RPW Exclusive: Fonda’s Hall OF Fame & Museum; Place Where Fans Become Friends, Then Part Of The Racing Family

Column By: RAY ROGERS / RPW – FONDA, NY – Three years ago, when I first stepped into the Fonda Speedway Museum, it was not much more than an empty room with a few photos on the walls and a few vintage race cars. Since then, under the guidance of Dave and Jackie Lape, it has become part of the racing experience at ‘The Track of Champions.’

There’s something for everyone at the Museum who is a fan of the speedway and its rich history. This weekend, the Hall holds its annual induction ceremonies, celebrating those whose contributions helped make Fonda what it is today.

Legendary track announcer Jim King will emcee the event and be in the tower for the night, calling all the racing action…just another reason that makes this a special weekend.

The 2018 Fonda Speedway Hall of Fame Driver inductees include:

• 1956 track champion Don Hinderburgh. Tragically, Hinderburgh lost his life in 1957 but has been remembered fondly for many years.
• Harvy Brundage, the 1972 Late Model track champion, who is ninth on the all-time late-model win list, also competed in the Modified division.
• Todd Hoffman, who holds four consecutive Pro Stock track championships between 1985 and 1988. has 51 career division wins to his credit at the track.
• Norm Moyer, a veteran of World War II, was a fixture in the realm of NASCAR racing and dirt racing in the Late Model and Modified divisions at Fonda, as well as many other tracks in the northeast.
• Bob Van Aernam collected 29 wins along with two track championships at Fonda. He was in the process of defending his second and subsequently final title when he suddenly passed away in May of 2005.
• Bob Vedder was a Utica-Rome track champion who became a Fonda regular. He competed weekly at the ‘Track of Champions’ and was a fan-favorite until his retirement in 2017.

The 2018 car owners to be inducted include:

• Bob and Karolann Grimm, who’s “Kar Kare Specials,” were piloted by the likes of seven-time Modified track champion Dave Lape and 1981 Late Model champion Randy Glenski.
• Bob Simski had great drivers like Lazzaro and Glenski as part of his racing stable at one point or another. But Simski was best known for his partnership with C.D. Coville that earned him his greatest achievement, victory in the 1983 Eastern States 200 victory at OCFS.
• Tommy Spencer; From Ray Dalmata to A.J. Romano, Tim Clemons to Chad Edwards, Spencer-owned race cars have consistently been a competitive threat week after week and season after season. Tommy has become one of Fonda’s all-time biggest supporters.

The 2018 Track Contributor Inductee is Junior Blanco. Junior was one of the Lou Lazzaro’s closest friends and crew member who was at just about every race the “Monk” competed in. His dedication to racing played a role in the career of one of Fonda’s greats.

This year’s Track Personal Inductees include:

• Russ Berg. Berg, who was Fonda’s first track photographer from 1953 to 1973, has captured some of the most iconic images of the ‘Track of Champions’ some of which are on display in the Museum today.
• Fonda’s “Dirt Track Guardian Angel,” EMT Terri Mohrman, has gone above and beyond to make sure drivers health and safety is maintained at the track with compassion and a smile. I know I feel better knowing she at the track.

The Bill Fake Track Pioneer for 2018 is Bob Whitbeck. Whitbeck is the Godfather of racecar builders in the Mohawk Valley and really needs no introduction to the Fonda faithful.

The 3rd Annual Bruce Dostal Dedication to the Fonda Speedway Museum award recipients are:

• Brian Hanaburgh
• Ed & Betty Biittig
• Myself (Something I’m extremely proud of)

Everything kicks off this Saturday at around 3pm when the Museum opens its doors for fans and family of this year’s Hall of Fame Inductees. Ceremonies are set to begin at 4pm so come out and help honor some of the great people who helped make the Fonda Speedway the”The Track of Champions”.

Another great attraction at the museum this weekend is the return of the Mowhak Valley Vintage Dirt Modified Series car show. All the stars and cars of the MVVDMS will be on display in front of the museum so stop by and check out some super cool vintage machines that will compete later that evening on the historic half-mile.

The Fonda Speedway Hall of Fame and Museum is Not-For Profit and has been able to keep the doors open due to small donations from fans and help from the Museum faithful like Randy Colegrove, with the simple goal of preserving the speedway’s history for the generations to come.

In order to continue to improve and grow the museum, it takes funding, so they have come up with some great ways for fans to get involved and help the Museum continue to keep the lights on so to speak.

How about a chance to win $500, or a sweet Hoosier tailgating grill. Perhaps you would like to ride ‘shotgun’ in Joe Millington’s Jumpin Jack 12a tribute car and lead the Super DIRTcar field off pit road and down the front stretch for “the Jack” on Wednesday, August 1st? These are just a few ways you can help…by buying a raffle ticket. Simply stop by the museum and visit the merchandise table to pick one up and enter for your chance to win some great prizes and help preserve our rich racing history in the Mohawk Valley.

If you’re unable to make it out for the Inductions ceremonies Saturday, but plan to come out for “The Jack” on Wednesday, the Museum has a special treat for you. The legendary” Hot Shoe” Gary Balough will be on hand for the final stop on his Book Signing tour, presented by Halmar International. Make sure you stop by and get a signed copy of Gary’s new book HOT SHOE, A Checkered past; My Story. Balough’s famous Batmobile will also be on hand for fans to get an up-close look at the machine that changed our sport forever.

The Fonda Speedway Hall of Fame and Museum is open to fans every Saturday from 3:30pm until feature time so make sure you stop and check things out. You will be glad you did.

Over the past three years, the Museum has become like home to me. I look forward to going back every week and I’m sure that Bruce Dostal is smiling down on us, very proud of what the Museum he started has become. It’s a place where legends are celebrated and history comes back to life…a place where fans become friends and then part of the family.

Remember folks…keep the racing on the track and I hope to see you all at the Fonda Speedway!