All Star
League
by Dwight
Clock
Back in the mid sixties modified racing
flourished in the Northeast. Tracks were everywhere, dirt & asphalt.
There were many star drivers. Every region had a number of top notch
leadfoots. So in 1967 Islip promoter Larry Mendolsohn and his business
partner Lou Figari formed the All-Star League.
The format was simple. Eight tracks, four paved and four
dirt, were selected to host either a Tuesday or Wednesday night 100
lapper between June and August. Each track would select 3 drivers for
their team. These drivers would be guaranteed starters. Heats would be
run for any and all comers to fill the remaining 6 of the 30 starting
spots. Points would be totaled both for teams and individual drivers to
determine champions. The real winners would be the fans who would get to
see drivers that previously they could only read about. For example,
Islip fans could see Frankie Schneider, Lou Lazzaro, and Bugsy Stevens.
Nazareth fans got to watch Fred Harbach, Ed Flemke, and Bill Greco.
Photo Courtesy of
Himes Museum
The very first All-Star League race was held at the
Albany-Saratoga Speedway in June of 1967 and was won by Long Island's
Fred Harbach in his familiar X89. Legendary dirt racer Frankie Schneider
dominated the clay tracks in the early days of the League winning at
Nazareth and Flemington. After the first couple of seasons there were
two championship races added.
One was a 100 miler at the 1 1/8 mile Nazareth National
Speedway which later became the site of the one mile paved track up the
hill from the 1/2 mile dirt. The other was a 300 lapper at Islip. Jim
Landry from New Hampshire was the winner of the first 300 at Islip and
was so worn out that, after taking the checker, he pulled into the
infield on the backstretch and was given oxygen before going to victory
lane. His winners interview was conducted with him sitting on the nerf
bar of his car! Other winners of the 300 at Islip included the one and
only Richie Evans and Lou Lazzaro, the "Monk" from Utica, N.Y. 1973 was
the last year for the All-Star League but it's memories live on. In a
future "Turning Back the Clock" I will tell of the All-Star League 100
at Islip that featured a classic battle between Chargin' Charlie
Jarzombek and Buzzie Reutiman. What a night!
Dwight
THE END
Source: Dwight
Clock/LongIslandJam.com
Posted:
January 23, 2007