OSWEGO, NY (April 13, 2020) - Oswego Speedway Hall of Fame car owner; Howard Purdy, who was well known for fielding his iconic ‘Purdy Deuce’ in Oswego’s Supermodified division through the 60’s and 70’s, passed away on Friday at age 89.
Purdy, from Gowanda, NY, owned Supermodifieds for well over a decade, and had a heavy impact on the success of some of Supermodified racing’s most legendary names; including Warren, Lux, and Coniam.
Although he was involved in the sport for quite some time beforehand, Purdy had initially come to Oswego Speedway in 1963 with driver Ken Fisher, but it was over the offseason that he built his own car for 1964; the famed ‘Purdy Deuce,’ debuted by Ronnie Lux late that year.
In ‘65, Lux and Purdy decided to take on the full schedule and laid down what still is one of the most dominant seasons in Oswego’s history. Lux took the ‘Little Deuce’ No. 2 to victory lane a staggering 12 times, including five in a row, enroute to securing the track title with no contest.
Lux’s unbelievably dominant performance unfortunately proved to be a one and done effort, as he left Oswego competition to pursue USAC ventures the next year. Tragically, Lux was killed in an accident in 1966. Soon afterward, Purdy would call upon Bentley Warren to fill the open seat.
By September 17 of 1966, Purdy had found victory lane again, this time with his new young talent from Massachusetts. Warren bested Wayne Landon, Joe Martincic, Jimmy Shampine, and Jack Murphy for the first Oswego checkered flag of his career on that day.
From 1967 to 1969, Warren and Purdy would win together six more times, including five trips to the winner’s circle in ‘69 alone. Bentley grabbed a dominant win in the July 4 Grand Prix that year, and just a few months later, delivered Purdy’s most memorable victory of all; triumphing in the International Classic. It was the first Classic win for both driver and car owner, and the lone Classic victory for Purdy.
Comparable to Lux, Warren also left Oswego to temporarily pursue USAC racing in 1970. The car sat parked for most of the year, before Purdy turned the controls of the Deuce over to now Canadian racing legend and fellow Speedway hall of famer, Warren Coniam.
In the final race of the 1970 season, Coniam joined Lux and Warren as big winners with Purdy, edging fellow Canadians Norm Mackereth and Kenny Andrews for the victory in the 75-lap Fall Championship. Coniam remained in the car part-time for 1971, and while he did not return to victory lane, was able to cap the season with a runner-up effort to Nolan Swift in the Classic.
After another strong performance in Supermodified racing’s crown jewel, Coniam’s upcoming move to the Solvay Automotive team meant that the Purdy Deuce once again had an open seat for 1972, which was filled just twice by Andy Brown, who wheeled it to a ninth place effort in the International Classic.
Following that extremely ‘part-time’ showing for the Speedway’s 1972 campaign, Howard then spent the full winter rebuilding the car and tabbed Central New Yorker Jimmy Winks as his new driver for ‘73. Purdy and Winks did make nearly every show that year, and were able to deliver with Winks’ first career victory on August 4, of 1973 and then a second only three weeks later on August 20 of 1973.
Now an aspiring businessman, Purdy had several growing corporations based in suburban Buffalo, NY. Barring that in mind, Howard scaled back yet again for the 1974 season, but did keep Winks in the car for a partial schedule. Jim would win three more times in eight starts, including in the Deuce’s very last race to date - the October 5, 1974 50-lap event which closed out the season.
At the time of his death, Purdy sits in a three-way tie with Mike Muldoon Sr. and Abold Racing for eleventh overall in all-time Supermodified car owner wins at 25. That is 12 with Lux, seven with Warren, one with Coniam, and five with Winks. It is still believed that the Deuce to this day sits untouched in Purdy’s barn following that final victory over 45 years ago.
Purdy was inducted into the track hall of fame in 2002, joining Lux, Warren, Coniam, and Winks as members. The staff and management of Oswego Speedway extends its deepest sympathies to the Purdy family throughout this difficult time.
Information provided by JakeSite.com and statistics compiled by Dave Rice were both relied upon to publish this article.
- CAMDEN PROUD on Apr 13, 2020
- Article Date: 4/13/2020