Moe Gherzi

Competitor, Race Official
CLASS OF 2012

After a brief stint in the midget ranks, Moe Gherzi transitioned to stock cars and became on of the drivers that helped define stock car racing in New England during the post-WWII era. Nicknamed “Moneybags” for his ability to capture some of the highest-paying events of the day, Gherzi brought a degree of class to short track racing during a time when the disheveled look of tattered t-shirts & jeans were often the norm for driver apparel. With his fancy silk shirts and requisite victory salute following each feature win, he was the consummate showman and goodwill ambassador during the early days of stock car racing. He was one of the most popular drivers in southern New England during the 1950’s.

Gherzi drove for some of the best teams of the day, including the famed Garuti Bros. team for which he won many events at places like Waterford Speedbowl, Plainville Stadium & Thompson Speedway in Connecticut and Riverside Park Speedway in Agawam, MA. He was known to visit the Long Island, NY tracks early in his career as well.

At Waterford he was particular successful. He had 27 career victories at the shoreline oval, 24 in the modifieds and 14 alone during the 1954 season. He lost out on the championship of the track’s inaugural season in 1951 by 2 points to Dave Humphrey. He raced there regularly thoughout the early 1950’s.

He also raced at Riverside Park Speedway (another United Stock Car Racing Club track), notching 8 career wins there including a Riverside Park 500 team race with Ed Flemke in 1956. By the early 1960’s he retired from competition and then became the long-time race director at Joe Tinty‘s Plainville Stadium.

Born in 1918, Moe Gherzi passed away back in 1991.