G05.23.10_SUM_055_UNK_195S

Photo ID #	G05.23.10_SUM_055_UNK_1950S_1
Car #:	#
Driver (s) :	Georgie Moore
Location:	Alcyon
Date:	1955
Photographer:	Walter Chernokal
Photo provided by:	Russ Dodge
Comments:	Senior Moment From Russ Dodge: The Summer of 1955 Looking at this photo, though I've used it before somewhere I think, started the old mind wondering. Here are some of the stories that this photo presents. I use the term stories instead of memories because I wasn't in racing until 2 years after this was taken however, some memories do come from meeting several of those pictured later on in life. Georgie Moore holds his trophy after winning a July feature at Alcyon Speedway in Pitman, N.J. Yes, he was referred to as "Georgie" and not George, by those I heard talk about him. He was a good local driver who raced and won at Alcyon, Atco and Pleasantville Speedways. His ride for this win was owned by Dutch Maulk standing on the right and a guy named "Shep" Sheppard, not pictured. Dutch, besides being a car owner, would partner up with his mechanic Sonny Dornberger and open the South Jersey Speed Shop for a short period of time. Later on Dutch owned and operated Maulk Motors in Woodbury and George Wingate, pictured on the left, would sell cars for him for a while. The friendship between Maulk and Wingate would remain for years, going into the days of Wingate Reality and George's promotion of Bridgeport Speedway. I was in the garage of Bob and Adam Schwegel in Millville, N.J. one night, watching as Adam assembled a new Chevy engine for their #77 Modified. A guy came in, who I had never seen before, and started talking "Chevy engines" with Adam. It was like a "Mensa" meeting being conducted in a room filled with cigarette smoke. One would ask a question, the other would answer and then ad on a "but this would happen", leading into another question! Technical question on rollers, clearances, lifts, compressions, etc. went on for close to an hour. It was cool to watch as two sharp minds pushed the other with questions trying to "stump" each other. When the guy left the garage I asked Adam who was the man and Adam responded, "That's Shep, He used to own stock cars and is one of the sharpest engine men you will ever meet!" I know Sonny Dornberger had a great deal of respect for the Beach brothers from Woodbury, N.J. who were referred to in last Senior Moments and now there's a connection to Shep Sheppard on this Maulk 52 car. It's interesting study the connections and see how knowledge is spread and gathered by those in this sport. George Wingate, pictured here as a member of the pit crew, would follow his dream and become promoter of Bridgeport Speedway in the late 1970's and early 1980's. As someone who worked with him at the speedway I want to say that no one worked harder and against more adversity than anyone should have to endure. His greatest detriment was that he was too much of a fan and it sometimes influenced his decision making. However again, no one ever tried harder than George. Senior Moment By: Russ Dodge

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Date:	Visitor's Name:	Comment:
05.23.10	3Wide	You got me thinking once again Russ, which is a sign of a great story (above) 'cause its not that easy to get me thinking early on a Sunday Morning!.... Sorry to say that I didn't get to meet any of the people that you speak so highly of in the above photo, but I can understand the concept of "Stories and Memories" and the impact it all has on us. So much of this sport - YES, EVEN TODAY'S SPORT, links back to the "pioneers"... I'd love to walk through the pits at Bridgeport, or New Egypt some Saturday Night with you and I'll bet that with your knowledge of the 50's to current day, and my knowledge of the last few decades, I'll bet we could find some link to the past on at least 75% of the cars in the pits... (So and so's grandfather raced... or the name on a side of a car is a business that sponsored so and so... etc...) I sometimes wonder if anyone else out there makes those connections to the past, but I probably don't really want to know the answer... My guess is that those of us who care about those things..., who feel that their is some importance to upholding the continuity of the sport from the past to the present... are a rare breed....
05.24.10	Tom Bilger	I was fortunate enough to live right around the corner when Dutch and Sonny opened the South Jersey Speed and Sport Shop on "old Broadway" in Westville. As a teenager I had the opportunity to meet all the guys in this picture ,plus many more including Otto Harwi, Jackie McLaughlin, Budd Olson and Mike Magill. I watched as the "999", "666" and the "333" were built. One of the saddest days of my life was the day I watched Sonny put a padlock on the shop door and when he told me that it was permanently closed. Tom Bilger, Spokane,Wa
05.25.10	Ralph Richards, Jr.	Looking at this photo with a rugged looking George Wingate in it reminds me of the times George would tell me about Jackie McLaughlin and Jackie Hamilton asking him to go to the bar with them after the races in case a fight broke out. He said he didn't mind because the third best looking woman there was better than any he could get on his own. Considering both the Jackie's would get the two best lookers. George was a great story teller and boy did he have them.