Turn back the clock to the late 50s and early 60s at Orlando Raceway and Eau Gallie Speedway. I know where some of these guys are but not all. Some may have passed and some may be in poor health, so help me out if you know for sure.
Bill Enters - lived in Orlando for years and years but know he was in failing health. Recently heard that he moved to Georgia with his daughter. Can anyone confirm?
Pancho Alvarez - still alive and well in Tampa?
Gene Watson - lived in West Melbourne
Stan Parker - lived in Matiland
Ronnie Rood - lived in Orlando
Charlie Pullen - lived in Orlando
Bobby Dawson - still in Orlando?
Phil Orr - still in Apopka?
Curtis Letchworth - lived in Lakeland
Lindburgh Howard - lived in Leesburg?
Al Moschera - lived in Jupiter
Harry Pullen - lived in Oklahoma last I heard
Still with us but getting on in years - Buster Burt, Dick Crowe, Dumont Smith, Henry Pullen, Dave Scarborough, Ernie Bass, and Buzzie Reutimann who is still racing!!
Any updates on these guys will be most appreciated.
Marty Little
Good luck! I will be following this thread closely. What happened to Royce Barton? On another note,while I miss your column in NSSN, it is good to see your byline on a major story.
Buster Burt
Marty, as you know Buster is living here in The Villages in Central Fla. He is doing very well. In fact he is racing in a Go Kart race the 20th of this month at the great little Go Kart track in Fruitland Park FL. Glen Carter
Where are they now?
Thanks for the updates.
Bill Enters is still with us but suffering with Alzheimer’s disease and in a care facility in Maitland. He was an early hero of mine from 1957 when I first attended the races at Eau Gallie and Bill drove his blue and white sedan No 5.
Not sure about Royce Barton. I thought someone mentioned to me that that he’d passed a few years back but I have no proof. Maybe best known for his own No. 87 cars, his career highlight was winning the 1961 Sportsman title at Eau Gallie the one year it was known as Spinning Wheel Speedway. His championship car that year was Robbie Rosen’s white No. M7 coupe with flathead power. Royce left Ft. Pierce and moved to Alaska for several years and when he came back he settled in Fellsmere in far north Indian River County. I’ll see what I can find out and share it here.
Gene Watson was an Eau Gallie only racer as far as I know and I don’t believe he made the transition to the late models in the 60s. Have not heard his name mentioned in many years.
Stan Parker was a good Orlando area racer and did make the transition to the late model bodied cars and he also competed in the one and only Grand National race at Golden Gate Speedway in Tampa on 11-11-62 in a No. 23 1960 Dodge. Other locals in that event (won by Richard Petty in a '62 Plymouth) were Lewis “Possum” Jones ('60 Pontiac) and Buzzie Reutimann ('60 Chevy) in his one and only NASCAR GN appearance finishing 10th. Stan’s early coupes wore No. 91 but he later switched to No. 73.
Al Moschera lived/lives in Jupiter and ran an all white No. 00 coupe at Eau Gallie. Not sure he ever raced at Orlando as he stored his car behind Palm Cove Garage on US 1 in Eau Gallie rather than tow it back home every week.
I heard from current LM racer Sean Bass who told me his grandfather, Ernie Bass, is in good health and still living in Orlando. Ernie was another of those who made the very successful transition from the coupes to the late models and he was always at or near the front right up until he retired.
It’s amazing how many of the 50s and 60s racers passed away at a relatively young age. Among them Dick Joslin 45, Pete Folse 50, Jim McGuirk 53, Emil Reutimann 56 and Bob Luscomb 60.
Again, thanks for the input and we’ll continue to search for answers with your help.
Marty
Thanks for the update. Gene Watson like Maurice Hamilton seemed to disapear when the switch to late models came.
Royce Big Boy Barton
Just want you all to know Royce Big Boy Barton is alive and well living in Bell Florida with his beautiful wife Dolly of 42 years and surrounded by his Oldest Daughter Paula Hamilton and Family and Youngest Daughter Nancy and her Husband Danny . Daddy has had some problem but still hanging in there . And still gets a BIG smile on his face when he see’s a pretty girl. God has truly blessed us.he still loving life and you can’t keep him down . His brother Rodney passed several years back. His brother Speedy is over in the Pan handle and came for a visit couple weeks ago.
Thanks for the update. Nice to have positive news for a change. I remember Royce at Eau Gallie and have pictures from Fort Pierce in the late 50s.I remember his rugged appearance but was quite the gentleman at the same time.
Royce Barton
IF you have pictures of Daddy I would love to have copies of them . His grandchildren and Great grandchildren love to here him tell them his racing stories I would love to have pictures to show them they have seen all the ones we have . I left out his Great Great grandchildren.
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