Plainville Stadium Reunion A Huge Success

Former drivers & car owners line up for a group photo. Phil Hoyt Photo

(BERLIN, CT.) With the local racing season winding-down, there were plenty of events for fans to attend last Saturday. However, perhaps the biggest show of the weekend focused on a Connecticut ¼-miler that’s been shuttered for nearly three-decades. Joe Tinty’s Plainville Stadium hosted some of the best short-track racing in New England. Thanks to the efforts of the Berlin Lions Club and the Nutmeg Kart Club, a great deal of the excitement was again relived at the “First Annual Plainville Stadium Reunion.”

Throughout the day, a steady-stream of fans of the former oval converged on the Berlin Fairgrounds to meet the drivers that were a staple of the excitement that was “The Stadium”. Along with a host of former “Saturday Night Heroes,” there was an assortment of historical artifacts that included everything from antique race cars to a huge photo selection from official track photographer, Phil Hoyt. Renowned racing photog Steve Kennedy, who got his start at the Stadium as a young shutterbug, was present to record the day’s activities. Media personalities included award-winning racing journalist and New England Auto Racing Hall of Famer member Pete Zanardi as well as the brothers Danko, Gary and Brian.

“This is just one of those “feel-good” events, and proves that Plainville Stadium played a significant role in Connecticut racing history. It’s great that the track is being recognized today,” commented Zanardi.

With machines provided by the Nutmeg Kart Club, two events for former Stadium drivers were staged on the club’s high-banked clay oval located on the grounds of the show. Quite-fittingly, Dave Alkas, the tracks all-time feature and championship winner annexed one event, while it was former regional Modified star and one-time Plainville regular, Sonny O’Sullivan taking the other.

The drivers in attendance read like a competition roster of the track’s history. The Alkas brothers, Dennis Zimmerman, Jap Membrino, Ray Miller, Ronnie Wyckoff, Reggie Ruggerio, Don Moon, NEAR Hall of Famer and former track champ George Lombardo, and the list goes-on. The fact remains that many of those that went-on to become the most-accomplished racers in New England, got their starts at Plainville.

Dave Alkas, Stadium “King” and also a member of the prestigious New England Auto Racing Hall of Fame was one of the primary organizers of the event along with Gary Bienkowski of the Nutmeg Kart Club.

“This has really exceeded all-expectations,” stated Alkas. “To think that after all-these years Plainville Stadium is so fondly-recalled, is almost an emotional experience for those of-us that called it home. Back-then, we were kind of known as a track that was sort-of a rough-place to race with boisterous fans and kind of a rowdy reputation. Today, it proves that a lot of people miss Plainville Stadium. It really was a great track and a fun place to be a part-of. I know I miss it a great-deal,” he said.

By days-end, comments were already circulating on how to make the second edition of the event an even bigger affair.
 

PHOTO GALLERY CLICK ON PHOTOS FOR FULL SIZE

	STEVE KENNEDY PHOTOS
Billy Greco	Reggie Ruggiero with his first original race car.	Don Spazano & Mary Farone of the Farone clan.
Carl Charette (left) Don Moon (Right)	The original Danny Gaudiosi 44	Long time track photographer Phil Hoyt dusted off his Plainville Stadium photos.
Ray Miller & Sonny O'Sullivan	Always smiling Ronnie Wyckoff	Ed Flemke, Jr.
Ray Miller	Jo-Jo Farone (center)	Fred Alkas
The fans dusted off their old jackets
	DAVE DYKES PHOTOS
Zettie Shookus with Ray Miller	Dave Alkas with Dave Dykes (Steve Kennedy Photo)	Bob Mikulak & Ray Miller
	Left to Right George Lombardo, Donna Harman, Pete Zanardi, Billy Harman, Ed Flemke, Jr. & Billy Greco kneeling.
	George Lombardo, Jo-Jo. Farone & Pete Zanardi
	TONY MORDINO, JR. PHOTOS
		Rich & Moon Burgess
Rich & Moon Burgess with Tony Mordino, Jr.	Mike Mordino at the display of his late father Tony
Don Moon	Sonny O'Sullivan
Tony, Jr., Danny Gallulo, Jr. & Mike Mordino	Don Spazano, Tony, Jr., Billy Greco & Mike Mordino	The Plainville Alumni got behind the wheel of the Nutmeg Karting Club carts for two races.