WESTBOROUGH – There’s a story behind every car.
Of converting garages and backyards into an assembly line, finding the right components in junkyards and auto shops, listening to the engine sing or sputter.
And then bringing these modified vehicles to a raceway – be it Westborough, Norwood, Lakeville, Orange or Kingston – and putting pedal to the metal.
On Oct. 2, nearly two dozen modifieds, along with posters, photos and plenty of memories, assembled in a parking lot across from Julio’s Liquors off Lyman Street.
The day was a celebration of Westboro Speedway, which operated from 1947 to 1985 off Route 9. The RK Speedway Plaza now occupies the spot.
For Maureen Fagan Ames, the event was a chance to tell the story of her late father, Bob, who raced at the Westboro Speedway in the early 1960s.
“My dad was my idol,” she said. “For him, it was the thrill of building a race car.”
Fagan Ames displayed several scrapbooks about her father’s racing career, along with his helmet and trophies.
For Mark Alden of the New England Antique Racers (NEAR), the Westborough Speedway reunion was a reminder of days gone by.
“In the 50s, 60s and 70s, there were three places to go – the drive-in, the bowling alley and the raceways,” he said.
ProNyne Motorsports Museum, the sponsor of the event, presented an array of posters and photos – held down by bungee cords because of the wind – that chronicled the Westboro Speedway’s existence.
“Every car was hand built … that’s why the cars all look different,” said Ric Marischal, the museum’s curator who’s been active in preserving the sport since 1983.
After years of collecting, Marischal and R.A. Silva opened the museum in a 7,400-square-foot facility on Cleveland Street in Pawtucket, R.I., in 2003.
The museum houses memorabilia from New England’s racing history, from vintage race cars and trophies to a gift shop, media room and a library.
For information on the museum, call 401-447-4202 or 401-739-0039.
