By Larry Ott – republished courtesy of AARN, with permission.
The history of Supermodified racing and the Oswego (NY) Speedway came alive on May 11 when the International Motor Racing Research Center in Watkins Glen hosted one of their “Conversation Series” events entitled “Oswego Supers: A Legacy of Speed at The Steel Palace”.
The event which drew a large gathering of around 200 people was a thoroughly informative and entertaining two hour program that began with a video presentation on the history of the Oswego Speedway and the Supermodified type of race car.
Following the video the program also included an on-stage question/answer session with a panel of experts including those from Oswego and Supermodified racing’s past and present. That portion of the day was moderated by veteran Oswego Speedway announcer Roy Sova.
Included in the afternoon program panel group was retired driving legends Warren Coniam, Eddie Bellinger Jr. and Bentley Warren. Current competitors featured included Dave Danzer, Brandon Bellinger, Alison Sload and Otto Sitterly. Sload is the only female to have ever won a Supermodified feature at Oswego. Rounding out the afternoon panel was car owner John Nicotra. Also speaking was retired Oswego Speedway official Dick O’Brien. There also was a morning panel session that featured Sova, Coniam, Warren, Doug Holmes, Steve Miller and Lee Osborne. Also speaking were Mrs. Purdy as well as Bob and Nancy Hodgson.
All those on the panel proved knowledgeable and entertaining. They often told humorous tales from their respective careers as well as offering tremendous insight into various aspects of the topic of Supermodified competition. Also on display was the legendary Purdy Deuce car, one of the more prominent cars in Supermodified history.
Oswego opened in 1951 and was paved in 1952.
O’BRIEN PRESENTS TALK
Following the video, O’Brien continued the program with a talk on the early days of Oswego Speedway’s history. He was very impressive with his knowledge and enjoyed the experience. “I started at Oswego in 1964,” O’Brien said. “I stayed for the entire Caruso ownership of the race track. That was 2004. So I was there 40 years. I was doing their public relations initially. After a couple of years I took over as promoter and track manager.”
Being at Oswego all those years allowed O’Brien to witness and offer personal reflection on the growth of the technology, status and popularity of both Oswego Speedway and the Supermodified division as the history rolled along throughout the decades. “I was a fan back in the 1950’s,” O’Brien recalled. “My dad brought me up from Auburn (NY) and I loved the “A” and the “B” stock cars. Then I was there when the transition was made in 1961 to Supermodifieds. Then once I got involved with the operation, Harry (Caruso) hired me and it went on from there.
“We brought in USAC and the modern day Modifieds, ASA and created the annual International Classic, obviously the biggest and most prestigious Supermodified show anywhere, anytime. “It’s not quite like it used to be but nothing is these days. With the cost of cars, the cost of tickets and this and that, things have changed but it’s still there and it’s still 200 laps with no stages. It’s just about cranking it up for 200 laps. You have to take care of business to win it at The Steel Palace.”
O’Brien stressed that he had a stellar relationship with the original Oswego track founders/owners/promoters the late brothers Harry, Bill and George Caruso Sr. “Harry was the eldest brother and he was the Godfather at Oswego,” O’Brien said. “He was up in the tower and Bill was the chief inspector. George Sr. was the concession man. He’s the man who introduced those world famous Hofmann hot dogs to Oswego Speedway.
“It’s hard to pick out a single favorite memory for me from my years at Oswego. The main thing is when I went up there as a promoter you’re involved in a lot of close shaves and there’s some heated discussions and rules changes. Basically I remained friends with both sides of the deal by trying to be fair but consistent. That’s all it was. “I still keep up with Oswego. I was asked a few years ago to write for the Syracuse Post Standard (NY) newspaper. I cover racing and I still like going to the races. I’ve had a great run. I’m 82 now and I hope I got a few more laps left in me.”
WARREN HAS MEMORIES
Warren is a race driving legend who among his many racing accomplishments is a seven time Oswego champion and a six time winner of the International Classic. The IMRRC event brought back many memories for him. Warren spends much of his time these days operating his business Bentley’s Saloon in Arundel, Maine. The grounds there also host a museum featuring his racing memorabilia, race cars, vintage cars, classic cars and motorcycles. “I definitely enjoyed this event today,” Warren said. “I think everybody else did
today also. I loved it.”
When asked what meant more to him, either the seven championships or the six International Classis wins, Warren had an interesting response. “Actually like everybody said up on the stage today, it was just so much fun just to win anything and anytime you could,” Warren said. “That’s the whole reason you go to a race track is to win. I last drove several years ago at Oxford Plains Speedway in a Supermodified. I did it just to help ISMA out and the track.”
Warren recalled his indoor TQ Midget racing days when he competed in those events at the Niagara Falls (NY) Convention Center. He even recalled the time at Niagara Falls he climbed up a ladder and went through a hatch onto the roof of the convention center to get a breather. No one at the time could believe he did that. “I drove Harry Macy’s car and it was always fun,” Warren said. “It was a good car and a lot of fun to go there. As far as going up onto that roof I was having trouble breathing and I guess I went up there to get some fresh air! “I still go to some races. I’m going to Indy. I’m going to the “Little 500”. I’ll be at Oswego for a couple and probably go to Oxford Plains when they have the
Supermodifieds up there.”
SOVA’S VOICE STILL HEARD
When Oswego opens its gates in 2024 Sova will man the race announcer’s microphone for his 58 th season. He has had the very unique longtime experience of announcing Oswego history as it’s happened to those in the grandstand. He truly has seen and announced it all. He’s brought the stories to the fans. “I’ve been announcing there for 58 years but I started going to Oswego when I was seven years old and my uncle owned a race car,” Sova replied. “That’s how I got into racing to start. “Up there on that stage today at this IMRRC event we had three to four generations up there from Bentley Warren to Dave Danzer and Brandon Bellinger. It was a great example of all the racing that’s gone on at Oswego. It’s just a great group of guys along with Alison.”
In addition to still enjoying his announcer duty at Oswego, Sova is also currently serving in the same role at Penn-Can (PA) Speedway. He has retained his deep passion for the sport. “I don’t think my passion for the sport is something I’ll ever lose,” Sova said. “I commuted for ten years from North Carolina to Oswego. I’m still announcing at two tracks including Penn-Can in Pennsylvania on Friday nights plus Oswego on Saturday night.
“I currently live in Oswego now. Here’s a funny story. I’m from Oswego. The year I started announcing at the track was the year I moved out of Oswego and that’s the next closest place I’ve been which is Ithaca (NY). I’ve been all over New York State, North Carolina and Cape Cod. It’s been my business world.”
DANZER AMONG CURRENT SUPER STARS
Danzer not only participated in the panel discussion but also had his Supermodified on display in the IMRRC’s parking lot at the event. He emerged victorious in 2024 in both the International Classic as well as the Open Wheel Showdown in Las Vegas. Danzer appreciated being seated on the stage alongside some of the biggest legends of Oswego and Supermodified racing history as well as his current day racing peers.
Danzer is helping to carrying on the Supermodified tradition passed on from those who came before him. “I was born in 1987 and my first International Classic was 1990,” Danzer said. “My dad got into it back in 1986. It’s all we’ve done every summer is taking care of a Supermodified. I’ve never had a year where we weren’t doing it. So I was born into this.
“I think the history of Oswego back then was a little bit bigger then it is now. It’s just because the competition back then was so fierce. Our series is hurting a little bit right now. But this type of stuff like having this event at this research center today will help take Supermodifieds back to where it once was. It’s where we need to go. We need more people interested in this.”
ZEITER SAYS CONVERSATION SERIES IS IMPORTANT
The mission of the IMRRC is to promote and preserve the history of all motorsports venues and types. The “Conversation Series” programs that the IMRRC presents at various times during the year are a true treasure because these presentations not only educate about the history of the sport but usually involve those who have had a key role in making that history.
In other words, these programs bring racing history to life. Kip Zeiter is the IMRRC’s Coordinator of Visitor Services/Outreach. He was pleased with the way the May 11 event turned out. He also knows the importance and value of the “Conversation Series” programs. “The whole purpose of this IMRRC which started 26 years ago was to preserve motor racing history,” Zeiter said. “This is a very important way that we do that with these public events where we can get some of the people that made the history such as in this particular case with the history of Oswego Speedway. “Today we had the legends of yesteryear and we had the interim people like Otto Sittley and we had the young guns of today with Brandon Bellinger, Dave Danzer and Alison Sload. “I thought the whole program today was terrific. I didn’t want it to end. I thought everyone involved today did a wonderful job and I also thank all those from the public who came here today as well.
By ROY SOVA – republished courtesy of Oswego Speedway, with permission.
I got involved in this a month or so ago. Kip Zeiter, the Visitor Services Coordinator at the International Motor Racing Research Center in Watkins Glen, asked me to MC the panel discussion. Together we worked on how big the panel should be, it ended up being bigger than we had originally wanted, and who should be on the panel. The 8 people we decided on, Alison Sload, Bentley Warren, Brandon Bellinger, Dave Danzer, Eddie Bellinger, John Nicotra, Otto Sitterly and Warren Coniam turned out to be a just about perfect mix of veteran Hall of Fame drivers, current winning drivers, drivers early in their career, and a top car owner.
The original plan was to have people who were former drivers of the car, and those involved in the restoration of the Purdy Deuce, an iconic car at the track, be a part of that panel, but we soon realized it would be too much. So a second panel was set up. That panel included drivers Bentley Warren and Warren Coniam, and men involved in the restoration of the car, Doug Holmes, Lee Osborne and Steve Miller.
At the last minute, a third panel was set up to talk to people who were involved with the car when it was racing at the Oswego Speedway. That panel included Mary Purdy, wife of car builder and owner Howard Purdy, and Bob and Nancy Hodgson. Bob was a crew member on the car, while Mary took care of feeding the crew.
The discussion on the restoration of the car was held in front of the car. The discussion with Mary and the Hodgsons was held in the elementary school. While neither event was closed to the public, there were few attendees as those events were not widely publicized. Both can be seen on the IMRRC website.
Then came the main event; The panel discussion on racing at the Oswego Speedway. There were over 300 people in the auditorium. I’m told it was one of the biggest, if not the biggest, crowds for an event held there by the IMRRC.
The discussion lasted two hours, and I could have gone on with them for another two hours. Or more. It was, without a doubt, one of the most fun racing things I’ve ever done. The drivers answered questions in detail, but never too long. Other drivers would join in to add to what was said. John talked about his 5 race Challenge Series, and the drivers chimed in with their plans to run it.
Then there was “Eddie B in ‘83.” Wow, just wow! The drivers who finished 1-2-3 in that race, Eddie Bellinger, Warren Coniam, and Bentley Warren, were all on stage. Probably for the first time ever the three were together and talked about the finish of that race. Each driver gave his perspective of what happened the last lap and a half.
Alison Sload talked about being the first woman to win a Supermodified feature, then to finish second to Dave Danzer in the International Classic. Dave talked about that win, and his win at the Open Wheel Showdown in Las Vegas.
Brandon Bellinger talked about being the first ever third generation driver to have all three generations win a Track Championship. Dave talked about the history of his family racing at Oswego. Otto Sitterly talked about how he started at Oswego, his Track Championships and ISMA Championships. John Nicotra and Otto talked about the difficulty of maintaining feature winning race cars.
And all that just touched on the topics covered, the fun, the interaction of those involved. Nobody left the auditorium early. Everybody was involved in the enjoyment of what was happening. I know many of you couldn’t make it, but you can see all three events in their entirety on the IMRRC website.
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.
“Oswego Supers: A Legacy of Speed at The Steel Palace” Featuring special display car The Purdy Deuce
The International Motor Racing Research Center presents a very special Center Conversation event on Saturday, May 11. We’ll discuss the history of the famed Oswego Speedway and the evolution of the unique car that races there – the supermodified.
Learn about the History of Oswego Speedway on this Break/Fix Podcast episode.
The talk will be moderated by Roy Sova, beginning his 58 th year announcing at the track, Dick O’Brien, longtime PR Director, and past and present drivers including Bentley Warren, Warren Coniam, Eddie and Brandon Bellinger, Alison Sload, Otto Sitterly and others will discuss their experiences racing at The Steel Palace.
The legendary Purdy Deuce that competed at the Speedway from 1964-1974, with 25 feature wins, a track championship, and a victory in the 1969 International Classic will be on display courtesy of Chris Purdy.
The Center will open for visitors at 9am on the 11 th and the talk will begin at 1pm. The event is free and open to the public. The IMRRC is located at 610 South Decatur St. in Watkins Glen. Phone number is (607) 535-9044 For more details please contact Kip Zeiter at kip@racingarchives.org