The crowd — one of the largest to ever attend a Center Conversation — began arriving early for the opportunity to see the legendary Purdy Deuce supermodified “up close and personal”. The Deuce will next head off to driver Bentley Warren’s “Bentley’s Saloon” in Arundel, Maine for display for the balance of the year. Photographers Chris Burgess and Don Edds had tables with photographs of competition at Oswego Speedway and artist Jim Walker brought some of his artwork for display as well. Master model builder, Tom Clark brought his partially finished 1:18 scale model of the Deuce as well as the iconic rear engine Jim Shampine supermodified for display.
The Steel Palace, Oswego Speedway (FULL LENGTH)
Our morning session took place in the Center, around the car, and was moderated by Roy Sova. The gentlemen who were instrumental in the car’s restoration Steve Miller, Doug Holmes, and Lee Osborne talked about restoring a car that had sat dormant for 40+ years. The only 2 drivers still living who drove the car, Bentley Warren and Warren Coniam, gave their thoughts on Howard Purdy and what made the Deuce such a unique car to drive
Roy also did a short segment with Bob and Nancy Hodgson and Mrs. Purdy in the auditorium before the start of the main program, getting their memories of working on and racing the car.
The “main show” began at 1p.m. with a 13-minute video showing the history of the track. After the video, Dick O’Brien who was the PR person as well as manager at the Speedway for 40+ years spoke to the early history of the track and perhaps the single most important decision that was made in the early 1950’s, the decision to have supermodifieds as the only class of car racing at the track. He also told a great story of Mario Andretti racing at the track, but only after he first received the $1000.00 he had been promised for “transportation expenses.”
After Dick’s presentation, the drivers were on stage. Bentley Warren, Warren Coniam, Eddie and Brandon Bellinger, Alison Sload (the only woman to win a supermodified feature), Otto Sitterly, Dave Danzer, and car owner/promoter John Nicotra spent the next 90 minutes answering a wide variety of questions posed to them by Roy Sova. The questions were great; eliciting responses that were funny, insightful, and gave the audience a bit of insight into each person AS a person.
Two supermodfieds were on display courtesy of Craig Danzer and Perry Adams. The Danzer car won the International Classic last year and Perry’s car was a Steve Miller machine from the 1970s, proving a fitting retrospective look at the evolution of the cars throughout the decades.
The next Center Conversation, “The Greatest Corvette Story Ever Told”, will be held on June 22nd at 6:00PM featuring The Camoradi #4 Corvette and its participation in the 1960 24 Hours of Le Mans, moderated by Richard Prince, Dominic Testa, and Chuck Schroedel.