Convair Field (Allentown)

This Allentown airfield was built about 1943 to serve Convair’s wartime aircraft plant. Production ended with the war, the field was declared surplus, and the city took it over in 1947. In spring 1955 radio host Lou “Dopey Duncan” Gehringer used his pull to get drag racing approved, with six races planned that year. The Allentown Jaycees, Lehigh Valley Timing Association and Ridge Runners car club sponsored monthly races starting May 15, 1955, when 4,000 spectators watched 106 cars and Michael Sforza of Ozone Park, New York, was fastest at 100.26 mph in his Chrysler-powered 1932 Ford coupe. At an NHRA regional on August 21, 1955, 8,000 people watched 282 cars in 21 classes. Neal Pruzan of New Rochelle, New York, won top eliminator in his Cadillac-engined dragster, and Mick McMillan set a track record of 111.66 mph in the Gents club dragster from York.

The 1956 season opened April 15. On April 29, at a race closed to all but members of the Lehigh Valley and Pennsylvania timing associations, the Jaycees, the Lions Club and city officials, Mike Gurtizen won top eliminator at 105.33 mph in the Gents’ rear-engined dragster. Over 8,000 people saw more than 300 racers at the first public race on May 6, where Gurtizen was fastest again at 104.65. To give locals a chance, the May 20 race was limited to racers within 30 miles, and Don Millard of Spring City was fastest at 101.91. On June 3 McMillan ran 108.3 mph and Frank Wurtz of Glossen, New Jersey, won top eliminator in his T-Bird-engined ‘32 Ford. The June 24 race required proof of residence in the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton area. Gurtizen set a strip record of 120.84 mph on July 1. Charles McFarland won the local-only July 15 race in his Cadillac-powered ‘32 Ford and earned a paid trip to the Nationals in Great Bend, Kansas. On August 12, 317 racers drew over 8,000 fans, Howard Bechtel won top eliminator and Larry Hickey of Washington, D.C., was fastest at 114.50 mph.

The last race was the two-day First Annual L.V.T.A. East Coast Championship on October 6-7, 1956, with 308 entries and 2,500 spectators. Dopey Duncan had the day’s top speed, 114.83 mph in his Olds-powered dragster. Neighbor complaints and CAA objections then led the city to stop leasing the field for racing. It was renamed Queen City Airport in 1961 and is still a municipal airport.