News

October 2008

Bob, I was a member in 59/60 and had a 55 Healey. Still have dash plaques from the Ides of March 1959, gymkhana, Point Lookout, Ellenville Hill Climb 6-12-60, Ides of April, 1960, LISCA 2nd Lime Rock Time Trials. I was not a very active member but do remember the ice gymkhana, crazy weekend. The Healey was destroyed in an intersection accident in 60 and never bought another one. Still have some good memories, Don Medcalf brought me in to the club, is he still active? A friend gave me a parts car headed to the junk yard about 25 years ago (100-4) and thought you might get a kick out of it, all Ford underneath. Hope to hear from you.
Greg Shickle
gregs@tech-alloy.com

April 2008

For some reason after all these years I decided to google SSSC&BDS, just for the hell of it. I was an honorary member back in 1958. My father, Manny Balagur, was a member. I went to the meetings with him, as I was already a confirmed sports car nut, even though I was too young to have a junior driver’s license (or drink beer for that matter), when I first started attending meetings at the White Oaks. Looking through your web site brought back all the memories (mine is still working, but just barely). I live in the Five Towns and drive a Porsche 968. I have bumped into a few members, most notably Herb Wetson at the Lime Rock Vintage Weekend, where he is still racing his stable of cars. I also remember some of the big events, the big CP Gymkhanas at Mitchell Field and then Roosevelt Raceway (in the parking lot, I think there were over 200 entrants). I only attended the Hill Climb once (I was in college at the time) and worked the phones when Joel Rosen of Baldwin Motion made his tree trimming Honeymoon Run and remember running up the mountain when he failed to show at the finish line. I wish I had known about the reunion last year and am sorry I missed it. If you are interested, I will try to find some of my pictures. I know I have one of me underway at Roosevelt Raceway and one at the Hill Climb. I will find them and try scanning them. Please let me know if you have e-mails for any of the early members, particularly Arnie Levey. Thanks.

Perry Balagur, Esq.

September 2007

From Roy Corrall

In late 57’after a recent move from California I was driving along Merrick Road in a recently purchased MG A, when there it was! “It” was a Shell Station on the corner of Rockaway Parkway, crammed with sports cars of every make and type. I quickly squeezed into the last tiny vacant spot to investigate. “We are starting a club.” said Proprietor Jimmy Merget, “Come on down to the meeting.”
Little did I realize how profoundly it would change my life. The weekly meetings became a must, and club affairs an obsession. Somewhere along the way I became editor of The Mug aided by the herculean efforts of Arnie Levy’s fiancée Judy. (In those days it was type, cut and paste; take the result to the printer, hope and pray.) The MG was replaced by a Denzel, which, when given a warmed over Porsche engine in 59’ was quite a gymkhana car. I was Vice President and then served as Club President for part of 1960 and all of 1961.

On July 17, 1960 led by the vision of member Manny Ballaguer, we ran the first Cerebral Palsy Benefit Gymkhana in the immense Roosevelt Raceway trotter track parking lot, attracting 200 entries. Our first regular Thursday night meeting place was The White Oaks on Peninsula Boulevard, which the club monopolized. Planning, heated discussion, camaraderie and all the beer you could drink for just one dollar. What a deal! It also was situated on a large traffic circle (since removed) and I never missed the opportunity to navigate it at the absolute limit of adhesion before sliding to a stop in the parking lot. (Another reason never to skip a meeting.)

We ran several gymkhanas in the parking lot of Great Eastern Mills in Elmont (now Home Depot) including one with a mirror image course, events that caused traffic to stop and park all along Hempstead Turnpike to watch. We also ran many gymkhanas in the Roosevelt Field shopping center. Oh, for the days of no hungry lawyers or Sunday shopping. In late 1960 I took delivery of a 1961 Porsche Super 90 Convertible D Roadster, which was campaigned every possible weekend at some speed event or another.
By this time we had joined with others to form The Conference of Long Island Sports Car Clubs for the orderly scheduling of an events calendar. In 1961 The Conference held the one and only Bridgehampton Trials, which I chaired. Each club ran one of six events spaced around the track, with the results being combined to score the competitors. The events were a gymkhana, a slalom, an acceleration run, an acceleration and braking test, a hill climb and a 2-lap regularity run. We also joined with The Shogun Mountain Motor Club to run the Ellenville Hillclimb up a twisty mountain road that led past the Cathalia Hotel. A great event, but a lot of wrecks, and oh the bugs! One year I spent much of my time delivering repellant to all our corner workers.

In early 62’ teaming with fellow member Pat Williams (who ran gymkhanas with considerable success in a black and white 60’ 3 speed Corvette with no power steering) to work on an awards evening for The Conference, we discovered we had a lot more in common than just sports cars. We were married November 11th that year. We moved to California in January 98’ and live in the Pass Area west of Palm Springs. Over the years we have owned a number of different sports cars but have finally returned to the incomparable Porsche and currently own an 03’ Boxster S, which on occasion is still driven quite quickly. Last year we joined PCA and after all these years have again become active club members, this time in the Riverside, California Region of PCA. We would love to see or hear from any SSSC& BDS members old or new. Give us a call at 951-769-0957 or email us at HYPERLINK "mailto:corrall@jps.net" corrall@jps.net.

Miscellaneous Notes:
50 Years!! It’s hard to believe. No, it’s almost impossible.
We should have some copies of The Mug around, will have to take a look.
Would love to come to the reunion, but it is a long way. Have to sleep on it.

Former member Notes:
Jimmy and Marie Higgins, Triumph TR 3, Mini Minor. They returned to England when Marie was expecting. Jimmy passed away quite some years ago and Marie just remarried.
Art Rowsell, Austin Healey 100. Moved to California in the late 50’s, might be living in the San Diego area.
Dave Lamb, Austin Healey 100, Porsche 356. Living in Palm Coast, Florida. Dave, my friend, married Pat’s friend and fellow member Elaine Stegner, MG A owner.
Janet Guthrie of Indy fame. Known for laying under the ex Dave Lamb Jaguar XK120 covered in grease, seeking more speed before every event, now living in Colorado.

January 2007

From Richard Weinroth:

My father is David Weinroth, former member, and it was great seeing the '69 Z28 at Bridgehampton on the Net. He was married to Candy at the time, also a helluva broad and racer herself. She once told me she quit racing because she nearly ran over a family of ducks crossing the track at Bridge. As a kid, I used to get in lots of trouble at Brigehampton, Lime Rock, Watkins Glen, Pocono, Bryar and Summit Point. My brother is restoring the old 'Flash' Gordini...and I'm working on an old Spitfire owned by another former member, Dennis Owens. David is now living in Prescott, AZ with his wife of 10 years, Ellen. He still loves cars, and thinks he's going to get a TR6 to thrash around in, as his 67 Corvette is far too nice to actually drive. I'm sure he'd love to talk to the old gang.

December 2006

From Walt Heinlein:

I was going thru stuff from eons ago and came across a true find. As I have left L.I. for the cattle and citrus part of FL I wonder if the ssc&bds historian would be interested in a "virgin" brass plaque and window decal? Enjoyed Ken H's '67 membership list-looks like old times (Nathens, Cathalia hillclimb etc. I Still hear from Chick & Loretta, Dave Lamb etc. Have a great holiday and thanks for the memories!!

April 2006

Frank,

Your recent email message found its way to me. My involvement with the club started about 1961-2. Forty plus years make things a little hazy. I recall we met in a bar (where else?) in Lynbrook or Valley Stream. At the time I autocrossed a Sprite and later raced a 3000 and a Sprite. I'm a veteran of many Ellenville Hillclimbs (late sixties, early seventies), Hobo Hill, and ICSCC and EMRA races at Pocono, Lime Rock, and Bridgehampton. One year EMRA was invited to compete at Lime Rock with IMSA to help fill out the field. That's when John Bishop was struggling. Is the Shongum Mountain Motor Club still active? Is Ellenville still an event?

I was active in the club, but can't remember all the details. I was Secretary and President at some point. Maybe guys like Harris, Heinlein, Bechtold, Middleman, Capra, etc can shed some light.

We moved to San Diego in 1973. Got active again in the late nineties. I'm on the Board of Directors for the Porsche Club, A member of the 356 Registry, and The 356 Club. I campaign a 1964 356 C in HSR West (Historic Sports Racing West). We run at Las Vegas, Phoenix, California Speedway, Button Willow, Streets of Willow, Palm Springs, and Thunder Hill. I have a South Shore brass badge on my 356 grille and a South Shore patch on the driving suit and I'm often quizzed about the design and the significance of BDS!

We're coming to Long Island for a wedding in November. Dick Shoenfeld and I spoke about getting together with some old members. Might be fun.

Ted

January 2006

From Patricia Merget

I am the widow of James Merget who was a charter member of the club. Jim's Shell Service Station in Valley Stream , located on Merrrick Rd. and Rockaway Blvd., was the place where the idea of the club was conceived. . Jim was a Foreign Car mechanic and so the gathering of sports car owners. Customers came from Manhattan to have their cars repaired. Just to drop a couple of names --Zoot Zims and Al Cohen--both famous Jazz Musicians. I am very excited about the relaying any history to you because it brings back many wonderful memories. After I speak with one of the other charter members I will give you a great deal of information that you may be of interest to you.

Did you know that the first woman to race at Indianapolis Raceway was a member of the club? Her name is Janet Guthrie. Any history that I send to you will be prior to 1960.

Dear Frank,

Thank you for responding so quickly. I just received a phone call from one of the charter members--you may recognize his name--Arnie Levey. He was a very close friend of Ray Cuomo.

You will not believe this but just yesterday his brother was cleaning out his basement and gave Arnie copies of the club's newspapers and other materials. He will send them to me within the next couple of weeks. He has a list of the original 34 members. As far as we can remember Arnie was the first president. He also designed the clubs badge.

Arnie Levey and my husband Jim Merget were 500cc Formula 3 drivers and raced at Limerock , Bridgehampton and other tracks.

How active is the club? Do you have regular meetings?

Will send you more information as I receive it.

Pat Merget

From Chick and Loretta Mittleman

We only learned about the club website recently from a past member, Steve Broczko, now living in Colorado. Yes we are still living on Long Island. Chick was a past president of the club but we are not sure which two years they were. We have many fond memories of those great times.

Happy New Year CHICK & LORETTA

8/13/00

Frank, After finally geting this computer/e-mail thing down pat I figured I would do a bit of research. And what did I find, the SSSCC&BDS, of who my father was a long standing member. When I read your list of members from 1972, I could not believe how many people I know.To bring everyone up to date on my dad, he is alive and well and living in his hometown of Baden, a small city just outside of Vienna. He is responsible for activating the racing brain cell in me. I ran with EMRA for quite a few years, and am soon to return. Please send me information on membership dues. I worked with Ted Johnsen and Kevin Kelley for a while. Neither one is working for Mercedes-Benz of Manhattan anymore. The last time I saw Mike McCauley was about twelve years ago. I have very good memories of going out to the track with dad and meeting the surrogate family. I know dad still has a good many pictures of all the guys. As soon as I speak to him I'll scan them into the computer and send them along with any info I can find out about who is where.

From Bob Kress:

SouthShore has had about 8 new members join the club since the race season started. We have new SSSC&BDS shirts being made up. The logo will appear on the front and The Beer Drinkers Prayer will be on the back. We ordered some without the prayer for those who prefer to be politically correct. Long time SSSC member Steve Colletti and wife Nancy (Perry) have moved to Dayton, Ohio. Nancy has taken a teaching position at a local college. Steve will be starting up Colletti Motorsports, concentrating on racecar prep. Steve's business number is 937-312-1533. We wish them happiness and success in there new adventure.

Bob Kress
12 Georgia Road
Amity Harbor, NY 11701
631-842-2892
myuncobra@aol.com

EMRA elections take place December 21, 1999 South Shore should be represented on the board. The Vice-chairman position is open. All other members are willing to stay on. We also need to revitalize South Shore. Contact Bob Kress. I've recruited several new members this season. We want to schedule meetings. Please call if interested.

South Shore has had active members since I've been involved ('87) but mostly in name only. The logo is about the only real connection I have to the past. Don Perry and his daughter's still come to occassional events. In fact Steve Colletti married Nancy. Steve owns World Auto Imports and does most of my car prep.A Steve, Walter Simindinger and I ran the Longest Day at Nelson back in '92. Steve Wang is still doing Spitfire stuff. Andy Smith had been the EMRA rep but has been busy in his own right. Andy does a lot of pro-rally type things.

Jimmy Amore passed away on February 4th, 2006 from complications of lung disease. Jimmy is probably best remembered as half of the "Guinea Cooper" race team from the 70's. He was a good friend to all.

It is with great sadness that I must inform all of the passing of my father, Rudy Vorreiter. He passed away on September 11th, 2003 in his hometown of Baden, just outside Vienna, Austria. Please forward this information to anyone you still have contact with.

Best Regards
Robert Vorreiter