News

One of New England’s most historic racing facilities, Thompson Speedway, is undergoing a history making renovation. A new and magnificent road course is being added to the Hoenig family complex which already includes the popular 5/8 mile high banked oval which opened 73 years ago.

RHPG Members are active in bringing Motorsports history to the racing community and the public even before out North East Motor Sports Museum is built. We were recently at the Pines Reunion held in October in Groveland, MA.

The Racing History Preservation Group exhibit at New Hampshire Motor Speedway’s Sylvania 300 weekend drew hundreds if not thousands of people interested in seeing Steve Newman’s replica of the Ollie Silva fuel injected cut-down. Next up for the Group is the annual Pines Reunion at the site of the old Pines Speedway in Groveland, MA on October 5.

Meet members of the Racing History Preservation Group and see Steve Newman’s fabulous vintage race car at New Hampshire Motor Speedway during Sylvania 300 weekend. We’ll be set up next to the Speedway Children’s Charities booth in the midway across from the infield tunnel.

On Sunday, August 25, a memorial service was held at the Canaan, NH Speedway to honor the late Charlie Elliott. A member of the NEAR Hall of Fame, Elliott built and saved more race tracks in New England than anyone. His ashes were spread on the asphalt and dirt tracks at Canaan, his final resting place and his final tracks.

RHPG Board Member Ray Boissoneau has won the Bob Bahre Cup. The award is voted on by the car owners, drivers and others associated with the annual Vintage Celebration at New Hampshire Motor Speedway and is given to someone who has contributed in an exceptional way to the event.

Board member Ray Boissoneau has accumulated the largest collection of vintage race cars of anyone in New England. He is a frequent on-track participant at vintage meets and loans his cars to projects that further the vintage movement. Ray is playing a pivotal role in growing the Vintage Celebration held annually at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

We are pleased to accept the gift of thousands of racing newspapers and magazines from Rick DeBour. Despite what the cartons read, this was no "small" gift and included many local publications that had previously been missing from our library. Rick not only made the donation, he delivered it to our mini-museum at Ron Bouchard's dealership in Fitchburg.

The Racing History Preservation Groups exhibit at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway during the July NASCAR Sprint Cup weekend was a booming success. Over three steamy days, Board Members met with prospective RHPG members and interested fans to explain the value and importance of preserving racing’s history in our part of the world. More new members joined us at this event than any in the past.

Mid-June is motorcycle time in New Hampshire and the Racing History Preservation Group had a strong presence at NHMS. On weekend one, Board Member Bob Coy promoted vintage motorcycle racing and Ray Boissoneau brought the Dumo’s Desire midget to our exhibit. Some of the biker crowd quipped that the car, with its huge engine hanging out the side, looked like a motorcycle with four wheels.

Yes. Motorcycles. The North East Motor Sports Museum will include motorcycles, drag cars, sports cars as well as cars that raced in the Northeast on traditional ovals. Pictured on three Indian motorcycles built in the 1930s are (left to right) Doc Batsleer who owns all three motorcycles, champion rider now deep in his 80s Ed Fisher and Butch Baer.

On Sunday, May 6, Board Member Ricky Craven was inducted into the Maine Sports Hall of Fame. Noteworthy is that this very old Hall has inducted just three race car drivers, Dick McCabe, Ralph Cusack and now Ricky Craven. In his remarks to the huge audience, Ricky talked about his passion for racing and described his rise from an obscure small Maine town to winning in NASCAR’s top division.