LEE MILLINGTON TRIBUTE AND A SPECIAL OFFER AT THE FONDA SPEEDWAY MUSEUM HIGHLIGHT THE APRIL 30 RACING PROGRAM AT FONDA
Story By: RON SZCZERBA / FONDA SPEEDWAY MEDIA Photos By:DAVE DALESANDRO/ RACERSGUIDE.COM
Fonda, NY – April 29, 2016-This Saturday evening April 30 at the “Track of Champions” Fonda Speedway a tribute to Lee Millington will highlight the regular racing program consisting of the modified, sportsman, rookie sportsman, pro stock, and street stock divisions with a start time of 7:30 p.m.
In the introduction to the book, Fonda which was written by Lew Boyd and the late Andy Fusco and edited by Jim Rigney it states: More than anything else, however, Fonda Speedway is a celebration of people – drivers, owners, crews, officials, and fans – who shaped its legacy. And one of those drivers listed was Lee Millington.
Millington was a speed shop owner who resided in Palantine Bridge and drove to two wins in the modified division at Fonda in back to back weeks on 7/18/1970 and 7/25/1970. Those two victories came in a car that was built by Fred Rosner who was assisted in the project by none other than Fonda Speedway legend Dave Lape and Millington.
According to the book Fonda, Lape and Millington drove to Fly Creek each day to assist Rosner in building the yellow and blue #62 coupe for car owner Frank Trinkhaus. Debuting the car mid-season in 1970, Millington was victorious in a thrilling 100-lap event over Pete Corey. The following week Millington won again at Fonda, this time in a 25-lap event.
But the good fortune for Millington and Trinkhaus would turn bad three weeks later when Millington was involved in an accident at Fonda with Bruce “Pee Wee” Griffin during the Fonda 200. Then two weeks after that Millington was involved in a wreck at the State Fair race in Syracuse, NY where he went air born over someone’s wheel in turn three and over the fence.
Back then, fans would stand right next to the fences and Millington came down on top of the spectators killing two people and injuring several others. Everyone was “sick” over the incident and Trinkhaus’ car owning days were over after 18 consecutive years as a weekly Fonda Speedway supporter.
SPECIAL OFFER STARTS THIS SATURDAY AT THE FONDA SPEEDWAY MUSEUM
“We had a very good turn out last Saturday at the museum, I would say right about 100 people,” Jackie Lape said this week. “We have several offers from people who want to share items for a period of time as well as some who plan to donate to the museum so we are pleased and excited with all the interest”
Jackie along with her husband and Fonda Speedway legend Dave Lape and Ed & Betty Biittig are taking over the reins of the museum this year in the hopes of making it a place that fans will visit before the racing program begins at Fonda on a Saturday evening.
Fonda Speedway promoter Pete Demitraszek announced this week that a grandstand ticket giveaway will be given away each week to a lucky fan who visits the museum. In an effort to encourage fans to visit the Fonda Speedway Museum, Demitraszek has decided to conduct a free weekly raffle. Each museum visitor between 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. will receive a raffle ticket for a chance to win a free grandstand pass for the following week at Fonda with the drawing taking place during the evenings racing program.
It is hoped that increasing the number of visitors will also help gather additional museum display items. Many first week visitors to the museum asked and are now planning to bring in their Fonda Speedway memorabilia to the museum to share with the whole racing community. There are plans for several new displays, including Bill Wimble, Pete Corey, and Steve Danish, to name a few.
For more information about the Fonda Speedway you can go to their website www.fondaspeedway.com
