VERNON, N.Y. — Since the most recent event at Utica-Rome Speedway on Labor Day weekend, three prominent members of the historic facility’s racing community were lost.
Dave Lape, a multi-time winner on both the dirt and pavement surfaces as well as a two-time modified track champion at the Home of Heroes, passed away on Sept. 7. Three days later, Louise Burrows — along with husband Fred, one of Lape’s well-known car owners — passed away.
Fred, a prominent local businessman, entered into rest on Sept. 27.
The Oriskany, N.Y.-based Burrows couple owned Lape’s race cars and engines for 16 seasons, from 1986-2002, enjoying considerable success as a team. Fred was also part owner of Utica-Rome Speedway from 1984-1988 during the track’s five-eighths-mile era as New Venture International Speedway.
The Burrows/Lape partnership began at Utica-Rome during that period.
During the October 4 season finale at Utica-Rome Speedway, Lape and the Burrows couple will be honored.
The Utica-Rome Speedway midway area will feature a pair of No. 22 Dave Lape race cars. The Cardamone family plans to show Lape’s final Champ Car from 1996, a race car owned by the Burrows. Joe Rando will display his replica No. 22 ‘Troyer Destroyer’ and pace the modified field.
Jackie Lape, wife of David, will speak before the national anthems about her late husband and their relationship with the Burrows family. Speedway historian Doug Zupan plans to highlight Lape’s accomplishments at the Route 5 oval and beyond.
At Utica-Rome, Lape was one of three drivers winning events on both the original pavement track and dirt surface. He had two victories on pavement and six on dirt for a total of eight wins. In ’81 and ’85, he earned the modified track championship and topped a series event in the ’85 season, as well.
Lape made his last start at Utica-Rome in 2000.