By 1957 the idea of a 500-mile stock cars race was not exactly a new one as the first 500-miler had been contested back in 1950 but they were still a relative rarity and one being held in New Jersey was a real novel affair, which is why this one made the news. The race we’re talking about is the 500 mile USAC stock car event held at the freshly paved Trenton Speedway held in the town bearing the same name. USAC was still very much in the stock car racing business at this time and served as a sizable (but shrinking) rival to Bill France’s NASCAR operation. It seems weird that they would have traveled to Trenton, New Jersey but there was a speedway and potential to make a buck, which are the two things that any racing promoter needs to have.
The track had some gently banked corners and while it was not the fastest place on Earth, it was more than adequate to handle 43 stock cars of varying speed and preparation. As the video shows, there were Chevrolets, Chryslers, Studebakers, Fords, and Mercurys among other makes represented. This one minute newsreel account of the event shows us some great action with cars spinning, cars crashing, and cars losing parts, some great footage of the vintage race cars, and even a winner’s circle photo with the dude who took home the trophy, cigarette in hand.
All the more interesting is that this footage comes from the British Pathe company which was one of the premier filming operations in the world and documented lots of the world’s history in the 20th century. The footage archive they have ranges from WWII stuff to simple footage of people living their lives in England, to stuff like this and other racing exploits. We have made it a habit to hang out on their YouTube page now and again because gems like this one rise to the top. A perfect one minute racing vignette. We love it!
PRESS PLAY BELOW TO SEE THIS COOL NEWSREEL FOOTAGE FROM THE 1957 USAC 500 MILE RACE IN TRENTON, NEW JERSEY
