NORWOOD, MA. In three weeks, the 7th Annual Norwood Arena Reunion will take place on Sunday, June 5, at Bezema Motors on US Rt. 1 in Norwood, Mass., the Auto Mile. Every year this event has become a focal point for those fans who, years ago, lined up at the ticket booth to get their weekly dose of racing action. In fact it was so exciting that rainouts caused much disappointment for those who were caught up in the racing wars at the 1\/4-mile bullring between Modified greats such as Bill Slater, Bugs Steven, Pete Hamilton, Jack Malone and Leo Cleary among others. Many of these daredevils went onto great heights including Hamilton of Newton, who won the 1970 Daytona 500. He was the first of a few New Englanders who made it into big-time NASCAR action.
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\nAnother driver, this one from the Norwood Arena Midget era, Ralph Moody of Taunton was also successful in dominating the NASCAR Grand National short track races until he left the driving to younger pilots in the mid-50’s. Ralph became the hands-on master of the Holman & Moody partnership that won several races for Ford Motor Company in the 60’s and 70’s as NASCAR moved up to the super-speedways. Holman & Moody were also responsible for Ford’s three-car sweep in the late 60’s at LeMans. Those GT350’s were the creations of H & M, and Ford came out with a retro model a few years ago. Those became an instant classic immediately, bringing $165,000 per copy at the time. <\/p>\n
Unfortunately, Norwood Arena closed in 1972 in order to make way for an industrial park which was the result of mismanagement by a group of local businessmen who comprised the Norwood Arena Board of Directors. They really had no clue on how to make stockcar racing successful in the metro-Boston area. The track was demolished to make way for the industrial park by a developer. Neither was the BOD astute in that venture as they never profited from the transition. Neither did the stockholders in that private company. Due to a comedy of errors, the vast acreage was foreclosed on by the Norfolk County Trust which held the $250,000 mortgage, and it then went into the hands of another developer. <\/p>\n
But the end of this track was inevitable when the Norwood Arena Board of Directors bounced out the Modified cars in favor of the Late Models as the top class for only two years. The results saw the enthusiastic crowd fade away, and all the excitement was gone. It was a sad end to a Saturday night “happening” south of Boston. <\/p>\n
Bezema Motors is just a couple of miles north of where hundreds of enthusiastic race followers would gather every Saturday night at 7 p.m. to watch the hotly-contested Modifieds. Race fans who were not old enough to take in the races at the arena years ago will also enjoy the June 5th reunion because they will have a chance to savor what racing of that era was all about. It’ll be an excellent opportunity for them to meet some of the legendary Norwood competitors, who are still with us, share memorabilia, talk racing, see restored race cars of that era, take photos, get autographs on old pictures, and enjoy hotdogs and hamburgers, courtesy of the Bezema family.<\/p>\n
All of the annual Norwood Arena Reunions not only honor the old days of racing, but also include a car show that’s open to race cars, muscle cars, hot rods and classic cars and motorcycles. Trophies are awarded for best race car, classic car and motorcycles. Memorabilia vendors are expected as well as Coastal 181, the company that both publishes and distributes racing books. Also expected to be on hand is Norwood Arena Webmaster Don Thomas who has travelled from California to the reunion almost every year in order to showcase his webpage.<\/p>\n
The 7th Annual Norwood Arena Reunion will be held, rain on shine, between the hours of 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, June 5, 2011. For further information, contact Bezema Motors in Norwood, Mass. at 781-769-4700 or the organizer Lou Modestino in Sharon, Mass. at 781-784-7857. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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