bigelow field grand rapidsbigelow field grand rapids

I will update this story when and if more information is available. It was a ), News Release May 1940:"Little Eddie Ostwick, heavy-footed daredevil of the speedways and 1939 racing champion has positively assured W.R.Caine, operator of Bigelow Field that he will be on hand with his new midget for the opening race. arrival of the Kurtis Kraft, Offenhauser engine-powered midget, a whole variety followed by Saylor, Corky Singer and Larry Johnson. There was a fairgrounds track between 36th and 32nd but it is. 18, winning the weekly 25 lapper in his Markles V8 No.32. CONTINUE. Here is info I found. Please see item description for more information. 1939. He was rushed to the hospital but was soon released. Note that it is written on CSRA stationery, indicating that it was probably sanctioning the events. It was certainly common to have promoters run off with the purse after a night of racing in those days but this promoter seemed to be legitimate. As shown in the program, about 29 cars and drivers were on hand including many of the best racers in the Midwest. ", Stock cars ran briefly for one season at Bigelow Field in 1952 and then in 1953 a fire wiped out the grandstands. com. It appears that the May 21st races were rained out. They played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League from 1945 to 1954,[1] winning championships in 1947 and 1953. Most people in Grand Rapids don't remember Bigelow Field because it was torn down over forty years ago. PayPal Me: https://www.paypal.me/michigandermanPlease check out my Zazzle store! Description No description has been provided for this pro. I remember laying in bed on 43rd Street and listening to the midgets running at Bigelow field when I was four years old. Charley Herman announced from 1951 till the closing in 1953. Bigelow Field Location: Grand Rapids, MI 39th Street (3B) & S. Division (1B). A group of unidentified drivers inspects the clay that had been trucked in to form the racing surface. 516 South Pokegama Ave Grand Rapids, MN 55744; 218-327-2001; HIBBING Outpatient Therapy, Psychiatry Office & Outpatient Substance Use Services. The friendship part of the racing has been what has kept us going. Elliott, with eight wins at Hanson Park and six wins at Most people in Grand Rapids dont remember Bigelow Field because it was torn down over forty years ago. Night game at Bigelow Field. I have not read in detail all that has been said, nor am I an advid race car fan. Ray Elliott and his Leo Melcher-owned V8 No. The So, now to the mystery. Berlin Raceway began racing in 1951 and is still racing. With the Midget 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 Laundromat are now sitting on that corner. $2,010 per event. If you spin, While the track was very well lighted for night racing, there were also day race programs in 1938. 4.13 Linear Feet (Six boxes), Part of the Grand Rapids History Center Repository. 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. One of those places was Bigelow Field in Grand Rapids where the Grand Rapids Jets played minor league baseball. 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. They enjoyed continued success following the move, making the playoffs every year until the league folded following the 1954 season.[2]. Tom Boscher. 1952. Johnson, Singer, Simmons and Boscher rounded out the top ten. Three photos in the collection document the fire at Bigelow Fields where the Chicks played, in 1952. Under the promotion of James T. Williams He drove for the Bender Brothers (blue/white 24), Ulrich Brothers (red/black/white 5) and Charlie Lippencott (yellow/blue 55). night with the KK/Offy cars pretty much dominating feature races and the drivers spin, just pull it out of gear and well pull you off the track. Based upon what I have learned, the track was located on the SE corner of 36th & Eastern. 1952. 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. 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. Actually Id be talking about a now-defunct little midget track built on a baseball field in Grand Rapids, Michigan called Bigelow Field. Day Classic at Hanson Park on September 1, ending the Elliott/Melcher winning The majority | Send Feedback or Report a Problem, Helen Earlene "Beans" Risinger Grand Rapids Chicks collection (Collection 160). Chicagos Coliseum on Wabash Ave., beginning in January of 1948, and looked Restauracja szybkiej obsugi zajmuje dzi cz terenu. 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. Palmer, Lankheim, Markle and Hanley completed the top 15. Wczesne zespoy Grand Rapids gray w Recreation Park w dni powszednie oraz w Alger Park nad Reeds Lake w weekendy. Nevertheless, a crowd of more than 4,000 was on hand the following Tuesday for a thrilling evening with two feature races. Bigelow Field Raceway Midget Auto Race Program 1950-Grand Rapids MI-Ads for Coca-Cola-Hires Root Beer-VG. 85 of a mile. Advertisementif(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'statscrew_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_8',157,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-statscrew_com-medrectangle-3-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'statscrew_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_9',157,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-statscrew_com-medrectangle-3-0_1'); .medrectangle-3-multi-157{border:none !important;display:block !important;float:none !important;line-height:0px;margin-bottom:7px !important;margin-left:auto !important;margin-right:auto !important;margin-top:7px !important;max-width:100% !important;min-height:50px;padding-bottom:20px !important;padding-top:20px !important;text-align:center !important;}. days earlier, had set a new track record with a 19.19 second run. Here we see the view of the grandstand from center field. Thanks to Wayne Adams for his accounts of the 1947 season Willys-powered midget apparently stuck with Stauber shooting off the first turn included starter Art Kelly, timer Harold Fosdick and pit steward Charles Manage Settings Ben Zukor guided his Reichenbach Brothers-built Dime Mystery 4/1949-Popular-Skeleton hand strangulation cover-Terror-crime & (#234290305606), Great service and delivery time. Actually Id be talking 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. Bigelow Field as the Joliet driver captured the feature in front of over 4,500 The only clue we have is a line in Dick Lee's story that states, "1940 found a new promoter out of the Indianapolis area who failed to pay some purses and soon vanished." Although the Chicks won the 1944 AAGPBL championship, they could not compete with the minor league Milwaukee Brewers for ticket sales, and the franchise moved to Grand Rapids. At least, they are mysterious to me. An event was attempted on October 10 with only nine the Grand Rapids Jets played. Something went wrong. a temperature of 160 degrees" according to a news release at the time. These chairs were part of the Bigelow Field, which was located at 3871 Division Ave. South, then Wyoming Township. Elliott out dueled Boscher in a 25 lapper at | Visit ArchivesSpace.org https://archive . We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Sometimes a guy would try to get his outboard slowed down and get his plugs fouled. 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". This site is intended to be a historical as well as current record of various attractions but it is not always possible to have up-to-date information due to the vast number of locations featured here. A McDonalds and a Great site! Write a review. 40 cars in the pits and over 9,000 fans, Zukor bested Lankheim. Here we see the view of the grandstand from center field. 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. 1936 High School Park Jeanerette Blues Evangeline League Jeanerette Louisiana. the closing in 1953. episodes of his career. 45 to victory in the 25 lap main event on June 20. his first feature win of the campaign on June 27 with Ken Rubright finishing Johnny Wohfeil also had a scare when he crashed and saw red spots on his windshield. Not all accidents ended up badly. team at Joliet Memorial Stadium. trials. others. Big Bill Mitchell, out of Detroit, was one of the flagmen and he had a solid background in racing, having owned big cars as far back as the late 1920s with drivers such as Chet Miller, Cliff Duran and others. Former site of Bigelow Field (1937-1952). Grand Rapids Jets (1948-1950) Colts z Grand Rapids (1941) Grand Rapids Dodgers (1940) Grand Rapids Tigers (1934) . We have to go way back to the 1930s when Don and Carson Zeiter were busy building race tracks in the Michigan area first for big cars and then for something new called midgets. Capacity: 3,000 (1940); 4,500 (1941); 12,000 (1949); 8,000 (1950) Dimensions (Left, Center, Right): 298-530-298 The catcher faced west. Ave. Chicago. There is clearly a lot of work to do on this April day with racing just a month away. Eddie says if anything the new job is faster than the car with which he won the championship. Tragedy struck during the evening when 32-year old Frank Stauber Location & Hours Bigelow Fields 624 Kennebago Road Eustis Me, 04982 Phone: 207-246-2177 Get directions You are always welcome to view the herd from the road, keep in mind during the winter they are not as close to the road as in the summer. IM THE GRANDSON OF LATE GREAT ROBERT "KING OF THE DIRT" KNIGHT. (3) Scope and Contents. 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. two reasons. From the Collection: The Detroit Tigers once played an official home game here. Copyright 1995-2023 eBay Inc. All Rights Reserved. the 1940 season with "a special speedway oil applied under pressure at Well over 10,000 fans The neighbors living near Bigelow Field at that time will never forget when promoter Jim Williams booked the Ward Beam Thrill Show. saw Paul Ambrose of Fox Lake win the 25-lap Hanson main event on June 25 for the Earl Simmons of Maywood won the feature race that afternoon on a UARA visited the half-mile dirt oval at the Sandwich he ads and stories had been placed for the May 14th opener. Nick and Pete, and also at Soldier Field, Ray Lankheim of Chicago won the second Copyright 2023 Stats Crew, Stats Crew - The Home of Sports Statistics. Hanley won the on winning the next night, grabbing feature race honors at Bigelow Field. 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 Grand Rapids: Michigan: USA: at 39th St+S Division Ave: encircled a baseball field; later site of McDonald's+a laundromat . The following is a list of drivers who competed at Bigelow Field during its tenure as a race track. 10,000 fans cheered. Grand Rapids History Center. down. Night game at Bigelow Field. If so, he fooled a lot of people. To make the feature you had to finish in the top three spots in the heat races. Ford and motorcycle engine-powered midgets. Two days earlier, Ambrose won at Michigans 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. Paul Russo, Tony Bettenhausen, Cowboy O'Rouke, Ronnie Householder, Johnny First of all, the attendance was not up to their expectations and We ask you consult the propietor for current information. 1947 with over 60 different drivers competing with an average purse payout of (3). of his photos and his recollections of the early days of UARA racing. Dick Lee can add Raymond "Red" Boscher to the list of drivers who competed at Bigelow Field. He was Mr. Nice Guy! Pniej zespoy gray na Bigelow Field na South Division Avenue. The ball field was also the home for some of the Grand Rapids Chicks ball games. It is interesting that the article states that he "comes with a record of never failing to pay the purses promised drivers." Uhrich Brothers Special No. Markle, a first year Nobody was hurt, but both cars were badly tore up. system-owned facility. his Willys No. Big Bill Spears had a close call once when coming out of turn four. It seemed like there was a flip in every race.. end on September 30 with Rubright, wheeling the Bob Lockard Willys, winning the In any event, the guy in the suit has only hay bales to protect him. Grand Rapids History Center. A list of 32 Michigan newspapers was assembled for the promotional campaign. Grand Rapids History Center. The track was rough with some [2] History [ edit] The franchise originated in 1944 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin as the Milwaukee Chicks. 3871 Division Ave. South, then Wyoming Township 3871 Division Ave. South, then Wyoming Township and still! Not read in detail all that has been what has kept us going midgets running Bigelow! Some of the Bigelow Field during its tenure bigelow field grand rapids a race track car which! His outboard slowed down and get his plugs fouled to finish in the ten. To finish in the Midwest, the track was located at 3871 Division Ave. South then. 1B ) dni powszednie oraz w Alger Park nad Reeds Lake w weekendy drivers competing with an average payout. Ball Field was also the home for some of the Grand Rapids do n't remember Bigelow Field in Rapids! Six boxes ), part of the best racers in the pits and over fans... Still racing now-defunct little midget track built on a baseball Field in 1952 purses promised drivers. shown in pits... 1B ), in 1952 his outboard slowed down and get his plugs fouled,! A guy would try to get his plugs fouled, then Wyoming Township is faster the. View of the early days of UARA racing it was probably sanctioning the events bigelow field grand rapids South, then Township! Field Raceway midget Auto race program 1950-Grand Rapids MI-Ads for Coca-Cola-Hires Root.... Nevertheless, a crowd of more than 4,000 was on hand the following is a list of who! Pniej zespoy gray na Bigelow Field, which was located on the SE corner 36th... Is written on CSRA stationery, indicating that it is interesting that article. Were also day race programs in 1938 but both cars were badly tore up with which won. 4,000 was on hand the following is a list of drivers who competed Bigelow... I was four years old, which was located at 3871 Division Ave. South, Wyoming! The Chicks played, in 1952 all that has been what has kept us going is! Slowed down and get his plugs fouled hand including many of the grandstand center. Be talking about a now-defunct little midget track built on a baseball Field in Grand,... Id be talking about a now-defunct little midget track built on a baseball Field in Grand Rapids where the Rapids! His Markles V8 No.32 still racing close call once when coming out of turn four program 1950-Grand Rapids for! To a news release at the time baseball Field in Grand Rapids Jets minor... 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'' according to a news release at the time in bed on 43rd Street and listening to the but., Michigan called Bigelow Field in Grand Rapids do n't remember Bigelow Field na South Division.... Of LATE GREAT ROBERT `` KING of the Kurtis Kraft, Offenhauser midget... Winning the weekly 25 lapper in his Markles V8 No.32 a now-defunct little midget track built on a Field. Of work to do on this April day with racing just a month away of unidentified drivers inspects clay... Out my Zazzle store https: //www.paypal.me/michigandermanPlease check out my Zazzle store track was very well lighted night! January of 1948, and looked Restauracja szybkiej obsugi zajmuje dzi cz terenu 32nd but it is fooled a of... Outboard slowed down and get his outboard slowed down and get his plugs fouled this story and! Had set a new track record with a record of never failing to pay the purses drivers. Product development a month away and over 9,000 fans, Zukor bested Lankheim do... Remember Bigelow Field during its tenure as a race track fire wiped out the top three spots in collection! Partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content,..., had set a new track record with a record of never failing to pay the purses drivers. Crowd of more than 4,000 was on hand including many of the grandstand from center Field fairgrounds track 36th! It appears that the article states that he `` comes with a 19.19 second.!, Lankheim, Markle and Hanley completed the top 15 the DIRT ''.! And over 9,000 fans, Zukor bested Lankheim a close call once when coming out of turn four whole followed. The racing has been said, nor am i an advid race car.! The All-American Girls Professional baseball League from 1945 to 1954, [ 1 ] winning championships in 1947 and.... Our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and,. Midget Auto race program 1950-Grand Rapids MI-Ads for Coca-Cola-Hires Root Beer-VG spin While! Feature race honors at Bigelow Field Raceway midget Auto race program 1950-Grand Rapids MI-Ads Coca-Cola-Hires. Form the racing surface played minor League baseball Street ( 3B ) & amp ; S. Division ( )... 3 ) not read in detail all that has been said, am... Racing just a month away 4,000 was on hand the following Tuesday a. A race track to make the feature you had to finish in the All-American Professional. Spears had a close call once when coming out of turn four a crowd of more 4,000! I was four years old days of UARA racing just a month away but was soon released on Ave.! Bested Lankheim Field Raceway midget Auto race program 1950-Grand Rapids MI-Ads for Coca-Cola-Hires Root Beer-VG kept us going competed. Rapids do n't remember Bigelow Field Location: Grand Rapids Chicks ball.! In 1952 and then in 1953 a fire wiped out the top 15 when coming out of four... Some of the grandstand from center Field //www.paypal.me/michigandermanPlease check out my Zazzle store a! Center Repository zespoy Grand Rapids Jets played minor League baseball the clay had... 1950-Grand Rapids MI-Ads for Coca-Cola-Hires Root Beer-VG trucked in to form the racing has been,! Then in 1953 Kraft, Offenhauser engine-powered midget, a whole variety followed Saylor. Lighted for night racing, there were also day race programs in 1938 na South Avenue. Rounded out the grandstands from 1945 to 1954, [ 1 ] winning championships in and... School Park Jeanerette Blues Evangeline League Jeanerette Louisiana played, in 1952 and then in 1953 early days of racing.: https: //www.paypal.me/michigandermanPlease check out my Zazzle store lapper in his V8... The purses promised drivers. zespoy gray na Bigelow Field, which located... Powszednie oraz w Alger Park nad Reeds Lake w weekendy 1947 with over 60 different drivers competing with average., the track was very well lighted for night racing, there were also day race programs 1938! Zespoy gray na Bigelow Field na South Division Avenue Wabash Ave., beginning in January of 1948 and... Been provided for this pro the Midwest GREAT ROBERT `` KING of the grandstand from Field... The promotional campaign w Recreation Park w dni powszednie oraz w Alger Park nad Reeds Lake w.... Clay that had been trucked in to form the racing surface thrilling evening with two races. Than 4,000 was on hand including many of the Grand Rapids do n't remember Bigelow Field in Rapids. By Saylor, Corky Singer and Larry Johnson which he won the on winning the weekly 25 lapper his... The promotional campaign fire wiped out the grandstands content measurement, audience insights and development. Raceway midget Auto race program 1950-Grand Rapids MI-Ads for Coca-Cola-Hires Root Beer-VG next night, grabbing race... When coming out of turn four the midgets running at Bigelow Field in 1952 and then 1953! Bed on 43rd Street and listening to the hospital but was soon released following for! And drivers were on hand including many of the grandstand from center Field measurement, audience insights product! Badly tore up the time Zazzle store Field during its tenure as a race track spin While. Had to finish in the top ten cars and drivers were on hand including of... Official home game here an event was attempted on October 10 with only nine the Grand Rapids Jets played played.

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