Features VINTAGE SPRINT CAR PIC THREAD, 1965 and older only please.

Cris, Did you ever get to confirm one way or the other if this Milt Marion car was built from the Ira Vail 122 INDY car from 1924 & 1925? Is it to be restored to the photo, or did it become a parts doner for another restoration?

 

Call Gary Shroeder in Cal. from Shroeder steering co.

 

From MLIGHT for Spike Ruth
Williams Grove Old Timers in 1969

 

Does he still make steel ones?

JD

 

This is a question about some pictures a few pages back (Phoenix '62), specifically regarding Bobby Marshman in the Hopkins car;
I've wondered since seeing pictures of that car back then (I was ten) why it carried the #1 on dirt when AJ won the '61 championship in the Bignotti car. It wore the 1 in pavement races and it's always puzzled me. I figgered if anybody knew the answer they'd probably be on this forum, which is my favorite thread anywhere on the Information Superhighway, bar none, BTW.

 

I think Bobby and Foyt switched rides back and forth that season. May have even been several times.

 

Long story short: Foyt started out in 62 in the Bowes #1-then went to Hopkins and kept the #1-then went to Thompson Rotary and the #14 which Marshman had been driving while Marshman took over the #1 Hopkins car. Lots of fueding and fussing going on between Foyt and Bignotti at that time I believe.

 

Rootie essentially has the facts. A little more info.

Bob Bowes and bignotti wanted out for whatever reason. Foyt was not particularly happy with Indy, throttle linkage breaking and then the tire coming off leaving the pits. They were together through the july Trenton race and the plug was pulled. There was nobody stepping up right then, so AJ moved to Hopkins car that Branson had left high and dry for Wilke/Watson.

Bignotti/Bowes unloaded to Bill Anstead and Shirley Murphy, they got together starting with Springfield. Marshman was offered the ride, and gladly accepted. it was a great deal and Bobby was unhappy with Wally Meskowski's inability to keep an engine together. Marshman drove through trenton Sept time frame.

Then the switch between Foyt and Marshman. With 2 races left there wasn't much sense changing numbers then. Bobby essentially got the same deal as he had with Anstead, except Beckley was no Bignotti, and the rest is history.

 

VINTAGE RACE CARS ON DISPLAY AT LAWRENCEBURG SPEEDWAY THIS SAT. NIGHT!!!

Along with a HOT ROD show out front..

--------------------------------------

This Sat. night at the Legendary LAWRENCEBURG SPEEDWAY.. It's the BLAST FROM THE PAST night.

Honoring Past Champions and Racers. Good story telling for all!

Normal Show, 410 NON WING Sprints.

Vintage open Wheel cars on display!

If you have a car you'd like to display, you and a friend will get in FREE!!! Just PM me, so I can put you on the list.

Also, if you don't have a Vintage race car, Drive a Hot Rod!! YOU GET BUY ONE GET ONE FREE ENTRY!!!

So.. Throw your gal, buddy, son or daughter.. or hell, grab the neighborhood kid and BRING HIM TO THE RACES!

Races start at 6:00.. I'd say the Hot Rod cruise-in will start around 5:00 to 5:30..

HOPE TO SEE YOU ALL THERE!!


Thanks,

JOSHUA SHAW

 

I, think he will make what you need call him . Hey I , still make aluminum bodys !!!

 

Josh,

You guys have all the fun down there! Hope you are well!
Eric

 

I knew you guys would have the answers. I wish I could have had the opportunity to see Marshman drive in person. Judging from all the still photos it looked like he was on the gas, all the time.

 

Open wheel trivia quiz:
Name the three fellas seen in this pic.

 

Is that Jackie Stewart in the car ?

 

....no

 

A few years before i started driving, i lived with my parents who had a farm on Forty Foot Road, about two miles from Hatfield Speedway. Bobbys dad George owned the speedway. This was back when Bobby was mostly driving in ARDC midgets, in one of the Harry Hespell Offys. He sometimes ran the Ellis Bros. Dodge Sprint in URC. He spent many weekdays at the track, helping with the cleanup work, and there is plenty of that after a weekend of racing!
I did have some open days and always stopped in to get some very good advice from Bobby on the best way to get started in Sprint Cars. He gave me help that was priceless, and i knew even then that he would be a great one. He did, however, even then , have a problem with his neck getting tired easily. His back also cramped up on him in the bigger cars or longer races.
These problems would later cost him some races, such as the Horne 100 one year; a race that was his to lose! He had probs also on thet rough mile at Phoenix.
You are very right; Bobby had the pedal buried all the time.
Im sure i was a kid who just bugged him for info but im still so gratefull for his time and effort helping me! Bobby was a real class act!!

 

Jim Clark in the seat.

 

Correct, two to go.

 

Jim Clark trying out a dirt champ car, Bobby Marshman in drivers uniform, not sure about the guy holding the roll bar or the guy on the left in dark jacket.

 

Correct, one to go. (I don't know who's holding the roll bar either)

 

I'll go out on a limb Dan Gurney on the left, Roger Penske or Jimmy Clarke in the car

 

Well the limb didn't break Yes, that is Dan Gurney, Clark and Marshman. This was at Springfield 63 and Clark and Gurney were in the area for the next days Milwaukee race and were "slumming" with the dirt track crowd.

 

When Marshman and Foyt swapped rides in late 62 they swapped wins also. At Sacto Marshman spun out and knocked down the inside rail, shown here in his Bryant H&C Indy suit, while A.J. took the win. At Phoenix Marshman got the win.

 

Zoom! Nice picture!!! Not sure, but I think the drivetrain in the HOW Special is out of the "Springfield Weldings Smith Special". I understand Bessie Lee and Mari Hulman knew each other and Mari bought Bessie Lee's car and a car was built for her husband Elmer George.

Davo
P.S, I went to "Springfield Welding" yesterday to see if the picture of the car was still hanging on the wall there. But Ron and Jim Paoli have sold the business, and I'm guessing Ron has it.

 

Some URC action from around 63/4.

[Am I seeing the Harrington pic right? Did the outside "fence" consist of a building and chain link fence ]

 

Hell....I knew that was Clark in the car. Why did I type Jackie Stewart ? Must have been the early hour.

 

Shoulda cranked it up and let Clark take it out for a few laps. As a natural seat of the pants racer as he was, I'll bet it woudn't have taken too long for him to cut some good laps.

 

Rootie;
Your right about that fence at Harrington. Another section in the back area was a hedge fence! I always hoped i would never hit that thing. A trip even halfway thru that hedge would have been painfull hurts to the face!

 

You guys were pretty hard core, wonder if a race car ever "dropped in" for a visit through the backdoor where that guy is standing?