AAA Champ Car race – Syracuse, N.Y. September 8, 1951

Going back in time to September 8, 1951 and the AAA Champ Car race at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse, New York, with me, Tom Avenengo, who was in attendance that day along with my father and brother.

I was a two weeks shy of my 14^th birthday that day.

1951 Syracuse AAA Champ Car race – photos by Jack Lehmann

Yes, the track was quite a bit different back then, as you can see, below.

Notice – the pits are on the track. That’s how they were back then.

Bill Schindler’s # 10 Chapman Special after breaking a RF spindle and causing a race stopping multi-car accident on the 67^th lap. Bill Vukovich stopped to tell the starter that no one could get through the second turn. This was during the fair and huge tents in the infield blocked vision to a good portion of the track. Schindler was placed 8^th after starting 11^th.

The # 34 car of. Harry King. He started 18^th and finished 5^th.

The # 83 of Tommy Hinnershitz. He started 12^th and finished 14^th.

The race was won by Tony Bettenhausen in the Belanger # 99. Second, in the Agajanian # 2 was Walt Faulkner. Third was Bill Vukovich in the John Zink # 4. Eddie Johnson was 4^th in the Iddings # 33. Harry King was 5^th in the Pete Wales # 34. 6^th in the Hopkins # 1 was Henry Banks. Jack McGrath was 7^th in the Hinkle # 9. Bill Schindler was 8^th in the Chapman # 10. Chuck Stevenson in the Bardahl # 8 was 9^th. Buzz Barton in the Ess-A-R-R Engineering # 79 was 10^th. The Leitenberger # 57 was 11^th with Andy Linden in the seat. Manuel Ayulo in the Coast Grain # 31 was 12^th. Duane Carter in the Pat Clancy # 14 was 13^th. Tommy Hinnershitz in the Warke # 83 was 14^th. Paul Russo in the Russo/Nichels # 7 was 15^th. The Bob Estes # 26 was driven by Joe James to 16^th place. Johnnie Parsons in the Milt Marion # 37 was 17^th. Mike Nazaruk driving the Deck Manufacturing # 48 was 18^th.

The top three were the only drivers to complete 67 laps. Fourth thru sixth completed 66 laps. Seventh thru ninth ran only 65 laps, and were involved in the multi-car accident along with the tenth place car which had 64 laps completed.

Bobby Barker, Potsy Goacher and Johnnie Tolan failed to qualify.

Attendance was 60,000. Total purse was $14,918.00. Race was scheduled for 100 laps – 100 miles, but was stopped on the 67^th lap due to a multi-car accident. Bettenhausen was the only leader of the race, leading all 67 laps.

Prior to the race there was a “Fly By” by an F-80 Shooting Star Jet plane. He was going a tad faster than the race cars, that’s for sure!

I have no idea as to just how long it took us to go from Pearl River, N.Y. to Syracuse, but I have to figure we got there via Route 17 West and then Route 11 North, which runs parallel with I-81, today.

I can always be reached, via email, at: ygordad@yahoo.com