I was 22 years old at the time and I worked
for Joe Deller. I drove a bulldozer and turned the first scoops of dirt
at what became the Bowling Green Speedway.
I only worked there for several weeks as the construction company I
drove for didn't have the necessary equipment for such an extensive job.
Maitland Bros., and also Thomas, Bennett & Hunter eventually finished
the project.
In the short time I worked there, and as the following pictures will
tell, a near tragedy occurred one day. A grader overturned and the
driver was pinned under the fuel tank. A bulldozer was used to push the
grader off the man. We were afraid the fuel tank would burst into flames
as it was leaking. The driver, whose name I can't recall, was seriously
injured. I visited him in the hospital but never saw him again after
that, although I understand he is still living somewhere in York, PA.
The first picture is of driver, Ken Stolfus who worked for Joe Deller,
on a bulldozer next to the judges and starter stand.
The second picture is of the straight-away, the field on the right
eventually became the grandstand area.
The remaining pictures are of the overturned grader and the bulldozer
pushing the equipment so the pinned worker could be rescued. The man in
the white shirt is Clyde Bolen, owner of Bowling Green Speedway. There
were other spills as well, but thankfully, no more injuries.
I also did some welding work on Car #19, Carl Smith, but never owned or
drove a stock car. My wife and I attended races at Bowling Green, as she
is a cousin to John Mackison, Sr., who started his racing career there
at the ripe old age of 15. I am now 78 years of age and still "digging
in the dirt," only now I dig graves.
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