Oscar Ridlon

Competitor
CLASS OF 2005
Veterans Committee Selection

Oscar ‘Cannonball’ Ridlon raced midgets & sprint cars all over the northeast, winning races at numerous tracks. He won at New England tracks such as Seekonk Speedway, Dracut Speedway, Alumni Field and Pines Speedway.

In 1938, was part of a group of 25-30 midget drivers invited to race in South America. He won the New England Midget Championship five straight years (1937-1941). He also captured 7 New England Big Car titles. In 1946, he swept all 10 sprint car main events at Thompson Speedway.

He survived a spectular crash at Dracut Speedway on July 14, 1947 when his car flipped high over two fences and landed in the grandstands. He suffered head injuries and a broken jaw. He retired in 1958 with an estimated 400 career victories.

Ridlon is often remembered as a colorful character with an engaging personality. He was such a popular figure in New England during the 1930’s & 1940’s that celebrities seeked him out for photographs when they were in town.

After retirement, he became a promoter with stints at Dracut, Manchester Motordrome, Tiverton Speedway, Hudson Speedway and Arundel Speedway. With John Smith, he opened Pines Speedway in 1940, where he promoted races up unitl his death in 1973 at the age of 63 (the same year Pines Speedway permanently closed).