I was watching some Flemington video's yesterday, and I realized that I definitely have overrated my ability to identify just about everybody that ran back in the 70's.....  Sure I recognized the modified and sportsman drivers that were the top runners, and even those who that maybe didn't always qualify for the feature, but were there week in and week out...  But I was amazed at how many cars (mostly sportsman, but a few modifieds too) that just flat out didn't look familiar.  Maybe some were rookies... Maybe some were invaders who made limited appearances.

So the question rattling around in my head this morning is, who do you know for sure that only ran at Flemington (sportsman or modified) only one time... or maybe only a few weeks (rookies?) that either decided to not go back, or possibly (as witnessed on the old video's) maybe destroyed their car early in their racing days, and decided/couldn't afford to give it another try later.

There has to be 100's of drivers that this applies to...  Some maybe just flat out didn't like the track and chose not to return.   Probably many more learned the hard way, that the boards at Flemington spared very few... especially to those who dared to run the highside between turns 1 & 2!

So... maybe it was a friend... maybe a relative... maybe a guy who lived down the street, or worked at the local garage... but who do you know who maybe only ran a handful of times... but they did it.... they got to fullfill a dream they had of running at Flemington, even though that dream maybe didn't last as long as planned?

If possible, tell us the driver's name, car #, color, modified or sportsman, approx year they ran, maybe their hometown, why they stopped (wrecked/retired/other) and how you know them, or any specific reason why you remember them and thought they should get a mention to this weekend's question.

Note:  By the way.... Hopefully anyone reading this knows that I have respect for anyone that did whatever they had to do, to get a car together and get behind the wheel and take a shot at the square... whether that "shot" lasted 5 decades... 5 years.... or in some cases... 5 minutes!  Thank you just the same to those that did it, that were part of the show....

Steve Senkarik ran the # 77 at Flemington he started as a rookie. He raced there in the beginning to have fun. After his first few races, he tried to be more competitive. Unfortunately, he went into turn 3, someone spun in front of him. He crashed hard into the fence and, was taken to Hunterdon Medical Center for a check-up.

After that, he loaned his motor to a driver for one of the Modified Sprint Races at the Square. The engine suffered major damage at that point, Steve put everything up for sale.   

I would bet there was a lot of guys who sat in stands, said " I could do that", bought or built a car, did it and said "I can't do that" and quit. Flemington was scarey fast and all you had to do was witness a flip or paticipate in one and you were done. It's not for everyone.

Yea... and sprinkled throughout the stands with the guys you're talking about were a few of us who said... "Nah... I don't think I can do that!" 

Gerry Hoagland. I wrenched his car back in the early 80's. It was like a burgundy colored mustang #2. Most people remember it by the B B B Bad to the Bone written on the trunk lid with a skull and cross bones. He was always asked if George Thorugood sponsored him. Anyways he ran the car at Flemington a few times until he dumped in turn 2. He then said the hell with that and ran Windsor for the rest of his career.

Frankie Schnieder ran there some in the 60s but not much after that...I would guess he made more $$ running at Middletown.

Schneider, Malzahn, Cagle, Strupp and others drove past the place on up to Middletown in the sixties.

I don't know about Malzahn, Cagle, and Strupp, but I am sure that Frankie Schneider didn't race at Flemington because it was NASCAR sanctioned during much of the 60's.  I remember seeing Frankie at Flemington in the late 60's.  As for the other three- I learned from this site that Cagle raced at Flemington prior to 1965 or so.  Since he and Malzahn were pros, it may be that they thought that the prospect of making a buck (and not tearing up a car) was better at Middletown or maybe they got appearance money.  Certainly was a tough way to make a living even if you were a big winner.

I always felt the rookies was a great idea and served its purpose. Let's say if they drew 15 cars opening day (most tracks would love to have that many new cars), maybe 5 of them might win and stick with it the entire season; 5 might wipe out the car flipping (Kris Krane) and 5 others might give up after the rooke championship realizing they weren't as good as they hoped. I think Rick might agree that back in the day the numbers were higher but they still average out the same.

There were many others who just showed up. I can remember many years at the Sportsman 100 wondering "who is that?" because I never saw them before and never saw them again.

That was Flemington....

- David

Sven Hedin. He loaned his car to rookie Karl Freyer while sitting out an eye injury. First time out made a 1/4 lap in warmups and quit driving. His daughter Heidi races at NES. 

Glenn Crane. Flipped spectacularly in his first rookie race and never returned.

Dwight Leib: ran the 200 as a guaranteed starter, finished top 5, his only appearance. 

Harry Turner started the season in the rookie class, ran maybe 3 times (maybe one win). Switched to Grandview, don't recall him ever running Flemington again.

Paul Michaels .Somerset NJ I ran about 4 races at Flemington novice division in 1963 with a white '37 humpback number 1 which was the J61 I bought from Bob Hullfish..super good car..got tagged in back as cars were in wreck in front of me between turn 1 and 2 which was tight before they widened the track.Very different from Old Bridge and I liked the sliding on dirt. glad I didnt wreck..was drafted in Army ..hung up my helmet which I still have

Thank you Paul.  If you have a picture of the #1, and can email it to us, we'll definitely find a place for you in The Vault.

Email to:  comments @ 3Wides  Picture Vault   .   com   (no spaces.)

Here's one...

John Christ worked with my dad at the L.A. Dreyfus Co in South Plainfield NJ back in the 70's.  John put together the creation you see below, and if John was like my dad, other than the body, I'll bet almost everything else that went into making the #28 was probably "donated  " by the L. A. Dreyfus Co. 

John only drove the car a handful of times if I remember correctly (probably around 1974 or so?) and not sure what happened after that.

John's sons (John and Barry) in later years would race in the Late Model Division and beyond at Flemington and East Windsor.