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

I recall Johnny Hubbard running it in a URC race at Bedford... If I recall I think J.D. Leas won in the Long Bros. #55.

LM

 

Those old cars got changed and updated so much over the years it's hard to identify them sometimes. But compare the left radius rod, suspension mounting, steering and I'd think the #37 is more likely the ex-Weinberger car than the ex-Gapco car.

 

Rootie,

The #47 car that Bobby Black is driving is the car I picked up and am restoring. I found this picture on a Calendar by by Belmont Pubilshers. That year (1966) it was the Seibert Olds Spl. and owned by Paul Mead. It is great to see the car on this site with sprint drivers like Jud Larson and Mario Andretti.
Thanks for posting

 

Not a very good pic but it looks like they got a prettier paint job on it for Oswego 66.

 

Here's a photo of Mario in Steve Stapp's #4 sprinter at Salem on July 4, 1965. Gary Congdon drove the heat races, Mario drove the feature, starting 7th and finishing 4th. Mario won at Ascot in the same car later in the year. This car was the Stapp "house car" 1964-1966, driven by Steve, Lloyd Ruby, Tommy Copp, Parnelli, JR, Mario, Jud Larson, Carl Williams, AJ Foyt, Dick Fries, George Snider -- and a few others. The other photo shows the restored car today.

Referring to Al's great photo of the Charlie Chariot's #37, the Stapp #4 car was owned and raced by Chariot 1974-1976 -- and there are several "Stapp-like" features on the #37 car (the shape of the cowl, the cut of the cockpit side panel, etc.), but there are also features that don't add up. Al, do you know the date/locaton of your #37 photo? If anyone out there has photos of Charlie's 1974-1976 Sweet Chariot(s), I'd love to see them.

 

Doesnt look like the Gapco for the 37 more the weinberger

 

There was 2 versions of the Gapco car, a springer and a 4 bar. The #37 that Al posted doesn't appear to be a bar car. (?)

 

The 37 is not the original Gapco either. That car had much cruder lines. i know there is a picture in this thread of it.

 

Picture # 14 on this link is Jud Larson in the spring Gapco car

http://www.thevintageracer.com/unger/USAC Sprints - Eldora 1964/index.html

 

I agree, IIRC the original Gapco car was built from a old wrecked Indy car, I'll have to look it up and refresh my memory though.

 

Mario fixing to pass Branson and Gordo, in the Weinberger car, on his way to winning his first Usac sprint car win in the Gapco car.

 

Here's a shot I posted way back of a Gapco,thought it might help in the recent discussion.....Rich

 

I think the GAPCO springer went from Rufus to some guys in southern Indiana who ran it on the Bloomingtom/Paragon curcuit into the late sixties or early seventies.

It disappeared for several years and resurfaced in Michigan in the early ninties after Ed Norton restored it as pictured a few posts back. I think Ed sold the car and I'm not sure who has it now.

 

Larry: I think you were in the employ of Mr. Witzberger at Heidelberg when USAC ran on the pavement. Do you remember the #37. Do you remember the fuss Mr Howard Spratt of the Pittsburgh Dodge Truck Center created because the extra push truck I brought was a CHEVY? Lots of laughs that nite!!!But I got to mingle with some of USAC's bravest!The methanol fumes still bring back the memories!

 

Was the 4-bar car a Watson?.................John S.

 

Some info I was able to find on the original (spring front) Gapco car, of which I don't know the veracity of any of it.

It may have been originally been built in Calif. in the mid 50s as a streched midget with a hemi motor. It then found its way to the midwest and was raced by Vic Ellis on the IMCA circuit until he was killed in it in Iowa, 1959.(pic below) It then went through several owners until Grey got hold of it. He changed a bunch of stuff on it and ran it through 1964 usac when it was replaced by the 4-bar. It then ended up in Paragon Ind. and was raced as a winged sprint/super and was crashed badly at one point. After that it is unclear what transpired but years later a fellow from PA. by the name of Marlin Heller bought it as a pile of parts and set about restoring it.

 

That would be the black driver Charlie "Dynamite" Stewart. Stewart was given the "Dynamite" nickname by Charlie Wiggins (whom he also drove for in the late 1940s to early '50s I believe) because Wiggins said he was always blowing up engines. Where did your Dad's car race? Was it mostly outlaw or did he ever give AAA a try?

Doesn't your family have at least some photos of the car?

 

I think the Gapco car was purchased by Curly Boyd then Erwin Burris.

 

I am attempting to build a scrapbook of my younger days and need help. From 55 through 57 I worked with Charley Szekendy the mechanic for the McNamara sprint cars 73 and 83. I am able to find pictures of the 73 but not the 83. Can anyone help? Thank you.

 

A real nice picture of Mutt Anderson and the 83 can be found here:

http://wthompson4.sports.officelive.com/ClarenceMuttAnderson.aspx