OLD BLUE’S LAST RIDE

        What an exciting summer this has been.  John and I have had the privilege of towing the #3 OLD BLUE Coupe to several different tracks and shows during the months of June and July.  From Seekonk Speedway to Waterford Speedbowl, as well as Skip’s Hamburger Stand in Merrimack, MA, the famed and beloved car has traveled in an enclosed trailer for many miles and has been displayed for all to see.

        The car, as of yet, has not been redone and is still in it’s original condition.  With it’s rough and jiggered edges, faded, hand-painted blue paint scheme and thirty plus year old tires, it’s been a welcomed site for many and even referred to as a thing of beauty for it’s time by others.  The beauty is in being that it has been kept and preserved as well as it has without restoration.

        The 1935 Chevy "Coupe" was driven by Carl "Buggsy" Stevens and Fred DeSarro in the late 60’s through the mid 70’s and claimed three National Championship titles before it was retired in 1976.

        Built by Lenny Boehler, it’s now owned by Ric Mariscal and the PRON9NE Motorsports Museum.  The car is house in Pawtucket , RI .  Anyone that missed it’s NEAR tour this summer and would like to see it up close and personal can call the museum at 401-447-4202 for the times of operation.

        After it’s retirement, the car was put away for nearly ten years.  OLD BLUE made it’s first reappearance in 1983 by Mariscal at Waterford Speedbowl for a New England Antique Racer Vintage Car Meet.  The excitement and intrigue that it brought to the fans was amazing to see.  Nearly everyone that viewed it wanted to hear and understand about the car’s vast history.

        Both on and off the track, the car has continued to thrill it’s fans as it has visited many places throughout the Northeast over the past twenty years and will continue to be on display for many years to come.  On July 17, 2005 while at Waterford , OLD BLUE went out to exercise it’s wheels (on a race track) for the final time.  It is now considered strictly a show car for display.

        For us, preparing and taking the car to where it would perform in it’s last competition with NEAR and STAR was a bittersweet experience. While feeling honored to be allowed to have the car in our possession at this point and time in history, we also felt saddened to know that the car would never be in competition again.  Maybe it’s just me but I see this as an ending of an era and the start of a whole new adventure for OLD BLUE.