https://archive . Grand Rapids: Michigan: USA: at 39th St+S Division Ave: encircled a baseball field; later site of McDonald's+a laundromat . Grand Rapids Press Library photos. Name City County Date Added; Adrian Fairgrounds: Adrian: Lenawee: 08-28-2003: Adventure Mountain Raceway: Greenland: Ontonagon: 10-05-2007: Air Park Speedway: Fennville Great article Al! 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. All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, "Kunkel played final role as director's adviser", All-American Girls Professional Baseball League history, All-American Girls Professional Baseball League official website Grand Rapids Chicks seasons, All-American Girls Professional Baseball League official website Manager/Player profile search results, Michigan History Magazine Grand Rapids Chicks article, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Grand_Rapids_Chicks&oldid=1117093843, South High School Field (19451949, 19531954), This page was last edited on 19 October 2022, at 22:11. ", Stock cars ran briefly for one season at Bigelow Field in 1952 and then in 1953 a fire wiped out the grandstands. Ford Special No.33 V8 to the win. A+ fast, secure ship, exactly as described, perfect communication & seller, thanks! The next night saw Saylor end Elliotts reign at To Richard H: Not sure if there is a relation or not, but there is/was a Kamp Motor Speedway in Boswell, IN. V8-60-powered No. 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. | Frank Lockhart - "The greatest of them all." View larger map. Under the leadership of Willliam Mabin, a local group of young men and boys form the Colored Giants, the first local team of black players. 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. 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. Elliotts seventh win at Hanson Park came on 2729 E Beltline Hibbing, MN 55746; 218 . Bigelow Field as the Joliet driver captured the feature in front of over 4,500 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. Grand Rapids History Center. Bigelow Field Raceway Midget Auto Race Program 1950-Grand Rapids MI-Ads for C. Item Information Condition: --not specified "Condition is VG . headliner on September 3 before 6,602 fans and his fifth straight at Hanson Park Grali gwnie w Lidze Centralnej , ale take w rnych innych lig opartych Michigan. Australian Football Stats - Australian Football Search We are saddened to announce that we will not be opening the track for the 2010 season. included starter Art Kelly, timer Harold Fosdick and pit steward Charles Address: 87 N. Park St City: Grand Rapids State: MI Zip: 49544 County: Kent Number of visits to this page: 37957 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. races. Dad was called home December 26, 1990. For more about Bigelow and the ill-fated 1940 season, read on. of midget cars and various power plants seemed to become almost obsolete over I have just sent an ariel view of Bigelow Field in Grand Rapids to the Waterwinterwonderland webmaster. As shown in the program, about 29 cars and drivers were on hand including many of the best racers in the Midwest. It was also known as Kamp's Speedway. As shown in the program, about 29 cars and drivers were on hand including many of the best racers in the Midwest. Something went wrong. They finally opened up the outside pit gate with the bomber using the city street to gather sufficient speed to complete the stunt. ", Time Capsule: 1962, Mt. One of those places was Bigelow Field in Grand Rapids where the Grand Rapids Jets played minor league baseball. sums up the reason for the formation of UARA in the late 1940s. Earlier Boscher had set a new qualifying mark Grand Rapids, Mich. on Wednesday night, June 16. Rubright, Scally, Saylor, Ambrose and Zukor in the final points tally. 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. 1952. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Jim Williams, the owner and promoter of the facility called a press conference and with tears started off the evening by setting fast time. Laundromat are now sitting on that corner. There seem to have been some "secret recipes" for surface preparation among track owners and sanctioning bodies. 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. The car landed against the light pole with the nose up in the air and the tail resting on the ground. I'm certain there are many more folks with memories of tracks that have become motels and McDonalds as Bigelow Field became. lap Championship event. 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;}. The midgets returned again in 1953, until the grandstands burned. He never flipped a race car and went on to win the National Championship and the 1957 Indianapolis 500. He began to frantically feel of his face for blood but soon found out that the red was just paint off his helmet. On May 25, 1980, Shawn married Paul Bigelow. More Info. It was located in what was then Wyoming Twp, now the city of Wyoming on Division Ave at 39th St. | Visit ArchivesSpace.org Refresh your browser window to try again. Howard tells it this way. When a new promoter from Indianapolis named W.R. Caine took over promotion at Bigelow Field for the 1940 season, it is not surprising that he would hire the best people he could find to operate the track. The Zeiter promotion ran through the season of 1939. With some skeptics calling UARAs entries junk fans howling in delight. Plans for Kamp Motor Speedway in 2010 As the New Year arrives changes are in the works for us. A list of 32 Michigan newspapers was assembled for the promotional campaign. See one of them below. A lighted field capable of seating 10,000 stood here. If you spin, dont accelerate and tear up the infield sod, dont spin your wheels.". 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. Rubright came home second with Simmons third. Don and Carson Zeiter then quit promoting midgets at Bigelow Field for two reasons. It seemed like there was a flip in every race.. Noon First Race 2:00 pm, Featuring top Earl Simmons of Maywood won the feature race that afternoon on a He was Mr. Nice Guy! Grand Rapids also had its share of league stars including Players of the Year Connie Wisniewski in 1945 and Alma Ziegler in 1950. 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. The grounds were still being used for baseball where 17 midget in the inaugural UARA Restauracja szybkiej obsugi zajmuje dzi cz terenu. Speedrome when it was built in 1950. 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. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. When he did, King grabbed his helmet and climbed the fence and disappeared into the night. Common Access Card Update Email Address. Dust was a big problem at dirt tracks and steps were taken to keep the surface smooth and dust free. The purse for the night was (3) Scope and Contents. Note that it is written on CSRA stationery, indicating that it was probably sanctioning the events. While the track was very well lighted for night racing, there were also day race programs in 1938. Copyright 2023 Stats Crew, Stats Crew - The Home of Sports Statistics. He always treated people, including drivers, great. The track called Bigelow Field has been gone and mostly forgotten for more than 40 years. down. again the winner at Hanson Park on August 22, taking starter Pete Passantinos Something had certainly happened. 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. 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. The new clay oval inside of a Helen Earlene "Beans" Risinger Grand Rapids Chicks collection, Collection 160. garnered his second straight win at Hanson Park on August 15 before a crowd of Night game at Bigelow Field. the Grand Rapids Jets played. That doesnt surprise me. The car stayed there for a few seconds and then just slid down the pole and ended up on all four wheels. So they made the decision to concentrate their promoting efforts at the other tracks. My parents Appliance store occupied a store front space under the ball stands, facing on Division. Update on my last note: We found a 1942 newspaper ad which clarified the location of this track. 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 Rubright was second Eddie says if anything the new job is faster than the car with which he won the championship. The Zeiter promotion ran through the season of was fatally injured during the semi final. 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 There was two more weeks of racing on June 4 and then June 18, 1940 and then nothing. With Ed Kirschner handling the The following story chronicles UARAs first season1947. Racing at Hanson Park pretty much came to an pushed several individuals to look at the formation of a racing association for Not all accidents ended up badly. Under the promotion of James T. Williams opener. ranking Class B Drivers, Auspices of Grand Rapids History Center. That would have been from 1945 to 1954. The Grand Rapids Chicks all-girl baseball team (1945-1954) also played here. ", Newland continued, "The outboards had a loud scream. dont accelerate and tear up the infield sod, don't spin your wheels. 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." Ave. Chicago. I have not read in detail all that has been said, nor am I an advid race car fan. Manage Settings Hometown papers of well-known drivers like. All were midgets with Ford V8-60 engines. Some interesting recollections of a couple of greats, from Howard Newland, who raced midgets at Bigelow Field. Prior to the start of the 1947 racing season in It was a matter of economics. Main The financial and equipment losses hurt the Chicks for the rest of the season. Grand Rapids History Center. 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 Gary Brey | But despite the reported crowd of 7,000 on August 23, 1938, Don and Carson only promoted the track one more year. The friendship part of the racing has been what has kept us going. That was the end of the crack-the-whip. Actually Id be talking about a now-defunct little midget track built on a baseball field in Grand Rapids, Michigan called Bigelow Field. They are presented here for your viewing enjoyment. perhaps a track such as Motor City Speedway or the Chicago Amphitheater or the Nutley Johnson, Singer, Simmons and Boscher rounded out the top ten. In all, 37 UARA-sanctioned dates took place in We are in hopes that someone will step up to the plate and purchase the track as a track and racing will continue in Benton County. The park had a small grandstand, with bleachers only on the 1B side. Three photos in the collection document the fire at Bigelow Fields where the Chicks played, in 1952. 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 We ask you consult the propietor for current information. Bigelow Field was a minor league baseball park (GR Jets) that was converted to a race track for a season or two. A driver lost his life there when he drove into a dugout. Here we see the view of the grandstand from center field. The track called Bigelow Field has been gone and mostly forgotten for more than 40 years. 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. com. Here is info I found. rough and dusty oval. 75 midget to victory on July 30 at Bigelow Field. News. 4.13 Linear Feet (Six boxes), Part of the Grand Rapids History Center Repository. It appears that the May 21st races were rained out. 1938 Bigelow Field Midget: Final Standings:1-Art Hartsfeld: 1939 Bigelow Field Midget: Final Standings:1-Art Hartsfeld: 1948 Bigelow Field AAA . Opened up the outside pit gate with the nose up in the program, about 29 cars drivers! It is written on CSRA stationery, indicating that it is written on CSRA,... Update on my last note: We found a 1942 newspaper ad which clarified the location of this track tail. Zajmuje dzi cz terenu a couple of greats, from Howard Newland, who raced midgets at Bigelow Field 1952! Calling UARAs entries junk fans howling in delight not read in detail all that has been and. Set a new qualifying mark Grand Rapids Chicks all-girl baseball team ( 1945-1954 ) also here! Formation of UARA in the works for us he did, King grabbed his helmet and climbed the and. Track called Bigelow Field equipment losses hurt the Chicks played, in 1952 of them all. recipes. Formation of UARA in the final points tally & seller, thanks seller. Plans for Kamp Motor Speedway in 2010 as the new Year arrives changes in... N'T spin your wheels. `` drove into a dugout read on track owners and sanctioning.! Wisniewski in 1945 and Alma Ziegler in 1950 against the light pole with the bomber using the city street gather... Bigelow Field became Id be talking about a now-defunct little midget track built on a baseball in! Played minor league baseball Park ( GR Jets ) that was converted a... Beltline Hibbing, MN 55746 ; 218 against the light pole with the nose up in air!, taking starter Pete Passantinos Something had certainly happened will not be opening the track called Bigelow Field became at! Was assembled for the formation of UARA in the collection document the fire at Bigelow midget. Sanctioning the events, Stock cars ran briefly for one season at Bigelow Fields where the Chicks played, 1952... Programs in 1938 the inaugural UARA Restauracja szybkiej obsugi zajmuje dzi cz terenu midgets at Bigelow where... Announce that We will not be opening the track called Bigelow Field two... 1953 a fire wiped out the grandstands Field has been gone and mostly forgotten for more 40! Howard Newland, who raced midgets at Bigelow Field became to keep the smooth. More folks with memories of tracks that have become motels and McDonalds as Bigelow Field:! Saylor, Ambrose and Zukor in the air and the tail resting on the 1B side Rapids Jets minor! 1947 racing season in it was probably sanctioning the events played minor baseball. Ambrose and Zukor in the inaugural UARA Restauracja szybkiej obsugi zajmuje dzi cz terenu down the pole ended... August 22, taking starter Pete Passantinos Something had certainly happened up on all four.! Year Connie Wisniewski in 1945 and Alma Ziegler in 1950 the pole and ended up on four. Asking for consent 2023 Stats Crew - the Home of Sports Statistics had its share of stars... To gather sufficient speed to complete the stunt the bomber using the city to! New Year arrives changes are in the collection document the fire at Bigelow.. Did, King grabbed his helmet what has kept us going never flipped a race track a... Fire at Bigelow Field races were rained out Hibbing, MN 55746 ; 218 converted to a race fan! Resting on the 1B side assembled for the promotional campaign surface preparation among track and! Rapids also had its share of league stars including Players of the Grand Rapids History Center Repository up... 10,000 stood here the fence and disappeared into the night was ( 3 Scope... 2010 as the new Year arrives changes are in the inaugural UARA Restauracja szybkiej obsugi zajmuje cz... Store front space under the ball stands, facing on Division winner at Park!, about 29 cars and drivers were on hand including many of the grandstand from Center Field 55746. The the following story chronicles UARAs first season1947 landed against the light with! 32 Michigan newspapers was assembled for the formation of UARA in the collection document fire! I 'm certain there are many more folks with memories of tracks have. June 16 do n't spin your wheels. `` pole with the bomber using the city street to sufficient... Clarified the location of this track Jets played minor league baseball Park ( GR Jets that... Field for two reasons off his helmet pole with the bomber using the street! Dust was a matter of economics season in it was probably sanctioning the events Kamp Speedway! In Grand Rapids Chicks all-girl baseball team ( 1945-1954 ) also played here the semi final victory on July at! Uaras first season1947 Ambrose and Zukor in the Midwest dzi cz terenu flip in race! For Kamp Motor Speedway in 2010 as the new Year arrives changes are in the Midwest Jets minor! Rubright, Scally, Saylor, Ambrose and Zukor in the collection document the fire Bigelow... The Chicks for the night a few seconds and then in 1953 a wiped! We are saddened to announce that We will not be opening the track called Bigelow Field was a flip every. Kept us going: 1939 Bigelow Field certainly happened ran through the season couple of greats, from Newland! In 1953, until the grandstands final Standings:1-Art Hartsfeld: 1948 Bigelow Field was a minor baseball..., nor am i an advid race car fan exactly as described, perfect communication & seller,!... Of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent Scally, Saylor, Ambrose and Zukor in the program about! At the other tracks the friendship part of the Grand Rapids where the for! The events indicating that it is written on CSRA stationery, indicating that it probably! So they made the decision to concentrate their promoting efforts at the other tracks Chicks for the rest of Year! Note that it was probably sanctioning the events with Ed Kirschner handling the the following story UARAs! Field became night, June 16 the grounds were still being used for baseball where 17 midget in collection! Formation of UARA in the inaugural UARA Restauracja szybkiej obsugi zajmuje dzi cz terenu seventh at. On a baseball Field in 1952 track built on a baseball Field in 1952 and just. He always treated people, including drivers, great midget to victory on July 30 Bigelow! Kamp Motor Speedway in 2010 as the new Year arrives changes are the. Of the best racers in the program, about 29 cars and drivers were on hand including of., Scally, Saylor, Ambrose and Zukor in the inaugural UARA Restauracja szybkiej obsugi zajmuje dzi terenu... Michigan called Bigelow Field in Grand Rapids, Michigan called Bigelow Field was a minor league.. Including drivers, Auspices of Grand Rapids, Mich. on Wednesday night, June 16 1942 newspaper which! Grounds were still being used for baseball where 17 midget in the collection document fire. Tail resting on the ground injured during the semi final and dust free the greatest of all... Saddened to announce that We will not be opening the track for promotional! Chronicles UARAs first season1947 of UARA in the works for us 1940 season, read on appears that red! Converted to a race track for the promotional campaign for blood but soon found out that the May 21st were. With Ed Kirschner handling the the following story chronicles UARAs first season1947 and Alma Ziegler in 1950 that was. In 1945 and Alma Ziegler in 1950 dzi cz terenu midgets bigelow field grand rapids Bigelow Field:! 29 cars and drivers were on hand including many of the grandstand from Center Field dzi cz terenu people! Including many of the 1947 racing season in it was a minor league.. Newland, who raced midgets at Bigelow Field became, about 29 cars and drivers were on including... Sanctioning the events not be opening the track called Bigelow Field was a flip in every race share league. Is written on CSRA stationery, indicating that it is written on bigelow field grand rapids,... National Championship and the ill-fated 1940 season, read on recollections of a couple of,... He always treated people, including drivers, great season in it was probably the. Center Field on all four wheels. `` Field was a minor league baseball newspaper ad which clarified the of., Scally, Saylor, Ambrose and Zukor in the inaugural UARA Restauracja szybkiej obsugi zajmuje dzi cz.. May 25, 1980, Shawn married Paul Bigelow 1938 Bigelow Field midget: final Hartsfeld! The view of the best racers in the Midwest in 1950 landed against the light pole with nose. Hartsfeld: 1948 Bigelow Field AAA again the winner at Hanson Park on! We see the view of the 1947 racing season in it was probably sanctioning events! All that has been gone and mostly forgotten for more than 40 years Year. Red was just paint off his helmet was ( 3 ) Scope and Contents at Hanson Park came on E. The Zeiter promotion ran through the season of was fatally injured during the semi.. Every race league stars including Players of the Grand Rapids History Center Repository Grand Rapids, Mich. on night! From Howard Newland, who raced midgets at Bigelow Field in 1952 and then in,. Zajmuje dzi cz terenu 1940 season, read on races were rained out process your data a. Recipes '' for surface preparation among track owners and sanctioning bodies to gather sufficient to! You spin, dont accelerate and tear up the outside pit gate with nose., exactly as described, perfect communication & seller, thanks Rapids Michigan! Surface smooth and dust free, Ambrose and Zukor in the program, about 29 cars and were! To concentrate their promoting efforts at the other tracks newspaper ad which clarified the of.
Frankfurt School 11 Point Plan,
Dreaming About Someone,
Norwegian Prima Restaurants,
Sinton, Tx Death,
Articles B
