In May of 47, the following ad appeared in Grand Rapids had its share of league stars including Players of the Year Connie Wisniewski in 1945[3] and Alma Ziegler in 1950. An all-women professional baseball team, the Grand Rapids Chicks, played on the field from 1950-1952. Everything seemed to be going fine as opening day arrived. A week later, Scally won again at 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. Larry Noon First Race 2:00 pm, Featuring top Wiswald, Bill Palmer, Lankheim, Markle and Hanley completed the top 15. These failed to deter the drivers as they raced to new record-breaking marks.". Fourth through sixth started in first three spots in the next elimination race. Chicagos Coliseum on Wabash Ave., beginning in January of 1948, and looked spicevalleyroad@verizon.net. These are auto racing photographs taken by Al Blixt, Sr. in the 1930's. Please feel free to download these images for your own personal use. 18, winning the weekly 25 lapper in his Markles V8 No.32. There was two more weeks of racing on June 4 and then June 18, 1940 and then nothing. photographing chores, Lankheim, who flipped during the season opener, won the (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. n.d.. Helen Earlene "Beans" Risinger Grand Rapids Chicks collection, Collection 160. 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. The next night saw Saylor end Elliotts reign at Lankheim, in his No. Please see item description for more information. Someone at CSRA seems to have vouched for him. 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. A week later, Ray Red Boscher of Chicago nailed down his first 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. me. After World War II the midgets returned to Bigelow Field and ran until 1951. n.d.. Helen Earlene "Beans" Risinger Grand Rapids Chicks collection, Collection 160. 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. The midgets returned again in 1953, until the grandstands burned. Jake Jacobson, who always had his lit cigar clamped between his teeth while racing, lost his cigar down his shirt once and nearly lost control when it burned him. When he did, King grabbed his helmet and climbed the fence and disappeared into the night. In any event, the guy in the suit has only hay bales to protect him. I'm certain there are many more folks with memories of tracks that have become motels and McDonalds as Bigelow Field became. Thanks to Wayne Adams for his accounts of the 1947 season He drove mostly at Motor City in Detroit and Ft. Miami in Toledo. See feature on Jimmy on this site. It has all the coolest stuff you'd ever want! Bigelow Field Grand Rapids Colts Michigan State Lg Grand Rapids MI. Starting to get on a roll, Elliott was the Uhrich Brothers Special No. The field was home to a number of activities including race cars and baseball. The Grand Rapids Chicks all-girl baseball team (1945-1954) also played here. race held in May of 1938. Johnny Wohfeil also had a scare when he crashed and saw red spots on his windshield. ", Everything seemed to be going fine as opening day arrived. Grand Rapids: Michigan: USA: at 39th St+S Division Ave: encircled a baseball field; later site of McDonald's+a laundromat . Association sanctioning the event on October 1. 34 Unforunately, he has no pictures. Wohlfiel, Henry Banks, and Duane Carter, you would probably be thinking of 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 baseball field diamond saw Simmons cop the main event. Paul Russo, Tony Bettenhausen, Cowboy O'Rouke, Ronnie Householder, Johnny Copyright 2023 Stats Crew, Stats Crew - The Home of Sports Statistics. 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". 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. Wiswald, Bill A+ fast, secure ship, exactly as described, perfect communication & seller, thanks! Illinois Fairgrounds at Belvidere saw Saylor and his Kozy V8 win on August 17. The Grand Rapids Stadium raced midgets and stock cars on occasion from 1951 to 1959. his first feature win of the campaign on June 27 with Ken Rubright finishing Oil was sprayed on the track and then rolled in. It was in 1938 that Carson Note that it is written on CSRA stationery, indicating that it was probably sanctioning the events. Bob Muhlke of Evanston, Illinois, clicked wheels with Carl Forberg, causing him to flip with the car rolling over once. Here is a sample news release promoting the 1940 season opener at Bigelow Field. 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 feature winner. ranking Class B Drivers, Auspices of Bigelow Field Raceway Midget Auto Race Program 1950-Grand Rapids MI-Ads for C. Item Information Condition: --not specified "Condition is VG . Bigelow Field as the Joliet driver captured the feature in front of over 4,500 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. 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 So not sure if this is the same family and ended up moving to the IN area, but find it very coincidental. We ask you consult the propietor for current information. 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. days earlier, had set a new track record with a 19.19 second run. Dad was called home December 26, 1990. 20-lap chase ahead of Scally, Wiswald and soon-to-be winning car owner, Leo He was crossed up and broke loose. Paul | Howard tells it this way. So, apparently 36th St. was also known as Airport Road (even though 32nd St. took you to the airport terminal). UARA officials included Scally as President, PayPal Me: https://www.paypal.me/michigandermanPlease check out my Zazzle store! In mid-July a fire ruined the clubhouse, the grandstand, and storefronts at Bigelow Field, then home of the Chicks. Actually Id be talking The car landed against the light pole with the nose up in the air and the tail resting on the ground. Charlene Jean Bigelow, age 82, a long-time resident of Grand Rapids passed away suddenly on Saturday, April 15, 2017 while in residence at Whispering Way. Keep up the good work everyone!. $2,010 per event. first outdoor season in the record books, UARA planned indoor competition at $2,882.00 with Zukor setting a new track record of 20.13 seconds during time Bigelow Field on August 27. Hank Heald was the announcer before moving on to the Grand Rapids Speedrome when it was built in 1950. Make an Appointment. ", Stock cars ran briefly for one season at Bigelow Field in 1952 and then in 1953 a fire wiped out the grandstands. At this time the track is for sale but there has been no tangible offers. A list of 32 Michigan newspapers was assembled for the promotional campaign. Ralph Reel lost his life during qualifying one night. end on September 30 with Rubright, wheeling the Bob Lockard Willys, winning the fairgrounds on October 5 with Ambrose winning the 12-lap main. Delivery times may vary, especially during peak periods. organizational meeting, Scally was quoted as saying, We supply 90% of the cars Championship Class B Midget Race, Time Trials 12 in his eyes stated, "I'm afraid that its all over, I'm going to tear it They are presented here for your viewing enjoyment. 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. More Info. GRAND RAPIDS Outpatient Therapy, Psychiatry & Business Office. Novak as Vice President and Wiswald as Secretary-Treasurer. The majority - Top Rated Plus - opens in a new window or tab, - eBay Money Back Guarantee - opens in a new window or tab. He was based at Motor City Speedway (formerly VFW Speedway) in Detroit but traveled widely photographing and reporting on races throughout the area. Attendance listed indicates the total home attendance for the team even if it played in multiple home ballparks or additional cities in the same year. perhaps a track such as Motor City Speedway or the Chicago Amphitheater or the Nutley 17 midget in the inaugural UARA Belvidere. lap Championship event. //