Tommy Richardson, receiving a trophy
from starter Ted Winot
at Bear Ridge Speedway, Bradford VT
I promised when I started this that from time to time I was going to talk about some of the more interesting people I've known in this sport. A while ago I was being interviewed for a story, and the writer asked me what the most memorable race was that I ever saw.
Now, I've got to tell you, I've seen a lot of races in the last 45 years, but it didn't take long to come up with an answer. It was in the early 1960's at what was then known as the Legion Bowl in Rumney/Wentworth, NH. At some point in the feature, whatever held the hood down on the leader's car broke. Probably a piece of rope. The hood flopped up over the windshield. The driver then stuck his head out the driver's side window and kept on going. Not only did he finish the race with the hood covering the windshield, he won. That driver? Tommy Richardson.
Tommy was from Enfield, NH. When everybody else was running Fords his car was an old Plymouth coupe bearing the number 574 jr. Why "jr"? No idea. Don't care. Tommy sure could make that thing go, though. He was a uniquely talented driver. I can remember him in that old Plymouth, tail hanging out, and he was smooth when everybody else was just trying to get around the track in one piece.
To be honest, I don't remember if he was ever the track champion, but he sure did win his share of features at the old Bowl. I never really knew that much about him, either. As far as I know, he is no longer alive, but he still has family in the area. I would love to hear from anyone who remembers Tom. He had a nephew, Bobby, who raced Modifieds in the area in recent years, and showed quite a bit of his uncle's talent.
From what I gather, Tom had his share of health problems as he grew older. The last time I ever saw him race was in the early 1970's at Bear Ridge Speedway in Bradford, VT. The impression I got was that he'd just shown up to watch the races. One thing led to another, and he got invited into the pit area. The owner of a Ford coupe, # 319, offered him the use of his car for the afternoon, and I guess Tom couldn't resist. I also got the impression that it had been some time, possibly years, since he'd driven a race car. He went out and won the feature in convincing fashion.
That is how I will always remember him. Standing on the front stretch, shaking hands with the flagman, holding the first-place trophy. That, and with his head sticking out the driver's side window, grimly chewing dust on his way to that trophy.
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You long-time readers noticed that I recently added the picture at the top of this piece. I fished it out of an old scrapbook I've kept since I was a kid. I sliced through the tape on the edges of the 8x10 to put it on my scanner, and when I did I noticed that he autographed it on the back; "Tom Richardson - 574". I still get a lump in my throat just thinking about it. Miss ya, Tom.
