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Senior Moment by: Russ Dodge:
A Polaroid Moment!
A Polaroid camera captured this neat candid shot in
the back yard of Williams Auto Parts in Vineland, N.J. The reconstruction of
the front end of the famous Neal Williams owned 44, is under way.
Certainly glad to see cutting goggles are being used. Safety first! How
about that frame jig (jack stands, cinderblock and some two-by-fours) as
good as any Bear Alignment equipment!
In all seriousness, what a story this tells. For those who never had the
opportunity to see this car run with Al Tasnady driving, you missed a thrill
of a life time. This car would be considered a premier ride in its day and
with Al at the wheel, the 1959 modified championship at Flemington was
achieved.
Please condone one special memory! One Saturday night in 1959, the 44
wasn’t in the pits at Flemington. The buzz in the covered grandstand was
that Al wrecked the 44 at Alcyon Speedway Friday night and he was bringing
out a new car this night. The Hobby stocks ran their races, the
modified/sportsman heats were completed and no Tasnady. After a
lengthily intermission the consi line-up was called.
All of the sudden the crowd on the backstretch bleachers began to cheer.
From the covered grandstands, headlights were seen coming up over the hill
in the back and stop at the back track gate. The international red paint on
the ’37 Ford sedan up on a trailer was gleaming under the lights. However,
instead of coming across the track towards the infield, the pick-up and
trailer turned and came around the track, stopping on the home stretch in
front of the grandstand. Neal Williams and the crew unloaded the car, as the
consi cars come onto the track. The grandstand roared as Al climbed into the
44!
Starting in the rear of the field he won the consi and from the consi cars
starting position in the feature, he took that checkered also!
A little “favoritism” never hurts! What a Senior Moment from this
Polaroid snap-shot! Senior Moment by Russ Dodge |