1957 Historical Photos
1957 Season Photos
Bremerton Airport Racetrack, Kitsap County, WA
1957 - Bremerton Airport Racetrack
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South of the border, all of the racing was held at Bremerton's Kitsap County Airport. A shorter course than the one used for the SCCA Nationals of 1954, '55, and '56 was used. Racing here started in March and went on THROUGH December! More about racing at Bremerton can be found in Long Straights and Hairpin Turns.
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Bremerton starting grid (the field drove around the corner to the right to the actual S/F line). Identifiable special cars include the Keck 550 Porsche, the Porschewagen, the Pooper, the Fairthorpe Electron, and the Ermini. Ted Fellows photo.
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Small field on Bremerton S/F line has some interesting cars. Wade Carter is the #69 Porsche, also on the grid is the 1.9 Ferrari #0272M, and Tom Carsten’s Cad-Allard. Wade Carter photo.
Lotus and Norton F2 fight it out. The Lotus is a 11 Club version.
Early Alfa Spider, driver Jack Scoville is working hard through Bremerton’s Turn Five. Ted Fellows photo.
One of B.C.’s many small-bore specials, the Fairthorpe Electron driven by Mike Balfe, one of B.C.’s pioneer drivers. Ted Fellows photo.
Believe it or not, this really is a Nash Metropolitan racing at Bremerton. Driven by Warren Gibbons, he managed to beat a couple of Volkswagens and an MG. Ted Fellows photo.
Jack Murray was the top local Corvette driver in 1957, here he is working hard at a mid-Spring Bremerton race. Ted Fellows photo.
Lyle Forsgren who went on to have a great career as a race car builder, got his start in this MG-TD, #144. Spectator seating was on the small hill across from the S/F line. Photo courtesy Lyle Forsgren estate.
Wade Carter’s career was just getting started when he raced this Porsche Speedster in 1957. He was good right off the bat. Photo courtesy Wade Carter estate.
George Keck inspects a wheel in his still-new Porsche 550 Spyder. Later that day he destroyed the body of the car in a roll-over accident. He rebuilt it as the RSKeck Special. Ted Fellows photo.
Future Ferrari ace Dr. Frank Becker looks over his Lotus 9, a car in which he had wretched luck throughout 1957 season, recording nothing but DNFs.
Varied group on the S/F line, with Ralph Ormsbee’s Cooper-Climax in the foreground. The author’s father is in the far right in his Jaguar XK120. Ted Fellows photo.
George Riley waits for the green flag in his Lancia Spyder, surrounded by, among others, Don Rushlight’s fast but often-brakeless Dodge 500. Ted Fellows photo.
David Reilly’s MGTC was already out of date by 1957 but he was a frequent competitor. Ted Fellows photo.
Variety of cars in the paddock waiting for their race. Front to back, Lotus 11 driven by Harry Cross, Austin Healy 100S driven by Dr. Frank Becker, and a “Buick Special”, driven by Mickey McGillis.
