ELMER "SMITTY" SMITH

Elmer "Smitty" Smith a Dallison, West Virginia garage owner and overall nice guy, was one of the Ohio Valleys original stock car racing "pioneers". Smitty started out at the Torch Speedway and the Marietta Fairgrounds track back in the late 1940's or early 1950's. Through the years up into the middle 1960's Smitty always had cars racing at the local tracks, sometimes he drove his cars himself and sometimes he would have other drivers in the seat of his race cars. One of his early day drivers was Gene Ingold. He was always a strong supporter of local racing and will be remembered as one of those who made Ohio Valley racing what it is today. Smitty passed away May 24, 1998 after a full and rewarding life.. Another "oldtimer" gone... but not to be forgotten. Local racing "owes" guys like Elmer Smith for their dedication and hard work through the years toward racing. Photos courtsey of Anthony Hardwick.

Here is "ole #222" in the doorway of the Emerick Bros. garage which was located on East Street, right after going under the railroad tunnel. Back in the early stock car racing days in the Ohio Valley the Emerick garage was a local "hangout" for the racers. Emericks garage was always a strong racing supporter through the early years in the Ohio Valley..

Another shot of the #222 coupe. These coupe pics are from around 1954.

#222 again.

Hard at work getting #222 ready for another weekend of racing.

This is another version, a later model of the #222 racer. This shot probably from around 1962.

Another shot of the #222 super.

Here is a early 1960 #222. This car raced at the Ohio Valley Speedway at Parkersburg, WV and most of the time Smitty drove it. Can anyone identify any of the people in these photos?

Thanks to Anthony Hardwick for sharing these photos of his grandfather Elmer "Smitty" Smith.