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RHYTHM INN SPEEDWAY
Where Being on the Pole Might Have a Whole Different Meaning

From what people tell me, the Rhythm Inn Speedway was located down a driveway, past a strip club that was its namesake. If a driver referred to getting into a driving rhythm down there, in Millers Fall, Massachusetts, you might want to clarify what he meant. To add to this shady information, I have learned from Chip Cormie, in his words:

The Rhythm Inn was a club that featured all kinds of entertainment. I remember meeting singers, magicians, dancers and such when I was little. One of the last names I remember associated with the club was Kelly Kruzlic. I don't remember if he owned it or was the manager. There was a back room where the drivers got paid after the races and usually ended up spending it on drinks after the nights racing.

Courtesy of Chip Cormie
This is one of my favorite shots on the whole site. A little makeshift souvenir stand operated
by Mr. and Mrs. Walt Renner.

At any rate, it is clear that Rhythm Inn drivers were probably some of the same who participated at West Brattleboro, Claremont, Cheshire Fairgrounds, and others in the southern Vermont / New Hampshire / northern Massachusetts area. Therefore, we give Rhythm Inn its own page. It is clear from efforts I have seen on the Racers Bored .com site that the old track was held in high regard down that way.

Courtesy of Chip Cormie
Rhythm Inn action, with Pappy Forsythe, #80. That B1 is in a lot of shots. He's Ray Brown ?

According to Chip Cormie, any vestiges of the old track are now bulldozed away to make way for construction of a new Elks lodge. He did say, however, the Elks will devote a wall inside to memorabilia from the track.

Google Earth Photo from racersbored.com
I don't know if the site still looks like this. It is supposedly under attack from development.

From racersbored.com Prominent racer Ed Patnode gets a win at R. Inn in 1953	From racersbored.com A R. Inn car at Ed Cormie's gas station. Any idea whose ?	From racersbored.com R. Inn crash in 1953. Art Lewis, in the Bill Carey car.
From racersbored.com Trophy presentation at a R. Inn banquet. Ed Cormie is the recipient.	From racersbored.com Ed Cormie, Greenfield, MA Track Champ	From racersbored.com A Rhythm Inn win for Ed Cormie and Crew
Ladabouche Photo Mack McDonald North Adams, MA He definitely race some at R Inn.	Ladabouche Photo Jim Koehler Coventry, CT Did he race at R Inn ?	Ladabouche Photo Russ Blake Pittsfield, MA Did he race at R Inn ?
Ladabouche Photo Frank Hatch Williamstown, MA The Ed Wynn M2 Did he race at R Inn ?	Courtesy Neal Davis Roger Dutton Keene, NH Did he race at R Inn ?	Ladabouche Photo Coll. Butch Jelley Pownal, VT Did he race at R Inn ?
From racersbored.com Ernie Bodreau NH Did he race at R Inn ?	Ladabouche Photo Cecil Bosworth Athol, MA	Photo Source Unknown Sonny Rabideau Brattleboro, VT Did he race at R Inn ?
From dl Collection Flash Gordon Brattleboro, VT Did he race at R Inn ?	From dl Collection Kison Apparently at W. Brattleboro Did he race at R Inn ?	From dl Collection Dick Stone Brattleboro, VT He did race at R Inn .
From RyanCollection Joe Ryan Springfield, VT	LadaboucheCollection Rene Charland Holyoke, MA Track Champ CLICK HERE for action shots	From racersbored.com Buddy Bardwell Keene, NH Track Champ
McIver Portrait Courtesy Cho Lee Maurice Forsythe Keene, NH Track Champ Courtesy of Chip Cormie Forsythe trophied. This is his Cheshire car.	NE Vintage Mod Site Buddy Krebs Hartford, CT	Ladabouche Photo Stevens ? Massachusetts Did he run at R. Inn ?
From racersbored.com George Yconic	The fascinating airplane car of Rhythm Inn CLICK HERE	NE Vintage Mod Site Ray Brown, White Plains, NY

From racersbored.com
Action in the turn at Rhythm Inn Speedway in June of 1954. Ray Brown [B1} came all the way from Long Island.

From racersbored.com
Action in the turn at Rhythm Inn with a field that includes Rene Charland, 12. Below, the same car is pooned, by the George Barber car probably driven by Pappy Forsythe.

Courtesy of Chip Cormie.

Keene Sentinel Photo
Lionel Arel has problems at Cheshire fairgrounds in Keene. He shows fifth in the point standings above.