DO NOT PRINT, POST OR PUBLISH IMAGES APPEARING IN THE VAULT WITHOUT PERMISSION FROM PHOTOGRAPHER/PHOTOGRAPHER'S FAMILY OR PROVIDER
| Photo ID # | K08.18.14_Ace_Lan_EWS_0069F_1 |
| Car #: | #NA |
| Driver (s) : | Photographer Ace Lane Sr |
| Location: | East Windsor Speedway |
| Date: | 1969 |
| Photographer: | Ruth Ely |
| Photo provided by: | Scott Ely |
| Comments: |
For the fans of Flemington and East Windsor (and Old Bridge... and
more...), from the 50's and beyond... Take a second to think about how
different our ability to remember and enjoy the past would be if it wasn't
for the history that was captured through the lens of Ace Lane Sr. (above)
and his son Ace Lane Jr. Some folks get a little upset because we account for every image posted on our site, and also embed photographer information and provider information out of respect for those who dedicated their time and energy... who often put themselves in harms way just to get that special shot... Who also had to put up the $'s to get back and forth to the speedways - who often came straight home from the races... not getting home until well after midnight, where they would immediately head to the darkroom to process that night's batch of images to either get them ready for sale or to driver them down to AARN to meet the paper's deadline. It took a tremendous amount of dedication. It also took a tremendous amount of skill and artistry as this was still decades before "digital" camera's would allow us amateurs to go out and shoot 250 images on a night with the confidence of knowing that even if 225 came out poorly, we still looked like heroes. And best of all, we don't have to spend money on film, paper, chemicals, etc., and the hours and hours of time.... I am so glad that Scott Ely provided this image that was taken by his mother Ruth Ely in 1969 in the parking lot pit lane entrance. I never got to meet Ace Lane Sr (he passed away at a very young age in 1973) but from spending a lot of time with Ace Jr., I know his sense of humor and I can see it in this picture of Ace's father. It looks like Ace is "hamming" it up for the photo prior to another night of capturing the stars and stories of the day, allowing for us all 45 years later to have images to go along with our memories. I also am glad to see this photo because I don't know if Ace Lane Sr ever got the recognition back in the day, and if he was considered a celebrity within out sport, but I know that's how I feel about Ace Jr... and seeing this photo, I'm thinking that Mrs. Ely recognized the opportunity to take a picture of one of the guy that I could make the case for just might have been one of the top 5 most important people of our sport. When you look at the moments that he captured... the cars... the drivers... the crashes... the photos... the video's... and then you add that he passed that interest and excitement of the sport on to Ace Jr... Ace Jr. not only learned the art from his father but followed it up with additional formal training at Montclair State University. If you ever speak to Ace Jr you'll find that he is a wealth of knowledge of photography, on "film" style camera's and now digital... his understanding of color, and of photography production... and his ability to master software programs (he's shown me a lot of tricks of the trade using Photo Shop and other similar programs.) Over the past few year's John John Lane (the grandson of Ace Lane Sr, and son of Ace Jr has picked up the camera and can now be found with camera at Wall Stadium on race nights as well as capturing various racing events throughout the area. |