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Baer Field To Induct Four Into Speedway HOF
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After getting rained out on June 4, Hall of Fame Night for Baer Field Motorsports Park will be held Saturday night for Billy Cunningham, Lee Harpe, Mike Kline and Clarence Schmuck.
Cunningham attended his first race in 1965 at age 16 and soon started working on Dave Sorg's pit crew and became a part-owner of a car, but he's best known throughout the area as a flagman at Angola, Avilla, Bryan, Warsaw and Baer Field along with several other tracks throughout his career. He later became general manager at Baer Field from 1997 to 2004. He came out of retirement to return as Baer Field's flagman in 2008.
After working side-by-side with his father Larry from the age of 11, Lee Harpe started his own career as a car builder, engine builder and crew chief at age 18. Along with his father, he opened Harpe Racing in 1985 and continued as a managing partner for 22 years. After wins and championships in many divisions, Harpe Racing closed in 2007, but Lee continued his career as crew chief and consultant for many teams over the next nine years.
Kline raced for 33 years, starting in 1957 and building his first car at age 14. He won two championships at Baer Field, one at Bryan, three at Aville and four at Angola, including 156 feature races. According to an article in Marc Times Racing News, Kline won more features from 1976 to 1984 (when he raced for Clarence Schmuck's Garage) than any driver in the state. A motorcycle accident in 1984 ended his racing career.
Schmuck, who passed away in 2011 at the age of 93, started his racing career in 1953 and opened Schmuck Garage in 1962 working on passenger cars, trucks and racecars. From 1957 to 1964 he build cars for Howard Bice, Cecil Wells, Kenny Bodenhafer, Jesse Yates and Joe Wallace. From 1976 to 1984 he worked with Mike Kline, helping Kline win 10 track championships. After Schmuck retired in 1985, he was inducted into the Avilla and Steuben speedway Halls of Fame.
There have been 47 inducted into the Baer Field Hall of Fame since 1993.
Competitor gates will open at noon Saturday as cars begin arriving and going through the inspection process before getting on track for practice at 1:30 p.m. Spectator gates and time trials will begin at 4 p.m., with the opening ceremonies and preliminary racing set to begin at 6:30 p.m. Admission for the event is $13 for adults and $6 for kids ages 8-12.
Cunningham attended his first race in 1965 at age 16 and soon started working on Dave Sorg's pit crew and became a part-owner of a car, but he's best known throughout the area as a flagman at Angola, Avilla, Bryan, Warsaw and Baer Field along with several other tracks throughout his career. He later became general manager at Baer Field from 1997 to 2004. He came out of retirement to return as Baer Field's flagman in 2008.
After working side-by-side with his father Larry from the age of 11, Lee Harpe started his own career as a car builder, engine builder and crew chief at age 18. Along with his father, he opened Harpe Racing in 1985 and continued as a managing partner for 22 years. After wins and championships in many divisions, Harpe Racing closed in 2007, but Lee continued his career as crew chief and consultant for many teams over the next nine years.
Kline raced for 33 years, starting in 1957 and building his first car at age 14. He won two championships at Baer Field, one at Bryan, three at Aville and four at Angola, including 156 feature races. According to an article in Marc Times Racing News, Kline won more features from 1976 to 1984 (when he raced for Clarence Schmuck's Garage) than any driver in the state. A motorcycle accident in 1984 ended his racing career.
Schmuck, who passed away in 2011 at the age of 93, started his racing career in 1953 and opened Schmuck Garage in 1962 working on passenger cars, trucks and racecars. From 1957 to 1964 he build cars for Howard Bice, Cecil Wells, Kenny Bodenhafer, Jesse Yates and Joe Wallace. From 1976 to 1984 he worked with Mike Kline, helping Kline win 10 track championships. After Schmuck retired in 1985, he was inducted into the Avilla and Steuben speedway Halls of Fame.
There have been 47 inducted into the Baer Field Hall of Fame since 1993.
Competitor gates will open at noon Saturday as cars begin arriving and going through the inspection process before getting on track for practice at 1:30 p.m. Spectator gates and time trials will begin at 4 p.m., with the opening ceremonies and preliminary racing set to begin at 6:30 p.m. Admission for the event is $13 for adults and $6 for kids ages 8-12.
