Hi Marty,    They used to hold midget auto races on the main floor every Wednesday and Saturday night. I worked for the concessionairre either at a booth or walking around selling drinks. It was fun watching the races because nobody bought anything while the cars were going around. After each race was a short intermission or break while they got the next set of cars on the track. That's when everyone bought.

Yes. the exhaust was plentiful and not the healthiest place to be. Being that the armory was very high with a domed type roof with long rows of open windows, much of the smoke and exhaust rose up. If this was today, I'm sure there would be environmental concerns and the racing association would not get permits and permission to hold that type of event. We have come a long way since then but still have eons to go to. Just today, the Bush administration has eased the rules for older power plants so they don't have to comply with updating their emissions. Another Bush disregard for the environment.

MartyG      You were right about the Kingsbridge Armory having Roller Derby there. Last week, I met with my next door neighbor, James Kilmartin, when he was visiting Lake Tahoe. We hadn't seen each other for 55 years. We lived at 2641 Jerome Avenue. He was several years older. He used to be an instructor at the Fordham Roller Skating Rink and shortly after joined the Roller Derby,  when you may have seen it on TVin the early fifties. He told me that there was a roller derby rink set up inside the armory at one pont. I didn't remember it, but you were right on. We had a nice visit after all these years. He lives in Sun Lakes, AZ.