SOUTH PLATTSBURGH — As its 59th stock car racing season heads down the homestretch, Airborne Speedway will pay tribute to one of its earliest heroes, Charlie Trombley of Mooers Forks, with a DIRTcar Modified 50-lap race in his honor Saturday.
Trombley was on the scene as a Hobby Stock competitor when Airborne opened in 1954. He and his brothers, Bob and Ronnie, were soon known as the “Racing T’s from Mooers”. Trombley later drove the Suprenant Motors No. 99 coupe.
In 1959, Trombley won the Airborne Sportsman track championship at the wheel of the famed Rosebud Creamery No.5 7/8 Chevrolet with the help of car builder and crew chief Paul Conover.
That September, in front of one of the largest crowds in Airborne history, Trombley won the Northeastern New York State championships, besting the likes of Buck Holliday, Dick Nephew, Bob Bruno, Bill Wimble, Ken Shoemaker and Ernie Reid. He was also the recipient of a community-sponsored Most Popular Driver award.
Trombley repeated as track champion in 1960 and 1966. In the interim, he won numerous races. In 1963, after besting several cars with larger motors in a 100-lap event, Trombley’s car was subjected to a tear-down that lasted well into the night. It was ultimately ruled 100-percent legal.
Todd Stone of Middlebury, Vt., driver of the G Stone Motors 1X, and Pat McGrail, the racing Mazda dealer from Candiac, Quebec, enter Saturday’s Charlie Trombley Memorial 50 separated by just 14 points in the 2012 Ernie’s Discount Tools Modified championship standings. Stone has led since opening day, but McGrail recorded his third win in the Fastenal No. 10 machine last weekend to move ever closer
George Foley of Vermontville, a three-time feature winner this season, is third in the standings and in need of a win to stay in the title hunt.
All weekly divisions will be in action on Saturday’s race card presented by Huntley Trucking and Casella Waste Management. For additional information, contact the Airborne office at 561-3208 or visit airborneparkspeedway.com.
