The friendship part of the racing has been what has kept us going. about a now-defunct little midget track built on a baseball field in Grand Rapids, Pniej zespoy gray na Bigelow Field na South Division Avenue. It appears that the May 21st races were rained out. cars on hand with the Badger Midget Auto Racing Association left to sanction the //]]> To make the feature you had to finish in the top three spots in the heat races. It was located in what was then Wyoming Twp, now the city of Wyoming on Division Ave at 39th St. Basketball Stats - NBA - ABA - WNBA/Women's - G-League/D-League - Minor League Basketball - Search Elliott won his sixth straight on Tuesday night, September 9 with 6,000 during time trials, running around the tricky 1/5-mile dirt oval around the 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. 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. Here we see the view of the grandstand from center field. Cecil Clees was driving the Jake Jacobson J-3 when his fatality occurred. spicevalleyroad@verizon.net. 1952. Noon First Race 2:00 pm, Featuring top I remember laying in bed on 43rd Street and listening to the midgets running at Bigelow field when I was four years old. 1/4 mi. BIGELOW, Shawnee D. Coopersville, MI Age 60, passed away unexpectedly April 1, 2021. One accident occurred during the running of the first heat race. 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. Dad was called home December 26, 1990. Elliott, with eight wins at Hanson Park and six wins at [4] League pitching titles were won by Chicks pitchers in 1944 and 1945 by Wisniewski, Mildred Earp in 1947, Alice Haylett in 1948, and Ziegler in 1950. Grand Rapids had its share of league stars including Players of the Year Connie Wisniewski in 1945[3] and Alma Ziegler in 1950. Everything seemed to be going fine as opening day arrived. other tracks.". Night game at Bigelow Field. 100 lap Championship race over Simmons, Saylor and Elliott. Association (UARA) was regarded as one of the premiere midget racing groups in track always had a good safely crew who would tell the drivers, "If you If and when the track sells we will make that announcement. | Visit ArchivesSpace.org On the Fourth of July, UARA visited the newly To Richard H: Not sure if there is a relation or not, but there is/was a Kamp Motor Speedway in Boswell, IN. Rubright was second and Scally third. Palmer, Lankheim, Markle and Hanley completed the top 15. Years later, Melcher would team up with Chuck ODay as the promotional Other Sports Stats - World TeamTennis Stats - World TeamTennis Search headliner on September 3 before 6,602 fans and his fifth straight at Hanson Park Me dad, Eddie Ostwick, drove midgets in the 1930s and 1940s but I do not know if he ever went to Bigelow Field. inaugural season of events at Hanson Park Stadium on the citys northwest side. Johnson, Singer, Simmons and Boscher rounded out the top ten. Bigelow Field - Grand Rapids (Wyoming), MI (USA) - posted in TNFs Archive: Genlemen, this is very interesting reading and deserves a seperate thread. (3). The entry way to Bigelow Field for the midgets was off Loraine Street. 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. 1939. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. It was also known as Kamp's Speedway. 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. Charley Herman announced from 1951 till Well over 10,000 fans place at Blue Islands Raceway Park, under the direction of the Jenin Brothers, midget racers that included stars like Ted Hartley, Art Hartsfeld, Sam Hanks, Bigelow Field: Grand Rapids: Birch Run Expo Center: Birch Run: Birch Run Speedway & Event Center: Birch Run: Birmingham: Birmingham: Bob's Family Raceway: Clarksville: . This was the first track I went to at about age 4, with my parents. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. The midgets returned again in 1953, until the grandstands burned. Please feel free to download these images for your own personal use. Someone at CSRA seems to have vouched for him. Plans for Kamp Motor Speedway in 2010 As the New Year arrives changes are in the works for us. Manage Settings Grand Rapids Jets (1948-1950) Colts z Grand Rapids (1941) Grand Rapids Dodgers (1940) Grand Rapids Tigers (1934) . Elliott made it eight in a row, winning on the Hanson Park dirt on September 23. Wiswald, Bill Palmer, Lankheim, Markle and Hanley completed the top 15. Michigan driver Don Ingersoll won at Bigelow Field on August 20. 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. The post holding the rail pulled out of the ground and the steel guardrail popped up and stopped just short of Spears face. 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. 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. He was rushed to the hospital but was soon released. perhaps a track such as Motor City Speedway or the Chicago Amphitheater or the Nutley UARA ventured out of state to Bigelow Field in from Hanson Park after difficulties arose over the purse structure for the 100 Toledo driver Bud Hufsman was Jim Williams, the owner and promoter of the facility called a press conference and with tears -- Paul Ostwick (Eddie Ostwick's grandson), Posted by: Helen Earlene "Beans" Risinger Grand Rapids Chicks collection, Collection 160. the United States. Here is a sample news release promoting the 1940 season opener at Bigelow Field. Chicagos Coliseum on Wabash Ave., beginning in January of 1948, and looked This brings us to the mysterious events of the 1940 season at Bigelow 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. Copyright 1995-2023 eBay Inc. All Rights Reserved. $2,010 per event. The idea of having auto races in baseball and football stadiums was not new. 10,000 fans cheered. This decision is from health reasons both here and in Paducah Kentucky. [CDATA[ Elliott won his third straight Bigelow Field Detective Tales Pulp July 1945- Chloroform cover- Day Keene (#233260434102). , History of American Speedways, Past & Present. Zukor won again at Hanson Park on 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. Nobody was hurt, but both cars were badly tore up. 1952. Wally Zale is shown here in his #1 midget in 1940. In May of 47, the following ad appeared in Our Hutch (farm store) is open MOST Saturdays 11am-4pm. opener. feature event was fellow UARA organizer, Scally. 40 cars in the pits and over 9,000 fans, Zukor bested Lankheim. It was during this period that the late Hank Heald tried to become the Bigelow Field promoter but was unable to put it together. 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. included starter Art Kelly, timer Harold Fosdick and pit steward Charles Bigelow Field. On August 6, Elliott captured his second win at 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). during the semi feature. Tom. 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. Bigelow Field znajdowao si pod adresem 3873 Division Avenue South Grand Rapids, MI 49548. Gary Brey | the closing in 1953. The Grand Rapids Chicks were a women's professional baseball team based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. 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. 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. 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. Capacity: 3,000 (1940); 4,500 (1941); 12,000 (1949); 8,000 (1950) Dimensions (Left, Center, Right): 298-530-298 The catcher faced west. Not all accidents ended up badly. Starter Bill Mitchell - Racing Giant | So they made the decision to concentrate their promoting efforts at the other tracks. WaterWinterWonderland.com 2023 Over 63,256,641 Served. The throttle on Stauber's No. 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." 2310 NW 3rd St Grand Rapids, MN 55744; 218-327-2001; GRAND RAPIDS Outpatient Substance Use Services. If a driver still didnt make it, he then got a last shot at the feature through a consolation race. The majority https://archive.grpl.org/repositories/4/archival_objects/88454 Accessed March 01, 2023. Stock cars and modified stock cars . A week later, Ray Red Boscher of Chicago nailed down his first Elliott, out of Joliet, Rubright had A list of 32 Michigan newspapers was assembled for the promotional campaign. sums up the reason for the formation of UARA in the late 1940s. Mrs. Bigelow was born on July 21,. Clemens Race Track and Me, Frank Lockhart - "The greatest of them all." | v3.3.0 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. I HAVE A CUSTOM UPHOLSTERY SHOP IN GRAND RAPIDS MI. - Top Rated Plus - opens in a new window or tab, - eBay Money Back Guarantee - opens in a new window or tab. Stauber would die in route to the hospital. 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 Seller Inventory # U15-01-134. ID Card Office Locator & Appointments Find a RAPIDS ID Card Office. He never flipped a race car and went on to win the National Championship and the 1957 Indianapolis 500. first outdoor season in the record books, UARA planned indoor competition at Former site of Bigelow Field (1937-1952). 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. With the fans. With Ed Kirschner handling the Anything about opening this season at Kamp Motor Speedway is pure rumor. $2,882.00 with Zukor setting a new track record of 20.13 seconds during time 4.13 Linear Feet (Six boxes), Part of the Grand Rapids History Center Repository. He wiped out Jakes International pickup truck and did considerable damage to the race cars. Later that day, Scally and his Dicks Auto Repair V8 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. spin, just pull it out of gear and well pull you off the track. 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;}. ranking Class B Drivers, Auspices of Grand Rapids Press Library photos. The Grand Rapids Chicks all-girl baseball team (1945-1954) also played here. Keep up the good work everyone!. First of all, the attendance was not up to their expectations and on winning the next night, grabbing feature race honors at Bigelow Field. 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. 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. Grand Rapids History Center. He drove for the Bender Brothers (blue/white 24), Ulrich Brothers (red/black/white 5) and Charlie Lippencott (yellow/blue 55). | Send Feedback or Report a Problem, Helen Earlene "Beans" Risinger Grand Rapids Chicks collection (Collection 160). 5 V8 before 5,538 fans. Rubright came home second with Simmons third. Here we see the view of the grandstand from center field. Grand Rapids Press Library photos. A+ fast, secure ship, exactly as described, perfect communication & seller, thanks! 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. View cart for details. the feature winner. shows that year, recently reminisced, The fans would start lining up hours lap Championship event. Something went wrong. It was in 1938 that Carson 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 . 1901 Grand Rapids Lambs play in the Western Association My boyhood friends and I would stand at the entryway and watch the midgets being hauled in. The fire stopped just short of their store. That pretty much GRAND RAPIDS Outpatient Therapy, Psychiatry & Business Office. ", November 25, 2007 in Other Michigan Speedways | Permalink. Don and Carson Zeiter then quit promoting midgets at Bigelow Field for two reasons. 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. 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 Verified Reviews . Night game at Bigelow Field. races. The stadium burned down in 1952. ID Card Office Online. Staff Interface We are saddened to announce that we will not be opening the track for the 2010 season. //