Saturday Seminar

The Golden Age of Trucking Museum presented a Saturday Seminar on Saturday, April 14, 2007 from 11:00am – 3:00pm.

Guest Speaker: Kevin Brown, Owner and restorer of Jimmy Smith’s 1936 Ford 3 Window Coupe.

This Seminar was a discussion and video presentation on: The History of The Danbury Racearena. Three restored racecars will be on display. Meet some of the original racecar drivers.

Thomas Stockwell, Jr., grandson of racecar driver Chick Stockwell

Jimmy Smith's 1936 Ford, owned by Kevin Brown

Dick Barlow’s 1934 Ford Coupe

This car was built and owned by Paul Hammond of Norwalk CT in the early 1970’s. Driven by both Dick Barlow & Jimmy Smith. This car made the transition from the flathead to the overhead era. Jimmy bought the car from Paul and modified it to become the #3 Doc’s Road Apple. He drove this car for several years and then retired it. Once retired the car was then purchased by Dave Rudenis and traveled to its new home in St. Petersburg Florida. Dave modified the car and kept Jimmy’s Doc Road Apple colors. Paul Rudenis, Dave’s son, raced the car till 1996 and winning the Sunshine Action Speedway Championship that very year. This original car was discovered back in the 1990’s by Kevin Brown of Norwalk CT. Bought back by Paul’s daughter Delene and her husband Robert in 2002. The car sat for a year in its new home in Derby CT waiting for the time to be restored. The car was restored by Paul, Delene and Robert along with a few of Paul’s friends the old fashioned way, the way it was built. 6 weeks of long hours every weekend in the hot grueling summer the car was completed and ready the night before the SNYRA Picnic of 2004. The car was completed in honor of the late Dick Barlow who had past away the very same year.

Jimmy Smith’s 1936 Ford 3 Window Coupe

This car was found by Kevin Brown in Monroe CT in 1996. Restoration took 1 year. Jimmy Smith won the 1966 SYNRA point championship in this car without ever winning a single race that year. This is the only time in SYNRA history that this was done.
The car was sold to Lou Funk, Jr. who drove the car as the #09 A&W Special. Lou Jr. won several races in this car and although the car was originally a flathead, Lou Jr. converted it to overhead power after the 1971 season, The car was then retired. Jimmy Smith was kind enough to give Kevin Brown the actual trophy that he won in 1966 and that trophy is displayed with the car. This is the original “Doc’s Road Apple” car.

Chick Stockton’s 1937 Ford Coupe

This car was built and driven by Chick Stockton for the 1968 season. This is the only 1937 Ford he ever built. The car was successful as all of Chick’s car were. The car rolled over during the season and retired. The car sat under an apple tree on Chick’s farm until 2000 when the car was pulled out and restored by Chick’s son Tom. It made it’s debut at the Danbury Racearena Reunion in 2003.

Read "Danbury Racearena 1952-1981" by Kevin Brown

The Golden Age of Trucking Museum
1101 Southford Road
Middlebury, Connecticut 06762
Phone: 203-577-2181             Fax: 203-577-2404