Don Diffendorf

Don Diffendorf
BornDonald J. Diffendorf Sr.
February 9, 1929
Binghamton, New York
DiedApril 21, 2012(2012-04-21) (aged 83) [1]
Retired1978
Debut season1951
Modified racing career
Car numberS/360
Championships2
Wins100+
Championship titles
1969, 1971 New York State Fair Champion

Donald "Don" Diffendorf (February 9, 1929 – April 21, 2012) was an American dirt modified racing driver who accounted for over 100 feature victories. His most famous ride was Glenn Scott's iconic S/360, named for the IBM System 360 computers Scott sold.[2][3]

Racing career

Don Diffendorf began his racing career at Five Mile Point Speedway NY the year the track opened in 1951. He competed successfully at the renowned tracks of the northeast, including Fulton Speedway NY, Lancaster Speedway NY and Oswego Speedway NY, while claiming championship titles at Five Mile Point and Shangri-La Speedway NY.[3][4]

In 1969 and again in 1971 Diffendorf won the New York State Fair championship event at the Syracuse Mile[5] He was inducted into the New York State Stock Car Association Hall of Fame in 2012, and into the Northeast Dirt Modified Hall of Fame in 2016.[3][6]

References

  1. ^ "Donald Diffendorf Obituary". Press & Sun-Bulletin. April 27, 2012. Retrieved September 6, 2023 – via Legacy.com.
  2. ^ Dowd, Bill (April 12, 1966). "A lighter car for a heavier ($) haul". Press & Sun-Bulletin. p. 7. Retrieved September 6, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ a b c Stevens, Kevin (July 14, 2016). "Halls of Fame honor pair from Broome County". Press & Sun-Bulletin. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
  4. ^ Ferlito, Jim (July 31, 1971). "Diffendorf outruns field to win Fulton race". The Palladium-Times. p. 19. Retrieved September 6, 2023 – via NewspaperArchive.
  5. ^ "Triumphs at Fair: Feature won by Diffendorf". The Post-Standard. September 7, 1971. p. 11. Retrieved September 6, 2023 – via NewspaperArchive.
  6. ^ Sciria, Chris (August 9, 2016). "Dirt Hall of Fame in Weedsport inducts new members". The Citizen (Auburn, New York). Retrieved August 15, 2023.