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

Thank you.

 

As grass roots as you can get.







When I first joined up Walt took me under his wing and gave me this stern order:
"Stay low, stay in the rear, and don't try to pass anybody till I tell ya."
Photos from last year:
http://s1011.photobucket.com/albums/af233/carl44s/Walt James Classic Nov 28 2010/?start=all

 

Luv these old racers.... but those old style roll bars seem terrfyingly useless. Mentioned that at the Speedy Bill museum (awesome!) this summer & tour guide quoted an old time driver: "the difference between these roll bars & no roll bar is the difference between an open casket & closed casket funeral"
Amazing those guys survived a season!

 

Carl S - I took this photo from your posted link. Do you or anyone else know what type of engine this is? It looks like a minature V8 Ford.

 

Sorry, no info.
I'm sure someone from SoCal will chime in!

 

Hey Dick, Here Ya Go!!!! Here's a couple of how our leader,Josh hauled one of his pieces of racin art out to Latimore in august.I had a great time hanging with Josh,Roy,and Van,and watching them RUN their cars and put on a display of the days gone by action. Josh, I just Found this shot I took of Van checking to see if you left any money in your fire suit pockets......

 

The engine is a 180 cu in Daimler V8. The car was built in Australia. The sound is awesome, but the car handles like a wheelborrow.

 

Awesome, that's what I'm talking about! Thanks

 

When I was a kid I'd get on a bus and ride it to the Fair grounds about 5 miles from home and stand at the main gate so I could watch all the sprint cars enter. At that time they would go down the main street a few blocks and enter the track thru a tunnel under the first turn. I would get so excited I would shake. I tried to figure out a way to sneak in but never could. I would stay there until the races were over and watch them leave with dirt all over them. At least I could hear them race and dream.

 

Ever see a sign at a car wash near a dirt track that says: "No Racecars!" You could always tell by the piles of clay that at least one team had braved it.

 

"Hey Buildy, The driver wearing sunglasses in your photo (post # 16238) looks like Bobby Grim. What do you think? "Denny Z

Hi Denny,just got home from work. That does look like Bobby Grim to me,too. The other fellow is none other than Tommy Himnnershitz.

 

I thought so, Two greats. Denny Z

 

I believe the photo is at Williams Grove,maybe 1960.

 

I don't have anything to contribute to this thread except a thank you for posting the old race car photos. By the time I started driving sprints in my area winged cars were about all there was without traveling a long way. I do have a set of 2 1/16" Hilborns and a couple of Vertex's along with a CAE in/out box left over from my first car. Maybe someday I can put together a cageless '60's era car.

 

Buildy,

Could this have been the Lee Elkins car before the Vargo Car? They look almost like the same car.

 

I don`t know. I believe Mlight9 knows the history of the car. Possibly Wynn`s 1 on here might know,too.

 

The Jake Vargo Offy sprinter as it looked in the 1950's. Ernie McCoy is the driver, the track is Reading.

 

I`m really enjoying the photos you are posting!

Thanks!

 

The Lee Elkins sprint cars were built by Harry Turner and Fred Tomshe. The Vargo sprinter is a stretched Kurtis Kraft midget.

 

One more picture of the Jake Vargo Offy sprinter as it appeared in the 1950's. Bill Randall is the driver the track is Reading.

 

I should have known they were two different cars as they were running during the same time period. But looking at the pictures of the Elkins Offy in the book Kings of the Hills Pg 80. I see alot of similarities. Thanks for the info guys it is very interesting learning some of the old history of these cars.

 

The photos posted over the last few weeks have been awesome.....could not wait to get back in the garage to do some work on my Sprint....didn't think I had done a lot to it over the past few months until I sat to write this.Some parts arrived,sump,brake and clutch pedals and my mate Roger the Rad came up to trial fit the radiator he has built for the car.I fitted some vintage latches to the hood,and made a hoop for the dash,and fitted a board.The rad should be finished next week and then I can fit this and get the motor finally mounted.....it is getting there........

 

Great work-you're determined!
Hope you had a fun stay at Darlington-was a shame they had to cancel the vintage event.
I'm off to Santa Barbara Concours d'Elegance in 2 weeks then a three day on track event at Havasu City AZ a few days later.
Best Regards
Carl Schulz
Indio, CA