Cars from Throughout New England’s Racing Past to be Showcased at Thompson Speedway’s Historic Oval Invitational
Story By: THERESA CONDICT / TSMP MEDIA Photos By: TSMP PHOTO / RACERSGUIDE PHOTO FILES
THOMPSON, CT – May 10, 2016- The Historic Oval Invitational will take to the 5/8 mile high-banked oval at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park for its second year running, on Friday May 13 and Saturday May 14. This two-day event features a wide range of race cars from the 20th century, many that have run at the famed Speedway throughout its 76-year history, including Midgets, Sprint cars, TQ Midgets, Super Modifieds, Champ Cars, Vintage Outlaws, Stock Cars and more.
Car owner, John Stavola, will be bringing a 1947 Midget (#47), to be driven by Jake Jacobeit. The car was previously owned and raced in many vintage races by Lou Fray, an avid midget competitor, who raced for four decades and earned victories in ARA, ARDC, NASCAR, NorthEastern Midget Association (NEMA) and the Super Midget Racing Club (SMR). Although retiring in the 1980’s, he became a trustee of the Atlantic Coast Old Timers club (ACOT) and continued racing in the #47 car around the East coast. When Stavola bought the car from Lou’s widow, Shirley Fray, he promised to keep the number as a tribute to its former driver.
Another car with a rich history that will be running at this weekend’s event is the #52 Sportsman car owned and driven by Rick Evon. A lifelong racing and automotive enthusiast, Evon has been racing much of his life, even moving across the country to pursue it when his local track closed 30 years ago. When he returned to the Danbury, CT area in the late 1980’s, he decided to find a car he could restore and race, which ended up being the rusty frame of what is now the #52. Only after restoring it did he realize that he owned a piece of history from his former hometrack, the Danbury Racearena. The frame ended up being part of the car that was driven to victory by Sean Donnelly in the last race at the Racearena before it closed in 1981. Since then, Evon has been regularly driving the car in vintage races at New Hampshire Motor Speedway and Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park.
These cars and many more will be on track for two full days of action at Thompson on Friday and Saturday, May 13-14. The Historic Oval Invitational will also feature a Hot Rod & Classic Car Show on Saturday from 10AM – 2PM, open to any Hot Rods, vintage race cars, muscle cars or classic cars. A Fan’s Choice award will be presented at the end of the show to the vehicle with the most votes.
For more information about the Historic Oval Invitational or to buy tickets to the event, visit the Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park website www.thompsonspeedway.com, or call the office at 860-923-2280.
