An Evening With Marty Himes- Stock Car Driver, Museum Owner and Auto Racing Historian
At the Thursday, October 17, 2013 meeting of the Long Island Motor Parkway Preservation Society, stock car driver, museum owner and auto racing historian Marty Himes rode back in time and told stories of racing at Freeport, Deer Park, and Islip.
Over 60 people attended this memorable evening.
Enjoy,
Howard Kroplick
Newsday October 11, 2012: Mopars, Marty Himes highlight auto events on Long Island
As a token of appreciation for his contributions to Long Island racing, Marty Himes received a rare Motor Parkway plate.
1978 Demolitian Derby champion Bob Thompson discussing Islip Speedway with Marty.
A Quick Biography Growing up a only a block away from Freeport Stadium it was just natural for Marty Himes to show up there with a car as soon as he was legally able. The year was 1955 and the car was the family's 1937 Hudson, complete with a radio that he tried to listen to as he raced. He would become Freeport's Track Champion in the novice division in 1962. Years later he moved on to Islip Speedway and moved up to the modified division, he competed there weekly until 1972. He later returned as a fireman with the racetrack ground crew. In 1975 he started the Himes Museum of Motor Racing Nostalagia.
One of his finest moments as a driver came at Lime Rock Raceway Park, located in beautiful Connecticut in 1989 when he competed in The Formula Libre, a very unusual race that pitted American Open Wheel cars against European sports cars. Among the competitors were Indy winner Roger Ward, Grand Prix star Stirling Moss, SCCA driver Dr. Dick Thompson , Indy driver Tony Bettenhausen and many more. It was Marty's first time on a road course and he drove a midget. He finished 3rd and far ahead of the legends just named.
Comments
I will attend. We’ve been to your museum several times with several friends and it’s crowded but great. Thank you for saving all that memorabilia. I grew up in Freeport too and loved the track.
Same with me. I always went to Freeport,Islip,then Riverhead Speedways,but lost my interest in it now,being just about all the old timers are gone and there’s all new drivers now,it’s not the same anymore. This presentation will bring back alot of memories to me
Howard:
Thanks for all You do, it is appreciated!
Stay Well. Paul.
I’ll be there, Marty’s an Long Island motorsports hero.
Well,like I said before it did bring back some memories. I knew he has a big collection,but didn’t realize how much,I guess I didn’t look hard enough when I went to his museum,I’ll have to go back and take a better look and find out more.