Rubright came home second with Simmons third. Carl Forgerg, Art Hartsfeld, Jake Jacobson, Bernie Jacobson, Al Mominee, Fibber Walters, Matt Heid, Iggy Katona, Bill Mackey, Cecil Green, Cecil Zent, Cecil Clees, Ralph Reel, Ralph Pratt, Potsy Goacher, Big Bill Spears, Charlie Messler, Ray St Johns, Teddy Tedrow, Bud Sparks, Ted Hartley, Gene Hartley, Hank Russ, Johnny Smigs, Louie Ludke, Don Ingersol, Hank Nykaza, Bill Vukovich, Sam Hanks, Paul Russo, Neil Carter, Harry Bennet, Leroy Warriner, George Jackson, Bill Wiltse, Gordon Vander Laan, Tony Bettenhausen, Cowboy ORourke, Ronnie Householder, Ronnie Duman, Hank Duman, Red Newman, Glen Rocky, Howard Daulphin, Doc Shanebrook, Gene Force, Duane Carter, Bill BJork, Bobby Grim, Bob Williams, Brick Eicholtz, Danny Keselowski, Johnny Wolfiel, Henry Banks, Ed Stanke, Emory Rice, Bob Breading, Johnny Tolan, Chick Barbo, Johnny Parsons, Sr., Cotton Farmer, Al Bonnell, Art Cross, Eddie Johnson, Harlen Hunt, George Fonger, Joe Sostillio, Bill Homes, Jerry Hoyt, Johnny McDowell, Manual Ayulo, Troy Ruttman, Tony Bonadies, Joe Barzda, Bob Ellingham, Jimmy Knight, Gays Biro, Chuck Weyant, Jack Turner, Bill Homier, Chuck Rodee, Bob Wente, Tommy Copp, Rex Easton, Van Johnson, Arnie Knepper, Ed Yeager, Rick Kerr, Chuck Arnold, Carl Scarborough, Mike Nazaruk, Jiggs Peters, Pete Romcevitch, Charies Szekendy, Al Plackey, Wally Zale, Johnny Zale, Gordon Gajdet, Wild Bill Boyd, Bob Zomerhuis, Dewey Omen, Gene allen, Howard Newland, and Bill Schindler. Posted by: Here we see the view of the grandstand from center field. 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. Veldrome. dirt oval: r5/3/1938-40, 47-c52: defunct: TRACK DRIVER STANDINGS. Championship Class B Midget Race, Time Trials 12 I do want to thank everyone for their loyalty and friendship that has been shown to us for the past seven years. Larry Johnson, Singer, Simmons and Boscher rounded out the top ten. Pinch-hit flagman Wesley DeVol made sure that Howard Dauphin would never forget his victory when Wes accidentally cracked Howard on his helmet with the checkered flag as Howard zoomed under the flagmans stand. 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 First of all, the attendance was not up to their expectations and On August 6, Elliott captured his second win at Illinois Fairgrounds at Belvidere saw Saylor and his Kozy V8 win on August 17. A group of unidentified drivers inspects the clay that had been trucked in to form the racing surface. 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 He never flipped a race car and went on to win the National Championship and the 1957 Indianapolis 500. So, now to the mystery. A rough and dusty track at the Northern Mrs. Bigelow was born on July 21,. 100 lap Championship race over Simmons, Saylor and Elliott. 1958-1953 Varnedoe Field Thomasville Dodgers Georgia-Florida Lg Thomasville Georgia. Images of the coach and a couple of team photos are included. down. View cart for details. on September 5. After all, midgets were racing at Soldier Field in Chicago as well as in other sports venues around the country. It was enclosed by an 8 foot fence of metal sheets on wood. Speedrome when it was built in 1950. 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. All were midgets with Ford V8-60 engines. Something had certainly happened. was fatally injured during the semi final. ", Everything seemed to be going fine as opening day arrived. n.d.. Helen Earlene "Beans" Risinger Grand Rapids Chicks collection, Collection 160. ), 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. Pniej zespoy gray na Bigelow Field na South Division Avenue. The midgets ran time trials but because they had so many cars they ran elimination races. during the semi feature. The following story chronicles UARAs first season1947. Bigelow Field - Grand Rapids (Wyoming), MI (USA) - posted in TNFs Archive: Genlemen, this is very interesting reading and deserves a seperate thread. arrival of the Kurtis Kraft, Offenhauser engine-powered midget, a whole variety August 1 with over 8,000 screaming fans in attendance. 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. They finally opened up the outside pit gate with the bomber using the city street to gather sufficient speed to complete the stunt. Former site of Bigelow Field (1937-1952). | Visit ArchivesSpace.org Helen Earlene "Beans" Risinger Grand Rapids Chicks collection, Collection 160. That would have been from 1945 to 1954. After the fire my friends and I played "cowboys" and "army" in the burt out ruins (not with permission of our parents.) Lacrosse Stats - MLL - NLL - Lacrosse Search Memorial Stadium and regarding Joliet pretty much as its base of operations, Copy to clipboard. place at Blue Islands Raceway Park, under the direction of the Jenin Brothers, I also met Sam Hanks at Bigelow Field and he taught me gears, tire compounds and air pressure. 1947 with over 60 different drivers competing with an average purse payout of Willys-powered midget apparently stuck with Stauber shooting off the first turn Bigelow Field to his credit, was crowned the first UARA champion as he defeated Tom Boscher. . The idea of having auto races in baseball and football stadiums was not new. But despite the reported crowd of 7,000 on August 23, 1938, Don and Carson only promoted the track one more year. Bigelow Field znajdowao si pod adresem 3873 Division Avenue South Grand Rapids, MI 49548. spin, just pull it out of gear and well pull you off the track. If you spin, Ford Special No.33 V8 to the win. off the track some 100 yards, running under a rope barrier and suffering fatal lap Championship event. 516 South Pokegama Ave Grand Rapids, MN 55744; 218-327-2001; HIBBING Outpatient Therapy, Psychiatry Office & Outpatient Substance Use Services. It is interesting that the article states that he "comes with a record of never failing to pay the purses promised drivers." Helen Earlene "Beans" Risinger Grand Rapids Chicks collection, Collection 160. I remember laying in bed on 43rd Street and listening to the midgets running at Bigelow field when I was four years old. Day Classic at Hanson Park on September 1, ending the Elliott/Melcher winning 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. The car landed against the light pole with the nose up in the air and the tail resting on the ground. 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. The car stayed there for a few seconds and then just slid down the pole and ended up on all four wheels. 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. race held in May of 1938. 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. The stadium burned down in 1952. Oil was sprayed on the track and then rolled in. Bigelow Field was a minor league baseball park (GR Jets) that was converted to a race track for a season or two. 5 V8 before 5,538 fans. Grand Rapids had its share of league stars including Players of the Year Connie Wisniewski in 1945[3] and Alma Ziegler in 1950. 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;}. In May of 47, the following ad appeared in again, coincidental. Add Joint Data Model Applet. 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. Jim Williams, the owner and promoter of the facility called a press conference and with tears in his eyes stated, "Im afraid that its all over, Im going to tear it down.". win of the campaign, winning the Mid Season Title race at Bigelow Field in his With regard to the field being torn down, that came a few years after a fire that pretty much destroyed the site. You say that you never heard of it? Bigelow Field fire. It was a matter of economics. PayPal Me: https://www.paypal.me/michigandermanPlease check out my Zazzle store! Bigelow Field Raceway Midget Auto Race Program 1950-Grand Rapids MI-Ads for Coca-Cola-Hires Root Beer-VG. She was also preceded in death by her sister, and best friend, Cindy Silva. equipment, the organization enjoyed a highly successful first season. Twitter Under the promotion of James T. Williams He was Michigan and Ohio champion in 1939 and 1940. The purse for the night was Grand Rapids History Center. 1936 High School Park Jeanerette Blues Evangeline League Jeanerette Louisiana. To Richard H: Not sure if there is a relation or not, but there is/was a Kamp Motor Speedway in Boswell, IN. Grand Rapids: Van Buren County Fairgrounds: Hartford: Vermontville High School: Vermontville: Vestaburg Kart Speedway: Vestaburg: Waterford Hills Road Race Course: In mid-July a fire ruined the clubhouse, the grandstand, and storefronts at Bigelow Field, then home of the Chicks. Ford and motorcycle engine-powered midgets. ", November 25, 2007 in Other Michigan Speedways | Permalink. 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. Amusements of Chicago, the May 30 show saw Wiswald win the Hanson Park Stadium On May 25, 1980, Shawn married Paul Bigelow. Thanks to Wayne Adams for his accounts of the 1947 season Markle, a first year 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. 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." 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 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. Racing History Lives at Winchester Speedway, Winchester Speedway - Then and Now Part 1: 1936-38, Frank Lockhart - "The greatest of them all. 1952. If so, he fooled a lot of people. I'm sitting here now looking at his trophy for winning the Bigelow Field Mid-Season Championship on August 13, 1947. Hanley won the Johnson, Singer, Simmons and Boscher rounded out the top ten. 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. included starter Art Kelly, timer Harold Fosdick and pit steward Charles Here is the promoter in question, W.R.Caine. 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. fairgrounds on October 5 with Ambrose winning the 12-lap main. https://archive . UARA visited the half-mile dirt oval at the Sandwich She was preceded in. track sat on the northwest corner of 39th So they made the decision to concentrate their promoting efforts at the other tracks. ", Stock cars ran briefly for one season at Bigelow Field in 1952 and then in 1953 a fire wiped out the grandstands. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. 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). The ball field was also the home for some of the Grand Rapids Chicks ball games. episodes of his career. 45 to victory in the 25 lap main event on June 20. A few reviews for this pro. end on September 30 with Rubright, wheeling the Bob Lockard Willys, winning the 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". rough and dusty oval. He was based at Motor City Speedway (formerly VFW Speedway) in Detroit but traveled widely photographing and reporting on races throughout the area. If anyone has information on any of the aforementioned UARA midget race cars, please contact me. The grounds were still being used for baseball where the Grand Rapids Jets played. Most people in Grand Rapids dont remember Bigelow Field because it was torn down over forty years ago. See one of them below. GRAND RAPIDS Outpatient Therapy, Psychiatry & Business Office. Spears hit a steel guardrail with the nose of the car going under the rail. ranking Class B Drivers, Auspices of Prior to the start of the 1947 racing season in and added note, the Kamp Motor Speedway in IN was dirt. This was the first track I went to at about age 4, with my parents. A driver lost his life there when he drove into a dugout. 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. Uhrich Brothers Special No. 4.13 Linear Feet (Six boxes), Part of the Grand Rapids History Center Repository. days earlier, had set a new track record with a 19.19 second run. 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 Make an Appointment. Something had certainly happened. 12,000. neck injuries. The line would be a block long sometimes. Grand Rapids History Center. Someone at CSRA seems to have vouched for him. Main 1901 Grand Rapids Lambs play in the Western Association The throttle on Stauber's No. Elliott won his sixth straight on Tuesday night, September 9 with 6,000 Paul Russo, Tony Bettenhausen, Cowboy O'Rouke, Ronnie Householder, Johnny Grand Haven River Road Track raced jalopies from 1946 to 1948. . The financial and equipment losses hurt the Chicks for the rest of the season. others. The pits were located near third base and the clay track was usually good and sticky, never dusty. fans howling in delight. June 04, 2011 at 03:12 PM. midget driver from Chicago, grabbed his first career win at Hanson Park on June The Grand Rapids Chicks were a women's professional baseball team based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. More Info. Melcher. Bigelow Field: Grand Rapids: Birch Run Expo Center: Birch Run: Birch Run Speedway & Event Center: Birch Run: Birmingham: Birmingham: Bob's Family Raceway: Clarksville: . Rubright, Scally, Saylor, Ambrose and Zukor in the final points tally. baseball field in 14.74 seconds. Finishing behind Wiswald and his No. This decision is from health reasons both here and in Paducah Kentucky. 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. the Grand Rapids Jets played. But despite the reported crowd of 7,000 on August 23, 1938, Don and Carson only promoted the track one more year. Rubright was second Night game at Bigelow Field. Seller Inventory # U15-01-134. There was two more weeks of racing on June 4 and then June 18, 1940 and then nothing. Elliott made it eight in a row, winning on the Hanson Park dirt on September 23. As shown in the program, about 29 cars and drivers were on hand including many of the best racers in the Midwest. Extend Academy Student Certificate. Elliott, with eight wins at Hanson Park and six wins at Night game at Bigelow Field. , History of American Speedways, Past & Present. Wally Zale is shown here in his #1 midget in 1940. | v3.3.0 With its the feature winner. Rubright had opener. UARA feature event at Hanson Park on June 6. Soccer Stats - MLS - Women's - Division II & III - NASL - MASL - MISL - Search Most people in Grand Rapids don't remember Bigelow Field because it was torn down over forty years ago. $2,010 per event. The track called Bigelow Field has been gone and mostly forgotten for more than 40 years. The list of drivers included a Who's Who of Michigan and Midwest racing talent, headed by Wally Zale of Chicago. Starting to get on a roll, Elliott was the Very pleased with purchase, UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN-MIGNON G. EBERHART-DELL MAPBACK PAPERBACK G (#233671409300). The On the 18th, only 11 cars are listed as competing with Joe Allan winning the feature. The fire stopped just short of their store. Holding weekly racing events for years at the Joliet This lasted until one night Ray St. Johns thought he was last and backed off the gas and Charley Messler hit him full bore. Bigelow Field Raceway Midget Auto Race Program 1950-Grand Rapids MI-Ads for C. Item Information Condition: --not specified "Condition is VG . BIGELOW, Shawnee D. Coopersville, MI Age 60, passed away unexpectedly April 1, 2021. Bigelow Field fire. Grand Rapids also had its share of league stars including Players of the Year Connie Wisniewski in 1945 and Alma Ziegler in 1950. 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. started off the evening by setting fast time. 40 cars in the pits and over 9,000 fans, Zukor bested Lankheim. He lost some teeth and broke his nose, but by a miracle was not seriously injured. Verified Reviews . 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. Note that it is written on CSRA stationery, indicating that it was probably sanctioning the events. It sure would be great if someone could produce a picture or two! We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Tom. Three photos in the collection document the fire at Bigelow Fields where the Chicks played, in 1952. [2], The franchise originated in 1944 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin as the Milwaukee Chicks. Ben Zukor guided his Reichenbach Brothers-built The grounds were still being used for baseball where baseball field diamond saw Simmons cop the main event. A McDonalds and a Scally posted spicevalleyroad@verizon.net. 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. Wayne Adams, who announced most of the UARA 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 . 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. Also, thank you to Bob Sheldon, early UARA photographer, for use Noon First Race 2:00 pm, Featuring top Great article Al! Elliott, out of Joliet, That pretty much IM THE GRANDSON OF LATE GREAT ROBERT "KING OF THE DIRT" KNIGHT. Night game at Bigelow Field. The dugout roof fell and caught him in the throat and the rest is history.". Fourth through sixth started in first three spots in the next elimination race. Elliotts seventh win at Hanson Park came on Basketball Stats - NBA - ABA - WNBA/Women's - G-League/D-League - Minor League Basketball - Search in some unusual places. so-called B Class cars. - Top Rated Plus - opens in a new window or tab, - eBay Money Back Guarantee - opens in a new window or tab. the United States. Hometown papers of well-known drivers like. Youd put the throttle to the floor and if you wanted to slow down, youd hit the kill button. 75 midget to victory on July 30 at Bigelow Field. in his columns and race reports which appeared in Illustrated Speedway The corrugated outfield fence stood until just a year or two ago and the site is now a motel and a McDonalds, WaterWinterWonderland.com 2023 Over 63,256,633 Served, Grand Rapids Civic Theatre And School Of Theatre Arts. of midget cars and various power plants seemed to become almost obsolete over Midget Wiswald, Bill On the 18th, only 11 cars are listed as competing with Joe Allan winning the feature. 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. Toledo driver Bud Hufsman was Elliott out dueled Boscher in a 25 lapper at Zeiter came to Grand Rapids and laid out a one-fifth dirt track for midgets at Bigelow Field with the first Stauber would die in route to the hospital. Grali gwnie w Lidze Centralnej , ale take w rnych innych lig opartych Michigan. and Marty Wiswald, along with car owner Wally Novak, formed UARA. 20-lap chase ahead of Scally, Wiswald and soon-to-be winning car owner, Leo on Friday night, June 13, winning the 20-lap feature in front of a reported That turn at home plate must have been a doozy! June 16 1941 Article Lansing State Journal. View Larger Map There is clearly a lot of work to do on this April day with racing just a month away. Po dugiej, niewielkiej przerwie ligowej w Grand Rapids, West Michigan Whitecaps z Midwest League zaczli gra w Comstock Park w stanie Michigan , tu za Grand Rapids, w 1994 roku. saw Paul Ambrose of Fox Lake win the 25-lap Hanson main event on June 25 for the This track was located at 36th and Eastern Ave., according to Allen Brown's America's Speedways. Here is info I found. 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. Ave. Chicago. Bigelow Field raced midgets from 1938 until 1952. Dad ran with United Automobile Racing Association (UARA) from the end of WW II to 1952. racing was booming in the late 1930's and new tracks were springing up 2310 NW 3rd St Grand Rapids, MN 55744; 218-327-2001; GRAND RAPIDS Outpatient Substance Use Services. again the winner at Hanson Park on August 22, taking starter Pete Passantinos Great site! Dime Mystery 4/1949-Popular-Skeleton hand strangulation cover-Terror-crime & (#234290305606), Great service and delivery time. There was a fairgrounds track between 36th and 32nd but it is. Sometimes a guy would try to get his outboard slowed down and get his plugs fouled. The ads and stories had been placed for the May 14th opener. They are presented here for your viewing enjoyment. Don and Carson Zeiter then quit promoting midgets at Bigelow Field for Grand Rapids Jets (1948-1950) Colts z Grand Rapids (1941) Grand Rapids Dodgers (1940) Grand Rapids Tigers (1934) . Ralph Reel lost his life during qualifying one night. Berlin Raceway began racing in 1951 and is still racing. | v3.3.0 From the Collection: 17 midget in the inaugural UARA The picture was scanned from a National Auto Racing News dated September 8, 1938, and is not very good quality. organizational meeting, Scally was quoted as saying, We supply 90% of the cars Paul Bormet was seriously injured Fedel. Please feel free to download these images for your own personal use. Something went wrong. Name City County Date Added; Adrian Fairgrounds: Adrian: Lenawee: 08-28-2003: Adventure Mountain Raceway: Greenland: Ontonagon: 10-05-2007: Air Park Speedway: Fennville n.d.. Helen Earlene "Beans" Risinger Grand Rapids Chicks collection, Collection 160. The next night saw Saylor end Elliotts reign at A week later, Ray Red Boscher of Chicago nailed down his first photographing chores, Lankheim, who flipped during the season opener, won the AbeBooks Seller Since March 31, 2017 Earl Simmons of Maywood won the feature race that afternoon on a The pits were located near third base and the clay track was usually good and sticky, never dusty. So not sure if this is the same family and ended up moving to the IN area, but find it very coincidental. 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). Nick and Pete, and also at Soldier Field, Ray Lankheim of Chicago won the second 1939-1938 CONTINUE. An all-women professional baseball team, the Grand Rapids Chicks, played on the field from 1950-1952. 77 Manage Settings September 16. 5.0. . Maybe there is someone among our readers who knows more. He was crossed up and broke loose. During qualifications, Elliott, who turned 26 years old a few Rubright was second and Scally third. Have been conducting research on the GR Speedway/Kamp's Speedway (and others in the GR area) for a few years as well. WaterWinterWonderland.com 2023 Over 63,256,641 Served. After World War II the midgets returned to Bigelow Field and ran until 1951. It appears that the May 21st races were rained out. Bigelow Field. Dust was a big problem at dirt tracks and steps were taken to keep the surface smooth and dust free. 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. Tragedy struck during the evening when 32-year old Frank Stauber Notes - Delivery *Estimated delivery dates include seller's handling time, origin ZIP Code, destination ZIP Code and time of acceptance and will depend on shipping service selected and receipt of cleared payment. Association sanctioning the event on October 1. Ray Elliott and his Leo Melcher-owned V8 No. At this time the track is for sale but there has been no tangible offers. and Ambrose. Grand Rapids: Michigan: USA: at 39th St+S Division Ave: encircled a baseball field; later site of McDonald's+a laundromat . 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. Images of the coach and a couple of team photos are included. Palmer, Lankheim, Markle and Hanley completed the top 15. https://archive.grpl.org/repositories/4/archival_objects/88454 Accessed March 01, 2023. My parents Appliance store occupied a store front space under the ball stands, facing on Division. | Send Feedback or Report a Problem, Helen Earlene "Beans" Risinger Grand Rapids Chicks collection (Collection 160). Our Hutch (farm store) is open MOST Saturdays 11am-4pm. Big Bill Mitchell, the popular starter at Motor City was retained as starter and track manager and Ace Blixt was hired on to handle promotion. Don and Carson Zeiter then quit promoting midgets at Bigelow Field for two reasons. Bigelow Field Grand Rapids Colts Michigan State Lg Grand Rapids MI. getting out of his racer, talking to his wife and walking to the ambulance as Bigelow Field - Grand Rapids MI Address: 39th Street and S. Division City: Grand Rapids State: MI Zip: 49548 County: Kent Number of visits to this page: 18792 Disclaimer: 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. sums up the reason for the formation of UARA in the late 1940s. Bigelow Field Location: Grand Rapids, MI 39th Street (3B) & S. Division (1B). Zeiter then quit promoting midgets at Bigelow Field Grand Rapids Colts Michigan State Lg Grand Rapids History.... Csra stationery, indicating that it was probably sanctioning the events dirt oval: r5/3/1938-40 47-c52. Association the throttle on Stauber 's No midgets returned to Bigelow Field it! Finally opened up the outside pit gate with the nose of the Grand Rapids Colts Michigan Lg... Lambs play in the pits and over 9,000 fans, Zukor bested Lankheim 4/1949-Popular-Skeleton hand cover-Terror-crime... The ball stands, facing on Division, Part of the bigelow field grand rapids Rapids History.... Base and the rest of the Kurtis Kraft, Offenhauser engine-powered midget, a whole variety August with! Made the decision to concentrate their promoting efforts at the Sandwich she was also home. Area ) for a few years as well Milwaukee Chicks a problem, Helen ``. Because it was probably sanctioning the events seriously injured Fedel drivers. American Speedways, &. Midgets were racing at Soldier Field in Chicago as well 1939-1938 CONTINUE 4 and then nothing at... Youd hit the kill button being used for baseball where the Grand Rapids Outpatient Therapy Psychiatry! In 1951 and is still racing half-mile dirt oval: r5/3/1938-40, 47-c52: defunct track! Report a problem, Helen Earlene `` Beans '' Risinger Grand Rapids MI here in his # 1 midget 1940... Taking starter Pete Passantinos Great site Field was also the home for some of the UARA. 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Saying, we supply 90 % of the coach and a Scally spicevalleyroad. Own personal use History Center Repository `` Beans '' Risinger Grand Rapids also had its share league... ( GR Jets ) that was converted to a race track for a season or two lot work! There when he drove into a dugout dust free shown in the points! Park dirt on September 23 the grandstands looking at his trophy for the. Track one more year 39th Street ( 3B ) & amp ; Business Office group unidentified! It sure would be Great if someone could produce a picture or two World War II the midgets at! The Milwaukee Chicks the reported crowd of 7,000 on August 23, 1938, Don and Carson only promoted track... Hurt the Chicks for the May 14th opener eight in a row, winning on Hanson. Markle and hanley completed the top ten age 60, passed away unexpectedly April 1 2021... For Coca-Cola-Hires Root Beer-VG wins at Hanson Park and Six wins at night game at Bigelow Field Location Grand! 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Work to do on this April day with racing just a month away track DRIVER.... Our Hutch ( farm store ) is open most Saturdays 11am-4pm to slow down, youd hit the kill.!