THE ORIGINAL 250 (was a 200)

In 1974 it was the Oxford 200. One of the great fans of this race, Steve Pellerin, shared this account with local papers in 2005 and he told me I could post it on this site. I think it fits in beautifully!

Pictures Below Recap

Recap and Photos courtesy Steve Pellerin

The First Oxford 250 (200) July 13th 1974. I would like to step back and take a look at the very 1st running of this long distance event which would become a must see classic for many auto racing fans here in the Pine Tree State, as well as the drivers & their cars. The first year was the only race run under the 200 Lap format. Following races came under the 250 Lap format, with the thinking that a longer event would bring more stops for fuel and tires......remember Don Biederman? The year prior in 1973 Oxford Plains had been running their wildly successful 100 Lap Getty Open Series, generally paying $1000 dollars to the winner, a good payoff for that time. In June of 73' the Bahres came up with the idea of an extra distance Getty Open, 150 Laps with a larger winner's share of $2000 dollars. That event (Getty # 3) was a smash, drawing cars from all over, with Homer Drew in the Jerry Seavey 69' Camaro J2 taking the win from the star-studded field.

For 1974 the never stay idle Bahres decided to go a 200 Lap distance, add a NASCAR National Sanction for LMS Points, more than 4000 dollars in contingency awards, and a $25,275 purse with the winner's share being $5000.00. The event although not well publicized at that time apparently still managed to send ripples thru the LMS ranks in the northeast drawing upwards of nearly 100 entries. Admission was 8.00 for the stands I beleive, (providing I'm looking at the right ticket stub).

Looking over the entry lists and the drivers: Cars entered from every track in Maine and nearly every one in New England that ran LMS type cars. From Oxford Plains, Mike Rowe in the #5 Chevelle, Al Hammond, who was the OPS Point Leader once more this summer aboard his 65' Chevelle # 1, Bobby Tibbetts of Gray in Skip Watkin's Nova # 69, Bob Greely in his Mopar #86, 71' LMS Champ Wally Patrick in # 2, mulitple Getty Open winner from Limerick Russ Nutting, and from Oxford although running mostly open shows was

Jackson NH's Dick Glines in # 60. Earl Jones # 19, 72' LMS Champ Skipper Hodgdon in his Chevelle # 94, George Coolidge aboard the Eith's Bakery # 6, a 1965 Chevelle & a yet somewhat unknown in the LMS ranks, young Leland Kengas aboard Minna Morgan's # 08( shades of things to come...) From Beech Ridge came the talent of Homer Drew aboard the Seavey Camaro, revamped this year from # J2 to # 22, with the addition of a Z/28 nose. J2 was now the number assinged to a 65' Chevelle LMS car built to complete NASCAR specs for Jerry Seavey by Bobby Allison. Behind the wheel this night, 3 time NASCAR National Modified Champion, Carl 'Bugsy' Stevens, of Rehobeth, Mass. Additionally, Drew qualified & drove in the main event this night with his foot in cast, broken earlier in the season during a softball game. Also the "IronMan of Windham", current point leader this month in the Supermodified AND LMS ranks at Beech Ridge, Dick Wolstenhulme. As well as Gardiner Leavitt in his brown/white 68' Chevelle 1X, & Ralph Cusack in Roger Hanscom's

nice red & blue 68' Camaro LMS # 24. Also the man who would later become the only driver to win titles in all 3 modern day classses at the 'Ridge' Jim McClure in # 19. From the Wiscasset/Unity/ Bangor ovals came many time Wiscasset LMS Champ Larry Reno in his 65' Mustang # 5, Stan Meserve of Winslow in his 72' Chevelle red & white # 28, Speedway 95 Champ Dana Graves in Ford Fairlane # 15, Unity Favorite Jimmy Burns in his Mustang # 7, along with Larry Pottle in a 67' Mercury Cougar, a red/white/ & blue # 62.

Other favorites from thru out New England, a youngster out of Sharon Mass, Joey Kourafas with Bob Curtis's Black Angus Steak House 69' Chevelle, Norwood Arena runners Bobby Healy # 23, Bobby Melnick # 2, and Jack Malone in #4. George Summers in Dick Smiths nice 68' Chevelle # 35 & Jimmy McCallum who would sit on the pole, in Dick Robidoux's beautiful # 25, a Seekonk/Westboro 70' Chevelle.

Also hotshoe brothers Ronnie Bouchard and former Open Winner Ken Bouchard. The Northern NASCAR Tour sent along with Kourafas, Harmon 'Beaver' Dragon,

Hector LeClair in his Orange #59, a 65' Chevelle, George Savory of Westwood Mass.in a 68' Chevelle #131, Steve Poulin out of VT. in # 34, another member of the "mod Squad" John Rosati with Fairlane #36, Bobby Dragon in the Keefer Chevelle #71, Stub Fadden # 16, & the 3rd member of the "mod squad" Robbie Crouch in # 48, as well as another driver who defined those later 250's 'Dynamite' Dave Dion.

From the deep South chasing those important NASCAR LMS Points, came the well known Tiny Lund in Chevelle # 55, Virginia State LMS Champ Al Grinnan # 19,

from Fletcher N.C. Boscowe Lowe in 68' Chevelle # 60, multiple Permatex 300 Champ Bill Dennis, & Ironman Jack Ingram from Ashville N.C. Add to this, Canadians Jean-Paul Cabana #5, Andre Manny, Terry Clattenburg and Keith Cavanaugh in his 68' GTO #44, and you had a lineup at that time that was unthought of. An open comp fans dream.

Although the weather leading up to the event wasn't very promising, the stands still held a very healthy crowd. McCallum sat on the pole, with Bob Tibbetts of Gray on the outside pole. Southerner Al Grinnan was next on the inside with the pride of Upton Mass. George Summers next on the outside. The consi winners were Bobby Healy & Wally Patrick. On the green, Jimmy McCallum led for the opening laps before spinning and being struck broadside by Mike Rowe. Both were eliminated. Al Grinnan then took over the lead and led for quite a number of laps(despite having never driven at OPS ) before a leaky oil pan slowed the veteran runner. At that point, Summers driving a car that ran in the Class B at

Seekonk (no pushovers) I believe, took over the lead. Summers led until he had to pit for fuel, feeling his car sputtering on lap 197, & handing the lead to Joey Kourafas, who was making only his 3rd start at Oxford Plains Speedway. Kourafas stated later in victory lane, that they ran nearly 9 inches of wedge on the # 25 car in a race where setups were confusing at best. The Summers team lodged an immediate protest saying they had overtaken the 25 & Kourafas on lap 55 when he pitted for fuel. Some two hours later, after

checking and rechecking the score sheets, the win was awarded to the Bob Curtis team, with 2nd going to young gun John Rosati of Agawam, Mass. with Summers awarded 3rd. Hudson NH's Dave Dion landed 4th, Bobby Dragon of Milton VT. took 5th, and the 1st Mainer up was Bobby Tibbetts aboard the "Junk Yard Express" of Skip Watkins, in a fine 6th place. Southerners Bosco Lowe and Al Grinnan took 7th and 8th respectively. Canadian Jean Paul Cabana came home ninth, and Bobby Healy of Norwood Mass. took 10th.

Some notes on the event: Oxford's George Coolidge was running 5th with 6 laps to go when he ran out of fuel....Russ Nutting ran as high as 4th before having problems and finishing 15th. Homer Drew was running well in top 5 in the event when he was caught up in a multi-car crash and parked the damaged car. Then a some point the crew replaced a couple of flats and after a few adjustments, Drew retook to the speedway nearly as fast as he was before, and shortly there after caught race leader Summers and passed him in grand fashion. Summers was told to follow Drew because his crew, all seasoned observers, realized Drew was the fastest car on the track at that point........with his foot in a

cast. I miss you my friend. Quebec's Jean Paul Cabana ran 2nd for awhile before tangling with Bob Dragon and finishing 9th. Bugs Stevens came home 12th in the Seavey Chevelle. Bill Dennis, who came some 1500 miles north for naught, was running 2nd near the mid way point when his motor expired. But he was still part of a great show, this muggy hazy sunday night. All in all it was a great evening. Maine fans saw the Southern boys and their fast crews on the infield, and we learned that the Northern New England drivers, mainly Bob Tibbetts and Homer Drew could stackup against the best. My thanks to the Bahres and their staff for the great memories.

1^st Annual Oxford 200 Pictures

Homer Drew!! George Summers #35 George Coolidge and the grandstands in 1974

The winning ride of Joey Kourafas Bobby Tibbets Russ Nutting

Mike Rowe Dick Wolstenhulme