Saw this on another site.....click on SUNDAY NIAGARA below
I recently stumbled upon a older, but fantastic Niagara Dragway webpage.
I don't know if it has been posted before, and some may have already been through it, but it is chocked full of vintage Drag and people shots. Some Canadian shots as well. Well worth a look.
When I was 8 years old, my best friend's 17 year old brother took us both to Niagara in a clapped out old Valiant. He had also taken us twice to Cayuga, and I call still vaguely remember the late 60's drag vibe, I've actually stood beside Jungle Jim's and Color Me Gone funny cars and many more I can't remember. But I do remember the sounds and smell of it all. Unreal for a couple of 8 year old's.
You are right about the Sunday Niagara site. I have been checking it out for a while now. There are a few sites about Niagara Dragstrip. I have been scouring them trying to find a picture of Peter Magels " Maggot " as it ran at Niagara before it was painted white but no luck yet. If anyone is on facebook check out Jimmy Zakia as he has a lot of good pictures too. Today I found a pic of a 55Chev and a 63 Chev off the line at Niagara and it sure looked like my 55 but it was a long shot and I,m not positive.
Here's an interesting story that for obvious reasons you will never see in Sunday Niagara.
Some of you may make a claim of sour grapes but you can take my word for what follows or not because I gave my word to the person who told me the story I would not mention their name as they were directly involved with the track and did not ,even at this late date
want any problems with DJ who is considered by many to be an AH? My Brother Peter
Magel ( the Maggot) raced at Niagara and was very successful ,seldom beaten. At some point D J decided to increase the prize $ for the higher classes.Instead of dipping into his profit DJ dipped into the prize $ of the lower classes,Jr Stockers etc. That ultimately led to
a big race day strike in mid track by 12 ( ?) affected racers. It didn't last long but Peter and only Peter was banned for life ! Several weeks later Peter sent the Maggot back to Niagara with Neil Smedley who was barred from racing the Maggot( Peter thought he was barred ). For years every body thought Peter was barred for the strike. At a later date Jr
Stock was History and so was Peter as he lived on his prize. $ as he won where he raced.
He went into a deep depression and as he would never race again he placed 3 race cars
( the Maggot,aLark he had been working on and a Hudson that had won a National ) with his friend Mike Uzerowski in Varysburg NY for a commission sale. Mike died and Mike Jr took over and had the same deal with me ( Peter sick and out of it ).Mike Jr sells the cars to a dealer ( ? )in Niagara Falls and KEPT THE $. In a attempt to chase down the cars I spoke to my party who had been involved with the Niagara Race Track. I talked about the strike and Peter being barred because of it. I got a big laugh and the true story.Peter was
almost unbeatable resulting in competitors calling in the night before the race and if Peter was running they were no-shows or if they came to race and Peter was running they left or sat in the stands but didn't race .in other words if Peter raced he killed the entrance fees in his class. The strike was the first chance/excuse DJ had to get rid of Peter. Obviously Peter
was not the problem because with him gone the Maggot was still not allowed to run. End of story.Probably a civil suit at the x if Peter had known.;
