Guy Robinson (racing driver)
| Guy Robinson | |
|---|---|
| Born | Guy S. Robinson May 14, 1939 Watertown, New York, U.S. |
| Died | September 12, 2024 (aged 85) |
| Retired | 1984 |
| Debut season | 1965 |
| Modified racing career | |
| Car number | 13 |
| Championships | 2 |
| Wins | 100+ |
Guy "Shorty" Robinson (May 14, 1939 – September 12, 2024) was an American driver of modified stock cars. Equally adept on both dirt and asphalt surfaces, he was victorious at venues on both the American and Canadian sides of the St. Lawrence River, despite being limited primarily to weekend racing by his full-time job.[1]
Racing career
Guy Robinson got his big break in 1965 when owner/driver John Barker Sr. offered him a chance to get behind the wheel of his flathead powered number 122 at the Watertown Speedway, New York. The combination garnered several wins over the following two years. Barker built a new car for the 1967 season, with the new number '13' which became Robinson's hallmark throughout much of his career.[2]
Robinson went on to compete successfully in New York at Brewerton Speedway, Evans Mills Speedway, Fort Covington Speedway, Can-Am Speedway in LaFargeville, and Utica-Rome Speedway in Vernon; and in Ontario at Brockville Speedway, Capital City Speedway in Ottawa, and Kingston Speedway.[3][4][5][6]
Guy Robinson claimed the Watertown Speedway point championships in 1971 and 1973, and he was inducted into the Northeast Dirt Modified Hall of Fame in 1993.[6]
Personal life
Robinson started school in a one-room schoolhouse, walking two miles each way. He was a member of Teamsters Local No. 687 and had a 37-year career as a long-distance tractor trailer drive. Robinson died on September 12, 2024, at the age of 85.[7]
References
- ^ Forkes, Les (September 11, 1971). "Shorty wins 25-lap feature event". The Kingston Whig-Standard. Ontario, Canada. p. 10. Retrieved November 23, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Stoodley, Dave (2003). The Legends of Watertown Speedway. Speedway Press. ISBN 9780967743844.
- ^ Sarazin, Jim (September 2, 1972). "Speedy Robinson breezes to feature win". The Kingston Whig-Standard. Ontario, Canada. p. 12. Retrieved November 23, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Newer and stronger competition set stock car pace". The Massena Observer. NY. July 26, 1973. p. 20. Retrieved November 23, 2023 – via NYS Historic Newspapers.
- ^ "Robinson wins at Speedway". The Post-Standard. Syracuse NY. May 31, 1976. p. 35. Retrieved November 23, 2023 – via NewspaperArchive.
- ^ a b "Brownville driver gains special Dirt honor". Watertown Daily Times. NY. January 22, 1993. Retrieved November 23, 2023 – via NNY360 Archives.
- ^ "Guy S. Robinson Obituary". Dexter NY: Johnson Funeral Home. Retrieved September 14, 2024.
