The first race Lefty ever flagged was in 1949 when Beech Ridge Speedway opened on Memorial Day weekend and for fifteen years, he waved the flags at the Scarborough track. During the early years, Lefty was the flagman wherever the Maine State Stock Car Racing Association promoted a racing event.

Lefty was one of the early "daredevil’ flagmen, controlling the race on the track with stock cars roaring by within a few feet of his unprotected body.

One his favorite "death defying" stunts was to stand in the middle of the track, waving the green flag as the stock cars raced by on both sides.

Thirty-five years after flagging his last race, Mr. Ellis returned to Beech Ridge at its 50^th anniversary celebration and flagged the start of a feature race.