I'm back! I found this article last spring and I haven't had the time to go back to the library to get the photos... Made it back today....I'm sorry the photos aren't great, but I'll post then all the same (they will be the next three posts)....ENJOY!
Elmira Telegram Aug. 27, 1961 (pg. 4D)
Bodines Operating Track For 11th Straight Season
DRIVERS RACE FOR GOLD, GLORY AT SPEEDROME
By Jack Wheeland
The thunderous roar of engines, screeching tires, screaming spetators and hard-nosed drivers who dare to drive at break-neck speeds. These are some of the ingredients that make up a night of action at the Chemung Speedrome where an average of 1,200 paid fans turn out every Saturday.
When one mentions the Speedrome, the Bodine name generally follows. The connection is that Mr. and Mrs. Eli Bodine Sr. and Eli Jr., all of Chemung, are the owners of the quarter mile track that has brought gold and glory to scores of drivers.
ACTUALLY, Eli Jr. is what you might call the kingpin in the Speedrome operation. Mom and Dad Bodine remain in the background while their 40- year- old son runs the show.
"Dad enjoys watching the races," says Eli Jr., "but that's about it. He gives me lots of advice and is willing to chip in whenever needed. However, he prefers to remain in the background as far as operating the Speedrome."
"He enjoys racing- he hasn't missed a race in the 11 years we've been operating in Chemung. As for Mom, she doesn't go to the races. I guess she just isn't interested." While Eli Jr. handles the operating end of the racing, another Bodine, Earl, is actively engaged in the sport. Earl, a brother of Eli Jr. is shooting for the total point championship this season and when he churns around the clay-covered track in the Number 188 he pleases the crowd. Earl and another brother, Maynard, operate a garage next to the Speedrome. Maynard is Earls mechanic on Number 188.
THE BODINES, combining as operators and racers, have helped make the Chemung track a profitable enterprise. Eli Jr. says the average of 1200 paid fans on hand every Saturday night is proof of this. "We are down a little this season,' he said, "but the weather has hurt us. If we have good weather we won't have any problems."
The Speedrome has a seating capacity of 3,140 and a standing room area for 800 more. It is located on a 10-acre tract owned by the Bodine family. When the track first opened, the owners had trouble with dust. However, the Bodines have come up with a salt preperation which contains the moisture and has eliminated the dust problem.
"Maintenance is the biggest expense," said Eli Jr. "We try to keep the track in tip-top shape and that takes money." Naturally, the drivers have to be paid. "We split with the drivers," said Bodine. "They get half of the admission money and then it's divided according to the races."
HOW MUCH can a driver make in a season or a night? Bodine answered, "Well, I'll give you an example. Recently, Earl won the feature, a heat and then came in third in the semis. He picked up a total of $113. That's not bad for one night of racing."
"During one season one of our top drivers took home $1300. Of course, it must be remembered that some drivers split with the owners of the cars while others work on a 60-40 per cent basis. And then there's the expense of maintaining and repairing the cars."
Class A cars are not allowed to compete at the Speedrome anymore, only the Class B and modern cars. "The reason for limiting the competition to the two divisions,' said Bodine, "is because the Class A cars cost more than the other to buy and maintain."
"We found that only seven or eight drivers could afford to have Class A cars so we cut the class three years ago."
ALTHOUGH THERE aren't any Class A cars competing, Bodine feels that he still has some of the top drivers in the area. Among these are Cliff Pierce of Elmira, Chubby Chandler of Waverly, Vern Coyle of Barton, Frank Chapman of Sayre, Harry Carlyle of Athens, Bob Jaynes of Horseheads and Al Baldwin. Bodine realizes there's plenty of competition for the amusement dollar in the Elmira area. "I think the present recession has something to do with our slight drop in attendence," he said.
" We try to cope with this by cutting our prices or bygiveaways. Recently, we had an admission price of 99 cents, a reduction of 26 cents from the regular adult price of $1.25."
"We have lucky numbers just as they do in baseball games and our ladies auxiliary gives away cakes, etc. The auxiliary accepts donations from merchants and we give them away."
WHEN BODINE isn't at the Speedrome he's working at the Chemung Dairy Bar which he owns. At one time Bodine ran a poultry farm and had 9,000 chickens. "I had to give it up," he explained, "it was just too much work. It didn't make sense working for them when they wouldn't work for you."
Bodine said new restrooms are planned at the Speedrome next season. "We constantly are trying to improve the area for our customers," he said. But before next season, Bodine has some top races lined up. "One of the biggest is the Labor Day Championships and the final championship race on Sept. 30," he said.
ONE OF THE main reasons for the success of the Speedrome is Bodine's employees. "I am fortunate to have employees who do their utmost to make the track a paying attraction," he said. "One of my most capable helpers is my flagman, Dub Dennis of Waverly." He added, "There are many others who have contributed, the drivers, their helpers, the car owners and members of the technical committee which inspects the cars. We have what you might call a big, happy family down here in Chemung. We all try to help each other."
Bodine is proud of the fact that there's never been a serious accident among the drivers on the track in 11 seasons. "We have had a few breaks and bruises but nothing serious," he added.
Then he smiled and said, "There's one maintenance man employed by me who was hurt one time- his feelings, not his physical self. it seems that he was cleaning up the area after a race and spotted a $10 bill. He felt great when he spotted that bill but his face dropped when he found that it was torn in half. I'll be darned if he still isn't looking for the other half."
