THE JERRY COOK

       A young man from Lockport, New York developed an interest in auto mechanics and stock car racing, early on in life, hanging around the racing garage of veteran Cam Galgliardi. Gagliardi raced at such early venues as Buffalo's War Memorial Stadium, and he even had some seat time in early NASCAR Grand National racing. Cam went on to race for many more years, until he was well up in age.
          The youngster was Jerry Cook who, after learning around the Gagliardi garage, proceeded to build his own, first race car at age thirteen. Being profoundly too young to drive, Cook somehow enlisted the services of East Amherst, NY chauffeur Kenny Meahl. Finding Cook's cars to be superior to what he had been driving before, Meahl had much success driving the Cook #38's until Jerry became old enough to drive for himself.
          Meahl went on the drive the Snediker #28 out of Rochester, NY; and Cook became a multi - time NASCAR National Modified Champion before becoming a NASCAR modified official.

DIRT HOF Photo What must be Ken's earliest car, at Stoney Creek Speedway.	Meahl Family Photo Jack Bentley Family Collection One of the earlier Cook cars. This is at Syracuse. From the HAMB Site Success with that car.	Meahl Family Photo Jack Bentley Family Collection An even earlier Cook car. This is 1961.	Bill Farress Photo Meahl and a Cook car at Monroe Cty Speedway around 1960.
Bill Farress Photo Meahl chasing a driver named Jeske around Monroe Cty Speedway in 1960.	Bill Farress Photo A youngster checks out Cook's Meahl - driven car at Monroe Cty in 1960.	Bill Ladabouche Photo Cook's 1960 car leaves Otter Creek Speedway in Vermont in 1962 after pulling off a surprise win over the likes of Shoemaker and Dick Nephew.	Bill Ladabouche Photo Cook's car arrives at Fonda in 1962. Meahl began running there quite reguarly.
Jo Towns Photo Collection Courtesy of Otto Graham A Meahl wins at Fonda in his last year with Cook.	Cavalcade of Racing Photo Ken moved over to driving for Walter Snediker, out of Rochester, NY.	Courtesy of Bill Fifield A classic Meahl 28 shot. Ladabouche Photo Collection Russ Bergh Photo	Ed Feuz Photo Collection Via Fonda Book A dazed Meahl is helped to the ambulance after his infamous wreck at Fonda. That smile might be from all those little bluebirds flying around in his head.
From the HAMB Site The Snediker car in 1964.	From the HAMB Site Closer to the end of his career - at Lancaster Speedway.

HAMB SitePhoto Jerry started driving permanently in 1963. This is probably much the same car as Meahl drove in 1962 - except looking refurbished - at Lancaster.	Courtesy of Otto Graham The 1963 version of the car. Jerry syas Baynes was the only sponsor who would take a chance on shelling bucks to an untried driver. [Below] - He might be proving here Baynes' trust was correct. This looks like Cliff Kotary at Utica - Rome.	Ladabouche Photo The 38 entering Fonda in 1963. the blurriness is from the car being in motion.	J&H Photo from LaSheef Site The 38 is beginning to be refined into more of a modified look. From Bill Farress
Courtesy of Mike Watts A victory at his beloved Catamount Stadium, around 1967 or so.	Ladabouche Collection The same graphics as the previous coupe, but with the Falcon Body.	Arnie Ainsworth Photo Perhaps his favorite coupe. He was really prominent in the mod ranks by this time. Ladabouche Collection	G. LaVallee Collection Jerry chases Jack Johnson [believe it or not] in Bennett's Bernie's Liquor Shop 71 - at Fonda Speedway.
Courtesy of Bucko Branham The same graphics as the previous coupe, but with the lowered more modern modified body. This is either Malta or Catamount.	Bob Mackey Photo Courtesy of John Rock A win at Airborne Speedway. That's starter Johnny Telleni.	Ladabouche Collection The Camaro, in the pits at Catamount. HAMB Site Photo The Camaro at Martinsville in 1972.	Ladabouche Photo At Catamount in 1972 for a special modified show. For those Cat fans, note the Chevron station is down, the checkerboard stand is not yet up, and the track still has that water truck.
Courtesy of Arnie Ainsworth A favorite photo of the Cook fans.	Otto Graham, Dirt Track Digest The fire at Langhorne that almost made Jerry live up to his last name.	Denis LaChance Photo Jerry at Catamount with a fairly modern mod - one of his last cars, I think.	HAMB Site Photo Towards the end of his career, he got a ride in the Ed Cloce 69 [formerly the Hemi Cuda team].
HAMB Site Photo The same car racing with Don House's XL-1 in 1968
HAMB Site Photo In the 1973 Daytona Twin 125's, against Cecil Gordon, with the Dick Hammond Miller Chevelle.	HAMB Site Photo The Hammond Miller Chevelle, at speed. Gordon Roenig Photo The same car with its usual number - as often driven by Jim Hurtubise.	HAMB Site Photo The 70 Permatex car that was apparently maintained by Cam Gagliardi and driven by various NY drivers like Cook and Wimble.	HAMB Site Photo Another Permatex car.

All Star League Program Photo
Jerry loved Catamount Stadium and he loved the All Star Racing League. So, when he could represent Catamount in
the League he was about as happy as he was in his whole career.

Bill Ladabouche Photo
Jerry was happy to find old Western NY driver and neighbor, Ed Ortiz, at Rolling Wheels
for the big DIRT All Star Weekend race after the HOF ceremonies. That is Ed at right.

John Grady Photo Cam Gagliardi poses with the Lazy 8, a familar early car number for him.	Pascal "Magnum" Cote Photo Gagliardi had mixed success in the Grand National races. Here - not so good.	Photo from HAMB Site Another version of the Lazy 8.	John Grady Photo Cam Gagliardi poses with the Permatex car many NY drivers used at Daytona.
	Photo from HAMB Site Later in his career.	Gordon Roenig Photo from HAMB Site Another Corvair.