d05.25.07_004_BAT_OLD_0050F.jpg (102206 bytes)

Photo ID # d05.25.07_004_BAT_OLD_0050F
Car #: #4
Driver (s) : Tony Battle
Location: Old Bridge, NJ
Date: 1950's?
Photographer: Ace Lane Sr.
Photo provided by: Jon Battaglia
Comments: Comment from Jon:  This is a picture of my dad, Tony Battle in an early Matt McMann coupe,   The photo is probably from the mid to late 50s.  it looks like an asphalt car.   thanx for a great site, J Battaglia
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Comment:

05/27/07 Herb Classy guy Tony.  Remember him in the #199 at Hinchcliffe Stadium. 1950.
08/12/07 David Battaglia THE LAST TIME I SAW MY FATHER DRIVE A STOCK CAR WAS AT WALL STADIUM IN THE LATE 60's. HIS NAME: TONY BATTLE .

HE HAD JUST PURCHASED THE LATE JACK HART'S CAR AND IT WAS ONE OF THE FIRST TIMES HE OWNED HIS OWN CAR.  I REMEMBER SEEING THE OLD RED HEART FROM OF HIS CAR AND IT WAS IN THE CORNER OF THE GARAGE HE WAS RENTING. HE TOLD ME HE WAS GOING TO RETURN IT TO HIS WIDOW.

HE DROVE FOR MANY QWNERS OVER THE YEARS AND DROVE MATTY MCMANN'S FAMOUS PURPLE #4 FOR A SHORT TIME BEFORE TOMMY ELLIOT DROVE IT.

HE ALWAYS CAME TO SEE ME AND MY BROTHER AT THE FENCE OF THE PIT AND THE STANDS BEFORE EACH RACE STARTED. HE KNEW HE'D FIND US THERE RACING OUR LITTLE PLASTIC RACE CARS DOWN THE STAIRS.

AS I REMEMBER AS A CHILD HIM AND PARKER BOHN GOT INTO A SCUFFLE ONE NIGHT AND HE CAME HOME LATE AFTER A RACE WITH A REAL DARK SHINER AND IT SCARED ME AT FIRST. HE LEANED DOWN OVER THE BED AND RUBBED HIS 5 O'CLOCK SHADOW ON MY FACE AND SAID " DON'T WORRY ABOUT MY EYE. YOU SHOULD SEE THE OTHER GUY."

THIS NIGHT IMPARTICULAR HE WAS DRIVING HIS BLUE # 3 FOR THE FIRST TIME. LATER IN THE MAIN EVENT THERE WAS A TERRIFIC CRASH BETWEEN THE FIRST AND SECOND TURN. ONE CAR WAS JETTISONED HIGH OVER THE FENCE AND EVERYONE
SCREAMED " WHO WAS IT?".

UP STANDS MY MY GRANDMOTHER. SHE NEVER MISSED A THING. SHE STANDS UP AND SCREAMS, "IT'S TOMMY ELLIOT. WHAT ARE YOU ALL....BLIND."

SURE ENOUGH SHE WAS RIGHT. IT WAS THE XL-1 AND THE ONLY TIME I REMEMBER EVER SEEING A CAR GO THAT FAR IN THE AIR OVER THE WALL AT ANY TRACK.  HE GOT A STANDING OVATION AS HE WALKED BACK ONTO THE TRACK.

THE NEXT TIME I WENT TO WALL WAS MANY YEARS LATER AND THEY ANNOUNCED OVER THE LOUDSPEAKER THAT TOMMY ELLIOT HAD PASSED AWAY THAT DAY.

MY FATHER TONY BATTLE "BATTAGLIA" PASSED AWAY IN FLORDA AFTER A LONG BOUT WITH CANCER 1981. HE "BATTLED" ALL THE WAY TO THE END AS HE DID ON THE TRACK.

SAD TO LOSE A FATHER AND A CHILDHOOD HERO.
02/28/08 Ronald & Terance Kelleher Your Dad was a GREAT GUY! I was a young boy but when in the pits he was wonderful always listened to my questions and answered.  He made me feel like an adult.
     
     
     

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