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

L-R: Dan Gurney, Jim Clark (in cockpit), and Bobby Marshman at Springfield, Illinois in August of 1963.

Woops, I see someone already named the drivers.

BTW, did you know that Jimmy Clark attended the Little 500 sprint car race at Anderson in 1965? It was a couple of nights before the Indy 500 (remember the 500 wasn't always held on Sundays) and Clark made the trip up to see the race with some friends.

 

In July of 63 USAC sprints made a rare appearance at Hatfield. Of course Marshman was sure to be there and dualed with P.J. for the lead a good part of the race. Had to settle for second and is shown here dicing with Bud Tinglestead #3.

 

As I recollect Rootie, Jim McElreath took a nasty in the Walt Flynn car that night going into 1 in his heat race.

 

McElreath crashed through the fence in practice and Ralph the Racer went out of the park but neither were hurt much. Steve Stapp got on his lid but only suffered minor injuries.

 

This sounds great I hope I can make it. This time I'll bring the roadster even if it looks like rain.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrNf91hV8ps&feature=channel_page

 

I bought a Mini Sprint today with a BSA motor. Here is a link to another posting on this site. Anyone with info on these cars.
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=382376

 

Any chance we can talk old man Rudisell into a little Hot Rod Track Time!!!

 

Good Idea.. I'll try.

JD

 

'Checkers or Wreckers' Johnny White gives USAC's newly mandated roll bar rule a test at, I think, Terre Haute around 1959. Don't think he was hurt too bad, but not sure. Appears he got to eat some dirt though.

 

I only saw White race about a dozen times, but he got my vote as the second bravest driver back in the day!
Number one was Don Davis, who did some of the smartest, and dumbest, things i ever saw.
But Don Davis gave me my moneys worth one Sunday at Trenton like never before! He was in an upright powered by a Chevy. They said Porter built the engine and it was only 235 cubic inches! This thing turned a million rpms, and he broadslid off the banks onto those long straights!
It looked to be his race to lose; only problem was the race was 150 miles, and he either ran out of fuel or the engine expired!
He gave us all more than we paid for that day; but i could almost see that he would not have a real long career.

 

I always thought of White as kind of a earlier version of Opp. Their lives both kind of parralled one another. Both were stand on the gas outlaw/money racers and neither much cared if they ran the USAC trail or not, other than it was about the only way to get a Indy ride. Both had relativly short careers and both lived about the same years after their devestating injuries on the dirt. I'm sure both would have gone on to bigger things otherwise.

 

Spike, I once talked to Herb Porter and he agreed somewhat with you. he told me Donnie Davis was the bravest driver he ever knew, and this was in the late 80's when he told me.

 

Spike,
FWIW-I suspect you may be refering to Porters Rose Trucking car that Davis ran twice at Trenton in 62 before he was killed. Here's a article on it and Davis that you may enjoy. BTW- it is still alive and well in the Don Smith collection and was discussed back on page 228.

 

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!!
-For posting these pics. I grew up in the 70's and spent alot of my summer vacations following my pop around the Western United States as he raced in USAC and CAMRA (Canadian-American Modified Racing Assoc.) events.

-As my dad would say: "Real race cars don't have doors".

Thank you also for pointing out the fabrication involved with these cars; almost everything you see is "one-of" and the skill these guys had (and have) is amazing. If you are an "old-timer" and sitting on photos like these, PLEASE share; there are so many of us "younger" guys that appreciate the roots. And Josh, keep posting 'em as you find 'em.

 

Well come on tell us who your dad is!

 

LAWRENCEBURG IS RAINED OUT.

Next week, The WHEEL STANDING NATIONALS.

Wheel stand comp. for the Sprinters.. See you there.

JD

 

Just read about the burg. Every hot rod related event I plan on going to this year it rains.

 

Does anyone remember a man name of Ted Blair; he had a Champ Car in i think the 60s . He did, at least once, run it with URC at Bedford, PA. Wimpy Ervin drove it that day.
The very different part of this was that Blair had built his own engine! Im not sure but i think it was an in-line 6 cylinder. I never saw it at a Champ Car show, but it was for sure a big car.
Anybody know anything about this car or this engine?Thanks for any info or any pics of it.

 

I guess It was fate the burg got rained out. I went to move my roadster to work on the midget and the clutch master cylinder froze up. That would have sucked if that happen at the burg in the rain!!

 

Just a small update on progress.......brought the chassis home from Jims last week,and now the work begins.......

 

Black vette 59.....If that's a Roger Beck nose on your car I have a Halibrand grille for sale that should fit. I had the same grille on my no. 33 Beck sprint car.

 

JohnnyFast....I was thinking I could build a grill for the car,but what can I say ....I would be interested in this grille if you think it will fit....how much do you want for it ?

 

Black vette 59....I sent a P.M.

 

Johnny Fast......THANKS....Black Vette 59

 

Hi Spike,
I spoke to Teds son Dan a few years ago, and he did not know what champ car it was. Hey Old Bill, can you help? Spike, I know you remember Earl Williams car driven by Dick Mealy and Bob Wilkey was the Wolf spl, Kurtis 2000 driven by Chitwood. I heard it is around.

 

Hi Joe;
That Blair car has always made me curious; oh well, maybe someone on here will have some answers.
I would never have guessed that Earl Williams car had been the Wolfe Big Car. I know that both Dick And Bob liked that little car.
They said it was not a kick-ass car, but always made some money.
Speaking of lesser known cars, do you remember the Champ Car owned by Otto Stoye; i think from up your way or upstate N.Y. I saw Johnny Coy run it at Trenton just once. It was called the Stoye Engineering Spl. It had Offy power, if i remember right.

 

E mail on the way...BV59

 

Langhorne 63-

 

Thanks Rootie;
That car was even uglier than i remembered. lol.
I often wondered why Jacobi didnt get more good rides?