History SUNDAY SUNDAY at Aquasco Speedway

I raced a motorcycle dirt drag track near the Bay Bridge many years ago. It was operated by a Black Motorcycle Club The Silver Wheelers. It was referred to as The Nigger Nationals (By them). They were a hospitable bunch and we all had a good time. No racial sensitivity from either group.

 

Do you remember Vista Raceway in Lanham? A dirt motorcycle track known for it's violence and drunken behavior.

 

I remember the name but was never there. Unless it was near 450 and 704 and then only when it had long been abandoned.

 

.................That's where it was. Probably went away in the late 60's early 70's. That was when 704 was George Palmer Hwy. before it became ML King .

 

OK, I stumbled on to it on a job one day and did a little exploring. There wasn't much to see.

 

Back to Aquasco.....July 26, 1968 ...drag times.

 

I sent a request to Mike (schwinn1) who started this thread back in 2009 and asked him to please re-post some of the pictures that were apparently lost by an off-site photo hosting place. Hopefully he will still have access to them.

 

Wow I haven't been here for a while, I saw some pics a couple of pages ago of my "Uncle" Rufus' "LiL Bit" Sedan, but after a crash where it rolled over he built a coupe that was the same color as the sedan and was kept immaculate as well, here are some photos my Mom and Dad "pit crew" took, the pic in the staging lane with the hood up, the short girl in the white shirt is my Mom, the night shot is "LiL Bit" staged and ready to run the "Jolly Dolly"! Brian

 

Here are some more pics of the "LiL Bit" coupe, the last shot is it in it's Street Rod form in the early eighties with Southern Maryland Street Rods that Harry Peepers was president of at the time.

 

Some more pics I have scanned from the same time frame, one is my Mom's 55 Chevy called "LiL Nuisance", the Mori's ChevWagen, and some Aquasco shots of "Jolly Dolly" and the "LiL Bit" sedan.

 

Great stuff. Thanks for posting. Your Uncle's '39 was always spotless and beautiful. Post up any other photos you might have from that time....................Don.

 

Will do Don, after my Dad passed my Mom handed me a big box of pictures and told me to have fun going through them! I have been going through a little at a time over the years and scanning the ones that look the best, but there is a lot left to view, I will try to get some more up.... Meanwhile here are some more of the sedan during the build around 66-67 I figure by how young my folks are, Rufus is in the white shirt, my Dad is in the black long sleeve, and my Mom doing the "hard" work of polishing those "mags" and all that chrome! Brian

 

We love pics! Send more! Where was that garage?

 

This is local hot-rodding history at it's very best. Love the old photos. It gives us a little glimpse into what was going on at the time. Priceless.

 

If anyone else has photos or just great stories from the time, post 'em up.

 

Hey Clik, the house was in Temple Hills, not sure of the road, he must have been a great neighbor though, notice how they are PUSHING it out, I should consider doing that for my neighbors! He had a repair shop in Hillside called Boswell's Garage as well.

 

Any ties to Dickie Boswell the stock car driver from Berwyn Heights MD.

 

Hey wraymen, nope, none that I know of anyway...I see you're from Dunkirk, I practically grew up in Dunkirk, good times in the country! Brian

 

I grew up in DC but have been down here for over 35 years. Still pretty nice but a lot more congested. When I saw Boswell's Garage I thought you might have ties to him, great driver with MD roots.
Enjoyed your pictures, very cool to see the whole family involved in racing. Maryland definitely has a great racing history.

 

wraymen, Could be one of those distant cousins we all have! Yes , grew up around racing, mostly drags but some dirt track, my Grandpa was a dirt track racer in MD and VA back in the day, drove a 38 Ford coupe with a hot flatty, there is good racing down here in sunny FLA too, but nothing beats all the drag strips we had in MD.... Brian

 

........................What was your Grandpa's name.....where did he live?

 

His name was Buck Leake from Suitland and Oxon Hill areas.

 

Anyone else have stories from their time at Aquasco? Did you ever run there? Pictures are always appreciated very much..........Thanks, Don.

 

Just wanted to post another issue of Drag Times from the era. This from Oct. of 1966. Back cover is one of my favorites. This is the front.

 

This is the back cover.

 

Love pics!

 

Couple of Malcolm Durham's Strip Blazers First photo looks to be Aquasco.

 

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