GEORGE PROCTOR Beginning of a Ra

GEORGE PROCTOR
Beginning of a Racing Family

Proctor Family Collection

     The first time I had ever heard of, or seen George Proctor was on an afternoon in 1963 at Fairmont Speedway, in Fair Haven, Vermont. We used to our particular track stars such as Sonny Rabidaeau from Brattleboro, VT; Cecil Bosworth, from Athol, MA; George Rogers, from Castleton, VT, and numerous others who took turns dominating the lead class at the half - mile oval. That class was restricted to flathead engines and six cylinder engines. Occasionally, someone would come in from New York and win a feature; but these Empire State invaders seldom put down roots at the track.
        On this particular afternoon, an unfamiliar yellow sedan bearing the number 52 appeared on the track for the customary brief practice session afforded to the cars. Track announcer Bill Barsalow informed us that this was George Proctor, from Crescent, NY. It was a familiar name, given I was from Proctor, VT and George was the never - seen son of the town's wealthy, ruling family. Proctor, with his Plymouth sedan with either a Hudson or Pontiac motor, went on that day to smoke everyone in sight and take the checkers easily. We were impressed.
        It would turn out that George would come about one more time that year, and I don't recall the results of that second visit. It seems that, if he was on a long track like Fairmont or Victoria, he was superb; but, on a short, confined track like Pine Bowl Speedway, he logged down badly. These were the days when few people [and no one at our track] had a quick change rear end. The Proctors, being pretty low budget operators had neither the means nor the inclination to change whole rear ends any time they went to one of their many area tracks.
       George would go on to race for a very long time and numerous children in the family, both his kids and nephews, would continue the family racing tradition. George, his son, Ron, and grandson Fred once all raced in the same event at Airborne Speedway. The Proctors may well be one of the largest families - in terms of active racers - in the nation. And they all do well. Kristen Proctor has developed a career as a superb horse trainer, as well.

From Dan Ody's 8MM Old Speedways DVD's
George, riding off into the sunset in the Plymouth with the Fairmont loot.

Proctor Family Collection George with the Pine Bowl car C1 he shared with a friend.	From Dan Ody's 8MM Old Speedways DVD's Another Pine Bowl car C1 I think must be George [or the friend after George started his own cars] .	Proctor Family Collection George with the first Proctor 52 - a '49 Lincoln at Empire Raceway..	Proctor Family Collection George with the "Black Jewel", the best - handling car he ever drove.	Proctor Family Collection Early checkes pose with what might be the yellow sedan.
From Dan Ody's 8MM Old Speedways DVD's George flies by the pits in mid feature. Very blurry frame.	From Dan Ody's 8MM Old Speedways DVD's Flagger Danny Rumpf acknowledges the feature winner.	From Dan Ody's 8MM Old Speedways DVD's George, pausing to get the checkers.	Ladabouche Photo George, lining up the Plymouth with the Fairmont regulars. Looks like John Ballantine beside him.	Ladabouche Photo My friends, marvelling at the car after the races.

Ladabouche Photo George, in the payoff line after the races.	Proctor Family Photo A win at Victoria for George with the sedan. High gears worked there.	John Grady Photo via Dave Dykes A field takes off at Victoria with George and the sedan in the rear.	Proctor Family Photo AThe Lebanon Valley Pontiac. Don't know if came before or after the Plymouth sedan.,	Proctor Family Photo Procotr kids guarding the Pontiac.
Gary Dutton Photo Proctor Family Collection A Bad wreck at Valley.	Proctor Family Photo AThe Lebanon Valley Pontiac.	Proctor Family Photo AA more refined- looking late model with same graphics.	Proctor Family Photo AOne of the coupes in the pre-Gremlin era. I don't which coupe came when.	Proctor Family Photo AThe same coupe or another like it.,
Proctor Family Collection A good look at a coupe for the Valley.	Gary Dutton Photo Proctor Family Collection A more refined coupe for the Valley.	Proctor Family Collection Same coupe, at Valley.	Proctor Family Collection Proctor gang, at Valley.	Proctor Family Collection Another coupe for the Valley.
Proctor Family Collection Next, came the Gremlin.	Ron DeYulio Photo Proctor Family Collection George, in the Gremlin. This was his dramatic 1979 Fonda win.	Gary Dutton Photo Proctor Family Collection The Gremlin in action.