RACING AT THE EASTERN STATES EXPOSITON 

 

       To those of us in New England, or, in fact, the Northeast, one of the biggest annual events was the Eastern States Exposition, a sort of grand fair for the entire region.   Located in West Springfield, Massachusetts, the expostion's track was close to the racing center of Agawam and was within an easy towing distance of dozens of tracks, most of whom featured the southern New England style pavement modified car. The exposition shows never quite got to the fame and notoriety of a Trenton, Syracuse, or Langhorne, but they were big deals, indeed. I didn't want to take time out, right now, to research the years of the race or when the old track was removed for more parking around expo buildings which are used nearly year around now.

 


CowCard.Com Site Photo
The grounds and part of the track in the glory days of the Eastern States races.


CowCard.Com Site Photo
A 1965 photo of the Eastern States infield. The Garuti 28 and the Gaudiosi 44 are familiar to me.

 
Courtesy of sweet7
A photo of the last race ever at the Eastern States Expo track. Many cars are familiar here.

 


Courtesy of Tony Mordino Jr
A feature start at the track in 1966. Gallulo's 43 and the Czepiel 888 are seen up front.

Courtesy of Tony Mordino Jr
This could be from the same race at left. Gallulo's 43 chases the Jarb Beaudoin 500
with Tony Mordino, Sr.

Courtesy of Dave Dykes
A feature lineupat the track in 1950's. Southerner "Dink" Widenhouse's B29
is up front.

Courtesy of John Grady
A three - wide feature start in an undetermined year. It was so rare to see a paved fairground track like this.
 
Courtesy of John Grady
Lining up one year's
feature event.
 
Off Racers' Bored Site
An open wheel start
in the 1950's.
 
Courtesy of Dave Dykes
Bill Greco with Car owner
Jarb Beaudoin in Victory
Lane.
 
Courtesy of George Hill
A very strange mixture of car types all in one race.
 
Courtesy of Gordon Ross Family
A '50's feature lineup
with Gordon Ross 19 visible.
 
Courtesy of Gordon Ross Family
A '50's feature lineup
from same race as at left..
 
Courtesy of Ron Hoffer
A 1960 feature lineup.
 
Unidentified Internet Source
Tommie Sutcliffe at
Eastern States.
 
Courtesy of sweet7
Bugsy Stevens, 1970ish.
Boehler coupe.
 
John Grady Photo via
Tom Ormsby and Dave Dykes

Charlie Glazier at the ESE
 
C&F Photo
Rene Charland, with the
Czepiel 888 supposedly
at the Expo grounds.
 
John Grady Photo via
Tom Ormsby and Dave Dykes

Charlie Glazier at the ESE
again.
 
Courtesy of sweet7
Billy Greco, 1970.
Looks like newer
barriers.
 
Courtesy of sweet7
Don Flynn,
Flying 25

Ladabouche Collection
A crowd view of the 1968
race.

Courtesy of sweet7
Somebody with the
Garuti 14.
 
John Grady Photo via
Tom Ormsby and Dave Dykes

Tom Vining at the ESE.
 
John Grady Photo via
Tom Ormsby and Dave Dykes

Johnny King Cambino at the ESE.

Courtesy of sweet7
Supposedly Big Ed
Patnode in a late
model at ESE.

Ladabouche Collection
Ernie "Fats" Caruso on
the track at the 1968
program. He may have won.

Ladabouche Collection
Much of the race lineup
for 1968, well labeled.

Ladabouche Collection
Ed Patnode, with the same car shown at right.
 
Grady Photo via Ton
Ormsby and Dave Dykes

Ed Patnode, posing
with the familiar 4X.

Ladabouche Collection
Bob Stefanik at the
1968 race with an early
version of John Rosati's
Frantic Ford 36.

Courtesy of Ron Wetzler
The Elm Garage Falcon
on the track at ESE. I think it's Dick Dixon.
 
Blogspot Photo
A 1950's view.
with part of the track.

Courtesy of Jimmie's Old Time Racing
Another lineup.
 
Courtesy of Dave Dykes
The winning Bill Greco
team is decked out for the occasion.
 
Courtesy of Dave Dykes
Bob Tausher, with an
early ride at ESE.
 
Shaney Lorenzent Photo
Courtesy of Dave Dykes

The winning Jerry Humiston is joined in ESE Victory Lane by Harvey Tattersall, Jr.
 
Courtesy of Dave Dykes
Johnny Lobo at ESE

Courtesy of Dave Dykes
Billy Greco and Jarb
Beaudoin take an
ESE race.


Undetermined Source
A 1929 race crowd at the "spo". What do you supposed they were going to watch ?


Courtesy of Crystal Snape

 
From RAF on HAMB
Early infield pit lineup at ESE.

From RAF on HAMB
Early coupes on the dirt at ESE.
 
C and F Photos
Joe Wilcox at ESE.

C and F Photos
This is likely Jack Lecuyer in the Leo Matte 92.
 
Courtesy of Dave Dykes
Billy Greco with the
Jarb Beaudoin 500.
 
Courtesy of Mario Fiore
Very likely this one of the ESE pace cars.

Courtesy of Mario Fiore
A lineup for one of the
big races.

Unknown Source
A lineup for one of the
big races.

Courtesy of Larry LaClaire
A nice color lineup photo
with the Matte 92, Caruso, Patnode, and others.
 
Courtesy of Dave Dykes
Joe Paleski.
 
Courtesy of Edw. B. Brown III
Fred DeSarro with a
decent - looking version
of Boehler's 3.
 
Unknown Source
An unidentified
driver at ESE.


Courtesy of Ken Moeller
The 1968 Lineup.


From Historic Aerials.com
A 1957 aerial of the track when it was still intact.

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