RK Notes: The day of reports are simular than past years... The race for 1966 was named in honor of Raymond "Shorty" Smith, one of Bangor's all-time great athletes. Smith was sidelined with illness and would be unable to watch the race. I'll go right to the results for 1966.

Hillgrove Wins Bangor Race In Record Time
(Bangor Daily News, September 6, 1966)

Bob Hillgrove of Rockland, without breaking stride at any point, successfully defended his title in the fifth annual Bangor five-mile road race Monday afternoon winning in a record time of 26 minutes 54.7 seconds.

The North Carolina State student finished close to half a mile ahead of his top competitors, Steve Turner of the University of Maine who finished the event named in honor of Olympic runner Andrew Sockalexis in 28:51, beating out university rival Joe Dahl of Old Town by four seconds.

A field of 37 entered, 34 started and all but one finished the grueling grind in 80 degree temperature.

MAKES HIS BREAK

At the entance to Valley Avenue Hillgrove made his break and took a lead of 50 yards, continued to Holland Street's Heartbreak Hill where he never broke stride and stretch his margin to 75 yards.

He had covered most of the length of West Broadway to Buck Street before his nearest rival rounded the turn from Union, increased his speed down Buck and continued up Maine to Dutton, entering the Bass Park over and almost completeing the turn when Turner appeared.

He bettered the old mark of 26:55.4 by close to one second appearing to ease of fon the track but he sprinted to the wire the last hundred yards.

"This is the best race in the state," the lean Hillgrove said after his finish. "I don't say that just because I won, but it's the best course, best conducted event there is, and the trophies are better."

With his pretty wife at his side he asked about Dave Farley, said he hopes to get back to college in February and added: "It must be a big surprise to those who have never run this race when they turn that corner and head up Holland Street hill." He said he doesn't run the course prior to the race.

A good crowd was on hand all along the race course and at the finish line where he received a tremendous hand as he crossed the line.

Harold Barton of Bangor who competed against Sockelexis was honorary starter and Harold Hardy and Charles Fenno, also rivals of the Olympic great, were honorary judges.

Results

1, Bob Hillgrove, Rockland 26:54.7
2, Steve Turner, University of Maine 28:51
3, Joe Dahl, Old Town 28:55
4, James Rowley, Sangerville 29:03
5, Walter Renaud, Orono 29:46 (35 years old)
6, Fred Judkins, Dexter 29:47
7, James Howell, Sangerville 30:15
8, Winston Thomas, Stockton Springs 30:28
9, Brian Gillespie, Belfast 31:02
10, Clayton Nowell, Maine Maritime Academy 31:22
11, Ronald Dyer, Winslow (1st High School Student)
12, Harold Burke, Gardiner
13, Robert Haskell, Gardiner
14, Ralph Grant, Brunswick
15, Edward Merry, Maine Maritime Academy
16, Tim Mathieu, Maine Maritime Academy (first Indian to finish)
17, Lonnie Runkle, Dow AFB (first Dow AFB to finish)
18, William Hoffman, Dow AFB
19, Larry Erwin, Corinna
20, Tim Littlefield, Maine Maritime Academy
21, Alan Cunningham, Belfast
22, Ronal Berry, Belfast
23, Dave Bassi, Bangor (first Bangor resident to finish)
24, Steve Ross, Lewiston
25, Steve Eaton, Belfast
26, Roland Booker, Bangor
27, Harry Trask, Dixfield
28, Edmond Archer, Hermon
29, Drayton Beckwith, Husson
30, Randall Coleman, Dow AFB
31, Dennis Brown, Dow AFB
32, Charles Wong, Bangor