History Vintage "Cageless" Midget Picture Thread

....'aXe, 'You're talking about the Ralph Young Daimler. 'Brand new Benson that he wrecked first off. I've got one pic of GMB in the car in 1971 but it's got a cage on it. Later that year Jack Walker ran so good at the USAC race at San Jose that they banned it from running the next night at Capital Speedway. That next night, Hank Butcher won the race in the former Bates car we've been discussing driving for Sim Clark and was protested by second place finisher Bill Engelhart. A lot of us stood right there and watched Sim and his son, Alan tear down the motor for the USAC officials. When they removed the cylinder head, Alan immediately wrapped it up in a blanket and put it into the tow vehicle. (I found out later what was SO secret about that cylinder head!) Then, to the next year, 1972 and 20-year old J.P. Standley, driving Ralph Young's Daimler/Benson wins the USAC National race at Spanaway Speedway in Tacoma Washington and is again, protested by the second place finisher, Jimmy Caruthers and his car owner father, Doug. Those USAC guys never liked gettin' beat by the local guys!

 

A car came out of the GMB shop Daimler V8 powered. First race driven by its owner it crashed and the owner Ralph Young then turned the steering wheel over to other drivers. First in Line was JP Standly. It showed at at USAC race at San Jose and was outlawed on the spot. Little Fauss mentioned it in an earlier thread. Here is a picture taken in 08 at Anderson Ca showing a Benson car Daimler V8 powered. I am not sure if it is the original one? That original car went on to fame in the North West winning its share of main events.
aXe
By the way when the Benson Racing History book comes out You will find every car made by the GMB shops with most of thier History in it.

 

.....'aXe, 'I can confirm that this is the original Ralph Young Daimler V8/Benson chassis. After Young sold the car, it ran in BCRA with both a SESCO-Chevy and an Arias-Chevy II engine before being sold to Art Shanoian from Colma (CA) who also raced the car with the Arias-Chevy II. Art was in the process of restoring the car with the Daimler V8 when he passed away. The car was then sold to it's current owner, Stu Donaldson from the San Francisco Bay Area who finished the restoration and who continues to run the car in vintage events. Also, GMB chassis serial numbers #1- Oliver Johnson #2- Richard Walsh #5- Bill Leonhart and #8- Sim Clark, to replace the frame of the destroyed Bates car which was ultimately given to Ken Talley. But, what we really need is for that GMB book to get here!!!

 

LF
I am with You on that Benson book project, The proof reading is going slow and that is what is slowing it down I am told. As soon as that is done off to the printers, Out most likely next year early????? Hopefully it coud be sooner but, Best laid plans of ?
Funny thing about those Frame numbers, We finished Richs car a long time Before Ollies, which had, Well I'll wait for the book to see what He tells about it.
aXe

 

Fitting the body.

 

V4.
What race track?

 

Wow, you are moving quick. Looking real good!

Where did you get your hood from?

 

This guy holds the record for San Jose Midget victorys at the paved track on Tully rd. 18 main event victorys, 3 at San Jose were USAC National and the rest BCRA races. I think? He also had 2 other national USAC wins at Irwindale
Burt Foland
He Built this car using mostly an Oxy Acetlene torch, He didnt have much luck with it. If I recall correctly it has a Benson nose upside down? Well it did have one when I first saw it.
aXe

 

For those of you who know of my restoration of the Edmunds midget. I am still working the history back. I have the history from the last owner/driver forward. Don Edmunds stated that he built 4 or 5 cars like mine (single tube, spring front, half torsion rear). One for Ray Lattie, and he believes one for Doug Caruthers, and one for Bob Bahre. One of the later owners of my car was a vintage collector and thought this might be a Doug Caruthers car.

I have been conversing via email with Don Edmunds and here is the latest.

Carroll
This may not be the news you want to hear, but if that car is a 1/2 bar that I built for Doug , the original engine was an OFFY,I built a few SESCO midgets for Doug but they were standard 4 bars, that were later converted to 3 bars and coil fronts. If you do have Doug's OFFY, its a car with a lot of history, an one of the most desirable of cars I built.
Don

Anyone have photos of the Doug Caruthers', Edmunds, single tube, car with the Offy? Roy??? Also, looking for contact info on King Kramer, he owned and drove this car in the early to mid 70's.

Blacki-Suede

 

I need alittle help from my new buddies in the US.I just received some info from NZ about my car.I have been told that Jerry Titus bought the car with the engine fitted from LTC.He crashed the car which went back in the jigs.He either put Hank Butcher in the car(or Olivero)more than likely hank which he went onto to win so Titus thought if Hank won he could as well.He crashed the car again & back to the jig again then for sale.Larry Rice bought the car on the advise from "Red"sight unseen & shipped it to NZ 1977 for his tour.Therefore when Jerry & Hank run it it was probably in its current day livery,#79,any thoughts or pics? Roy,anyone?
Next owner after Larry,Keith Watson NZ did a stint at Ascot & did quiet well for himself,it is suggested if he did 1 more meet there before returning to NZ he would have been named Rookie of the year.

 

Two more questions please guys;
1) The Mickey mouse on Larrys helmet does anyone have a clearer pic as I cant see if theres something in his hand?
2) I have just identified 2 decals on the side of the car,aviation champion
any idea were I could locate any,probably 3"or 31/2" x 3"...thanks

 

Hi Ron ..

First .. have you tried contacting Champion?

When decals are no longer available .. some have gone to have the graphics HAND PAINTED on the sides of their cars.

That looks like a familiar hat .. with another Disney character under it .. rather than something in Mickey's hand. Someone more up to speed on Disney stuff .. when they see the almost "witch &/or dunce type" hat will be able to tell you more .. or maybe your local library or someplace might have some books with Disney characters in it.

 

You might try googling it? Here is the first site that came up for Me, What You are looking for just might be in there. http://www.racingdecals.com/
aXe

 

see attached

 

Two more Benson car pictures.
the one With Paul Bates leading George has Joe Leonard way back there in the 43 car oput of the Phoenix area I think
The other on look close it is a rare picture of one of Jack Londons, Benson cars before Jack Hageman got ahold of it to skin it in all aluminum.
aXe

 

'WOW! 'Those are nice! That pic of Bates in front of GMB is an angle and view I've never seen before. (Jim Chini was the only photog brave enough in those days?) And the #43 car is the Ramada Inns Offy owned by David Birmingham from Scottsdale AZ that Jerry "Termite" McClung ran the entire 1970 USAC National Midget season. Also, the pic of Burt and GMB is a good shot of Ollie still running the Webers that Sean (vintageracer37) will like. aXe, your caption under the Foland/Benson shot says 1968? Is that accurate? And, I wondered if that is the Jack London Offy #5 before Jack took it to Jack Hageman for the new all aluminum body? Thanks again, those are beauties!

 

Uhmm Yes it was before Jack Hagman got ahold of it like it says. The long shot was 67 and the other was 68, At least I marked it that way way back then. upon looking back at some of the books it might be that those dates are wrong, maybe they should be 68 & 69?
That long shor picture was probably taken from the last set of seats near the first turn. I often took movies from there. it was the smallest grand stand and had it own walk way. good place to take pics from.

 

Here is the First Benson built for Richard Walsh. He was the owner for years, It is also the one Benson not accounted for at this date?
aXe

 

aXe33, a quick note on the #43 car in your post. That car was built by Don"prince of darkness"Brown, of the "Mechanical Rabbit" sprint car fame.
David Birmingham owned the car, not sure when it was built, late 68 maybe.
Birmingham had Eddie Jackson drive it at San Jose in a USAC show and came within a lap of winning the feature, ran out of fuel (according to Leroy Byers). That car was pretty successful, in 1970 it was 3rd in USAC points with Jerry McClung and Don Brown driving, 3rd again in 71' with McClung at the wheel. In 1972 Birmingham had Bill Engelhart wheel the car to 4th in points. Don't know where it went after that. Photographer Leroy Byers in Denver now has the car, it was restored by Ron Schlieger.

 

'A SESCO-Chevy was installed to replace the Offy in the Ramada Inns/ Brown car for the 1971 season and when the "Termite" decided to stay home in Tempe for the 1972 season, David Birmingham ordered a new Edmunds-SESCO for Bill Engelhart and the car became the Macalite SESCO.

 

I was asked to post these photos a few day back, just around to them.
From a friend's collection Wayne Gregory

 

I need help with an identity for these two pictures. they were Taken at San Jose speedway, The Logan car pic was taken feb1967, The red 34 was taken in the mid sixties?
The guy who is in the 34 had a 51 chevy st car with about 51 or 52 Cadillac fins on it. It was a kind of pinkish color.
aXe

I got the name on the 34 car, Phil Mederios from San Jose ca.

 

Johnny Coy in the Gerisi #18

IIRC he won a 500 Lap race at Islip in this car.



wonder who that is in the Vittuci #15 top photo?

 

No half bar and a cage. But the cage does unbolt.
Caruthers in the background.
Wings and mirrors. What the heck?
They put the old reliable offy back in!!

 

baldtireman:

It was the Holeman-Moody Can Am car car riven by Mario. By the time they got it to handle (still not well), Mario was heard to say "paint my name on the car and let Paul Newman drive it"

 

My Father is in hospital to-night so I thought I'd post a couple of shots of him.

Not a famous 'Legend' and just a early 50's homebuilt car but he's my Hero.

Good luck Dad

 

No info or pics from my post #340???
Thanks for the other info guys,I got these really nice pics of Larry & family today.
It looks to me it maybe magic dust from mickeys hand?
Anyone know the color of Rice a Roni signage I assume black or the outline of the
Gatorade flash?

 

It looks like to me that there is an outline of the state of Florida alongside and behind Mickey. Whatever is next to his hand is where Disneyworld is located in Fla....Maybe throwing Magic dust at the area in FLA where Disney World is? Orlando.

Sorry I don`t know the color of the Rice A Roni lettering,but it looks like a multi color Fade job


Say Red orange and Yellow???

 

Study this enlargement



Rice a Roni is definately a multi-color design.

 

could it be a small drawing of the castle at disney world