The photos I am sharing today are part of the Ralph Murphy photo archive, which my husband received from his Aunt Jean in 2012. This extensive collection comprises 21 boxes of slides, totaling thousands, all captured by Uncle Ralph. These images span the years from 1947 to 1984. Among them are scenic shots from their travels across the United States, glimpses of family members, and candid moments with friends and co-workers. I digitized the slide collection in 2015, and they continue to bring me joy.
The land where the Mountain State Auto Auction now stands near Saltwell Road in Shinnston, Harrison County, West Virginia, has a rich history in motorsports. It was once home to the I-79 Speedway, also known as Thomas Speedway or the Brennan Raceway. This quarter-mile dirt track opened shortly after World War II, and its thrilling midget car races captivated fans with the roar of engines and fierce competition.
During the 1960s, the I-79 Speedway became a vibrant hub of activity on Friday nights from April to September. Racing enthusiasts flocked to the track to witness exciting sprint car races and cheer on local drivers. Among these talented competitors was Gene Tallman, a fierce driver hailing from Clarksburg.
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Gene Tallman |
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Gene Tallman and Gerald Compton |
Behind the wheel of the number 43 Trevis sprint car—a long, slender model reminiscent of those seen competing in the prestigious Indianapolis 500—Tallman left his mark as one of “West Virginia’s dirt track pioneers.” His talent and determination earned him recognition not only in West Virginia, but also across neighboring states. Some of the tracks and cities where Gene raced include:
- Morgantown Speedway in Morgantown, West Virginia
- Ohio Valley Speedway located in Lubeck, West Virginia
- Elkins Raceway situated in Kerens, West Virginia
- Parkersburg, West Virginia
- Florida State Fair Speedway in Tampa, Florida
- Deep Creek Lake Speedway near McHenry, Maryland
- Winchester, Virginia
- Marietta and Belmont, Ohio
- Arden Downs, near Washington, Pennsylvania
- Greater Pittsburgh Speedway in Clinton, Pennsylvania
- Heidelberg Raceway, located in Scott Township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania (approximately six miles southwest of Pittsburgh)
- Williams Grove Speedway in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania
In 1962, Tallman achieved a significant milestone by winning the inaugural Potomac Valley 100. This race took place at the Potomac Valley Speedway in Fort Ashby, West Virginia. The victory brought him a substantial purse of $1,046, which stood as his largest earnings up to that point. The Potomac Valley Speedway, with its 1/3-mile dirt oval, was the perfect stage for this Labor Day holiday classic with approximately 4,000 fans gathered to witness the thrilling action of the drivers. That day, Tallman wore white coveralls and tennis shoes, the same as he is wearing in the photo below. Unfortunately, I am unable to confirm whether this photo was taken that day or at another race.
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Warren Compton, Gene Tallman, and Gerald Compton |
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Gene Tallman holding the checkered flag (race unknown) (added 7/28/24) |
The number 43 car, a Chevrolet with a midget body and a V-8 engine, was owned by Warren Compton, a neighbor of Ralph Murphy in Nutter Fort, and his brother Gerald. Warren and Gerald built dragsters together and could often be found at local racetracks. I recently published photos of Warren, a car he built, and his family, captured by Ralph’s camera. You can read that post here.
Born in Belington, West Virginia in 1930, Gene began his racing career in 1951. He made his way to Clarksburg around 1956, where alongside his wife Rita they raised three sons—Gregory, Rodney, and Jeff. When not racing on the weekends, he drove a truck for Allegheny Freight Lines.
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Gene Tallman with trophy. D. H. Bramer, likely a sponsor, owned a welding shop in Clarksburg |
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Gene Tallman |
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Gene Tallman |
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You can read “Compton & Tallman” above the 43 on the back of Gene Tallman’s t-shirt |
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Warren Compton standing on the right |
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Warren Compton |
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Gene Tallman in car; Warren Compton on the right |
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Warren Compton working on the #43 car |
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Warren Compton working on the #43 car |
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Warren’s son, Greg Compton |
The four photos below are likely an after the race celebration, taken at a local restaurant.
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Gerald Compton in the #43 shirt |
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Warren Compton (with glasses) and his wife Peggy (in white shirt); Gerald Compton looking up at man standing |
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Gene Tallman, two unknown men, Warren Compton, and Peggy Compton |
My thanks to Beth Gain and Pete Secret at the Clarksburg History Museum for their help in identifying the location of these photos and help with other details.
I hope you enjoyed these photos from Ralph’s archives. To see others from his collection, click here. To learn more about auto racing in West Virginia, see Eric Denemark and Tom Adamich’s article “Auto Racing” in the e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia.
References
- 100-Lap Race to be Sunday: Spring Championship Set at Heidelberg, The Weirton Daily Times, Weirton, West Virginia, May 7, 1966.
- Bill Cassella to Compete: Top Field to Race at Clinton Speedway, The Weirton Daily Times, Weirton, West Virginia, April 28, 1966.
- Denemark, Eric and Tom Adamich “Auto Racing,” e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia, March 28, 2023.
- Denzil H. Bramer, Clarksburg, West Virginia, City Directory, 1955.
- Fair Race Feature: Champion Richert Wins, The Tampa Tribune, Tampa, Florida, February 3, 1966.
- Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/179660228/denver_eugene-tallman: accessed May 23, 2024), memorial page for Denver Eugene Tallman (24 Sep 1930–28 Apr 2005), Find a Grave Memorial ID 179660228, citing Belington Fraternal Cemetery, Belington, Barbour County, West Virginia, USA; maintained by BurnRollins (contributor 47912569).
- Fred Johnson Still Critical, The Dominion News, Morgantown, West Virginia, June 18, 1968.
- Kegg, J. Suter, Gene Tallman Wins Potomac Valley 100, Cumberland Evening Times, Cumberland, Maryland, September 4, 1962.
- Kegg, J. Suter, Tapping the Sports Keg, Cumberland Evening Times, Cumberland, Maryland, September 4, 1962.
- Lost Dirt Tracks, Interstate 79 Speedway; https://www.facebook.com/profile/100037190965896/search/?q=i-79%20speedway.
- Ohio Valley Speedway; https://www.facebook.com/ohiovalleyspeedway.
- Scott, Orr Both Score ‘Slams’ on Racetracks: Herb Wins Three Events at Wm. Penn; Gib Dominates at Greater Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, August 8, 1960.
- Wise, Schaefer Win Wms. Grove Feature Races, The Daily News, Lebanon, Pennsylvania, April 18, 1966.
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