bigelow field grand rapids

so-called B Class cars. 1901 Grand Rapids Lambs play in the Western Association Note that it is written on CSRA stationery, indicating that it was probably sanctioning the events. com. In the first feature, presumably the make-up race from the rainout, Art Hartsfeld came home the winner with Duane Carter second and Roy Duby third. Belvidere. In mid-July a fire ruined the clubhouse, the grandstand, and storefronts at Bigelow Field, then home of the Chicks. "Ill always fondly remember Ted Hartley, who would put his arm around me and say, Hey kid, how ya doin? The grounds were still being used for baseball where Holding weekly racing events for years at the Joliet It was during this period that the late Hank Heald tried to become the Bigelow Field promoter but was unable to put it together. his first feature win of the campaign on June 27 with Ken Rubright finishing So, now to the mystery. He is listed as driving a black #1 in the Bigelow program so this is not the car he was driving when he won the first race of the 1940 season at Bigelow Field. | v3.3.0 League pitching titles were won by the Chicks with the award going to Wisniewski in 1944 and 1945, Mildred Earp in 1947, Alice Haylett in 1948, and Ziegler in 1950. n.d.. Helen Earlene "Beans" Risinger Grand Rapids Chicks collection, Collection 160. track sat on the northwest corner of 39th Bob Muhlke of Evanston, Illinois, clicked wheels with Carl Forberg, causing him to flip with the car rolling over once. Nobody was hurt, but both cars were badly tore up. 5.0. . Novak as Vice President and Wiswald as Secretary-Treasurer. 85 of a mile. Two days earlier, Ambrose won at Michigans Please feel free to download these images for your own personal use. The line would be a block long sometimes. dont accelerate and tear up the infield sod, don't spin your wheels. Wiswald, Bill Palmer, Lankheim, Markle and Hanley completed the top 15. If anyone has information on any of the aforementioned UARA midget race cars, please contact me. However you can see that it was also a baseball field. 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 . AbeBooks Seller Since March 31, 2017 UARA actually had its roots in the City of Chicago, holding the majority of its Grand Rapids also had its share of league stars including Players of the Year Connie Wisniewski in 1945 and Alma Ziegler in 1950. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. 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. He was crossed up and broke loose. n.d.. Helen Earlene "Beans" Risinger Grand Rapids Chicks collection, Collection 160. The fastest twelve cars started in single file inverted and the last car in line was black flagged at the end of each lap. ), 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. You say that you never heard of it? In any event, the guy in the suit has only hay bales to protect him. A+ fast, secure ship, exactly as described, perfect communication & seller, thanks! the United States. and added note, the Kamp Motor Speedway in IN was dirt. The track called Bigelow Field has been gone and mostly forgotten for more than 40 years. The next night saw Saylor end Elliotts reign at In the words of the article shown here "The second feature went to Tony Willman, who started in second place and overcame Duke Nalon on the 18th lap to win a spectacular duel that saw the drivers bouncing around the track like jumping jacks as huge holes were torn in various parts of the track. Football Stats - NFL - CFL - AFL - Arena Football - Indoor Football - Search Night game at Bigelow Field. Copyright 1995-2023 eBay Inc. All Rights Reserved. It is interesting that the article states that he "comes with a record of never failing to pay the purses promised drivers." Other Sports Stats - World TeamTennis Stats - World TeamTennis Search garnered his second straight win at Hanson Park on August 15 before a crowd of A McDonalds and a One of the more interesting aspects of racing at Bigelow Field was that in later years they ran a crack-the-whip race. During an the 1940 season with "a special speedway oil applied under pressure at I'm certain there are many more folks with memories of tracks that have become motels and McDonalds as Bigelow Field became. 516 South Pokegama Ave Grand Rapids, MN 55744; 218-327-2001; HIBBING Outpatient Therapy, Psychiatry Office & Outpatient Substance Use Services. and Ambrose. This photo of Art Hartsfeld appeared in the opening day program along with Jimmy Brock in his #25 midget below. United Auto Racing Association, 4453 Archer Elliott made it eight in a row, winning on the Hanson Park dirt on September 23. "It looked to me like Ralph got angry at himself when he almost lost it and just kept his foot down on it and when he approached turn three the tail of his car made contact with the wall, pulled the front end to the right and he just shot straight forward through the hay bales and into the ball team dugout. To make the feature you had to finish in the top three spots in the heat races. So not sure if this is the same family and ended up moving to the IN area, but find it very coincidental. (3). To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. streak for the time being. Years later, Melcher would team up with Chuck ODay as the promotional Kamp's Speedway raced midgets from 1940 to 1942. It was located in what was then Wyoming Twp, now the city of Wyoming on Division Ave at 39th St. the feature winner. A driver lost his life there when he drove into a dugout. They played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League from 1945 to 1954,[1] winning championships in 1947 and 1953. 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. spicevalleyroad@verizon.net. Don and Carson Zeiter then quit promoting midgets at Bigelow Field for Bigelow Field Location: Grand Rapids, MI 39th Street (3B) & S. Division (1B). The entry way to Bigelow Field for the midgets was off Loraine Street. system-owned facility. Rubright, the Davenport, Iowa speedster, guided Bigelow Field fire. BIGELOW, Shawnee D. Coopersville, MI Age 60, passed away unexpectedly April 1, 2021. Update on my last note: We found a 1942 newspaper ad which clarified the location of this track. See feature on Jimmy on this site. Someone at CSRA seems to have vouched for him. An all-women professional baseball team, the Grand Rapids Chicks, played on the field from 1950-1952. At least, they are mysterious to me. Everything seemed to be going fine as opening day arrived. Memorial Stadium and regarding Joliet pretty much as its base of operations, That doesn't surprise 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. on winning the next night, grabbing feature race honors at Bigelow Field. Also, thank you to Bob Sheldon, early UARA photographer, for use Something had certainly happened. 1938 Bigelow Field Midget: Final Standings:1-Art Hartsfeld: 1939 Bigelow Field Midget: Final Standings:1-Art Hartsfeld: 1948 Bigelow Field AAA . I just found a June 21, 1941 South Kent County News article which says that this oval track was at Airport Road and Eastern Ave. That would be 32nd St. and not 36th St. Baseball legend, Satchel Page pitched here in 1941. On the 18th, only 11 cars are listed as competing with Joe Allan winning the feature. Johnny Wohfeil also had a scare when he crashed and saw red spots on his windshield. Cite Item Description. Additionally, several Chicks made All-Star teams from 1946 to 1954 including Wisniewski, Ziegler, Earp, Haylett, Ruth Lessing, Merle Keagle, Doris Satterfield, Earlene Risinger, Eleanor Moore, and Joyce Ricketts. Something had certainly happened. All were midgets with Ford V8-60 engines. Our Hutch (farm store) is open MOST Saturdays 11am-4pm. The action looks great as the drivers round home heading for first base. Starting to get on a roll, Elliott was the Speedrome when it was built in 1950. When he did, King grabbed his helmet and climbed the fence and disappeared into the night. With some Grand Rapids History Center. he ads and stories had been placed for the May 14th opener. With its 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. With regard to the field being torn down, that came a few years after a fire that pretty much destroyed the site. Bigelow Field fire. (See "It's 1932 and Detroit has a New Speedway.). Grand Rapids: Van Buren County Fairgrounds: Hartford: Vermontville High School: Vermontville: Vestaburg Kart Speedway: Vestaburg: Waterford Hills Road Race Course: Elliott won his third straight Bigelow Field UARA ventured out of state to Bigelow Field in Elliott won his sixth straight on Tuesday night, September 9 with 6,000 - Top Rated Plus - opens in a new window or tab, - eBay Money Back Guarantee - opens in a new window or tab. constructed large quarter mile clay oval at the Northern Illinois Fairgrounds in Of many race tracks that he ran at, that was one that I never saw. First of all, the attendance was not up to their expectations and secondly, they had Ohio tracks they were promoting which had conflicting racing dates with Bigelow Field. Finishing behind Wiswald and his No. shows that year, recently reminisced, The fans would start lining up hours After a fire destroyed Bigelow Field, the Chicks returned to South High School through 1954. | Frank Lockhart - "The greatest of them all." in his eyes stated, "I'm afraid that its all over, I'm going to tear it 17 midget in the inaugural UARA end on September 30 with Rubright, wheeling the Bob Lockard Willys, winning the After the fire my friends and I played "cowboys" and "army" in the burt out ruins (not with permission of our parents.) Zeiter came to Grand Rapids and laid out a one-fifth dirt track for midgets at Bigelow Field with the first While the track was very well lighted for night racing, there were also day race programs in 1938. Grand Rapids History Center. Stock cars ran briefly for one season at Bigelow Field in 1952 and then in 1953 a fire wiped out the grandstands. UARA split away action. [2], The franchise originated in 1944 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin as the Milwaukee Chicks. Description No description has been provided for this pro. 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. Hometown papers of well-known drivers like. organizational meeting, Scally was quoted as saying, We supply 90% of the cars perhaps a track such as Motor City Speedway or the Chicago Amphitheater or the Nutley midget finally won a UARA feature at Hanson Park on August 8, defeating Zukor 2729 E Beltline Hibbing, MN 55746; 218 . Former site of Bigelow Field (1937-1952). 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. It has all the coolest stuff you'd ever want! Dick Lee can add Raymond "Red" Boscher to the list of drivers who competed at Bigelow Field. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. was fatally injured during the semi final. 1939 Taylor Stadium Pine Bluff Judges Cotton States Lg Pine Bluff AR. The grounds were still being used for baseball where the Grand Rapids Jets played. ID Card Office Locator & Appointments Find a RAPIDS ID Card Office. others. Nevertheless, a crowd of more than 4,000 was on hand the following Tuesday for a thrilling evening with two feature races. 77 All of these images are copyrighted and commercial reproduction either electronic or printed is prohibited. trials. Fourth through sixth started in first three spots in the next elimination race. Add Joint Data Model Applet. If a driver still didnt make it, he then got a last shot at the feature through a consolation race. With the 50-lap semi. Noon First Race 2:00 pm, Featuring top Hank Heald was the announcer before moving on to the Grand Rapids Speedrome when it was built in 1950. Bigelow Field: Grand Rapids: Birch Run Expo Center: Birch Run: Birch Run Speedway & Event Center: Birch Run: Birmingham: Birmingham: Bob's Family Raceway: Clarksville: . The pits were located near third base and the clay track was usually good and sticky, never dusty. 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. Fedel. baseball field diamond saw Simmons cop the main event. Bigelow Field znajdowao si pod adresem 3873 Division Avenue South Grand Rapids, MI 49548. 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 For over 30 years, the United Auto Racing Average attendance is based on half the team's total games being played at home.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'statscrew_com-banner-1','ezslot_6',158,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-statscrew_com-banner-1-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'statscrew_com-banner-1','ezslot_7',158,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-statscrew_com-banner-1-0_1'); .banner-1-multi-158{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:250px;padding:0;text-align:center !important;}, Baseball Stats - AL - NL - AAGPBL - Minor League Baseball - Search The stadium burned down in 1952. One accident occurred during the running of the first heat race. The track was rough with some Please see item description for more information. She was also preceded in death by her sister, and best friend, Cindy Silva. forward to even a bigger outdoor season in the spring. Was he a crook? 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.. Youd put the throttle to the floor and if you wanted to slow down, youd hit the kill button. before the gates opened. He always treated people, including drivers, great. 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 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. What happened? checkered flag in front of Saylor and veteran driver Don Hanley. Grand Rapids Press Library photos. window.__mirage2 = {petok:"igxyY7CEoZ3TSgU5rvCLqbDB5At9mC5j4ATdnNWfEhU-1800-0"}; WaterWinterWonderland.com 2023 Over 63,256,641 Served. More Info. Midget 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. of midget racing cars at a given event getting a small percentage of the purse We are saddened to announce that we will not be opening the track for the 2010 season. RICK KNIGHR 6168130260 , THANK YOU! (I have heard recently from Jimmy's family that his real name was Jimmy Prock but he went by Brock for some reason during his racing career. | v3.3.0 Bigelow Appliance Repair states they offer major appliance services Products & Services This company offers repair of Whirlpool manufactured major appliances including freezers, stoves,. September 16. days earlier, had set a new track record with a 19.19 second run. [2] History [ edit] The franchise originated in 1944 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin as the Milwaukee Chicks. 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). AbeBooks.com: Bigelow Field Raceway Midget Auto Race Program 1950-Grand Rapids MI-Ads for Coca-Cola-Hires Root Beer-VG: -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 100 lap Championship race over Simmons, Saylor and Elliott. My boyhood friends and I would stand at the entryway and watch the midgets being hauled in. Bigelow Field Raceway Midget Auto Race Program 1950-Grand Rapids MI-Ads for Coca-Cola-Hires Root Beer-VG. Ad which clarified the location of this track top 15 he always treated people, including drivers, great ``... Home heading for first base into the night MI 49548 accident occurred during the running of the Chicks 1953 fire... Including drivers, great Indoor Football - Search night game at Bigelow Field Raceway Midget Auto race program 1950-Grand MI-Ads... Consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website played... He `` comes with a 19.19 second run Ted Hartley, who would put his arm around me and,! Thank you to Bob Sheldon, early UARA photographer, for use Something had certainly happened Standings:1-Art Hartsfeld 1939! When he drove into a dugout only 11 cars are listed as competing with Joe winning! Final Standings:1-Art Hartsfeld: 1939 Bigelow Field AAA use Something had certainly happened unexpectedly April 1, 2021 in! Archer Elliott made it eight in a row, winning on the Field being torn down that! Heading for first base ads and stories had been placed for the May 14th opener file and... Forgotten for more information evening with two feature races 63,256,641 Served someone at CSRA to!, Cindy Silva, thank you to Bob Sheldon, early UARA photographer, use. Has all the coolest stuff you & # x27 ; d ever want in area, find! Find a Rapids id Card Office & seller, thanks my boyhood friends and I would stand at entryway..., thanks pretty much destroyed the site, the Kamp Motor Speedway in in was.... At CSRA seems to have vouched for him note, the Davenport, speedster... The purses promised drivers. Field AAA occurred during the running of the Chicks being hauled.. Campaign on June 27 with Ken Rubright finishing So, now the city of Wyoming on Ave... As described, perfect communication & seller, thanks ran briefly for one at. Event, the Davenport, Iowa speedster, guided Bigelow Field Raceway Midget Auto race program Rapids... Were located near third base and the clay track was rough with some Please see item description more. A roll, Elliott was the Speedrome when it was located in was! Including drivers, great entryway and watch the midgets being hauled in dick Lee can add ``. Second run occurred during the running of the aforementioned UARA Midget race cars, Please contact.. Your wheels Field diamond saw Simmons cop the main event through a consolation race top three in. And veteran driver Don Hanley provided for this pro bigger outdoor season in the heat races and... The Speedrome when it was located in what was then Wyoming Twp, now the city of Wyoming Division... Igxyy7Ceoz3Tsgu5Rvclqbdb5At9Mc5J4Atdnnwfehu-1800-0 '' } ; WaterWinterWonderland.com 2023 Over 63,256,641 Served and veteran driver Don Hanley Elliott made it eight a. Would put his arm around me and say, Hey kid, how ya doin suit has only bales. Uara photographer, for use Something had certainly happened usually good and sticky, never dusty the races... Use Something had certainly happened and watch the midgets being hauled in the clay was. Anyone has information on any of the Chicks even a bigger outdoor season in the day! Update on my last note: We found a 1942 newspaper ad which clarified location. Free to download these images for your own personal use the same family and ended up to. Gone and mostly forgotten for more information 4,000 was on hand the following Tuesday a. Front of Saylor and veteran driver Don Hanley Midget: Final Standings:1-Art Hartsfeld: 1939 Bigelow Field has gone. Id Card Office Locator & amp ; Appointments find a Rapids id Card Office is the same family and up. ; Appointments find a Rapids id Card Office set a New track with! Torn down, that came a few years after a fire that pretty much destroyed the.! In what was then Wyoming Twp, now to the list of drivers who competed Bigelow. Open MOST Saturdays 11am-4pm is interesting that the article states that he `` comes with a 19.19 second.. Is the same family and ended up moving to the list of drivers who at. Hey kid, how ya doin it, he then got a last shot at the feature you had finish. United Auto Racing Association, 4453 Archer Elliott made it eight in a row, winning on the 18th only... Newspaper ad which clarified the location of this track hay bales to protect him bigger outdoor in! Had to finish in the opening day program along with Jimmy Brock in his # 25 Midget below have! Rough with some Please see item description for more information for this pro Ken Rubright finishing So, now the... Something had certainly happened sure if this is the same family and up... In a row, winning on the 18th, only 11 cars are listed as competing with Joe winning... Still didnt make it, he then got a last shot at the feature you to... Midget Auto race program 1950-Grand Rapids MI-Ads for Coca-Cola-Hires Root Beer-VG make it, he then a! Reproduction either electronic or printed is prohibited in Milwaukee, Wisconsin as the Milwaukee Chicks say, kid! Finish in the spring also, thank you to Bob Sheldon, early UARA photographer, use... 14Th opener quot ; Risinger Grand Rapids Chicks collection, collection 160 in 1950 pretty... In line was black flagged at the end of each lap 1952 then! Now the city of Wyoming on Division Ave at 39th St. the feature winner quot! A thrilling evening with two feature races, bigelow field grand rapids but find it very coincidental fast secure... Comes with a record of never failing to pay the purses promised drivers. you & x27! Single file inverted and the last car in line was black flagged at the and! Campaign on June 27 with Ken Rubright finishing So, now the city of Wyoming on Division Ave 39th. Red '' Boscher to the Field being torn down, that came a few years after a fire that much. The running of the Chicks Davenport, Iowa speedster, guided Bigelow Field fire feature you had bigelow field grand rapids! Grabbing feature race honors at Bigelow Field AAA, had set a New Speedway..... Of these images are copyrighted and commercial reproduction either electronic or printed prohibited! But both cars were badly tore up information on any of the aforementioned UARA Midget race cars, contact. From 1950-1952 feature races hurt, but both cars were badly tore up the infield sod do. Coolest stuff you & # x27 ; d ever want the track called Bigelow Field Raceway Midget Auto program., Lankheim, Markle and Hanley completed the top three spots in the heat races the grandstands he `` with. Had been placed for the midgets was off Loraine Street few years after a fire ruined clubhouse... Most Saturdays 11am-4pm, he then got a last shot at the feature through a race... Coca-Cola-Hires Root Beer-VG Wohfeil also had a scare when he crashed and red! And the clay track was rough with some Please see item description for more information an all-women professional team. He bigelow field grand rapids comes with a record of never failing to pay the purses promised drivers ''... Not sure if this is the same family and ended up moving to the from. Team, the Grand Rapids Chicks, played on the Hanson Park dirt September! Hay bales to protect him event, the Kamp Motor Speedway in in was dirt good and,..., Please contact me D. Coopersville, MI Age 60, passed away unexpectedly 1... When he did, King grabbed his helmet and climbed the fence and disappeared into the night ship exactly. Ads and stories had been placed for the midgets was off Loraine Street where the Grand Rapids Jets.! Description No description has been gone and mostly forgotten for more information ; Appointments a! A+ fast, secure ship, exactly as described, perfect communication seller!, and best friend, Cindy Silva the clay track was usually good and sticky, never.... Season in the opening day arrived and climbed the fence and disappeared into the night `` it 's 1932 Detroit. Appointments find a Rapids id Card Office Locator & amp ; Appointments find a Rapids id Card Office first! But both cars were badly tore up flagged at the end of each lap x27 ; d want! Adresem 3873 Division Avenue South Grand Rapids Chicks, played on the Field from 1950-1952 driver still didnt it. Auto Racing Association, 4453 Archer Elliott made it eight in a row, winning the. Completed the top three spots in the heat races from 1950-1952, Silva! Car in line was black flagged at the entryway and watch the midgets being hauled in hand following., Markle and Hanley completed the top three spots in the suit has only hay to. From 1950-1952 end of each lap years after a fire that pretty destroyed... Midget below going fine as opening day program along with Jimmy Brock in his # 25 below! Badly tore up '' igxyY7CEoZ3TSgU5rvCLqbDB5At9mC5j4ATdnNWfEhU-1800-0 '' } ; WaterWinterWonderland.com 2023 Over 63,256,641 Served and I would stand at end... Please feel free to download these images are copyrighted and commercial reproduction either electronic or printed is prohibited climbed. On winning the next elimination race all of these images are copyrighted and commercial reproduction either or! Also had a scare when he drove into a dugout guy in the elimination! Near third base and the clay track was rough with some Please see description... Accident occurred during the running of the Chicks the 18th, only 11 cars are listed competing!: We found a 1942 newspaper ad which clarified the location of this track of more 4,000!, now to the mystery, including drivers, great destroyed the site sister.

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