane at Coxsackie with the 5
car.
  
via L.V. Classics
Doug wins one in the Clyde Smith VS car.
 
McDowell Photo
via Phil Miller
The first time Doug drove a former Gordon Ross car - the #99 Thompkins entry seen here at Rhinebeck.

 
McDowell Photo
via Chris Companion
Doug and Barney at
Rhinebeck with Jim Brush and driver George Welch.
 
Courtesy of Chris Companion
Doug follows Welch in this
Stateline race start.
 
Via AutoOrb.com
Doug in Rhinebeck Vic Lane with the Thompkins car.

McDowell Photo
via Phil Miller
Wearing a helmet reminiscent of his early car, DOug poses with the Barney Thompkins 99.

 
Courtesy of  Amy Garrison Dauski
Doug in Vic Lane
in what is obviously cold weather.
 
Courtesy of  Amy Garrison Dauski
Doug and Barney with a young Uncle Art Stuarts.
 
Courtesy of  Sam Barlow
Doug
 an early Pine Bowl car.
[Quite blurry]
 
George Morgan Photo
via Donna K Mateer and Joe Grossetti
A win at  Coxsackie.
 
Garrison Family Collection
A rare pavement trophy from Empire Raceway.
     
Joe Connors Photo
Doug drove for Cliff Wright and the Zautner brothers, as well.
 
     

 

THE DEFINING RIISKA YEARS 

 
Source Unknown
Doug poses with the crossfire - powered Martin Riiska Yellow X sedan .
 
Via Arnie Ainsworth
An iconic posed shot of Doug and the sedan.

 
Courtesy of L. Valley Classics
Martin Riiska is seen gesturing behind Doug in this shot.
 
Walter Mateer Photo
The X at Langhorne.

Courtesy of the Starin Family
Doug shown in the Langhorne program as the rep from the Valley.

 
Courtesy of Joe Grossetti
Victory Lane at Coxsackie.
 
 
From Dan Ody's 8MM
Old Speedways DVD's
 Doug and the sedan are captured in this 8MM frame from the Valley.

 
Via Amy G. Dauski
Doug is in this wreck at the Valley with several late model - bodied competitors.
 
NESCOT Calendar
Another iconic posed shot of Doug and the sedan.
 
Via International  Motorsport News
Self-explanatory.
 
Uncle Art's Book Photo
 Doug as 1963 valley champ.
 
Source Unknown
Doug
finishes a qualifer at the 1961 Valley show at the fairgrounds in Rutland, VT.
 
From Dan Ody's 8MM
Old Speedways DVD's
 Doug and the sedan are captured in this 8MM at Victoria.
 
Via Amy G. Dauski
Self - explanatory.
 
Courtesy of L. Valley Classics
Martin Riiska had a coupe Doug drove; it may have been before the sedan.
 
Ray Williams Photo
Martin Riiska's coupe in Vic Lane.
 
Jack Hedstrom Photo
via Chas Hertica
Doug, in action at Langhortne.

Walter Mateer Photo
Via Amy G. Dauski
Doug, after the races with a beer, a ciggy, and probably Amy.

   
Credits Shown
Doug
at Langhorne with the coupe.
 
Via Amy G. Dauski
Doug
with Howie Westervelt in Vic Lane.
   

 

 

THE GORDON ROSS YEARS 

 
Via Arnie Ainsworth
Once primarily a pavement car, the famous Gordon Ross 19 ended up with Doug  on the Valley clay.

Via Amy G. Dauski
 
A win with the Ross car.
 
Courtesy of Lew Boyd
Another Ross 19 win.

McDowell Photo
via Chas Hertica
Doug apparently drove for Gordon Ross in earlier years, too. This is at the
Pine Bowl.


Courtesy of A. Ainsworth
Doug , maybe at Langhorne.


Via Amy G. Dauski
 
A good view of the powerplant in the Ross car.
   
Via Norm Vadnais
 
Different  motor, same result.
     

 

THE LATER YEARS 

 
Via Norm Vadnais
 Doug eventually bought the Ross car and modified it to his own ideas.

Via Argonrcn Images
The former Ross car at one of the big season - ending races.
 
Courtesy of Norm Vadnais
Another Garrison 19 win.

Ross Collection
Via Dave Dykes
Pose with the modified car.

 
Via Argonrcn Images
The former Ross car at one of the big season - ending races.


Via Arnie Ainsworth
Eventually the car was repainted and dubbed with one of Doug's old numbers.

Courtesy of A. Ainsworth
Same car, a variation in graphics

Via Arnie Ainsworth
Closeup with the blue car.

Via Amy G. Dauski
 
A win and a cake.

Courtesy of Luke Bedell
Via L. Valley Classics
One homely car - but fast.


Via Amy G. Dauski
 Leaving home.


Via Amy G. Dauski
 
Cover of the Valley program.

Via Amy G. Dauski
 
Garrison family in Vic Lane. 

 
Via Amy G. Dauski
 
A win with the blue car crew. 
  
Via L. valley CLassics
The former Ross car in a lineup at the Valley behind Lew Boyd
 
Via Amy G. Dauski
 
Racing Bill Wilson. 
 
Via Amy G. Dauski
 
Smiling out of his car. 

Via Amy G. Dauski
 
With wife, Beverly.
 
 
 
 
Hertha Berberwyck Collection
Via Lew Boyd
 
Doug with his own 5. 
 
Via Amy G. Dauski
 
Doug with the Hellwig car after his own 5. 
 
Via Amy G. Dauski
 
Doug with the Hellwig car after his own 5. 
   

 

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