BeeLines - June 6, 2018
By Marybelle Beigh, Westfield Town & Village Historian
Coon Road Speedway: PULEEZE, 1950’s Race Enthusiasts – Find That Old Movie!
Did you know, it is just about a month away?
WHAT???!!!???
The beloved, world-famous Westfield Fire Department OX ROAST! That’s WHAT! It is July 8, 2018, from Noon to 6 PM, at Ottaway Park! And this one is expected to be the best ever, because – TA-TA-TA-TA – TA-TA! – You get to share your stories of the Coon Road Speedway with “Racing fans and representatives from the Chautauqua Sports Hall of Fame” [who] will be at the Ox Roast from 1 – 3 PM to talk about Coon Road Speedway!” You are also asked to “Bring your pictures, movies and other racing memorabilia!”
Most folks have heard of the “Three Blind Mice” or the “Three Musketeers” – But you will get to meet the really fun “THREE (Old-Time) SPEEDWAY(S) (of Chautauqua County) RACING-BUFFS” – Randy Anderson, Greg Peterson, and Randy Sweeney – who have researched, interviewed, photographed, collected ephemera, and put together a special video of Westfield’s Coon Road Speedway that will be featured at the Ox Roast.
The only thing they are still missing for this to be a “REALLY BIG SHEW” is for someone – is that YOU? – to bring them an actual movie clip of action at Coon Road Speedway! So, please search your attics and basements and storage sheds and shoeboxes full of those dusty eight-millimeter home movies and find that “gold nugget” that will really make their day!
Faithful readers may recall the three BeeLines articles published last year in November and December, 2017, in which the search for, and findings about, Coon Road Speedway were shared along with several still photos.
Your Westfield Historian was honored to be invited to a recent Rotary Club meeting at which she finally met int person the Three Speedway Racing-Buffs and heard an overview of what they will be sharing at the Ox Roast. Copies of their local speedway videos (DVDs) will also be available.
And if anyone does find an old home movie of Coon Road Speedway, please contact Randy Sweeney by email at: rsweeney788@gmail.com to share this.
Thanks!