60'-70's Vintage Oval Track Modifieds

Re: 60's - 70's Vintage Mods

That chassis was probably built in the eighties, maybe (but not likely) late seventies. Notice the straight left rail & offset right rail. Troyer, Evans and Boehler were the first with these, later copied by others. Early RGM and Lindblads were straight up. The straight front axle was no longer used on these chassis, which were designed for a-arms. Looks like someone was building a vintage mod with a later chassis.

 

As you well know I'm not that age yet. However I am cranky! Shit; I've been cranky since I was a teenager!

 

maynard forrette

max berrier

berrier

 

maynard troyer

troyer

forrette

 

mccann and wagner

bob park

maynard flip

 

merv treichler

membrino

meade

 

OK, you finally got me to stop lurking and post. I had to give a big thanks for the #83 post. That's Charlie S. in the blue shirt in the background and I'm pretty sure my Dad is the mechanic in yellow entering the pic on the left. Sideburns tell me this photo is early to mid 70's, so I am probably sitting between turns 1 and 2 in the top row of the grandstands, waiting for the 1st heat. I've looked through all 300 HAMB pages to finally find his picture (and about 50 other websites, but this one is the best hands down!). He still has the yellow jersey hanging in his tv room, along with a few pics which I need to borrow, scan and share.

As an aside, as much as I am taken back to my childhood by the vintage racecar photos, it's the little things that bring it all back for me... The old red ambulance in the infield at Islip, or the beat-up white pickup truck with "ISLIP" on the side laying speedy-dry. I could go on, but I'm curious to know what you look for in the backgrounds and edges of these old photos?

Thanks again for keeping the memories alive.

 

What track and what year is the troyer flip on page 280??

 

My son's portrait of me from a few years ago.

 

Welcome Jay, I for one look at everything around the main subject first. The cars in the background, the trucks. I have seen a number of hot rods and customs in quite few older photos. Seems then they had more in common. A hot rodder could afford a race car too.
Not that that doesn't hold true in many cases today.

I'd venture to say, we look for the same things you do, old shops, anything and everything. Eat it all up.

 

This was originally Joel's from Birchwood Towing, a great guy and was blue and used at Islaip. At least I believe it was originally Joels. That's the Bullfather's 41 ford in the background. I am going to add some photos that I most likely posted back around page 15-25 but only a few. No i do not know the photographer. Nor can I give you much info on the photos.

Mousey Kempster and the 10 cents.

I can tell you this one is broke in the photo.

Gary Gretty

 

OK now some racing action at Riverhead.




This is not Riverhead, I can't make it out from the small photo, someone educate ,e.

 

That last Riverhead shot is that coach of Sieberts. That car must have been a handfull to drive it always seemed a little loose. Charlie and the crew always got it in the show and finished though. Those were good days me and my girl (gonna be wife) would drive out there every week. That car got me hooked on modifieds.

 

Early Eightys Westboro,Ma. third race of Long weekend, Stafford on Fri,the park on Sat Westboro on Sunday.

This "Open " Show Had Geoff Bodine in the Taylor 99,Richie 61, Mark Malicut in his Evan's built car with a"Hutter" Richie loaned him . Cook in the 38,

Maynard fliped in the heat ( remember those ) an was sort of "Fixed" for the consi,we bungied the radiator in, an he keep using the Chrome horn an put the fan into it Many times. Maynard drove Dick Armstrongs #1 in the feature.


It was wierd to see Maynard in that car racing Geoff in the 99.

My fav Quote from that weekend, after Mark Malicut blew up his Brother built small block, Richie loaned him the Big Block from Fri nites Stafford race . When Richie asked How that motor felt , Mark said " Thats Better then Sex". Thanks for letting "Remeber That " lol

 

Hi Im looking for pictures of orange county speedway in the 70's. My father Bill Benson, and my uncle Bobby Benson raced their in the early 70s. Does any one know how I can get some pictures

 

Thanks for the reply, I took another look a the chassis and the left side rail is offset like the right (difficult to see in the picture). I believe the 555 picture to be the last iteration of the car before the body was put on the 2x3 chassis. Can anybody id this driver? Info I have says the Dilmore's had the car before this (the firewall is extended in this pic). Al DeAngelo was supposed to have driven it also.
Thanks
Barry

 

Why not ask Jeff Scott? Those look like his photos, lifted from his site: www.speedwaysnapshots.com

 

They just might be John.

 

the midget wrecker in post5592 was gus riedlingers long before joel merksheimer even had a tow company. a wrecked midget was used.
built by ed & fred brunnhoezel , it sat outside guses shop at corner of broadway & old country road in hicksville, for at least 30 years. i know for a fact,cause we tried to buy it every year. joel wound up with it and made it street legal.guses grandson billie got it back & had it restored

 

He surely captured the essence of Emil, even got the eybrows correct!

 

Do I know my dad or what, Rich? hahaha He even got a good laugh at that years ago when I made it! Heck, he even saved it! lol

 

More Evans






Just when I thought there couldnt be any more....same with Charlie J! I need to see more lol

 

Merv

Merv

 

Mickulak

Mickey Corr

Buddy of mine Wayne Meyer pops at Riverhead

 

Thanks for the correction Snidley. I thought it was the other way around. Mia culpa.
Reason being because I saw it owned by Gus after Joel moved to Fla. I'll go sit in my corner now.

 

Jack Johnson

 

Finally, my chance to contribute to one of my favorite HAMB threads! This 50 Merc has been resting in a small junkyard near me for a few years now. Quite a rare choice I'm guessing for modified. I'm guessing I should get these wide wheels that are on the right side of the car.
Appears to have lightning holes drilled in rear frame rails, old style rollbar, some kind of 60's style bucket seat. I'd like to know the history of this car, if it actually has any or even ever raced at all.

 

Those are just pure wicked looking, low, slick, nasty...and I love 'um

 

One of my favorite shots of Ritchie. He always looked relaxed and calm. till he strapped into an 800+ hp, 2400 lb missle

 

A lot of that calmness came from the fact that they were always so well prepared. Very rarely did the 61 crew have to work on the car to fix a problem or make it handle better.