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

Rodger McCluskey, standing on the left, in the driving suit.

 

Being an Andretti fan since I learned of his history years ago, I'm looking for any pictures some of you could link of Mario driving the Sprint Cars and Champ Dirt Cars
Here's one of Mario racing DuQuoin in 1965 . It comes from http://picasaweb.google.com/WalterZoomie/DuQuoinUSACDirtCarAction

 

Thanks Rootie, he was the only one I could identify, I was wondering who was in the driver seat and who stands next to the car ?

 

Not sure of the nose, but it looks a lot like the nose on the Fetter car, whatever that may be.

 

The fellow in the seat looks very familier, but I'm not able to put a name to the face. Others will know for sure.

 

Mariofan it is Wally Meskowski in the car. He was the car owner.

 

Thanks Jim

Maybe, this has already been posted, can't remember

http://picasaweb.google.com/WalterZoomie

with some pics coming from Walter galleries
2 are Mario racing sprints at IRP in 1965 and then competing the Hoosier 100 at the fairgrounds 1966, 1964, 1965

 

Lot's of Mario pics have been posted in this thread. Here's a good one:

 

1966, would you know the place ?

 

I think thats Oswego Ny

 

Yes 1966, Oswego New York (upstate N. Y. near Buffalo.)

 

A little OT but may be of interest to a Mario fan. In 1967 he drove Bobby Unsers car at the Pikes Peak hillclimb and was doing good until he knocked a wheel off and ended up 14th. Came back a couple of years later and won the open wheel div. in his own car.

 

#25-S&D,dave Lundy driven,Johnny White built car in background?

 

How come an Indy rear engine car could win at Pikes Peak,but was no good on a dirt oval? I was gonna try a "Wells Coyote" on the local dirt tracks till the rules were changed .

 

sure looks like Wally

 

JMO, I think with a f/e car you can get better r/r weight transfer to suit a dirt oval than you can with a r/e car. Where as turning left and right kinda equalizes things.

 

A guess on the where, judging from the Minnesota 1966 license plate and the skyline I would say Minnesota State Fair gounds.
,

 

And judging by the smiles I'd guess it was:

USAC Sprint Car race
Minnesota State Fairgrounds, Falcon Heights, MN
August 28, 1965
30 laps on 0.5 mile paved oval; 15 miles

<TABLE border=1><STYLE type=text/css> table { border-collapse: separate;empty-cells: show } </STYLE><TBODY><TR><TH>Fin <TH>St <TH>Driver <TH># <TH>Owner <TH>Car <TH>Laps <TH>Money <TH>Status <TH>Laps Led <TR><TD align=right>1 <TD align=right> 1 <TD> Johnny Rutherford <TD align=middle> 9 <TD> Walter Meskowski <TD> Chevrolet <TD align=right>30 <TD align=right> 1,450 <TD align=right> running <TD align=right> </TD></TR><TR><TD align=right>2 <TD align=right> <TD> Don Branson <TD align=middle> <TD> <TD> <TD align=right> <TD align=right> <TD align=right> <TD align=right> </TD></TR><TR><TD align=right>3 <TD align=right> <TD> A.J. Foyt <TD align=middle> <TD> <TD> <TD align=right> <TD align=right> <TD align=right> <TD align=right> </TD></TR><TR><TD align=right>4 <TD align=right> <TD> Mario Andretti <TD align=middle> 3 <TD> Rufus Gray <TD> <TD align=right> <TD align=right> <TD align=right> <TD align=right> </TD></TR><TR><TD align=right>5 <TD align=right> <TD> Al Smith <TD align=middle> <TD> <TD> <TD align=right> <TD align=right> <TD align=right> <TD align=right> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!-- footer -->

Notes: Also entered: Bob Pratt, Chuck Engel, Sam Sessions, and Roger McCluskey.
Time of race: 00:10:21
Average Speed: 86.824 MPH
Race Purse: $ 7,500
<!-- footer -->

 

Guys , thanks for the information on the wheel internal coating .
I will investigate further.
Thought I might whet you appetites with the progress of the #65 Travelon Trailer sprinter.
Its coming into paint about now
Cheers Greg

 

Looks good!! post a couple more pics, Shilala?

 

Correct Paddy, one of Georges finest!!
It first ran with an Offy ,then a Chev (Scalzos book "American Dirt Track Racer"page 32 in the middle of the pack and page 126 in the background) ,then was converted back to Offy by Stan Vermiell ,then back to Chev now.
Here is a photo of the second car down here.I am in contact with George Shilala Jr and he is chasing the sales orders for us .
Apparently all the Shilala grilles were different and the cars could be recognised by the grilles.
Van at "Vancraft" told me he was responsible for making all the different grilles when he worked for George Sr.
Can anybody shed any light on this or the history of this car ??

 

I have some vids of rear engine cars trying to run sprint car races in USAC. They had a hard time dealing with high-banked dirt oval half miles, while in close quarters (that's what I've seen).

Yet, on fairly low banked 1/2 mile and up track, they had a chance. until it came to the Champ Dirt cars on a mile for some weird reason. ( i have more studying to do on that issue)

 

So you have the Ruize car?

 

Started a thread on this, but thought I would ask here as well.

John Gerber used a Zenith 2 barrel single throat carb (from an airplane) and then two Zenith horizontal carbs on his sprint car engine starting in 1922-23.

He never goes into more detail in his book- any idea on what models I should be looking for?

Thanks, Bill

 

Compare the authenticity here.........

http://picasaweb.google.com/WalterZ...ionTrackTerreHauteIndiana#5159989041843146786
I do like the orange!
Jim

 

I am trying to track down photos of my dad's sprint cars. 50's, driver Charlie Stewart, color blue, sponsor Rolles Pure Oil, number 12?

 

whats it gonna have? Offy or Chevy?

 

.....'And Roy, 'If anyone doubts you, they can just call Joy in Fresno and she can tell them, "Yeah, that's Dad!"

.....'Gotta say, Thank you, daveww1. 'Some of my favorite pics I've ever seen on here of the very last USAC National Sprint Car race at the Allentown Fairgrounds in Aug. of 1966. 'What a great old race track that must have been? It must have been a spectacular show that day from the looks of the way Andretti and Atkins were running up high on the cushion.

.....'And Rootie, 'Pictures of Mario Andretti??? It wouldn't be complete without that one of him in the Cadillac-powered sprint car in a URC race at Lebanon in 1961(?)

 

Yes Rootie ,it is the Ernie Ruiz car.
But as you will no doubt know , he had a Rear engine Indy car (Ronnie Duman 1965) ,a full front engined Indy Roadster , a Champ car , a Sprint car, and a midget.
This is the Sprint car and it is in the form of the second photo (Joe Guisti at Ascot).
The car is owned by a friend and is being restored by another friend.
Mine is the orphan Shilala of Flloyd Demmitt in the second lot of photos
Not much history as yet but all confirmed by phone with Walt James and Jim Chini
Both cars will be finished with Chevvys
Cheers Greg

 

Thanks Jim, Rootie, Roy for identifying Wally

And thanks for the pics Rootie, I never saw the Oswego grid one nore the pikes peak pics before, treasure for sure !!!