Freeport Speedway 1958 & Islip Speedway 1959

Video Courtesy Of Richard Girards
Filmed By Richard Girards in May 1958 & May of 1959

[@kenspooner7459]

INCREDIBLE CLEAR & RARE FOOTAGE OF THE GUYS WHO INSPIRED ME TO DRIVE. SEEING AXEL , JIMMY & AL MIXING IT UP AT ISLIP IN 1959 WAS THE CAT'S PAJAMAS Huge thanks to Kris Holmberg for posting this AND A 21 GUN SALUTE TO RICHARD GIRARDS for both the fantastic camera work and the preservation of this footage

[@popiscoolnow]

beautiful color.thanks for posting.great footage.i wasn't born for another 10 years

[@danielcutillo5683]

I grew up on Margareta Ave E. Massapequa . Red had his shop which was a small 2 car garage just up the street . Where Dank firewood business is now . Red would let us watch him work on his late ‘30’s Plymouth all black body race car , it had a Mopar slant six motor . This was in the mid 1950’s .

[@The631902]

My dad Al. DeAngelo driving the Ace Of Spades in the Islip Speedway segment

[@kenspooner7459]

That had to be shot in late April of 59. I was at Islip the next week May 3rd for my very first time . It was very sunny out and Jimmy won all three races that day. That also was the day Tet stuffed Axel into to the first turn wall in the heat. I think after that they went to night racing.

[@robertmerchant1655]

So cool, my dad took me in the late 50's and early 60's. In 1969 I started to drive and would go every weekend. Georgie Cousins, Bruno Brachi, your dad Al DeAngelo and later the Campi brothers. Good times, good fun.

[@vinjoaquin737]

I used to watch your Dad work on his car at Bob Ackleys gas station when I worked their back in the 60"s went to school with you also. Hope you are doing well Vince Joaquin Some great memories.

[@popiscoolnow]

AL DeAngelo thanks to mr himes I have seen your dad's ace of spades many times and now I can say I saw it run.good stuff

[@The631902]

The Ace at the Himes Museum is an older Ace with a Flat Head Ford. The Ace in the video is a later one powered by a 312 Y-Block OHV Ford. Glad you liked the video. There is another one from a few years after this where my dad is driving Butch Meiceka's blue #18 winning a feature at Islip I believe the year was 1960.

[@bluecollar58]

I was just born in 58 but spent a lot of Saturday nights at both Freeport and Islip. Was a great way to spend a night on a summer Saturday. It too bad these tracks are gone it was wonderful family entertainment. I really miss the tracks and the drive in movies. Go visit Marty Himes at his museum in bay shore , saw him sitting out there a couple of months ago , he has a lot of very cool stuff there.

[@markt926]

Hi, Mark here, I'm from NJ, I loved the racing from the 50s & 60s, we went to Old Bridge back in the same era to today, back then you had your favorites, to knew their cars,sad, all our favorites drive identical looking cars today, there were more Heroes back then, than now cause of all these are cookie cutter racers &their cars lack that element of personality of cars & drivers of the past, JUST MY OPINION !

[@markt926]

Thanks for the praise,you are a good friend !

[@danielcutillo5683]

Red had his shop just up the street where I grew up , this was roughly 1958 -1960 . The shop was at the south west corner of Oakley and Margareta Avenues . Danks Firewood/ Tree Service has the property now . Red would let us 7-8 year old kids watch . He had a late ‘30’s black body Plymouth with a Chrysler slant six motor .

[@kanyeswift4082]

Awesome.Didn't get to see the Axel and Al DeAngelo era!

[@Nissan300zxshowcar]

great, just great!!!

[@richardgirards3370]

George Peter's 263 is now at Marty Himes in it's original condition as raced in this video

[@mburd3]

awesome video! However that music will drive ya nuts

[@xptransport2114]

The black #46 in the Freeport races was my dad Butch Evento

[@dennisgarrett8816]

Islip Speedway 1959: It appears that this was NASCAR approved track, did noticed NASCAR logo signs at each corner of the track. you can see the NASCAR logo in last film frame shot .

[@The631902]

NASCAR sanctioned from 1954 on.

[@markt926]

Hi, Mark here from Jersey, great stuff, does anyone have any Old Bridge Speedway films to share, please, hope someone can bring back great racing on that 1/2 mile speedway, please help a fellow race fan from the 50s !

[@johndickinson7269]

Great to see the 119, I think it was Russ Devoe.(Islip segment)

[@dennisgarrett8816]

enjoyed video very much!! Freeport Speedway 1958: Who's the driver and car owner of #226 Liberty Auto Wrecking race car?

[@richardgirards3370]

Dennis - George Cousin was the driver of the 226 at Freeport, Islip was a NASCAR track in 1959.

[@Kantack1]

Is "Les Ley" in there?

[@robertharkins5737]

The neighbors could view the action from the upstairs window.

[@yahatinda]

TED TAPPET AT ISLIP...GOOD STUFF

[@bobbymurray964]

did any here know the driver Ed Doty?

[@cathykovarik9763]

I did. My dad was good friends with him.

[@americanwriter2533]

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