The

     Many of our region's best - known earlier stock car drivers came right out of a post - WWII Capital District, New York [or very close thereof]. This is where we got Steve Danish, Jeep Herbert, Pete Corey, Howie Westervelt, Doug Garrison, Link Pettit, and dozens more. One such man was a young Pete Corey's bosom buddy, and one who actually started out supposedly sharing one crude stock with the fiery driver of Lebanese descent. That would be one Kenny Shoemaker.
            Most likely, at some point way in the early family history, the family name was Schumacher - which very well could have been from rthe region's strong Dutch heritage. Shoemaker would not ever become a car owner of any note - much unlike his pal, Pete. Instead, Ken would turn out [along with the likes of Donny Wayman, Jim Luke, Jeep Herbert, and others] to be one of the best drivers - for - hire in the history of northeast stock car racing.
            Besides a fierce competitive streak, what set Shoemaker aside from the crowd was his utterly pugnacious disposition. Not particularly impressive at first glance, with his chubby physique and short stature, Shoemaker was ready, on a moment's notice, to start throwing punches at the slightest perceived aggression against him. This was interesting because the old phrase "The Shoe never lifts." refers to his own hard -charging, rough driving style.
            Given he didn't take very good care of owners' precious cars and he wasn't exactly a picture of physical fitness, Ken Shoemaker had a career longer than almost any other of his contemporaries except maybe for Cyclone Forrette. The portly truck driver finally did retire and was around for a few years of signing autographs at special shows at Fonda - after he had tried owning and promoting his own track for a short while. He has since passed away.

Courtesy of Dan Ody A very young Ken with an unknown crew man.	Courtesy of Fonda Book Supposedly, the car Ken shared with his pal, Pete Corey.	Vogel Family Photo Young Ken enjoys baby Bonnie Vogel, when he drove for Ted Vogel, Sr.	Vogel Family Photo With Vogel's LVJr. at Pico Raceway.	Vogel Family Photo Ken sometimes had a team car with Vogel. One looks more like a Chevy.
Les King Photo Vogel Family Collection With Vogel's LVJr.	Vogel Family Photo With what looks like a new Vogel car in 1952.	Vogel Family Photo The more familiar Vogel number, 95. This was after 1952.	Source Unknown Shoemaker with the Vogel 95 - a short-lived coupe with the 95 number.	Vogel Family Photos Shoemaker puts an end to the Vogel coupe at Fonda. After this it was usually sedans.
Courtesy of Dan Ody Here, Red Knoblauch's venerable 13 got a run for its money it may have never seen before.	Source Unknown Ken had a short stint in the Sam Kitler/ Gibby Wolfe 37	Courtesy of Jo Towns via Otto Graham A Fonda win for the Kitler / Wolfe 37.	Ed Mudd Photo Most of the top brass at Fonda, circa 1960. Just Danish and Lou Lazzaro aren't there.	Vintage Modifieds Site Shoemaker poses sometime around 1960.

Courtesy of Dan Ody Ken, with arguable the best car he drove for Chris Drellos. I think this one came from the Henry Caputo stable.	Source Unknown A victory in one of the 111's. It looks a lot the one at left.	Courtesy of Jo Towns via Otto Graham That same 111, but the body looks like it has less wear.	Courtesy of CJ Richards Ken and Drellos about owned the track in Vergennes, VT in its NASCAR days.	John Grady Photo This looks like a different 111.
Source Unknown Vogel Family Collection Posing with the first Drellos backup car - the three window that Jeep usually got stuck with.	Lew Boyd Photo Coll. That second 111, as it caught fire while refueling during the first long distance Fonda race around 1963.	Courtesy of Mike Watts A very new - looking 111 at Airborne.	Ladabouche Photo The original 111 leaving Otter Creek Speedway after another victory.	Ladabouche Collection A januty Shoemaker in Victory Lane at Fonda. He has his best 111.
Source Unknown To add to the Drellos 111 mystery. Here, Ken sits at left with one 5 window coupe and Paul Marshall has another, at right.	Courtesy of Ed Fabian When Otter Creek held a special NASCAR sportsman race after the track had dropped the sanction, Drellos brought the 111. That's Ken standing in the middle for intros.	Courtesy of Ed Mudd Corey and Shoemaker lined up with the Drellos cars.

Courtesy of Arnie Ainsworth Ken, with arguably the best car he drove for anybody - Cliff Wright's 24. That isn't Cliff in the background. This is at Victoria Speedway.	Race Songs Site Same car - but at Fonda.	Courtesy of Dan Ody Wright's crisp and unbelievably fast 24.	Courtesy of Cliff Wright Cliff Wright, the man those fast 24's.	John Grady Photo From Arnie Ainsworth The even - faster pavement version. This is the one Don MacTavish ended up driving.
Courtesy of Ed Fabian After running in an All-Star show for CJ Richards at Otter Creek, Shoe appeared at Fairmont with the 24.	John Grady Photo Courtesy of Pascal Cote The caption pretty much tells the story of Cliff Wright's best - ever car.	Courtesy of Cliff Wright The first 24 - right after Shoemaker took over from Don Wayman. [Below] Another Victoria win. Courtesy of Dan Ody	Ladabouche Photo Cliff Wright, in 2007 with his perpetual\| sponsor, Ron "Toll Gate Ice Cream" Zautner at his right.	Courtesy of Dan Ody The same januty posein Victory Lane at Fonda. with the Wright 24, Just before Cliff built the new one.

HAMB Message Board Photo
Ken landed a ride
with free - spending Joe
Leto.

Courtesy of Dan Ody
In Victory Lane
at Fonda with Joe
Leto.

Courtesy of Arnie Ainsworth
With the Leto 50
Gremlin at the Valley.

Gater Racing News Photo
Joe Leto [left] and
equally flamboyant owner,
Vermont's Austin
Dickerman.

Fred. Hendricks Photo
In Joe Leto's Pinto.

Courtesy of Arnie Ainsworth With the Little Susie Team out of Massachusetts.	Courtesy of Jo Towns via Otto Graham In Victory Lane at Fonda with Joe Romano's 97x backup car. Courtesy of Dan Ody	John Grady Photo One of the many quality drivers who worked for Frank Trinkhaus.	HAMB Message Board Photo For old buddy, Pete Corey at Langhorne. Source Unknown Source U nknown At N azareth	HAMB Message Board Photo Interesting shot. Ken is in the Jay Broderick 40, and his former Leto ride is in the background, with fellow tough guy Tommie Corellis.
Courtesy of Dan Ody Don't know whose car.	Courtesy of Mike Watts Ken drove one of the" last Bill Fowler 27Jrs.