Vintage KART guys??? I got this 1/4 midget...

So I got this vintage quarter midget... and I can't seem to be able to identify it. I've been digging through all of my old hot rod and kart magazines, and I havent been able to find one that is exactly like it. I was hoping someone on here might be able to help me out. The front suspention seems unusual.

The whole thing is pretty cool.

Here are some pictures.





Here's a picture of the engine that came with it... there was a tag laying on it that said detroit engine corp... who knows if it's off of that engine.




Thanks alot guys.

 

Hi, I'm sure the car is a Racecraft, but someone has modified the front suspension to an independent style. The Racecraft came with a transverse front leaf spring standard or you could up-grade to a torsion bar front end but the front axle was the same on both. There were a few companys that built cars with A frame style independent front suspension back in the late 50's and early 60's but I have never seen one like this. It's a really cool conversion that someone did a great job on. The motor is a Continental. I can't tell from the side view but some ran a centrifical clutch however, most were direct drive with a 6 to 1 gear reduction box. The fact that your's has a pull start on it makes me think it must be an early clutch model. Nice find!

 

Reminds me of one of the old Rice cars my dad used to race wen he was a kid.

 

too bad you dont live closer to California. That would make a killer soap box car for the SFVISBF

 

haha, it totally would.

Yeah, the rear axle is solid mounted, and it has a clutch with size 35 chain on it.

whats one of these worth?

 

Always liked this cover shot! There are alot of 1/4 midgets and 1/4 midget ad's in this issue.......

 

That's a nice one you found! How did you hear about it. Here is a pic of the one I aquired a couple of months ago. It was sitting in a yard of parts and cars that was being cleaned up.

 

You need to talk to Doug Shiller in Texas. He can probably identify it. PM me for contact info. This looks similar to but not exactly like an Offyette. My Offyette has a monocoque? chassis which this doen't have, but has a rack and pinion steering and transverse leaf, like yours. Oops, looking closer at your pics I see this doen't have a rack and pinion.

 

Thats a bone stock looking DECO (detroit engine co.), which I think was later bought out by continental. The reduction boxes were offset quite a bit, and that one does not appear to have one. These were the only engine allowed up to a few years ago, then they allowed Hondas, and now Briggs & Stratton. Those can be built to have up to 22 HP, but it expensive. Contact Gary Hansen at Hawkins Performance for parts or the build. 310-324-4053. Good luck, Mike.

 

I bought this 1/4 midget body awhile back with the intention of splitting it down the center and building two wall-hangers. It's in such good shape I can't bring myself to hack it up.

 

that is a bitchin cover....makes ya wonder ...where are they now....both cars and drivers...? maybe roy (racer5c) will chime in.....seems like he raced those things too..... brandon

 

Here's mine

Crash bars are for girls!

That a reduction gear Contental A-7

It is not a Race Craft

 

That is one of my all time favorite covers, I love the #58 car.

 

my daughter is really into them..at 9 she is dying for me to find her one..i have built her a 5 horse power and tube frame just to get her off my back..she doesnt understand that these are not something you can buy off the shelf..by the time i find one she will be too old and probably not care..shes having fun with the one i built her anyway

 

number 25 on the cover looks similar.....rounded nose with small grill, same cowl curvature it seems....crashbars are different, but they could be handmade after a crash or something...

 

I always dug that cover too! I especially like the track roadster QM toward the bottom. The older quarter midgets had so much character.

We field a Quarter Midget for my grandson Andrew. The modern cars, much like today's sprint cars just don't have the lines of the old ones; but that's progress.

 

These have been posted before, but here ya go...... I have two daughters that have been racing for the last 4 years. The last picture is a current car. It's a lot of fun and great time spent with your kids. I reccomend it to anyone that is interested! Casper.

 

That is freaking cool. One of these days when I get my barn built (sometime around 2035 or so) I'm going to put all my families old soapbox cars up on the wall like they are racing each other.

 

Hey Casper - Very cool; You ever let the kids try out the vintage stuff?

 

My dad built Viking Craft quarter midgets and also owned a track called the jelly bean bowl that was where Disneyland is now, the roadster that you all seem to like on the hot rod cover was built by my uncle Red Caruthers, he callled them 1/4 roadsters. He went on to build full midgets called LTC's. I have a few old hot rod magazines and car craft that have articles on my dad, brothers and uncles when they ran em in the 50's. I never did race 1/4 midgets, I started in go karts.

 

Don't mean to hijack this thread, but, were Jimmy and Danny your brothers, Roy?

 

I still have my Kurtis Sidewinder ........man that thing was fast ... I wish I could sill get in it.........

 

great pics! I have my dad's old racer, he and his brother raced as kids and my Grandfather sold them from his RV store in Dallas..

an ad for the Viper:


my Dad sittin' in his:


restored a few years back with some buddies....

 

This Devin Sports Kart is not a racer but, interestingly was built by Bill Burke of Bonneville racing history and known as the first to build a race car out of a aviation belly tank. Bill made three of these for his kids. Two are known to remain. All hand laid glass and custom frame with briggs and straton power.

Wish I could fit in it ! L B

 

Thank you guy's for the kind words. Retroridesbyrich...Yes we had it all set up to run a vintage race at the Western Grands in Madera. We got it approved by QMA so we worked like crazy to get 6 cars running and ready to use in the opening ceremonies. When I showed up at the track the QMA officials looked at the cars and said...no way, our insurance will never cover those old things! So we set up a display and had fun letting all the kids sit in the cars. Racer5c.... Your dad Doug Caruthers is considered the grandfather of all quarter midget racing. I'm sure you know that before Walt Disney bought the property from Viking trailer to build Disneyland, he came and watched a few races at the "Jelly Bean" track and he was so impressed with one of the drivers that he signed him to a movie contract. That young boy was Kurt Russell. One of the cars I have was in fact owened and driven by one of the original Mickey Mouse Club members "Johnny" and Walt Disney made a 8mm home movie on this very car. I'm sure everyone knows that the original NHRA Safety Safari trailer was a Viking trailer built by your dad and now sits fully restored in front of the NHRA museum in Pomona. Hamilton...... That Luther Viper is awesome! A very rare car that dominated in it's day! Cool pictures.

 

I REALLY want one of those for my shop- if anyone has one to sell please PM me! Thanks Jim

 

Those cars where really cool and fast. I remember in the 60's, growing in southeast Kansas, there was a little track outside of Coffeyville, Kansas. We almost bought one from a guy that raced them out of his gas station in Independence but my 55 Chevy and girlfriends got in the way. They were a blast to watch. I'd be interested in one if anyone has one for sale/trade. Thanks for the memories. Aman

 

Roy, I almost positive that My Dad took home movies of the 1/4's racing in the early 50's at jelly bean, way before I was around. I'll have to dig those up now, this post stirred my interest again.

 

Hey Jim next time your by my shop I sell you mine

 

Yes they were