1959 MGCC PROGRAM Imagine the price of 25¢.

The grid forms for the Hambro Cup. This race was for non twin cam cars, meaning MGA’s and T types. #029 is Bob Bucher and #20 is Ted Rounds; both barc members.

Bucher sits in the car while Spankey leans over to give last minute advice. The local Police all knew Bucher who has the most wins of anyone at Watkins Glen.

Ted Rounds on the grid with his friend Ron Hadlock. Hadlock was a professor who moved, as I recall, to Florida State. We never heard back from him. Ted, to the contrary, is still drinking beer and offering wise advice.

Ted Rounds glances over at the inscrutable Bucher. Jake was a WWII fighter and bomber pilot and was truly an unflappable iceman. Round did beat Bucher at Berwick,PA this year but not today.

On the grid for the BMC cup with Ross deSt Croix’s twin cam #129 and Bob Bucher in the pushrod #029.

Hank vanDusen from the small town of Cobleskill, NY in his Morris Garage twincam #6. Sherm Decker is on his right with John Wendt’s twincam #07 in the background.

Bob Bucher in Spankey Smith’s #029 fought with Ted Rounds but won the Hambro Cup race.

Ted Rounds in the 1957 Sebring MGA. This car has stayed in the BARC family for over 50 years.

For a while Rounds led Bucher, but they reversed positions at the end of the race.

Bucher makes his move at the top of the hill pulling inside Ted.

Bob Poupard was just starting his racing days with this 1500 MGA.

Here is a close up of Sherm and you can see Ross’s car tucked in behind him as they pass the start finish line. Decker and St Croix would be 1-2 in the BMC cup.

This is how tight the fight was most of the race. Sherm Decker is slightly ahead of Ross deSt Croix, both in twin cam MGA’s.

Sherm Decker and Ross deSt Croix at the top of The Glen’s hill. Our report said that Ross had a bit more power but Decker was stronger on the brakes.

Sherm Decker is shown the green flag. Look closely and you can see his eyes are on the mirror looking for Ross.

Jan Respon #71 is being passed by a late entry whose last name Sheldon is all we have. These two finished 9th & 10th.

Sherm keeps the lead and gets the checkered flag after a long, hard fight with Ross deSt Croix.

Not an unusual sight at Watkins Glen in 1957-1960. Bob Bucher in Spankey Smith’s MGA wins

A smiling Sherm Decker and lovely wife Joan get the checkered flag and congratulations from the starter.

Winning drivers pose. Not sure who is on the left, but Ted Rounds, Sherm Decker and Bob Bucher all hold their trophies.

Canadian Ross deSt Croix and his wife smile with his BMC cup trophy.

Joan Decker, Sherm’s wife and their son Greg next to the family pickup truck.

The entry for the first year was strong enough there was a T Type race. This is the start - the starter is dropping the flag and you can see him on the far right.

A silver MG with red grill, #77 leaves pit row and heads out on the circuit. We don’t have #77 listed in the entry.

A lovely MG TC finds its way past start/finish and up the hill.

A terrific ad from the western NY MG council promoting their races.

PROGRAM for the 1960 MGCC races. The price is now up to 50¢.

The front row promises a second straight year of battle between Sherm Decker #67 and Ross deSt Croix #2. And they did not disappoint.

The second row with barc driver Bob Poupard in 3rd position. Dave Zych (camera), Dave Nicholas (no shirt) and Joe Tierno are standing by hoping not to get kicked out.

Sunday morning is time for the drivers meeting.

The Poupard crew is working furiously on the car to get it ready.

No fancy dump tanks in 1960. Sherm Decker uses the good old 5 gallon can and a funnel.

Three MGA’s ready to go. Poupards twin cam #66next to Deckers twin cam with Ralph Barnard’s A #99.

The 3 twincams are away with Sherm Decker and Ross deSt Croix going at it for the second year but now Bob Poupard has a twin cam and is in the hunt.

The green flag has dropped and the under 1500cc race has started. The T series ran in their own races, not against the MGA’s.

Two Canadian MG’s fight it out. The MGA of Bill Hopkins and the T
C of Al Manestar

Sherm Decker gets the checkered flag to win for a second straight year.

Sherm and Joan come in after their victory lap.

The Rebel Bobby Poupard is being given instructions to the winners circle for finishing 3rd. This was Poupards first trip and he was lost. It would not be his last trip to victory circle.

Bob Poupard is back in the paddock meeting with his crew and looking over the lap chart. Nicholas (straw hat) looks on.

The Canadian’s created some fantastic “improved” production MG T series and they were fast. #104 is Frank Mounts TC

The Canadian MG crew taking care of Bill Leper’s car. These great folks brought such fun to the event. Hard to imagine how it could happen today.

21 Year old Frank Mount tunes his TC #104.

Frank sits in his car, ready to head out and win the 1250cc class. Frank went on to race twincams but returned to vintage years later and made a replica of this TC he races today. It’s name is Clatter

Frank Mount in 2020 holding his silver bowl from the 1960 Watkins Glen MGCC races. Well done Frank.

Here is Frank and Connie waiting to head out at Mosport. The car is “Clatter”, the clone of his 1960 #104.

A great example of the Canadian Improved Production TC in the hands of Al Manestar.

One of the improved MG drivers from Ontario poses next to his TC. This is Joe Suessmuth who won the Western New Yorker race.

Being hardy Canadians, they pitched their tents and camped at the race track. No superlight, aluminum tube tents in those days.

Classic BARCboys. DAve Zych stares at the camera whild Nicholas (straw hat) and Tierno are more interested in Al Monestar’s TC

Bob Poupard drives his twincam under the Improved Production Canadian T type of Bill Lepper. The #102 was assigned to Frank Mount but he really drove #104.

Charley Fela’s TD sits on its trailer as good racers, as all good racers have done since one car battled another, drink beer.

It must be Friday or Lunch time. The Dave Nicholas TD drives down the false grid road. No doubt looking for free food.

Officials gather after the event waiting for awards. The staff all wore those funky pork-pie MG hats. We wanted one badly.

Awards time and Bob Poupard is center stage receiving his 3rd place silver dish.

Sherm has his silver trophy as he and son Greg smile up at the camera.

The winners chat with their awards. Joan Decker, polka dot shirt, Ross deSt Croix striped shirt

The day is done and cars are headed home. Bob Poupard fires up his twincam to put on the trailer.

Zych sits in his newly painted TD, Joe Tierno is in his competition prepared MGA and Nicholas poses for the camera as if he won the big race.

Bob Duell was a fixture racing at The Glen. We saw Bob just a few years ago at our 60th anniversary doing well.

Bob Duell tuning his fast TD among his Ecurie Pip teammates.

Battle among the TD’s with Charles Fela #68 from Akron alongside Fred Steger with Bob Duell #9, close behind. Fela was in a race long battle with Joe Suessman and finished second only feet behind.

Noe the PIP on the side of Duell’s TD. There were a bunch of Western NY racers who all belonged to Ecurie Pip.

John Tame’s 1500cc MG TF was up front in all his races. In the Western New Yorker he fought with Joe Suessman and Fela but finished 3rd.

Even the officials drove MG’s. Here one of the stewards drives his TC towards the tower.

Joe Suessmuth in his MGTC looks over at the pits to get a signal from his faithful crew. Joe would win the race. after a race long battle with the TD of Charlie Fela. The TD would outbrake the TC into the last turn only to have Joe pass him up the hill. On the last lap Joe braked late and won by inches.

Results from the 1959 BMC cup race

Results from the 1959 Hambro Cup

Results from 1960 MGCC races