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When Merrittville Speedway first opened its gates in 1952, the competitors
were mostly made up of experienced U.S. drivers competing against the
relative newcomers from Niagara. What I would like to do is recognize
some of the U.S. competitors who called Merrittville home and competed
here on a weekly basis during the early years. Jerry Swisher #29 was known
as the "Flying Milkman" from Buffalo- he won the first day time feature
race at Merrittville Speedway on July 1, 1952. He was a regular experienced
competitor who along with his crew chief Bill Graham from Tonawanda New
York, had a successful career before moving north to Alaska. Bill "Wee
Willy" Bennett #67 veteran driver who was a giant of a man competed from
the early years at Merrittville against the Niagara regulars. Bill Bennett
from Buffalo raced at Civic Stadium, Stamford Park as well as at Merrittville.
Jim Hurtubese #56 Ford Coach from Tonawanda, New York, would later join
U.S.A.C. and drive in many sprint car racers and compete at Indianapolis
from 1960 to the late 1970's. Will be long remembered for his hard "go
for broke" style and his beloved Mallard Indy roadster. It will be always
remembered that Jim's successful career was started in 1955 and 56 at
Merrittville Speedway. Pete Hurtubese brother of Jim, competed from 1955
to 1960 at Merrittville. Drove the #19 Ford Coach. One of the first cars
to position the driver to the rear, similar in design to those that competed
at Monroe County and Syracuse. Presently running a landscaping business
in Tonawanda, New York. Cam Gagliardi from Lockport, New York was a consistent
winner at Merrittville Speedway. While he never won a championship he
was always a strong competitor, easily recognized first by his yellow
8A coupe and later by the infamous Lazy 8 yellow coupe. Went on to race
consistently on asphalt at Lancaster in the mid 1960's as well as area
dirt ovals. Will always be remembered for his good natured pranks in the
pit area. Jerry Cook #38 & Ken Meakl #28 Jerry Cook was only 13 years
old when he was introduced to stock car racing in 1956. Unable to race
because of his age, he helped build a car for Cam Gagliardi. In 1958 he
got together with Ken Meakl of East Amherst, New York. These two drivers
started as a team at Merrittville Speedway with Cook and Meakl driving.
In 1963 Jerry Cook started to drive his own #38 Coupe, while Ken Meakl
would drive his own #28 coupe. These two drivers would run most of the
independent tracks such as Merrittville, Ransomville, Utria-Rome and Fonda.
However, in 1966 he rejoined NASCAR following the asphalt modified track
as well as the dirt circuit. He would become 1968 New York State Modified
Champion and again in 1971. Jerry Cook now from Rome, New York focused
his efforts in the National NASCAR modified trail. The 1970's were kind
to him as he would win the Championship in 1971, 1972, 1974, 1975, 1976
and 1977. In 1983 Jerry Cook retired from active competition but took
a position with the NASCAR modified division as head technical inspector.
While Ken Meakl would not win a championship at Merrittville, he was 1960
and 1966 Champion at Ransomville, New York. Bill Rafter from Niagara Falls,
New York, along with Gil Bruss would make the blue and white #22 coupe
a threat on any dirt track. Rafter competed at many ovals, but in the
early to mid 1960's the #22 coupe raced at Merrittville Speedway and Speedway
Park in Hamilton. Bill Rafter was an accomplished veteran, who would become
1957 and 1959 Civic Stadium Champion, as well as 1959 New York State NASCAR
Champion, as well as 1964 Merrittville Speedway Champion. Bill will always
be remembered for his smooth fast driving style that showed many of the
local drivers the way around the track. Ed Ortiz of Ransomville, New York
was the first driver from Western New York to win a championship at Merrittville
Speedway. His light blue #0 coupe was a strong contender no matter where
he competed. He was 1961 points Champion at Merrittville, 1962 and 1963
Points Champion at Canadaigua, as well as 1966 Champion on the newly paved
Lancaster Speedway. The original Ransomville Speedway was built behind
Ed Ortiz's garage in Ransomville, New York. Neil Truesdell from Ransomville,
New York. Over the many years of competition at Merrittville Speedway,
the #20 coupe would come through the ranks of the jalopy division in the
1950's to emerge as a sportsman competitor in the 1960's. The #20 blue
coupe was always a threat to win at both Merrittville, Speedway Park and
Ransomville Speedways. Neil would win many special championship races
at Merrittville Speedway including the 1960 Can Am 50 lap Championship.
Chuck Boos of Lewiston, New York was an innovator in the sport of auto
racing. During the 1960's the white # 9 coupe was evolving. With it's
engine set back in the chassis, Chuck Boos was always trying to improve
the handling of his racer. While on dirt Chuck Boos competed mostly at
Merrittville Speedway, Speedway Park and Ransomville, he would never win
a championship at Merrittville or Speedway Park, but he would always be
in the points chase. However, the year 1967 would be Chuck's as he would
win the points championship on dirt at Ransomville and on the asphalt
at Lancaster. Chuck continued to innovate and he started to think of 4
wheel drive. In 1969, a white #9 four wheel drive coupe was built and
tested. While the concept was a good theory, it was difficult to make
the set up competitive in asphalt racing. Chuck will always be known as
an innovator and his driving style giving him the nickname "Mr. Smooth".
While the paved tracks of NASCAR in the mid 1960's attracted many U.S.
drivers, they left their mark in the history and colour of racing at Niagara
District tracks such as Merrittville Speedway and Speedway Park. The 1950's
and 1960's at these area tracks were truly times when the Canadian Stock
Car Jockeys had to contend with the "American Invaders". Sincerely,
Rick Kavanagh
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