July 11, 1968: Richard Petty is fond of Fonda

TMC Chase
@tmc-chase
12 years ago
4,073 posts

The King wins again as part of our NASCAR's Northern Tour - this time at Fonda Speedway in New York. For those unfamiliar with the location of Fonda, its just south of Gloversville NY and east of Canojaharie NY. :-)

http://bench-racing.blogspot.com/2012/07/july-11-this-day-in-petty-history.html

Also, Junior Johnson won at Fonda in his one and only race there as a driver in 1955. From what I can tell, he never fielded a car there as a car owner. So I guess you could could say ... (sorry 'bout this)... the man from Ronda was kinda fond of Fonda.

http://www.racing-reference.info/race/1955-21/W




--
Schaefer: It's not just for racing anymore.

updated by @tmc-chase: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM
Dave Fulton
@dave-fulton
12 years ago
9,137 posts

Ah yes, Fonda... site of what one writer called one of racing's 10 Stupidest Moments and it involved my first racing hero, J.T. Putney:

"The 10 Stupidest Moments In NASCAR History" By Steve Nash

The greatest events in NASCAR history can usually find their way onto columns fast. They are moments of greatness, superiority, luck, and above all talent. They define the sport; they make up the foundation for the competition that the sport is built on.

Unfortunately, the other moments never make it onto columns and lists. No, these aren't the good, the great, or the awesome moments. Yes, they are the dumbest moments. The total lack of judgment, and the stupidity that certain situations have produced. The brainless and above all wacky moments that most drivers tend to forget fast. And to celebrate NASCAR's growing success, I've come up with a list entitled: The Ten Stupidest Moments in Winston Cup History.

6. Graveyard Shift-J.T. Putney, Tiny Lund-Fonda Speedway, 1966-

Putney had started second, and quickly jumped to the front, leading the first 31 laps. However, on lap 32 he spun off of turn two. The tiny 1/2-mile dirt track didn't have an outside retaining wall on the turns, so he spun over the banking. Putney regathered his car into control on a service road that led from the Erie Canal to the backstretch. Oddly enough, the road went through a graveyard, which is where Putney drove through before returning to the track. But by returning to the track, he drove straight in the path of Tiny Lund, who t-boned Putney, and also took out Bobby Allison and Lyle Stetler. Putney not only took out four cars in his bonehead maneuver, but he was KO'd by a punch from Lund. Lund had approached Putney following the incident in the garage area, and knocked Putney unconscious with a right-cut to Putney's jaw. NASCAR officials fined Lund $100.

By the way, "The King" finished second that day (7/14/1966) to David Pearson and ahead of northeast NASCAR Modified standout Rene Charland.




--
"Any Day is Good for Stock Car Racing"
bill mcpeek
@bill-mcpeek
12 years ago
820 posts

Great story Dave, The track at Fonda is still going strong today. A nice looking dirt track. My friend, Steve Miller from Jersey Shore, Pa. that I've chased around several tracks sent me this picture last Sat. night.

Dave Fulton
@dave-fulton
12 years ago
9,137 posts

That's a nice photo, Bill. I would guess the cemetery is still there. I found this 1950s photo and caption of Fonda on a Catamount Stadium website:

Bill Ladabouche Photo
Gigi Conover's junker
cars prepare to go out
and run in the track. The road
to the Thruway is in the
distance, and the famous
Graveyard is that white line
over the 2nd car from left .




--
"Any Day is Good for Stock Car Racing"
bill mcpeek
@bill-mcpeek
12 years ago
820 posts

Oh yea, The cemetery is still there in turn 3. The scary part of all the folk lore is when they decided to relocate the graves so the track wouldn't have an odd shape they found out all the graves were empty....If you google Fonda Speedway cemetery you can find an interesting article that ran in Hemmings a couple years ago that has a great photo of Dave Lape, 3rd in Fonda wins over a 30 year period. If my puter wasn't so slow I'd grab the picture( if allowed)

TMC Chase
@tmc-chase
9 years ago
4,073 posts

Link to the Hemmings article referenced by Bill ... 3 years ago! And a pic of Putney in the story told by Dave.

http://www.hemmings.com/mus/stories/2011/05/01/hmn_feature4.html




--
Schaefer: It's not just for racing anymore.
TMC Chase
@tmc-chase
9 years ago
4,073 posts

Ad from the July 10, 1968 Amsterdam Recorder

Race report from the Leader-Herald

Trophy presentation pic from the Amsterdam Recorder

Trophy presentation pic from the Leader-Herald

Trophy housed in Petty Museum in Level Cross




--
Schaefer: It's not just for racing anymore.

updated by @tmc-chase: 07/10/18 11:10:01AM
Dave Fulton
@dave-fulton
9 years ago
9,137 posts

Thanks so much, Bill & Chase for the link to the Hemmings article. It's now been 49 years since my first racing hero, JT Putney made his excursion over the wall & through the cemetery enroute to his fisticuffs confrontation with Tiny Lund at Fonda. I've never before seen a photo of the incident's beginning - or end, for that matter! Who knew that just liked arlington, JT was picking up a Fonda stripe while leading the race! (click photo to enlarge & read photographer's comments)




--
"Any Day is Good for Stock Car Racing"