Year:  Top-Late 60’s/Early 70’s, Second-Possibly 1970, Third-1970

Forth- 60's? 70's? Fifth-1970?  Sixth- 1990's

Driver:   Lew Boyd and Dick Berggren
Contributed by:

Top Three: Bobby Ely

Fourth and Fifth: Lew Boyd

Sixth: Finch Fenton himself.

Photos Credits:

Top Three: Chuck Ely Photos

Fourth and Fifth: Unknown

Sixth: Kustom Keepsakes

 

The Back Story: 

Mystery Driver # 37, Lew Boyd

Top Photo: I actually should be the last person making a profile for Lew Boyd, as I personally know very little of him.  With his involvement in Northeast auto racing for all these decades along with his own books on local racing, I’m going to leave his profile at that.

Second Photo:

The picture of the 181 coupe was opening day of 1969.  It was my first serious experience on dirt, and with that little 301 it was a struggle at the Valley, but we did win at Lakeville.  We had bought the car (a hobby car from Norwood Arena) the fall before.  It cost $900, including motor, trailer, and spares. 

 

We ran it again in 1970 with a 327 and did much better.

Third Photo:

In 1971 Dick Berggren bought the car and renumbered it, as shown in your photo.  I drove for Willy Charrette out of CT that year.  We ran that blue #12 sedan on Saturday nights and a coupe with a 427 in the Sunday night open comps.

Bergie and I continued with team cars until television took him away. 

Lew Boyd

Fourth Photo: OK, all modifieds, you want to race?  Time to pack the track in.  Look at all the muck on the car,  looks sweet to me!

This was the way it was back in the day, Howie lathered up the speedway, and the modifieds and what not were regulated to glorified track packers every night.  Back then this was great fun for kids like myself, as they could get right up to the fence and wave to their favorite drivers as they tooled around at a turtles pace.

On this evening, Lew is behind the wheel Willy Charrette’s #12, in a car that was formerly piloted by John “Woody” Wood.

Fifth Photo: Now that’s a race car!.  Radiator shake screen all disheveled, no hood, got a piece of metal in  front of the air cleaner, that’s enough, open faced helmet, complete with goggles and bandana…..how can you ask for anything more than that.

Lew made mention that he still owns this car.

Sixth Photo: Lew Boyd had an alias, and that alias was Finch Fenton.  It always made me laugh when I saw his cars roll into the speedway with that lettered on the cars.

I used to know the story why he referred to himself as that, but my memory and time constraints of asking around don’t permit me to follow up on that right now,  but I’m sure lew can chime in and explain all that…plus, he’d probably actually get the story right.

Lew also mentioned, that he also still owns this car as well.

You may want to check out Lew's site for the serious racer. You will find the most fascinating publications for the racing community. I was amazed when I checked this out. Click on their logo to access their site.

 

Additional Comments:  We personally want to thank Lew for taking the time to straighten us out here at LVC and give us the real background on these great pictures from 1969-71
 

We are looking for information and photos about the Valley's history.

If you would like to add to our project, Please contact us at:

hotrod@lebanonvalleyclassics.com

Lebanon Valley Classics