Kevin:
How about Sherm Decker? He was a prominent driver with MGA's.
The car is an MGA 1500 with wire wheels.
I just went looking in some books and found the following quote
from
Dick Knudson's "M.G.: The Sports Car America Loved First."
Knudson is from Oneonta, NY also and would have more information.
Knudson's email address is Dick Knudson <emgeeone@wpe.com>
Blake
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While the six men named above were well-known
in racing circles, many other drivers had their start in the
MGA. One of these was Sherm Decker of Oneonta, New
York. Sherm had seen many of the early races at Wat-
kins Glen and fir ally purchased a TD in 1952. He used
this car in some club events while down South in the
service. His first race was in a TF-1500in 1955 at Thomp-
son, Connecticut. He recalls that things were pretty
casual in those days:no roll bar, any sort of crash hel-
met, and his competition license was obtained through
the mail. Things certainly have changed.
In 1956 he obtained a new MGA and drove it in three
races that season. Sherm improved with each event,
and in his final event of the season won the Collier
Brothers Memorial Race at Watkins Glen. He led from
the start to finish in that race edging out Dave Ash
and Charlie Kurtz in similar cars.
Sherm drove M.G.s all over the East in the next few
seasons gaining experience for faster cars which he
drove in the 1960's. He was helped by his employer
at the time, Cordie Morris, of Maryland, New York.
Gordie's 'Morris Garage" was one of the top M.G.
dealerships in the country and some very competitive
M.G.s came out of that establishment. When the twin
cam MCA was introduced in 1958, Sherm regularly
raced one. Cordless shop (with Sherm in charge) was
one of the few which could really keep the engine run-
ning the way it was supposed to run Sherm described
the secret as using the factory specifications and in-
creasing the piston clearance; as a result, they achiev-
ed terrific dependability His performance in the twin
cam came to the attention of BMC, and he was offered
a drive in the 1960 Sebring race which turned out to
be an abortive effort.
In his M.G. career he was regarded as a winner
wherever he entered. At Lime Rock he was regularly
started at the rear (regardless of the draw) in order
to give the fans a show. Usually high placed in the
national point standings, the national championship
eluded Sherm because he WdS unable to run in enough
races in M.C.s at Watkins Glen, Sherm was only beat-
en twice. One of these defeats was at the hands of
Bob Boucher in 1957 They were wheel to wheel for
most of the race: in the last turn they bumped knock-
offs and Bob just nosed into a win.
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