TRACKS IN THE GRANITE STATE
NH Short Track Heroes Site Photo, via Scott Haskell
A lot of what happened in the history of Vermont stock car racing is directly attributable to our neighbor to the East - New Hampshire. New Hampshire's history is very similar to Vermont's boom in the early '50's; bust in the late '50's, development of stable tracks in the '60's and '70's, and a gradual settling to a core of tracks - some of which are struggling to survive. This is a compilation of photos from some of my best supporters, including Scott Haskell, George Hill, Neal and Rob Davis, Paul Bellefeuille, Mark Austin, and Cho Lee. Some come from people like Phil Chastenay and Ernie Bodreau who share photos openly on message boards. Others come from random contributors. I decided I can't do justice to all the tracks in the state, espeically as some are too recent and there are others for which I have no materials. I will attempt a list below and do what I can to give as many as possible some attention.
AIRPORT SPEEDWAY
Hinsdale, NH
Historic Aerials.com
The track as it looked in 1951.
What I know about this one is that it began before the much - more - successful West Brattleboro Speedway [which sort of put it out of business]. Located at the airport near Hinsdale, it had nothing to do with the Hinsdale horse track. Many of the same drivers who would go on to drive at West Brat, Cheshire Fairgrounds, Claremont and even on into the 1960's would begin here. It began being run by the Vermont - based Windham Racing group, which switched over to West Brat later, leaving Hinsdale to be run by the Pioneer Valley sanctioning group. It seemed to run mostly in 195 and 52 qith brief attempts in '53.
 Barattleboro Reformer Here, the rivalry between the two tracks is evident with Hinsdale outspending West Brat. The Windham sanctioning group is mentioned. 1950. |
 Brattleboro Reformer 1950. Brattleboro drivers carry the day. |
 Brattleboro Reformer 1950. The newspaper seems very concerned with what town the winners are from. |
 Brattleboro Reformer 1951. Avery win. |
 Brattleboro Reformer 1951. Carey win. |
 Brattleboro Reformer 1951. Adv for Labor Day. |
 Brattleboro Reformer 1951. Adv . |
 Brattleboro Reformer 1951. Yuconis winner. |
I have no clippings for 1952. Maybe the track and the Brattleboro Reformer were having a spat. |
 Brattleboro Reformer 1953. Article Part 1. |
 Brattleboro Reformer 1953. Article Part 2. Good driver list. |
 Brattleboro Reformer 1953. Another race result. |
 Brattleboro Reformer 1952. Found this one item. |
 aimhmga.communitywebshots The car of future star Cecil Bosworth is unloaded at Hinsdale. The car , The Faming Deuce" is the best known car the track had. |
 aimhmga.communitywebshots A standing crowd awaits the action. I don't know if the venue had bleachers. |
 aimhmga.communitywebshots The car of future star Cecil Bosworth is unloaded at Hinsdale. The car , The Faming Deuce" is the best known car the track had. |
 aimhmga.communitywebshots The car of Willie Stone is off in the puckerbrush. |
 aimhmga.communitywebshots Willie Stone. |
 aimhmga.communitywebshots The car 22 team. |
 aimhmga.communitywebshots The car 22 team hauler. |
 aimhmga.communitywebshots Some sort of track publication. This one features Cecil Bosworth |
 aimhmga.communitywebshots Some sort of track publication. This one features Art Lewis. |
 aimhmga.communitywebshots Some sort of track publication. This one features Dick Carey. |
 aimhmga.communitywebshots Some sort of track publication. This one features Howard Lucier. |
 aimhmga.communitywebshots Some sort of track publication. This one features Vern Taylor. |
 aimhmga.communitywebshots Some sort of track publication. This one features Cecil Bosworth |
 aimhmga.communitywebshots Some sort of track publication. This one features Art Lewis. |
 aimhmga.communitywebshots Some sort of track publication. This one features Dick Carey. |
 aimhmga.communitywebshots Some sort of track publication. This one features Howard Lucier. One of the Luciers who raced in this area and time had a son, Lou who pitched for Red Sox, as well as racing a bit. |
 aimhmga.communitywebshots Some sort of track publication. This one features Vern Taylor. |
 aimhmga.communitywebshots Some sort of track publication. This one features George Yuconis. |
 aimhmga.communitywebshots Some sort of track publication. This one features George Yuconis. |
 aimhmga.communitywebshots Cecil Bosworth on the track. |
 aimhmga.communitywebshots Cars on the track with interesting numbers. |
 Courtesy of Phil Chastenay Brattleboro driver Shorty Collins was a star at Hinsdale. |
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BELKNAP RECREATION AREA /
GILFORD BOWL
Gilford, NH
I know very little about this track. It apparently ran a few races in the early 1950's and is now part of a significant recreation venue in northern New Hampshire.
Historic Aerials.com
Aerial photo
thought to be the Gilford Bowl track. It may not be.
Burlington Daily News
The only news
clipping I have found, so far.
Weir Beach Site
Courtesy of Bob Morrill
Said to be 'future Gilford Bowl cars'. No other explanation.
BRYAR MOTORSPORTS PARK
Louden, NH
This is the middle
phase of this venue. The approximate area started out as a smaller stock car
track [Route 106 Midway Speedway],
became this nice road course, and
eventually was turned into the proud New Hampshire super supeedway which has
featured the top tiers of racing, on and off since.
Historic Aerials.com
Bryar Motorsports Park, a road course, was
located on the exact site of the superspeedway there now. This is from 1998.
 Courtesy of Al Ward R. Dawes also Offered These Harold Hanaford tools a '59 Pontiac around Bryar on the way to a victory sometime around 1971. The car had begun as an Elmo Langley GN car. |
 Courtesy of Al Ward R. Dawes also Offered These Harold Hanaford races with someone in a Studebaker Lark. |
 Courtesy of Al Ward A shot of the Bryar facility during a NASCAR North race around 1983. |
 Courtesy of CycleNews.com Apparently about everything road course appropriate raced at Bryar |
 ProgramCovers.com A Bryar issue of the SCCA magazine. |
 Shelby Mustang Notchback Site A Shelby Mustang waits for action beside an ancient behemoth passenger car at Bryar. |
 Courtesy of racefansforever A shot of the Bryar |
 flickriver.com The picturesque quality of Bryar Motorsports Park is evident here. |
CANAAN USA/
MASCOMA VALLEY SPEEDWAY / CANAAN FAIR
SPEEDWAY
Canaan, NH
This began as a fairground track. As the 1956 aerial photo shows, the track appears to have been in disuse. In 1981 the track was called Mascoma Valley Speedwsay and ran dirt racing for three seasons. Charlie Elliott got the track going sometime in the 1990's, eventually adding a paved, separate track on the same grounds. It looks like the dirt track was Canaan USA while the other was Canaan Fair Speedway. Around 2014 or so, the track was sold off to [as I was told] "some college professor" who blended the two tracks into a road course of sorts to test cars.
Historic Aerials.com
As it sits in 1956, it looks like no one is
using the track.
Historic Aerials.com
Classic aerial of Canaan USA when it was operational.
The paved track is located near the older dirt oval.
Speedway and Road Race History.com
You can see how the present owner is
beginning to blend the two tracks into a road course by now. 2015.
Speedway and Road Race History.com
Pretty much how it is now. 2017.
 Kimberlyiazfanof18 Late model action on the dirt track. |
 newenglandracingnews.com Modified action on the dirt track. Pierson [15] vs Gray [00]. |
 nhracingnews.com Modified action on the dirt track. Quenneville, Jr [78] vs Eastman. |
 PASS Site Photo PASS late model action on the asphalt track. |
 nhracingnews.com ACT late model action on the asphalt track. Hebert [58] vs Helliwell. |
 Courtesy of Rob Davis Devil's Bowl regulars Vince Quenneville, Jr., Ron Proctor, and Kenny Tremont at Canaan during the Bowl's era of dirt mods on pavement. |
 Courtesy of Rob Davis Grandstands for the dirt track. |
 Courtesy of Rob Davis Part of a Canaan crowd. |
 Don MacIntosh Photo Courtesy of Lew Boyd Dirt sprinter Will Hull and crew repair a damaged car at Canaan. |
 Courtesy of Rob Davis Devil's Bowl regular Vince Quenneville, Jr. had good success on the paved track with this dirt modified. |
Courtesy of Dick Berggren
Promoter Charlie Elliott, himself a former racer,
work the grader on the dirt track.
CHESHIRE FAIRGROUNDS / SAFFORD PARK SPEEDWAY
Swanzey, NH
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CLAREMONT SPEEDWAY
Claremont, NH
CLICK HERE TO
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DOVER SPEEDWAY / GRANITE STATE
SPEEDWAY
Dover, NH
David Topham has a nice Facebook page on this track. Apparently it enjoyed a lengthy run as Granite State Speedway before going dormant. It had a number of different track configurations, - some within another [as some of the aerial photos attest]. It was re-opened as Dover Speedway, and ran into the 1970's.
Historic Aerials.com
This 1970's aerial shows some of the various track configurations and sizes that took their turn on the site. One looks huge.
EARLY MUD BUGGY
 Courtesy of David Topham The mud buggies - similar to NY roadsters, came about in 1941. Sportsman Park in Farmington, NH was the first venue. Here, Charlie Elliott, a future famed promoter, throws his around the track. |
 Farmington News Courtesy of David Topham Farmington ad for mud buggies. |
 Courtesy of David Topham Dover mud buggy action. |
 Courtesy of Joe Batal via Tim Drake Mud buggy driver Albert "Bye Bye" McGlone. |
 Courtesy of Joe Batal via Tim Drake Mud buggy driver Albert "Bye Bye" McGlone's helmet. Hey, it was better than some of them used back then. |
 The Union News Courtesy of David Topham Mud Buggy injury. There were either two or three Canneys racing these cars. |
 The Union News Courtesy of David Topham Mud Buggy results article, from 1941. |
EARLY STOCK CAR
 Portsmouh Herald A 1946 ad that specifically mentions Granite State Speedway. No stox yet. |
 Nashua Telegraph June 22, 1948. Very early for stock cars in New England. |
 Boston Globe Results from the race mentioned in the article at left. |
 Nashua Telegraph June 29, 1948. The next program was a big one. |
 Courtesy of David Topham Granite State Park. Not sure if this is the same place or not. |
 Portsmouth Herald 1949 ad that mentions some very recognizable drivers. Zipp raced as far away as Keene, NH. Rivers was a terror at Sanford, ME. Brayton also raced all over. Tony Collicchio ended up racing in Vermont and Northwestern NH by 1959 and 1960. |
 Courtesy of Rick Walker Granite State Speedway bomber class winner Melvin "Cookie" Thomas. |
 Courtesy of Rick Walker Granite State Speedway bomber class trophy won by Melvin "Cookie" Thomas. |
 Courtesy of Dennis Drake Otis Brayton, who would be prominent at tracks all over the region. |
 Portsmouth Herald Racing late in November of 1949. New England championship race. |
 Courtesy of David Topham This might be Frank Carter. |
 Courtesy of David Topham An early Howie Brown car. I think he went on to race supermods by the late 60's. |
 Courtesy of Don Moore A 1954 season preview article. |
Click Here to go to a page on this track that shows more of the later racing.
Franklin, NH
I know very little about this track. I couldn't dredge up a single newspaper clipping [which might simply mean the papers that covered it are not part of the newspaper service I suscribe to]. It ran in the early 1950's and seemed to share competitors with such unlikely partners as the jalopy track in West Leb. and possibly even an occasional Maine runner. It didn't last long.
 Historic Aerials. Com Photo The Motordrome, in 1951. |
 Historic Aerials.Com Photo Contrast this 2003 view with the at left, from 52 years before. |
 Howard Hodgdon Photo, via George Hill Two men with car 197 |
 Howard Hodgdon Photo, via George Hill After an apparent rollover - common, in those days. |
Howard Hodgdon Photo, via George Hill Getting the car 177 out of a ditch. |
 Howard Hodgdon Photo, from NHSTH Site, via Scott Haskell Lining up a race on the track. |
 Howard Hodgdon Photo, from NHSTH Site, via Scott Haskell Bill Morrill, a teenager, drove this car - owned by George Hodgdon. |
 Howard Hodgdon Photo, from NHSTH Site, via Scott Haskell Two men and their car. Anyone know who ? |
 Howard Hodgdon Photo, from NHSTH Site, via Scott Haskell Bob Puffinburger [l] and George Hodgdon. This car became Harold Hanaford's #77. |
 Howard Hodgdon Photo, from NHSTH Site, via Scott Haskell The Hodgdon/ Puffinburger 280. |
 M. Condon Photo, from NHSTH Site, via Scott Haskell The Maurice Condon 12, out of Claremont, also a regular at Claremont Speedway. |
 M. Condon Photo, from NHSTH Site, via Scott Haskell The Maurice Condon 12 heads out of the pit area. |
 Eddie Puffinberger Photo via George Hill The pits, behind a rail fence, look pretty full. |
 |NHSTH SitePhoto via Scott Haskell The pit area. The car 12 of Condon is visible. |
 NHSTH SitePhoto via Scott Haskell A woman has crossed the track and into the pit area. |
 Eddie Puffinberger Photo via George Hill A large sedan has ended up on top of a coupe here. |
 Eddie Puffinberger Photo via George Hill A race, ready to go off turn four. |
 Eddie Puffinberger Photo via George Hill A field rumbles by. |
 Eddie Puffinberger Photo via Scott Haskell The pits, near that barn. Sanborn's 640 is visible. |
 Eddie Puffinberger Photo via George Hill A minor skirmish. |
Hudson, NH
Historic Aerials.com
1965 aerial view. By then the track had been running
for around 16 years.
From newspaper cIippings, I know this track started operating as a "jalopy" track in the late 1940's. It got a lot of coverage- p articularly in the Nashua Telegraph.. I thought of Hudson as a haven for real racing characters and individuals; but, it has also produced some very prominent racing talent for decades. It seems to have had stock cars of every level and division imaginable, as well as its own brand of super and classes like late models.
 Pinterest Photo A 1940's midget program cover. |
 Nashua Telegraph A 1948 adv. |
 Nashua Telegraph A 1948 article about schedule change. |
 Nashua Telegraph A 1949 adv. |
 Nashua Telegraph A 1949 injury. |
 Nashua Telegraph A 1950 opener article. |
 Nashua Telegraph Flannery wins 1950 race. |
 Nashua Telegraph A 1951 feature win protested. Part 1 |
 Nashua Telegraph A 1951 feature win protested. Part 2 |
 Nashua Telegraph A 1955 ad that seems to team up with Manchester Motordrome. |
 Nashua Telegraph A 1951 feature win gains a crown. Tom is likely brother to famed owner Marty Harty. |
 Courtesy of Cho Lee via Sheena Lee Tony Collicchio, future star at Northeastern and Thunder Road runs this 0 with help from VT Bardahl dealer Bob Doyle. he also ran this at Dover, NH. |
 Cavalcade of Racing Photo Howie Brown split time between here and tracks like Dover. |
 Racers Bored Site Jerry Dolliver with an A Class coupe. |
 Courtesy of Dave Dykes Early Hudson action. |
 Courtesy of Lew Boyd Al Crockett was one of those guys whose name was synonymous with Hudson. |
 Courtesy of Dave Dykes Early Hudson field ready for the green. |
 Cavalcade of Racing Hank Duggan. |
 Source Unknown Hudson powder puff star Polly LaRochelle. |
 Courtesy of Dave Dykes The great Mario "Fats" Caruso at Hudson. |
 Courtesy of Walter Newell EarlyTalk about synonymous with a track - this is Hudson Herb Simpson. |
 Courtesy of Lew Boyd There may be nobody more synonymous with Hudson than Peter [Petah] Fiandaca [and his open comp cars were indescribable. |
 Courtesy of Catamount Site Marty Harty's 000 leads car 537. |
 8MM Frame Capture Courtesy of Ed Gallagher Hudson A coupes or supers. |
 8MM Frame Capture Courtesy of Ed Gallagher B coupes or Bombers. |
 Courtesy of Catamount Site A super scrum with Ollie SIlva and Ed West.. |
 More recent action with Tiger Sportsman - type cars that are all over the region. |
 More recent action with late models including Hudson's exceptional Wayne Helliwell [97]. |
 Paul Richardson Collection Lou Horton. |
 Source Unknown Red McDonald [later to become Mr. Lee USA]. |
HURRICANE ROAD SPEEDWAY
Franklin, NH
Historic Aerials.com
A
1951
aerial photo shows what looks like a track located very near the Hurricane Road.
Compared to its neighbor track in Franklin, I know even less about this track. It was named for the road upon which it was located. I couldn't dredge up a single newspaper clipping [which might simply mean the papers that covered it are not part of the newspaper service I suscribe to].
 via R. Scott Haskell Reggie Caldwell's car burns up at Hurricane Road - Photo 1. |
 via R. Scott Haskell Reggie Caldwell's car burns up at Hurricane Road - Photo 2. |
 via R. Scott Haskell Reggie Caldwell's car burns up at Hurricane Road - Photo 3. |
 via R. Scott Haskell Reggie Caldwell poses with his burned up car. Why did early drivers love to pose beside their disasters ? |
 via Reggie Caldwell Reggie Caldwell's car 00. |
LEE USA
Lee, NH
1974
Both Historic Aerials
1992
The tract of land outside the town of Lee, NH lay, unused until, sometime in 1964 Bob Bonser built the first track, a tri - oval. After a year of running it as dirt, Bonser had the uneven, up and down 1/3 mile course paved and got IMSA to run there. In 1982 the powerfful trio of Russ Conway, Charlie Elliott, and Kenny Smith purchased the struggling facility, and rebuilt from the ground up to the track you see now. The track has run everything from supermods - to late models, to most anything in between. At some point in the mid 80's Red McDOnald bought the venue and just sold it relatively recently. The track operates today. Below is a brief sample of photos.
 Weebly Image Typical early Lee super. |
 IMSASupers.com Later, much more recent IMSA super. |
 via Rich Hayes Marty Vachon with a winged late model in 1974. |
 Paved Track Digest A modern style pavement modified at Lee. |
 Al Ward Photo Rick Paya's RPM 37 wins an ACT race at Lee - I don't know who was driving. |
LITTLETON AIRPORT
Littleton, NH
This one is kind of a chuckle. In researching other tracks, I came across this one ad for Jalopy Races at the Littleton Airport, supposedly in 1950. I have found not only no trace of a track, but no trace of an airport there [even in 1950]. Who knows ?!
Twin State Times and River News
Come one, come all ! But where the hell to
come to is a mystery.
Northumberland, NH
Historic Aerials.com
A
1956
aerial photo shows that they may have tried a couple of different track
configurations.
The name is said to have come from a restaurant or some other business nearby. The tract of land outside the town of Lancaster, NH sits on the road those of us from Vermont have to take to get to the newer track in Groveton, NH. The track which apparently operated in 1953 and 1954, drew locals as well as drivers who were already familiar from such venues as Veterans' Park, Newport, VT; Webster Flats, Lyndonville, VT, Dog RIver Speedway, Northfield, VT; and even tracks in Chittenden County Vermont [which seemed to be dormant at that time]. New Hampshire tracks like Franklin Motordrome, Gilford Bowl and more also added competitors like the well - known Harold Hanaford. There is a curious reference to a visit to the track by then - Presidential candidate Estes Kefauver; but, that was 1952 and there are no other references to its running that year.
 Caledonian Record A 1953 ad, the earliest I have seen. |
 Caledonian Record A curious October, 1953 ad in which the track is not even referred to by name. |
 Caledonian Record An early - season May, 1954 race result article. Interesting because local driver Green wood is driving Ralph Bushey's Spud 19 car out of Burlington, VT. Bob Bushey would be setting a yet - unbroken feature win record with this car at Airborne Spdwy in Plattsburgh, NY that year. |
 Caledonian Record A June, 1954 ad just like one of the 1953 ads. |
 Caledonian Record Apparently flooded because water on those dusty '50's tracks was ususally not a bad thing. |
 Caledonian Record August 17, 1954. 500 whole fans ! Very good descriptions. Part 1 |
 Caledonian Record August 17, 1954. Many of these names would be big ones at Northeastern and T Road later. Part 2 |
 Caledonian Record August 17, 1954. 500 whole fans ! Part 3 |
 Caledonian Record August 23, 1954. Hanaford wins Part 1 |
 Caledonian Record August 23, 1954. Hanaford wins Part 2 |
 Caledonian Record August 23, 1954. Hanaford wins. Part 3 |
 Caledonian Record October, 1954 adv. |
MANCHESTER MOTORDROME
Londonderry, NH
Historic Aerials.com
A
1962 aerial
photo shows the track after it had ceased operations.
The name is a mild misnomer, as the track was actually not in Manchester. Built in 1947 by Walter Hart and Robert Early, it would attract some of the best midget racers in the Northeast and would actually run midgets until 1962. According to some local newspaper clippings, the track also added in "jalopies" for a while in the late '40's and early '50's. It seemed to cooperate with Hudson Speedway for these cars. The site became used for other purposes later. Conflicting historical accounts refer to Hart as Walter and George. EIther one is wrong or there were brothers involved.
 Londonderry News Building the facility in 1947. It cost only $70,000 [of course that was with 1947 dollar values]. |
 Caledonian Record This 1947 program page shows winner Bud Tatro with Hart and Early. |
 Londonderry.net Caption says it all. |
 Nashua Telegraph 1940's adv. |
 Nashua Telegraph May, 1949. |
 Nashua Telegraph Sept. 9, 1949 article. |
 Nashua Telegraph 1940's photo. A doodlebug" was a midget. Delisle Could have been related to either car woner Arnie or driver Ray "Dizzy" Delisle. |
 Nashua Telegraph Sept. 9, 1949 ad. First mention of jalopies, which would be stock cars. |
 Courtesy of Dave Dykes 1940's midget action. Car 19 is said to be Art Rousseau, who starred in jalopies, midgets, cutdowns, and stock cars. |
 Nashua Telegraph A 1950 adv. |
 Nashua Telegraph A 1950 ad. The giveaways probably were cars like the one below.  Ladabouche Collection |
 Nashua Telegraph A 1951 ad. |
 Nashua Telegraph A 1954 ad. |
NEW HAMPSHIRE MOTOR SPEEDWAY
Louden, NH
From Seat Geek.com
From Seat Geek.com
The venue has been very busy over the years. According to most accounts, the site was approximately the same as the 1950's bullring Route 106 Midway Speedway. Bob Bahre bought the lovely Bryar Motorsports Park setup in 1989 or 1990 and built the superspeedway that exists today. It no longer belongs to the Bahre family, but the track has seen all sorts of NASCAR racing, as well as Indy - type car racing. It still has a road course as well. There are many thousands of available photos, so I am going to keep this very simple.
 Seat Geek.com Indy car action. |
 10 Best.com NASCAR Cup action. |
 Seat Geek.com Whalen Tour pavement modified action. |
 Fox Sports.com Kyle Busch bravely holds the traditional winner's lobster. His wife is just thrilled. |
 Matt Wiernascz Photo raceproweeklycom Late model sportsman action. |
Newmarket, NH
Historic Aerials.com
What I know about this track is limited to two items in the Portsmouth Herald. It was run in 1950 for a brief time by Dan McCarthy and some well - known locals such as Otis Brayton raced there. Brayton was injured there on one occasion. The races were run by the Granite State Stock Car Racing Association.
Portsmouth Herald 1950
PLYMOUTH FAIRGROUNDS
Plymouth, NH
Courtesy of Wayne Boyce
Sprint cars line up by the announcer's
stand at the Plymouth Fairgrounds in 1948.
The old fairgrounds track at Plymouth, NH may have been one of the true birthplaces of auto racing in the Northeast. It is not exactly clear to me yet how long they raced there, but racing - of one sort or another - began in the late 1940's. Probably because of this, there has always been a number of drivers from this area: Harold Hanaford, Jim Thomas, Denny Dearborn - to name a few. Also, one of the premier sponsors in the sport for many years, Moseley's Express, was headquartered in Plymouth.
Courtesy of Wayne Boyce
Men check out a sprint car line at
Plymouth in 1948.
Courtesy of R. Scott Haskell
An article in the local newspaper gives an
idea of who was running in the earliest days of New Hampshire stock cars.
Thanks to R.Scott Haskell
The Plymouth Fairgrounds, as the
track [and grounds] looked in its heyday.
A TOUR OF THE PLYMOUTH FAIRGROUNDS TRACK
TODAY, THANKS TO R. SCOTT HASKELL
 Start/Finish Line towards turn one. |
 Turn two. |
 Backstretch, back towards turn two. |
 Could be the backstretch. |
 Unidentified area on fairgrounds track. |
 Turn Three. |
 Turn three into turn four. |
 Turn four. |
 Unidentified area on fairgrounds track. |
 Unidentified area on fairgrounds track. |
RIVE - AIR RACEWAY
Woodsville, NH
Historic Aerials
The best possibility for Rive - Air Speedway would be
that large open area to the left of the Woodsville Road.
There is very little information on this track. When I first started doing my history work, someone spoke of "Woodsville". I came to think they may have been referring to the GeJoCLin track, just across the Connecticut River, Near Wells River, VT. But then some articles surfaced and I realized there was a track near Woodsville. I though it must have operated in direct competition with the GeJoClin track, but the Vermont track was 1950 and this one was 1952. I don't even have an aerial of the venue - only a suspected spot. I honestly don't know if they ever raced.
 Twin State News and River Times Opener was on Memorial Day, 1952. |
 Twin State News and River Times Opener was on Memorial Day, 1952. Here is the ad. |
 Twin State News and River Times Opener was on Memorial Day, 1952. Then they abruptly halt operations. |
 Twin State News and River Times They seem to start advertising again in October. |
 Twin State News and River Times The same advertising again in November. But there were never any results reported |
RIVERSIDE SPEEDWAY / SPEEDWAY 51, ETC
Groveton, NH
USGS Terraserver Photo
This track has been around since 1964. Built by Reg Mclain, it passed over to former race driver Mike Beattie. After Beattie's tenure, it has gone from one promoter to another, struggling along in a financially depressed area. Most people call it either just "Groveton" or "Grovetona". Other former racers like Jean LeBlanc tried running it as Riverside. Joey LaQuerre of East Montpelier, VT ran it as Speedway 51. No one has much luck. The track had no real track photographer when it began and that hasn't helped. It has a page on my site.
http://catamountstadium.com/groveton.htm
THE ROCKINGHAM
BOARD TRACK
Salem, NH
Historic Aerials.com
This 1938 view shows the horse track which
sits somewhat near where the board track was. There is no aerial of the board
track that I know of.
This track was built in an era when many board tracks ere being erected. It had absolutely insanely steep banking. Speeds got up to 144 by 1927, something you think of more with racing a Daytona in the '60's. Excellent research by people with the North East Motor Sports Museum supplies some fascinating data: In 1925 Jack LeCain oversaw construction with 450 carpenters using 53 tons of nails and over 2 million feet of lumber. The 1.25 mile track had 49 degree banking [18 degrees steeper than Daytona. The track only ran seven races and then it was dismantled and the materials sold off.
 flickr Construction under way, 1925. |
 NEMS Museum Iconic photo of action on the boards. |
 flickr 1925 - serious traffic jam on race day in Salem. |
 NEMS Museum A lineup for one of the seven race events. |
 Speedway and Road Race History.com Another lineup. |
Source Unknown
An interesting find. A newspaper ad offering
materials from after the board track was dismantled.
ROUTE 106
MIDWAY SPEEDWAY
Louden, NH
This is the first phase of this venue. The approximate area started out as a smaller stock car track [Route 106 Midway Speedway] from 1961 to 1963. Typical New Hampshire flathead coupe raced there. I believe the owner was Keith Bryar. There is no available aerial photo from the years this track operated nor the road course later.
 Courtesy of Reg Caldwell via George Hill Track poster. |
 Laconia Citizen Photo via George HIll Bob Snow. |
 David Hoyt Photo via George Hill Bill George, George Burdick, and Ray Herbert. |
 Courtesy of Eddie Puffinberger via George Hill Paul Martell drove this potent Thurber 444. |
 Howard George Collection via George Hill Route 106 lineup that includes the Thurber 444. |
 David Hoyt Photo via George Hill Another old color shot. |
 David Hoyt Photo via George Hill Whitey Hoyt and crew. |
 David Hoyt Photo via George Hill Whitey Hoyt's 0 in a lineup. |
 David Hoyt Photo via George Hill Not sure what this guy's function is. |
 Laconia Citizen Photo via George HIll Walt Taylor with the former 444 car. |
 Laconia Citizen Photo via George HIll Jim Minery. |
 Laconia Citizen Photo via George HIll Walt Taylor with the former 444 car. |
 Howard George Collection via George Hill Whitey Hoyt's car at home. |
 David Hoyt Photo via George HIll Whitey Hoyt with a different car. |
 Howard George Collection via George Hill Bob Baker with a sharp car from Kennebunk, ME. |
THE RUMNEY TRACKS
Wentworth, NH
Historic Aerials.com
This 2009 view shows the track which sits
actually in Wentworth. Although originally 1/5 mile, it shows here as a quarter
mile.
This track must hold some sort of record for the most owners and names. That fact alone shows the affection locals have for it, refusing to allow it to die. Originally built as a dirt fifth mile in the mid 1960's, it probably had a name like Rumney Speedway or something similar. In the 1970's it was lengthened to a quarter mile and had names The Pines Speedway and Nor - Way Pines Speedway.
Somewhere around 1971 the ownership apparently transitioned to the local American Legion post and it was called Legion Speedway. In 2009, it was The Rattlesnake Mountain Motordrome and - a year later - it became Big Daddy's Speedbowl. By 2012 it had returned to Legion Speedway.
In 2018 the present ownership came in and called it RumTown Speedway. It is still hanging in there - running open wheel, wingless cars.
 Alexander Family Collection Steve Ladd my college friend and a Hudson fanatic poses here with friend Alex Alexander. He ran this car at Rumney. He told me of this backwoods track where you got a wooden plaque if you won a race. |
 Howard George Collection via George Hill Bill George's car at Rumney. I think George raced at every track in NH at one point or another. |
 Larry Cate Collection via George Hill Larry Cate. |
 8MM Movie Frame Capture via George HIll Tommy Richardson. |
 8MM Movie Frame Capture via George HIll Rosie Rosendahl. |
 NH SHort Track Hero Site via George HIll Tommy Merrill. |
 Marian Burbank Coll. via George HIll Frank Burbank, Jr. |
 8MM Movie Frame Capture via George HIll Roger Rand. |
 Howard George Collection via George Hill Carlton George [308] at Rumney. Cy Colby's 1H partially seen left. |
 Howard George Collection via George Hill Ed Jennings' 211 at Rumney. |
 Bristol Enterprise Photo via George Hill Tommy Richardson, Frank Burbank, Jr, and Bill George. |
 8MM Movie Frame Capture via George HIll Unidentified car 7 in action. |
 Howard George Collection via George Hill Early lineup including Bill George and Frank Burbank, Jr. |
 Howard George Collection via George Hill Early lineup including Bill George. |
 Howard George Collection via George Hill A backstretch shot. |
 Howard George Collection via George Hill Early Victory Lane including Bill George, Frank Burbank, Jr. and Cy Colby. |
 via Weebly Coupe 33 during the Nor - Way Pines era. |
 NH SHort Track Hero Site via George HIll Ralph Stygles, with a restored coupe he ran there. |
 via Weebly Mustang 89 during the Nor - Way Pines era. |
 via Weebly Winged sprinter during the Big Daddy's era. |
 via Weebly Modern day dirt mod during the Big Daddy's era. |
 via Facebook Female winged sprint winner during the Legion era. |
 via Facebook Wingless sprint action during the RumTown era. |
 via Nick Comeau More wingless sprint action during the RumTown era. |
 via Facebook A shot of the frontstretch. |
STAR SPEEDWAY
Epping NH
Historic Aerials.com
This 1974 view shows the track which was
seven years old by then.
The well - known trio of promoters Charlie Elliott, Ken Smith, and Russ Conway, having formed NESMRA [New England Super Modified Association] sought to found a track to showcase their cars. They purchased the property of the brick yard in Epping, NH in 1965. In August of 1967 they opened Star Speedway. The track, always known for the supermods, also was an important venue for the ACT late model tour. It has had other owners besides the original trio, and still runs today. Bobby Webber, Jr. , a second generation owner, is currently in power at Star.
 via Jake's Site Dynamite Ollie Silva with an early Class A like what first ran at Star. |
 via Jake's Site Barry Cann with an early super like what first ran at Star. |
 via FuelCurve.com An earlier super spinning out. |
 NE Vintage Mod Site via Phil Smith Bill Eldridge with an early super win at Star. |
 via Shutterstock.com A 1983 Star street stock entry. |
 via David McGuire Classic Lites at Star. |
 via myracenews.com A modern era pavement mod winner at Star. |
 via You Tube Outlaw class at Star. |
 via You Tube Strictly Stocks at Star. They don't look much like stock. |
 via Star Spdwy Site MIghty Supers at Star in 2018. |
TWIN STATE JALOPY TRACK
West Lebanon, NH
People know very little about this track. It apparently was built by the Goodwin family in 1950. Sons Peanie and Pop had run stock car races in 1949 at places like Northfield, VT and likely talked dad into building an oval on some of their property [which is now the West Leb landfill]. It was a rough track to race on and the regulars were aggressively resentful of interlopers from other areas. It lasted one year.
Historic Aerials.com
The track was still very evident, five years after it closed. Today, with the landfill there, it is obliterated.
|
Courtesy of George Hill
Same view as one below, but has one more car in rear. The car with the visible
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is 640, Ray Sanborn, of Andover, NH.
 Courtesy of Ed Gould via George Hill A feature lineup. |
 Courtesy of George Hill Maurice Condon, #12 George Hill thought another car might be that of Lucky Parris. |
 Courtesy of George Hill Ray Sanborn was also the 1951 champion at Franklin Motordrome. |
 Courtesy of George Hill Unidentified cars in spectacular wreck. |
 Courtesy of Ed Gould via George Hill Work in the pits. |
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 Courtesy of Ed Gould via George Hill A look from the spectator area. |
 Courtesy of Ed Gould via George Hill Billy Byers' mishap. |
 Courtesy of Ed Gould via George Hill A serious wreck. |
 Courtesy of Ed Gould via George Hill A fairly well-filled pit area. |
 Courtesy of Ed Gould via George Hill Pop Goodwin mishap. Was he a son of the track operators - or the actual owner ? |
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 Courtesy of Ed Gould via George Hill 2 cars on one hauler was fairly common sight in 1951. |
The track has its own page on my website. Click on THE RACE TRACK AT WEST LEBANON (catamountstadium.com)
WHITE MOUNTAIN MOTORSPORTS PARK
North Woodstock, NH
Historic Aerials.com
The track is seen
here in 1992, less than ten years after it opened.
White Mountain Motorsports Park opened in 1983. It's relatively short life does not allow for much history of the type I usually do. I had always been told it was a lot like Thunder Road in many respects and now the owners of T Road also run WMMP. It had a visit from the Busch Grand National North Tour when it first opened. It has ususally emphasized late models and Tiger Sportsman - type cars.
 ACT Photos If this any indication, WMMP does look a lot like T Road. |
 ACT Photos Jimmy Hebert wins the big finale at WMMP for Tour late models. |
 ACT Photos These wild - looking 4 bangers seem to be for younger drivers. |
 ACT Photos Legends class champ Trevor Crouse. |
 ACT Photos Tiger Sportsman action with 56 Chris LaForest. |
MORE TO COME
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