By John Manzi
MONTICELLO — April 11, 2003 – Interest in our Battle of the New York Legends continues to grow with the addition of each driving legend from the former Roosevelt and Yonkers New York metropolitan circuit who joins the competition.
“We’ve just received confirmation from Hall of Famer Del Insko,” said Larry Roman, who is sponsoring the Battle of the New York Legends Driving Championship on June 22 at The Mighty M. “With Del aboard, we now have two Hall of Fame drivers in the event.”
Elected to the prestigious Hall in 1980, Insko joins William “Buddy” Gilmour, who is the other Hall of Fame reinsmen already scheduled to compete. They’ll be joined by Benny “The Whip” Webster, Real “Coco” Cormier and “Steady Eddie” Lohmeyer, all of whom have already given their consent to be part of this promotion.
Insko, whose Hall of Fame statuette shows him with his trademark toothpick in his mouth, brings 4,725 driving victories and over $29 million in career earnings to the competition. When you add his totals to those of the drivers who already consented to participate, they have collectively recorded over 18,000 driving victories and purses totaling $138 million.
But to have a driving championship, at least eight drivers are needed.
“Now we need “The Redman” to hop aboard,” Roman said. “We’re hoping to add Carmine Abbatiello’s name to list of participants if we can ever get him out of Marathon in the [Florida] Keys.”
Currently five stellar reinsmen from the glory days of Yonkers and Roosevelt Raceways will be ready to battle for the $8,000 in prize money being offered by Roman.
“Besides the top drivers who’ll be competing, there will be other dignitaries from that era who will be on hand to help make the day a very special one,” Roman added.

Former Champs To Battle
In Passover Pace
Three former winners of Monticello Raceway’s Passover Pace will lock horns when the Catskill Mountain oval presents the fifth edition of the race on Tuesday, April 22.
Set to do battle are Dr. Douglas King, Jack Rice and Alan Schwartz. Dr King won the inaugural Passover Pace in 1999 with PD’s Bunny, Rice won the 2001 edition with Wildfire King and Schwartz was victorious in last year’s Passover Pace with Mac Wildwood Nukes.
Presented during the Passover Holiday season, the race features the talents of drivers of Jewish heritage.
“What better place than the Borscht Belt to stage a race for Jewish drivers only?,” asked Monticello Raceway director of racing Eric Warner. “You’d be surprised how many of the competitors look forward to Passover Pace each year. This season’s edition marks the fifth consecutive year that we will have a race.”
Others who have contacted Warner expressing their desire to compete on April 22 include Dave Offenberg, Paul Suchow and Jim Shields.
But according to Warner, he still has room to accommodate others.
If anyone knows of a driver of Jewish heritage interested in competing, they can call me at 794-4100, extension 455.