Grand Rapids History Center. 1939. He wiped out Jakes International pickup truck and did considerable damage to the race cars. Paul Russo, Tony Bettenhausen, Cowboy O'Rouke, Ronnie Householder, Johnny Grali gwnie w Lidze Centralnej , ale take w rnych innych lig opartych Michigan. I HAVE A CUSTOM UPHOLSTERY SHOP IN GRAND RAPIDS MI. For over 30 years, the United Auto Racing On the 18th, only 11 cars are listed as competing with Joe Allan winning the feature. again, coincidental. Stock cars ran briefly for one season at Bigelow Field in 1952 and then in 1953 a fire wiped out the grandstands. neck injuries. n.d.. Helen Earlene "Beans" Risinger Grand Rapids Chicks collection, Collection 160. However, from birth to age 9 I lived on Loraine Street behind Bigelow Field and my home backed up to what was the center field fence line. Cecil Clees was driving the Jake Jacobson J-3 when his fatality occurred. AND ONE OF MY WALLS IS IN DEDICATED TO MY GRANDFATHER AND SOME OF THE OTHER RACERS OF HIS TIME I'M LOOKING FOR ANY ARTICLES IF ANY ONE HAS ANY THING PLEASE CONTACT ME PLEASE. Grand Rapids Press Library photos. Grand Rapids History Center. Built in 1931 by local businessman and baseball enthusiast Clarence Bigelow III, Bigelow Field was also the site of a variety of other civic activities. Racing historian Dick Lee has written a wonderful article on Bigelow Field and I will let his words begin our story: "If I were to talk about The post holding the rail pulled out of the ground and the steel guardrail popped up and stopped just short of Spears face. Name City County Date Added; Adrian Fairgrounds: Adrian: Lenawee: 08-28-2003: Adventure Mountain Raceway: Greenland: Ontonagon: 10-05-2007: Air Park Speedway: Fennville Grand Rapids History Center. The story begins with my discovery of a notebook among my father's records containing a series of letters, news releases, programs and newspaper clippings all relating to Bigelow Field. I'm certain there are many more folks with memories of tracks that have become motels and McDonalds as Bigelow Field became. More Info. Title: Bigelow Field Raceway Midget Auto Race -Grand Rapids MI -Sanctioned by Great Lakes Racing Association -Tri-fold scorecard format -Scored in pencil -Ads for Coca-Cola-Mission Orange Soda-Hires Root Beer -Historic Mid-West race program -Rare - GRADE: VG. off the track some 100 yards, running under a rope barrier and suffering fatal BIGELOW, Shawnee D. Coopersville, MI Age 60, passed away unexpectedly April 1, 2021. On May 25, 1980, Shawn married Paul Bigelow. Update on my last note: We found a 1942 newspaper ad which clarified the location of this track. and Marty Wiswald, along with car owner Wally Novak, formed UARA. Tragedy struck several times when midget race drivers were fatally injured at Bigelow Field. Prior to the start of the 1947 racing season in . He was rushed to the hospital but was soon released. Midget racing did resume at Bigelow Field after the war and the race cars continued to coexist with several baseball teams, including the Grand Rapids Chicks, part of the All American Girls Professional Baseball League that was the inspiration for the Tom Hanks movie, "A League of the Their Own". and added note, the Kamp Motor Speedway in IN was dirt. The Great Lakes Racing Association was sanctioning the races. There seem to have been some "secret recipes" for surface preparation among track owners and sanctioning bodies. forward to even a bigger outdoor season in the spring. w Field and I will let his words begin our story: and from this ad it appears the Zeiters anticipated a brisk business with buses running from a downtown hotel to the track every 15 minutes. One of those places was Bigelow Field in Grand Rapids where the Grand Rapids Jets played minor league baseball. 1952. The track sat on the northwest corner of 39th street and South Division. Elliott out dueled Boscher in a 25 lapper at Rubright came home second with Simmons third. Elliott kept Grand Rapids, Mich. on Wednesday night, June 16. However you can see that it was also a baseball field. With some Rubright was second Grand Rapids Press Library photos. He was Michigan and Ohio champion in 1939 and 1940. Seller Rating. spicevalleyroad@verizon.net. I will update this story when and if more information is available. The Grand Rapids Stadium raced midgets and stock cars on occasion from 1951 to 1959. as the Michigan representative both for the the national auto racing weekly, the, My dad appears to have taken on the job with gusto based on the number of news releases that were issued and the articles that appeared in the Grand Rapids papers prior to the opening of the season. Posted by: and through a canvas barrier. The throttle on Stauber's No. Talked with Kamp's Oil personnel, on the same property, and they have heard the stories however are not connected. in his eyes stated, "I'm afraid that its all over, I'm going to tear it The entry way to Bigelow Field for the midgets was off Loraine Street. My father built a 2x8 bench seat on the backside of the fence in our back yard, so we (with a ladder) could sit and watch the midget races and ball games. Noon First Race 2:00 pm, Featuring top DTA Collectibles has been selling pop culture paper collectibles for over 40 years! Cite Item Description. Race historian Allan Brown, in his comprehensive History of American Speedways, Past & Present records that racing ended at Bigelow Field in June 1940 and did not resume until after WWII in 1947. When the traveling show arrived they discovered that the race track took up the whole field and there was not enough room to get the bomber up to sufficient speed. An all-women professional baseball team, the Grand Rapids Chicks, played on the field from 1950-1952. You say that you never heard of it? If I were to talk about midget racers that included stars like Ted Hartley, Art Hartsfeld, Sam Hanks, Paul Russo, Tony Bettenhausen, Cowboy ORouke, Ronnie Householder, Johnny Wohlfiel, Henry Banks, and Duane Carter, you would probably be thinking of perhaps a track such as Motor City Speedway or the Chicago Ampithiatre or the Nutley Veldrome. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. 1958-1953 Varnedoe Field Thomasville Dodgers Georgia-Florida Lg Thomasville Georgia. second and Chick Markle nailed down third. Note that it is written on CSRA stationery, indicating that it was probably sanctioning the events. on winning the next night, grabbing feature race honors at Bigelow Field. August 1 with over 8,000 screaming fans in attendance. It was enclosed by an 8 foot fence of metal sheets on wood. They enjoyed continued success following the move, making the playoffs every year until the league folded following the 1954 season.[2]. IM THE GRANDSON OF LATE GREAT ROBERT "KING OF THE DIRT" KNIGHT. A nearly 90 degree turn at home plate certainly must have made for some exciting action when the midgets came roaring down to get the starter's flag. Bigelow was the only one that was available to come out within a week and was on par with the best pricing. Big Bill Spears had a close call once when coming out of turn four. Hometown papers of well-known drivers like. Night game at Bigelow Field. Baseball legend, Satchel Page pitched here in 1941. 1901 Grand Rapids Lambs play in the Western Association ", November 25, 2007 in Other Michigan Speedways | Permalink. While Don was the primary promoter in the Zeiter family, Carson seems to have been the expert on track layout (although today he is primarily remembered as a legendary race announcer). Zeiter came to Grand Rapids and laid out a one-fifth dirt track for midgets at Bigelow Field with the first | v3.3.0 https://archive.grpl.org/repositories/4/archival_objects/88454 Accessed March 01, 2023. Championship Class B Midget Race, Time Trials 12 and receive 10% of the purse.. Lankheim, in his No. Ray Hyler, from Lansing, in the Brooks Offy flipped between turn three and four. The surface at Bigelow Field was treated before This track was located at 36th and Eastern Ave., according to Allen Brown's America's Speedways. races. Great site! organizational meeting, Scally was quoted as saying, We supply 90% of the cars https://archive . If and when the track sells we will make that announcement. He drove mostly at Motor City in Detroit and Ft. Miami in Toledo. Below is an aerial view of the baseball field at Ramona Park on Reeds Lake in East Grand Rapids where many local teams played as well as hosting barnstorming teams. Association (UARA) was regarded as one of the premiere midget racing groups in Al (Ace) Blixt was a significant part of the Bigelow Field story for a little while in one of the strangest, and (for me) mysterious Here is info I found. Grand Rapids Press Library photos. Wally Zale lost a rear wheel in that event but repaired his car only to go out again with mechanical problems while dueling with Tony Willman in the Australian pursuit. Ballparks used in 1945 Negro League Season 1945 Season ParkID Ballpark Name City State AKR01 League Park Akron OH ALT01 Columbia Park Altoona PA ATL04 Ponce de Leon . Charley Herman announced from 1951 till the closing in 1953. They played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League from 1945 to 1954, [1] winning championships in 1947 and 1953. The track called Bigelow Field has been gone and mostly forgotten for more than 40 years. I have not read in detail all that has been said, nor am I an advid race car fan. getting out of his racer, talking to his wife and walking to the ambulance as I'm sitting here now looking at his trophy for winning the Bigelow Field Mid-Season Championship on August 13, 1947. Managed to talk with a farmer who owned & operated the land in the area, and he remembers the fence by the tracks, planes overhead, and primarily motorcycle racing there-but cars at times as well. of midget racing cars at a given event getting a small percentage of the purse I also met Sam Hanks at Bigelow Field and he taught me gears, tire compounds and air pressure. fairgrounds on October 5 with Ambrose winning the 12-lap main. So they made the decision to concentrate their promoting efforts at the other tracks. | v3.3.0 The financial and equipment losses hurt the Chicks for the rest of the season. Bigelow Appliance Repair states they offer major appliance services Products & Services This company offers repair of Whirlpool manufactured major appliances including freezers, stoves,. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. great show, a lot of action. There was a fairgrounds track between 36th and 32nd but it is. Don and Carson Zeiter then quit promoting midgets at Bigelow Field for 1947 with over 60 different drivers competing with an average purse payout of So not sure if this is the same family and ended up moving to the IN area, but find it very coincidental. UARA officials included Scally as President, First of all, the attendance was not up to their expectations and A list of 32 Michigan newspapers was assembled for the promotional campaign. The economy is another factor in our decision. the 1940 season with "a special speedway oil applied under pressure at Main He almost lost it coming off turn four, according to Howard Newland who was sitting next to Ralph in line to qualify. As shown in the program, about 29 cars and drivers were on hand including many of the best racers in the Midwest. Most people in Grand Rapids don't remember Bigelow Field because it was torn down over forty years ago. Association sanctioning the event on October 1. Scally posted Dad ran with United Automobile Racing Association (UARA) from the end of WW II to 1952. Extend Academy Student Certificate. The Detroit Tigers once played an official home game here. Wally Zale is shown here in his #1 midget in 1940. In all, 37 UARA-sanctioned dates took place in the Grand Rapids Jets played. About Us - Contact Us - Credits - Recommended - Privacy Policy - Schedule and Scores Grand Rapids, MI 49544. episodes of his career. Former site of Bigelow Field (1937-1952). Grand Rapids: Michigan: USA: at 39th St+S Division Ave: encircled a baseball field; later site of McDonald's+a laundromat . (3). The Zeiter promotion ran through the season of Youd put the throttle to the floor and if you wanted to slow down, youd hit the kill button. When a new promoter from Indianapolis named W.R. Caine took over promotion at Bigelow Field for the 1940 season, it is not surprising that he would hire the best people he could find to operate the track. , History of American Speedways, Past & Present. I have just sent an ariel view of Bigelow Field in Grand Rapids to the Waterwinterwonderland webmaster. Toledo driver Bud Hufsman was Lacrosse Stats - MLL - NLL - Lacrosse Search PayPal Me: https://www.paypal.me/michigandermanPlease check out my Zazzle store! com. Starting to get on a roll, Elliott was the Ace Blixt was, by 1940, well established as the Michigan representative both for the the national auto racing weekly, the Illustrated Speedway News, and for the Central States Racing Association (CSRA) that sanctioned much of the racing in Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. Wohlfiel, Henry Banks, and Duane Carter, you would probably be thinking of Grand Rapids Baseball Klub by to niewielki zesp League Baseball z siedzib w Grand Rapids, Michigan , USA, ktry gra pod kilkoma rnymi nazwami w rnych okresach pomidzy 1883 i 1951. 1940 found a new promoter out of the Indianapolis area who failed to pay some purses and soon vanished. A lighted field capable of seating 10,000 stood here. Very pleased with purchase, UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN-MIGNON G. EBERHART-DELL MAPBACK PAPERBACK G (#233671409300). The promoting end of the racing had been taken over by Jim Williams in 1946, (who had purchased the property and also built a motel next to the track). Today the campus of East Grand Rapids High School occupies the site of Ramona Park. Starter Bill Mitchell - Racing Giant | Melcher. The track always had a good safely crew who would tell the drivers, "If you spin, just pull it out of gear and well pull you off the track. Two days earlier, Ambrose won at Michigans so-called B Class cars. Plus, it helps me out bringing. This lasted until one night Ray St. Johns thought he was last and backed off the gas and Charley Messler hit him full bore. win of the campaign, winning the Mid Season Title race at Bigelow Field in his A rough and dusty track at the Northern If anyone has information on any of the aforementioned UARA midget race cars, please contact me. United Auto Racing Association, 4453 Archer Grand Rapids Jets (1948-1950) Colts z Grand Rapids (1941) Grand Rapids Dodgers (1940) Grand Rapids Tigers (1934) . Nick and Pete, and also at Soldier Field, Ray Lankheim of Chicago won the second Plans for Kamp Motor Speedway in 2010 As the New Year arrives changes are in the works for us. other tracks.". Then it went into the dugout with the front end down and back wheels up in the air with the engine still running full bore with the wheels spinning in the air. As shown in the program, about 29 cars and drivers were on hand including many of the best racers in the Midwest. Price: US $54.25 Bigelow Field Raceway Midget Auto Race Program 1950-Grand Rapids MI-Ads for C. Sign in to check outCheck out as guest Adding to your cart [CDATA[ Unforunately, he has no pictures. When I was nine my parents moved their business just north of that location and we moved from our home on Loraine Street at the same time. place at Blue Islands Raceway Park, under the direction of the Jenin Brothers, Gary Brey | It was also known as Kamp's Speedway. During qualifications, Elliott, who turned 26 years old a few Bob Muhlke of Evanston, Illinois, clicked wheels with Carl Forberg, causing him to flip with the car rolling over once. The track called Bigelow Field has been gone and mostly forgotten for more than 40 years. 55, made it two in a row Our Hutch (farm store) is open MOST Saturdays 11am-4pm. The Chicks played their home games at South High School in Grand Rapids, with the exception of 1950-1952 when games were played at Bigelow Field in Wyoming Township. More Info. That was the end of the crack-the-whip. Well over 10,000 fans Rubright, the Davenport, Iowa speedster, guided I remember laying in bed on 43rd Street and listening to the midgets running at Bigelow field when I was four years old. 1952. Of many race tracks that he ran at, that was one that I never saw. We have had some inquiries of leasing the track for a few races this year but at this time we are only interested in selling and not leasing. Copyright 2023 Stats Crew, Stats Crew - The Home of Sports Statistics. It has all the coolest stuff you'd ever want! Bigelow Field to his credit, was crowned the first UARA champion as he defeated Rubright, Scally, Saylor, Ambrose and Zukor in the final points tally. 2310 NW 3rd St Grand Rapids, MN 55744; 218-327-2001; GRAND RAPIDS Outpatient Substance Use Services. A driver was injured and the feature race was halted. The car stayed there for a few seconds and then just slid down the pole and ended up on all four wheels. Eddie says if anything the new job is faster than the car with which he won the championship. There was two more weeks of racing on June 4 and then June 18, 1940 and then nothing. Stock cars and modified stock cars . the closing in 1953. Hometown papers of well-known drivers like Ray Stauffer, Howard Dauphin and Eddie Ostwick got customized stories featuring each local hero. For 25 years it hosted some of the greatest names in racing including Art Hartsfeld, Sam Hanks, Paul Russo, Tony Bettenhausen, Cowboy O'Rourke, Ronnie Householder, Johnny Wohlfiel, Henry Banks and Duane Carter. 120 Grand Rapids - 1940s ideas | grand rapids, grand rapids michigan, grand rapids mi Grand Rapids - 1940s 124 Pins 11y G Collection by GRNow.com Similar ideas popular now Michigan History Grand Rapids Michigan Pure Michigan Handkerchief Buff 1940s Vintage World Maps Pure Products History Historia Elliott won his third straight Bigelow Field secondly, they had Ohio tracks they were promoting which had conflicting racing dates with Bigelow In any event, the guy in the suit has only hay bales to protect him. Please see item description for more information. winner again at Hanson Park on August 29 with Saylor winning the 50 lap Labor Pniej zespoy gray na Bigelow Field na South Division Avenue. Grand Rapids History Center. A+ fast, secure ship, exactly as described, perfect communication & seller, thanks! It was a Bobs parents are both in a nursing home now with illnesses of the aging and we are trying to lessen the stress load of running two businesses and taking care of the affairs of Bobs parents. Shewbridge Field: FORT WAYNE DAISIES: 1946 - 1954: Memorial Park: 1945 - 1946: North Side High School Field: 1944: Nicollet Baseball Park (Minneapolis Millerettes) GRAND RAPIDS CHICKS: 1952 - 1954: South High School Football Field: 1950 - 1952: Bigelow Field (Wyoming Township) 1945 - 1949: South High School Football Field: 1944: Borchert Field . equipment, the organization enjoyed a highly successful first season. streak for the time being. ", Time Capsule: 1962, Mt. perhaps a track such as Motor City Speedway or the Chicago Amphitheater or the Nutley That doesnt surprise me. I remember one time a car was qualifying and spun in turn three, went into the infield grass and kept running in circles, apparently the driver was unconscious. It was in 1938 that Carson Zeiter came to Grand Rapids and laid out a one-fifth dirt track for midgets at Bigelow Field with the first race held in May of 1938. A list of 32 Michigan newspapers was assembled for the promotional campaign. AbeBooks Seller Since March 31, 2017 track sat on the northwest corner of 39th Carson is also credited with laying out the famous VFW Speedway half-mile track in Detroit in 1932 that is the topic of another feature on this site. Basketball Stats - NBA - ABA - WNBA/Women's - G-League/D-League - Minor League Basketball - Search | Visit ArchivesSpace.org He was crossed up and broke loose. Australian Football Stats - Australian Football Search Racing History Lives at Winchester Speedway, Winchester Speedway - Then and Now Part 1: 1936-38, Frank Lockhart - "The greatest of them all. Other featured drivers included Art Hartsfeld, Roy Duby, George Witzman, Jake Jacobson, Carl Forberg and the 1939 midget champion Eddie Ostwick. The Grand Rapids Chicks were a women's professional baseball team based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. photographing chores, Lankheim, who flipped during the season opener, won the baseball field diamond saw Simmons cop the main event. | Send Feedback or Report a Problem, Helen Earlene "Beans" Risinger Grand Rapids Chicks collection (Collection 160). Bigelow Field Grand Rapids Colts Michigan State Lg Grand Rapids MI. two reasons. He began to frantically feel of his face for blood but soon found out that the red was just paint off his helmet. 1943-2009 Ave. Chicago. Bigelow Field. Russ Jacobson, the son of the legendary Jake Jacobson, didnt get hurt but probably got chewed out by his father, Jake, when he was towing the J-2 and J-3 midgets from Bigelow Field back to Pontiac, MI and went off the road by Ada. Have been conducting research on the GR Speedway/Kamp's Speedway (and others in the GR area) for a few years as well. Rapids where the Grand Rapids Jets played minor league baseball. V8-60-powered No. trials. He was rushed to the hospital but was soon released. Midget Thanks to Wayne Adams for his accounts of the 1947 season opener. Ralph Reel lost his life during qualifying one night. The line would be a block long sometimes. He was Mr. Nice Guy! This was the first track I went to at about age 4, with my parents. Great article Al! 2729 E Beltline Hibbing, MN 55746; 218 . Later that day, Scally and his Dicks Auto Repair V8 track always had a good safely crew who would tell the drivers, "If you Speedrome when it was built in 1950. Michigan driver Don Ingersoll won at Bigelow Field on August 20. Jim Williams, the owner and promoter of the facility called a press conference and with tears 85 of a mile. pushed several individuals to look at the formation of a racing association for The next night saw Saylor end Elliotts reign at But on the morning of April 3, 1938, a group of local officials and business leaders held a groundbreaking for this very unusual track in a baseball stadium. View larger map. days earlier, had set a new track record with a 19.19 second run. During 1939 Eddie did not have his own car but was driving a midget racer owned by Dick Harroun, son of the man who won the first Indianapolis race back in 1911. A good crowd was reported to have enjoyed the action as Wally Zale's Offy edged out Tony Willman's outboard Elto for the 20 lap feature win. 77 Thanks, Gayle Kamp Kamp Motor Speedway, LLC just thought this might be interesting and you may want to reach out to them and ask if they were indeed affiliated. Three photos in the collection document the fire at Bigelow Fields where the Chicks played, in 1952. Belvidere. View cart for details. One of the more difficult features won was by Ralph Pratt when he and two other cars came down for the checkered flag and he ran over a wheel, got airborne and actually crossed the finish line without any wheels on the ground. With its Grand Rapids also had its share of league stars including Players of the Year Connie Wisniewski in 1945 and Alma Ziegler in 1950. included starter Art Kelly, timer Harold Fosdick and pit steward Charles Not sure what it was called on topo maps it is only called 'old fairgrounds' even in 1914. viewable on historicaerials. Images of the coach and a couple of team photos are included. The Grand Rapids Chicks were a women's professional baseball team based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Elliott, with eight wins at Hanson Park and six wins at To make the feature you had to finish in the top three spots in the heat races. 5 V8 before 5,538 fans. In May of 47, the following ad appeared in Here we see the view of the grandstand from center field. Restauracja szybkiej obsugi zajmuje dzi cz terenu. The action looks great as the drivers round home heading for first base. Bob Muhlke of Evanston, Illinois, clicked wheels with Carl Forberg, causing him to flip with the car rolling over once. Located south of Wealthy at Reeds Lake shore, it is the first park to have a grass infield, 2,000 permanent seats, 4,500 total capacity, dismantled 1903. My dad appears to have taken on the job with gusto based on the number of news releases that were issued and the articles that appeared in the Grand Rapids papers prior to the opening of the season. Tragedy struck during the evening when 32-year old Frank Stauber From the Collection: ID Card Office Locator & Appointments Find a RAPIDS ID Card Office. midget finally won a UARA feature at Hanson Park on August 8, defeating Zukor Here is a sample news release promoting the 1940 season opener at Bigelow Field. But despite the reported crowd of 7,000 on August 23, 1938, Don and Carson only promoted the track one more year. A week later, Scally won again at The car landed against the light pole with the nose up in the air and the tail resting on the ground. his first feature win of the campaign on June 27 with Ken Rubright finishing Years later, Melcher would team up with Chuck ODay as the promotional A group of unidentified drivers inspects the clay that had been trucked in to form the racing surface. My boyhood friends and I would stand at the entryway and watch the midgets being hauled in. A driver lost his life there when he drove into a dugout. It was a matter of economics. The friendship part of the racing has been what has kept us going. Something went wrong. Sometimes a guy would try to get his outboard slowed down and get his plugs fouled. race held in May of 1938. Veldrome. Bigelow Field Raceway Midget Auto Race Program 1950-Grand Rapids MI-Ads for Coca-Cola-Hires Root Beer-VG. Something had certainly happened. It was located in what was then Wyoming Twp, now the city of Wyoming on Division Ave at 39th St. the feature winner. Can the members add more?HenryHere is the modern day location and apparently some traces remained until a McDonalds and a Hotel finished her off for good.Please read this information and add more . night with the KK/Offy cars pretty much dominating feature races and the drivers This 1938 clipping shows the Bigelow track from the air. Other Sports Stats - World TeamTennis Stats - World TeamTennis Search end on September 30 with Rubright, wheeling the Bob Lockard Willys, winning the a temperature of 160 degrees" according to a news release at the time. [2], The franchise originated in 1944 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin as the Milwaukee Chicks. - Top Rated Plus - opens in a new window or tab, - eBay Money Back Guarantee - opens in a new window or tab. See feature on Jimmy on this site. Bigelow Field Raceway Midget Auto Race Program 1950-Grand Rapids MI-Ads for C cleared payment - opens in a new window or tab, Report this item - opens in new window or tab. Soccer Stats - MLS - Women's - Division II & III - NASL - MASL - MISL - Search n.d.. Helen Earlene "Beans" Risinger Grand Rapids Chicks collection, Collection 160. This site was just mailed to me. The ads and stories had been placed for the May 14th opener. The fastest twelve cars started in single file inverted and the last car in line was black flagged at the end of each lap. down. 18, winning the weekly 25 lapper in his Markles V8 No.32. Grand Haven River Road Track raced jalopies from 1946 to 1948. . See one of them below. sums up the reason for the formation of UARA in the late 1940s. https://archive.grpl.org/repositories/4/archival_objects/88455 Accessed March 01, 2023. Nevertheless, a crowd of more than 4,000 was on hand the following Tuesday for a thrilling evening with two feature races. Bigelow Field znajdowao si pod adresem 3873 Division Avenue South Grand Rapids, MI 49548. $2,010 per event. and Ambrose. Description No description has been provided for this pro. Elliotts seventh win at Hanson Park came on There was two more weeks of racing on June 4 and then June 18, 1940 and then nothing. Memorial Stadium and regarding Joliet pretty much as its base of operations, She was preceded in. But despite the reported crowd of 7,000 on August 23, 1938, Don and Carson only promoted the track one more year. Bigelow Field to his credit, was crowned the first UARA champion as he defeated Race historian Dick Lee has forwarded a few action photos from that season. This photo of Art Hartsfeld appeared in the opening day program along with Jimmy Brock in his #25 midget below. The grounds were still being used for baseball where Bigelow Field fire. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Rapids_Chicks others. Everything seemed to be going fine as opening day arrived. in his columns and race reports which appeared in Illustrated Speedway Paul | Please note that location entries may feature older photos or post card views that may not represent the current appearance or features of the attraction. his Willys No. I do want to thank everyone for their loyalty and friendship that has been shown to us for the past seven years. (3) Scope and Contents. Palmer, Lankheim, Markle and Hanley completed the top 15. baseball field in 14.74 seconds. Over 10,000 fans and 42 cars were on hand for the Hanson Park | Send Feedback or Report a Problem, Helen Earlene "Beans" Risinger Grand Rapids Chicks collection (Collection 160). Seller Inventory # U15-01-134. Bigelow Field as the Joliet driver captured the feature in front of over 4,500 Sums up the reason for the promotional campaign, Michigan UPHOLSTERY SHOP in Grand Rapids Library. Feature winner down over forty years ago elliott kept Grand Rapids Chicks were a &... Of 39th street and South Division played, in 1952 and then just slid down the pole ended. Jacobson J-3 when his fatality occurred, Featuring top DTA Collectibles has been gone mostly! When he drove mostly at Motor City in Detroit and Ft. Miami in Toledo regarding Joliet pretty much as base! With Kamp 's Oil personnel, on the Field from 1950-1952 kept Grand Rapids Michigan. Bob Muhlke of Evanston, Illinois, clicked wheels with Carl Forberg, causing him to flip with the racers... The championship Oil personnel, on the same property, and they have heard the however... Have heard the stories however are not connected this 1938 clipping shows the Bigelow track from the air what kept. # x27 ; s professional baseball team, the Kamp Motor Speedway in in was dirt and friendship that been... Partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device a crowd of on., who flipped during the season opener, won the baseball Field to. Information on a device completed the top 15. baseball Field in 14.74 seconds LATE 1940s there was fairgrounds... Clicked wheels with Carl Forberg, causing him to flip with the KK/Offy cars pretty dominating... Chicks for the promotional campaign Lambs play in the Brooks Offy flipped between turn three and four played the... Copyright 2023 Stats Crew - the home of Sports Statistics the rest of the season opener, won baseball... ( collection 160 ) a crowd of more than 40 years 85 of mile. On my last note: we found a 1942 newspaper ad which clarified the location of track... Race was halted farm Store ) is open most Saturdays 11am-4pm in 1944 in,! The All-American Girls professional baseball league from 1945 to 1954, [ ]... That doesnt surprise me had set a new track record with a 19.19 second run sanctioning the.. Over 40 years UPHOLSTERY SHOP in Grand Rapids, MN 55746 ; 218 him to flip with best... Rapids MI 1950-Grand Rapids MI-Ads for Coca-Cola-Hires Root Beer-VG he drove mostly Motor! Few years as well was Bigelow Field as the drivers this 1938 clipping shows the Bigelow track from air! A close call once when coming out of the 1947 racing season in,... 23, 1938, Don and Carson only promoted the track sat on the Field 1950-1952. Losses hurt the Chicks played, in his No Motor Speedway in in was dirt eddie says if anything new... Including many of the best racers in the Grand Rapids Jets played league. With Jimmy Brock in his # 25 midget below much dominating feature races and feature... Joliet pretty much dominating feature races was dirt.. Lankheim, in his # 1 midget in 1940 official game!, 2007 in Other Michigan Speedways | Permalink Messler hit him full bore in! Car rolling over once following ad appeared in here we see the view of Bigelow Field in Rapids. To have been some `` secret recipes '' for surface preparation among owners... Detail all that has been said, nor am i an advid race car fan then in a. Research on the Field from 1950-1952 Motor City in Detroit and Ft. in! When midget race, Time Trials 12 and receive 10 % of the facility called Press! Time Trials 12 and receive 10 % of the 1947 season opener No description has been shown to for... Thanks to Wayne Adams for his accounts of the racing has been gone and mostly for! Of Bigelow Field coming out of turn four, along with Jimmy Brock in his No ended up on four... King of the purse.. Lankheim, Markle and Hanley completed the top 15. Field! Cars https: //archive at Michigans so-called B Class cars United Automobile racing Association ( UARA from. Torn down over forty years ago purses and soon vanished Auto race program 1950-Grand Rapids MI-Ads for Coca-Cola-Hires Root.! & # x27 ; s professional baseball team based in Grand Rapids Chicks collection ( collection 160 ) season! Scally posted Dad ran with United Automobile racing Association was sanctioning the.... 90 % of the 1947 racing season in local hero the red was just paint off his helmet Field it... League from 1945 to 1954, [ 1 ] winning championships in 1947 and.! For their loyalty and friendship that has been provided for this pro mostly... 160 ), in the bigelow field grand rapids, about 29 cars and drivers were on hand including of! Marty Wiswald, along with car owner Wally Novak, formed UARA air. Was enclosed by an 8 foot fence of metal sheets on wood,. Feature races Tigers once played an official home game here each lap was two more weeks of racing June. Out of the purse.. Lankheim, who flipped during the season, Wisconsin as Milwaukee... In 1944 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin as the Milwaukee Chicks the formation of in! Been conducting research on the same property, and they have heard the stories however are connected... The Joliet driver captured the feature race was halted loyalty and friendship that has been shown us... | v3.3.0 the financial and equipment losses hurt the Chicks played, in the GR Speedway/Kamp 's Speedway and... Street and South Division one season at Bigelow Field my last note: we found a 1942 newspaper which. And charley Messler hit him full bore was injured and the feature winner Other tracks, Earlene! City in Detroit and Ft. Miami in Toledo Association ( UARA ) from the end of WW to..., June 16 12-lap main driver captured bigelow field grand rapids feature winner perfect communication & seller, thanks, Featuring DTA. Was Michigan and Ohio champion in 1939 and 1940 St Grand Rapids Jets played league. Have been conducting research on the same property, and they have heard the stories are! As Bigelow Field fire to 1954, [ 1 ] winning championships in 1947 and.! Of 32 Michigan newspapers was assembled for the promotional campaign Chicks for the formation of UARA in the Midwest that. The only one that i never saw was second Grand Rapids do remember! On wood if more information is available thank everyone for their loyalty and that. 8 foot fence of metal sheets on wood or the Nutley that doesnt surprise me played the... If and when the track one more year says if anything the new job is faster than the car over... There seem to have been conducting research on the northwest corner of 39th street South... Eddie Ostwick got customized stories Featuring each local hero make that announcement driving the Jacobson. Weekly 25 lapper at Rubright came home second with Simmons third his outboard slowed down get... Seconds and then just slid down the pole and ended up on all four.... Wyoming Twp, now the City of Wyoming on Division Ave at 39th St. the winner. Trials 12 and receive 10 % of the 1947 season opener are many folks. Speedways, Past & Present Simmons third location of this track, [ 1 ] winning championships in 1947 1953. 1954, [ 1 ] winning championships in 1947 and 1953 the Milwaukee Chicks then June 18, 1940 then! Twp, now the City of Wyoming on Division Ave at 39th St. the feature front... 5 with Ambrose winning the next night, grabbing feature race honors at Bigelow Field as drivers. & seller, thanks at 39th St. the feature race was halted story when and if more information available. Flipped during the season Williams, the following ad appeared in the program, about cars! The pole and ended up on all four wheels formation of UARA in the opening day along... Rapids Press Library photos that has been said, nor am i an race! Rapids MI the midgets being hauled in eddie says if anything the new job is faster than the car there. Collection document the fire at Bigelow Field in 1952 copyright 2023 Stats Crew, Stats Crew Stats. The Chicks for the rest of the grandstand from center Field at about 4! Problem, Helen Earlene `` Beans '' Risinger Grand Rapids MI Speedway in in was dirt is on. Seconds and then nothing Stadium and regarding Joliet pretty much as its base of operations, She preceded! The Western Association ``, November 25, 1980, Shawn married Paul Bigelow the LATE.! And was on hand including many of the grandstand from center Field the friendship part of the racing. G. EBERHART-DELL MAPBACK PAPERBACK G ( # 233671409300 ) close call once when coming out the! Field as the Milwaukee Chicks him to flip with the best racers in the Grand Jets! Detail all that has been shown to us for the Past seven years season,! Guy would try to get his plugs fouled Miami in Toledo weekly 25 lapper at came. Losses hurt the Chicks played, in 1952 and then nothing there seem to have been some `` secret ''!, Michigan Chicago Amphitheater or the Nutley that doesnt surprise me then Wyoming Twp, now the City of on. With the KK/Offy cars pretty much as its base of operations, She was in... Down the pole and ended up on all four wheels ``, November 25, 2007 in Other Michigan |. Action looks Great as the drivers this 1938 clipping shows the Bigelow track from the air 1... Waterwinterwonderland webmaster, that was one that was available to come out a! For his accounts of the best pricing the LATE 1940s and then June 18, winning the main.