History Vintage "Cageless" Midget Picture Thread

You would think this important part of midget racing history would be easy to find, in Internet days..But searching Google; ARDC site, Vintage midget sites, and looking through Jack Fox's Mighty Midget" Book does not seem to provide the historic info I was searching for.
Where can one find a list of ALL of the Founders (1939) of ARDC, the first board members. and the first year membership?

 

Three comments on the ARDC Midget Specifications Sheet shown in this post...

The displacement limit for L head engines must have been 165 inches not 65.

Letting 2cycles run the same displacement would give them a huge advantage, however I am not personally aware of any 2 cycles besides the 460 Elto's which were 60 cubic inches.

The rules regarding fuel injection escape me as to what the meaning or intent was here.

Anyone have more info or thoughts?

 

Some years ago .. in the PRE-wing era .. at the ultra fast 1/10 mile Pinebrook NJ oval .. I knew at least one scorer who would score the TQ's using helmet recognition.

 

Ken, I've done just about any job you can do in officiating a race, including scoring. When it comes to midgets, sprint cars, and even stockers, a lot of us used helmet and car recognition more than most of us will admit. Nearly all serial scoring starts coming off the last turn (at least with me), and knowing the cars was critical. Sometimes the first few races of a season were a little tough.

 

Hi John ..

I too have done many officiating tasks over the years.

I had always known that car recognition was key, when it came to scoring (that's basically how I did it) .... but I guess it was in the late 70's that I first realized that someone was actually doing it utilizing mainly helmet recognition.

 

As a youngster,Dad would often take us to see the midgets when they appeared at our favorite local track.(Heidelberg,Pa.) When Tommy Copp was in competition,one of the announcers points of interest was the white square on the left front,and how Tommy would keep it off the ground. It was fascinating to a child! John S. p.s. Still miss my Dad!

 

Guy on the left I think was Rudys son in law Rick Dedman ?

 

yes your right AXE it is Rudy and Rick on eather side...wonder what happed
the those guy last I heard they were first living at Doner lake then moved
to Squaw valley....from there ?

 

more...notes in margin

 

and

 

must scan more.....see ya now!

 

Lumpy isnt this trophy gal named Carla ? Carl Rogers daughter. What a beauty she was. Hey I leave here for a few days and the west coast guys come out of the woodwork. the NRTH west Champion Mike Stryker then the old BCRA champion Little Fauss come on guys we need more descriptions of the pic names please. I can name some just by driver position in the cars but that is going away.
aXe

 

AXE yes that's Carlene Rogers. I think Karl is still around last time<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o>
I talked to Karl was 2003 and Annie was sick. <o></o>
I'm suppose to be working so I don't have time to tell stories<o></o>
but if there is one for the picture, I'll speak up. Need to scan more<o></o>
pictures, work 10hrs then put a car together……lumpy R.

 

Westboro Speedway 1967 Ron Evans in Sonny Seagraves chevy II
Denny Z, that is you standing in the background.

Paul Young's unique dice numbered car. Lou Fray looks on at Norwood Arena 1969.

Evans chasing Ernie McCoy at Thompson speedway.

 

John, Hard to tell but I don't think so. It sure looks like Paul Young's car in the background though.
For sure that's Lou Fray in the background of the second picture. I saw Lou this past summer and apart from a little less hair and it being white, he looks just the same as he did back then. His mind must be still good because he remembered me and we hadn't seen each other in maybe 30+ years. Was easy for me to remember him though because he like your Father was one of my hero's when my racing career was just beginning. Denny Z

 

Limerock 1963

Danbury Racearena

 

Belle Clair Speedway...Belleville Illinois...1967

 

Bill Douglas...Belle Clair Speedway...around 1965-66

 

Belle Clair Speedway...County Fair...Belleville Illinois...1968...Bill Douglas in the #5 dont know any of the others

 

Arnie Knepper...Bill Douglas...Lake Hill Speedway near St Louis Mo...1968 View attachment 1211492

 

Arnie Knepper...Bill Douglas...Lake Hill Speedway...near St Louis Mo...1968 View attachment 1211505

 

Bill Douglas...Godfrey Speedway...Godfrey Illinois...1968

 

Does anyone know anybody that took pictures at the 65 Hut Hundred?
Jim Graybeal

 

Does anyone know the history of this car? Owned by Miny Waln and supposedly driven by Louie Foy. Is this a Drake car?

 

Chuck Booth 1957 in Sim Clark Offy
Sim’s wife tried to fire Chuck because he cursed
in front of the Women and children .
Sim said that’s why Women and children
Belong in the stands !!!
boy nowadays , I hope I'm not
offending anyone LOL

 

Ronnie Evans wins at Freeport, N.Y. 7-17-64

 

Definitely a Drake powered car, no knowledge beyond that.

 

Hey John, Is that you in the picture with your Dad? Denny Z

 

Denny, no it isn't. I do not remember what the deal was with the kids presenting the trophys. My dad sure looked happy though. I think this was the second time he had driven this car.