In
the beginning of the 1952 stock car racing season at Merrittville Speedway,
the early fields of racers mostly came from New York State and St. Catharines
and vicinity. During the years of 1952, 53, and 54, a fledgling stock
car circuit emerged at the Merrittville Speedway along with the races
held at Ancaster, seemed to attract more and more drivers. We started
to see drivers from Hamilton come to race at Merrittville, while Niagara
district drivers would reciprocate by competing at the Ancaster oval.
Many of the Niagara area drivers such as Jerry Winger, Tom Cook, Orville
Kelpy, Fred Hurst, and yes Bruce VanDyke raced flat head Fords, while
the top contenders from Hamilton such as Alex Gunn, John Bezanson, Bob
Davidson and Eric Bradt would give the Merrittville drivers fits competing
head to head on a weekly basis. One of the top contenders who consistently
gave the "outsiders" fits was Ken Andrews of Hamilton. He seemed to be
able to capture feature after feature, while many others had difficulties
with Ancaster's treacherous turns, especially turn three and four, that
led down a forty foot embankment. The interesting fact about the regular
Hamilton drivers who raced at Merrittville Speedway, such as John Bezanson,
is that his very competitive six cylinder #43 Chevrolet coupe, with its
distinct sound would give the local boys driving the flat head Fords fits.
Other fellows to compete in
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Chevrolet 6 cylinder coupes were Alex Gunn
#80 of Hamilton as well as Bob Davidson in his #73 coupe. During the 1950's
these drivers would continue to race very competitively against the local
regulars. During 1956-57 the overhead valve V8 engine started to come
into popularity with more cubic inches, as well as more horsepower. The
battle was now on. The flathead Ford engines were now being replaced by
Thunderbird and Mercury V8's. Drivers such as Murray Stricker, Jeno Begolo
and Bruce Van Dyke were now using these powerplants to compete, while
the Hamilton boys continued to race their 6 cylinder Chevrolet coupes.
The rules at the time stated that the engine and chassis had to be of
the same manufacturer. For example, a Ford car could use a Ford or Mercury
engine while a Chevrolet could use a Chevrolet or G.M.C. engine. The six
cylinder G.M.C. 271 engine seemed to be the engine of choice with its
high revving performance. During 1959 and 1960 the Flathead Fords were
dead, with the introduction of the Chevrolet V8 engine in 1955, especially
in the high powered Corvette form. The regular racers such as Fred Hurst,
George Winger, Bill Rafter and Cam Gagliardi all built Chevrolet coupe
V 8 racers, replacing their old Ford racers. The one hold out being loyal
to the Ford engines was Bruce Van Dyke of St. Catharines. He would continue
to be loyal to this make throughout his whole career in the stock car-Sportsmen
division. During the 1950's and 1960's there were many racers from Hamilton
who made a difference in the quality of racing at both Merrittville and
the newly built Speedway Park in Stoney Creek. I would like to list a
few of the "Steel City Racers" and my memories of them. 1. John Bezanson-
#43- 6 cylinder Chevrolet- also a member on the executive of the N.D.S.C.R.A.
probably the most memorable 6 cylinder racer of the 1950's competing against
the Flatheads. Raced for Wimpy Nicholls. 2. Eric Bradt- #5x5-perennial
favourite at Merrittville, Ancestor, and Speedway Park. The most memorable
car had to be his bright orange and white Studebaker bodied Sportsmen
pictured with Eric wearing his colourful STP overalls. Raced for over
2 decades and a very strong competitor. Unfortunately, Eric passed away
a few years ago. 3.
Bob
Davidson Sr. & with Wimpy Nicholls &crew with the original #73 RAM
in 1961 at Merrittville Speedway ( both Wall of Famers)
Bob Davidson- #73 - another favourite at both Merrittville
and Speedway Park- raced for a couple of decades, while his son Barry
a former racer, now starter at Merrittville, heads up a family that is
now into its fourth generation driving on the area oval. 4. Alex Gunn-
drove for nearly two decades at Merrittville Speedway. This gentleman
was the first Hamilton driver to win the points championship at Merrittville
driving the #43 Parkdale Auto Parts Chevrolet coupe in 1962 and again
in 1963, powered by a Chevrolet V 8 owned by Wimpy Nicholls. 5. Car builder
and pioneer of Hamilton based Chevrolet racers- "Wimpy Nicholls" engineered
owned and built many of the winning race cars in the Hamilton area. The
#43 coupes were always a threat at area ovals. 6. Don Turner- has raced
at Merrittville Speedway and Speedway Park since the early 1960's. Don
first raced late models a #39 Oldsmobile along with brother Harold, were
very competitive. Don moved up to the Sportsmen class driving a metallic
blue #39 Willy's coupe - powered by a 427 Chevrolet engine. Don continued
to compete and finally won the points championship at Merrittville in
1980 driving a new Tobias chassied Gremlin with a 454 Chevrolet engine.
Don is one of the Hamilton-Binbrook area racers who is now into his fourth
decade of competing at Merrittville Speedway.
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His son Jamie can be seen
piloting the #11 Plazek modified. These racers and car builders opened
the way for many Hamilton area racers. When Speedway Park's half mile
opened in 1961, together with Merrittville's quarter mile oval, a Friday
and Saturday night tradition started. Many other racers would rise from
the Jalopy division and later the late model division to move up to the
Sportsmen division. Here are a few: #69, #85 Bobby Fisher- late model
and Sportsmen pilot; #7, #93 Jack Hollis- late model and Sportsmen driver"The
Shark" #26 Henry Shivak- top sportsmen driver from Ryckmans Corners #40,
#77, #20 Don Deagle- late model and Sportsmen racer; #7,#22 Denny Deagle-
mini stock, late model, and Sportsmen racer; #93, #69 Pete Smith- A-1
Cartage Sportsmen racer; #75, #76 Nick and Joe Lapcevich- late model and
Sportsmen drivers #27 Frank Fields- late model and Sportsmen driver; #63
Bud Green- Superstock driver; #55 Ted Peterson- 1957 Chevrolet Sportsmen
racer; #37 Wayne Ready- "Canadian Special" Sportsmen coupe; #13, #56 Jim
Black- Galvin Sweets Sportsmen coupe; #17 Jack Burbridge- Walker Motors
Sportsmen coupe; While I've listed just some of the many competitors who
hailed from the Hamilton area, I know I've missed some their contribution
is not forgotten. Just because a driver isn't a track champion doesn't
mean they're overlooked. These drivers were part of the stock car scene
for many years contributing not only to the sport of Niagara District
Stock Car Racing but to its' colourful history. One family in particular
made a lasting impression. If my memory serves me right, Denny Deagle
first appeared driving the #88 jalopy. He was followed into the sport
by brother Don and then by brother Larry. During the 1960's these three
brothers were a colourful addition to the stock car program. Not only
would Denny be successful driving Stan Miskins #7 Ford Victoria sportsmen
and later Bob Hill's #22 Chevy 11 Sportsmen but he would also jump into
his Gulliver Motors #78 Austin Mini and have success in the mini-stocks.
Brother Don Deagle would follow first driving a #40 sportsman and later
the #77 1950 Chevrolet Sportsman, but he also drove the #20 Tom Mallory
"Mongrel" successfully. Finally, there was brother Larry, who competed
successfully in his #77 silver Volkswagen mini-stock. It was a thrill
to see the two Deagle brothers go at it, very competitively in many mini-stock
features. Unfortunately, this past year Larry Deagle passed away, but
both his contributions and his brothers' is not forgotten. On behalf of
all of us, who remember the early years of the sport, owe a sincere "Thank
You" to the "Steel City Stockers". Sincerely,
Rick Kavanagh
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