Is there any information on the first photo? Somehow the car looks familiar but I can't place it. The second shot shows two very early Tommy Lee midgets. Lee was one of the early big name owners in midget racing and along with Earl Gilmore helped to get the Offenhauser midget engine off the ground. Edit: Just an afterthought but I believe that the radiator cowls and at least part of the bodywork on these midgets was by Frank Kurtis. This was one of his first ventures into race car building. He had been working off and on for Don Lee (Tommy's father) who owned the Earl custom body works in Los Angeles specializing in speedsters for the street. And the last shot looks to be Freddie Agabashian in a Pat Clancy Champ car; not sure of the track. Thanks, Rootie.
I'm not certain but I believe the #5 car is a early Pop Miller CRA car on the late season Fair circuit, with Jack Brunner up.
Great Article from Rodders Journal on Valley Customs ... ^ my favorite version of the Wetzel '32 ... just click on link below https://www.roddersjournal.com/the-men-and-machines-of-valley-custom-part-i/
B29 Fertile Myrtle and it still exists at the Fantasy of Flight Museum in Florida. The fuselage is displayed and the remainder stored for future restoration possibilities.
Now owned by Kurt McCormick and I saw it in 2018 on my trip over to USA. Kurt is selling off his collction and keeping just 2 cars. Not sure if this has gone.
Jack Elam was one of my favorite cowboy actors. One of the few that pull off being a good guy or bad guy equally well.
Have to wonder how much it was driven without radiator to firewall rods. The engine swap ruined a fine car IMO.
[/QUOTE] While walking one of these quarter panels spraying it with black lacquer I had take a lunch brake.
The Jalopy Journal
