H09.18.11_088_009_HAG_0055S

Photo ID #	H09.18.11_088_009_HAG_0055S_1
Car #:	#88 & #9
Driver (s) :	Ralph Smith & Glenn Guthrie
Location:	Hagerstown MD
Date:	1955
Photographer:	Earl Nost
Photo provided by:	Larry Jendras Jr & Russ Dodge
Comments:	Senior Moment From Larry Jendras Jr: Sometimes a candid shot at the race track turns out to be one of the most memorable. This happened as photographer Earl Nost walked into the infield pits at Hagerstown Raceway and caught car owner George Heffner (foot on front tire) talking with his ace engine builder, Bob Wallace. Bob smiles for the camera as he sees Earl heading their way. To the right is driver Glenn Guthrie sitting in the great looking Dobson #9 relaxing with a drink before the day's events. Back then, just towing from Baltimore to Hagerstown was an adventure. George's potent #88 Putty Hill Special out of Baltimore and his driver Ralph Smith, were tearing up the competition at Hagerstown in 1955. Heffner and Wallace had told me how they won something like 12 straight races there in 1955. While results are sketchy for that season, it does seems they won the bulk of the races after July 4th with a $100 bounty being placed. As of Sept. 3rd, no other driver had claimed it. Hagerstown races were sanctioned by Free State Stock Car club in 1955, the reason for so many Baltimore cars. Winners were Johnny Stevens (Joe Haas), Ray Kable, Pee Wee Pobletts, Ralph and Glenn. The owner of Glenn's #9 was Free State official Bill Dobson. Together they had success racing all the Free State events and also traveling to Delaware tracks. When Glenn moved on to the #118, Carl Henderson would take over the #9 and stay in it for many years. Baltimore racers, photographers and fans still make the trip to Hagerstown, only it is a lot easier drive.

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Date:	Visitor's Name:	Comment:
09.22.11	George Gwynn	As a youngster, one of my all time favorite modifieds was a later version of the red and white Putty Hill #88. It was more cut down than the version shown here and it had those red and yellow flames painted on the cowling extending back towards those beautiful red numerals which were painted further back toward the rear fenders. Ed Lindsey was the driver and like Ralphie Smith was an instant and consistent winner where ever the #88 raced. As a kid, I was attending races at Georgetown, Pitman, the original Delmar Speedway, Mason Dixon, in Oxford, PA and Wilmington Speedway. The Baltimore gang were frequent racers at these venues and I was a happy kid every time the beautiful red and white #88 appeared at the speedway. George Gwynn Frederick, MD