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Folks Of Interest Jim Hurtubise and the Demler Special #99 at 1961 Indy

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by kwmpa, Aug 21, 2011.

  1. kwmpa
    Joined: Mar 14, 2006
    Posts: 1,231

    kwmpa
    Member Emeritus
    from Pa

    My mom's cousin's husband gave me this shirt today that belonged to Jim Hurtubise. Does anyone have photos of Jim at indy possibly with this shirt on?
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
  2. The37Kid
    Joined: Apr 30, 2004
    Posts: 32,493

    The37Kid
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    That is one great piece of automobila! I've seen the car, it had a nice restoration.
     
  3. kwmpa
    Joined: Mar 14, 2006
    Posts: 1,231

    kwmpa
    Member Emeritus
    from Pa

    I've seen the car as well...I'm just looking for some historical photos of Jim with the car
     
  4. kwmpa
    Joined: Mar 14, 2006
    Posts: 1,231

    kwmpa
    Member Emeritus
    from Pa

    Bump for the night crowd
     
  5. Fedcospeed
    Joined: Aug 17, 2008
    Posts: 2,011

    Fedcospeed
    Member

    Like I wrote you.... You lucky *** *******. One of my all time favorites.He is a local legend up here.My other is Chuck Booze no.9.I wishI knew when I was younger that we had such a fella living so close by.He was a very colorful guy.Pick up a autobiography its a great read. JF
     
  6. Kwmpa, next time you are up around the Buffalo area you have to go the North Tonawanda history museum. They have a section just on Jim Hurtubise with lots of pictures.
     
  7. kwmpa
    Joined: Mar 14, 2006
    Posts: 1,231

    kwmpa
    Member Emeritus
    from Pa

    tudor thanks ill have to check it out
     
  8. aircap
    Joined: Mar 10, 2011
    Posts: 1,820

    aircap
    Member

    "Herk" was one of the best wheelhands around!
     
  9. Offy 220
    Joined: Sep 29, 2009
    Posts: 255

    Offy 220
    Member

    Kwmpa,

    Very cool shirt! Do you know how your relative acquired the shirt? I work with Quinn Epperly's [car builder] son John. He might have some pictures or knows who might have pictures of Herk wearing the shirt. I will ask him this week. We work opposite shifts but I p*** by him and converse on a weekly basis.

    I would love to have something like that, but honestly that belongs in museum or someplace where everyone who loves the "Indy Roadster" era would love to see. :)

    Offy 220
     
  10. kwmpa
    Joined: Mar 14, 2006
    Posts: 1,231

    kwmpa
    Member Emeritus
    from Pa

    He worked for Norm Demler who owned the car and his name was Jim also so he gave him the shirt. They were going to get rid of it and I said I'd take it. I don't want to completely give it up but I'd put it on loan someplace.
     
  11. tommyd
    Joined: Dec 10, 2010
    Posts: 11,999

    tommyd
    Member
    from South Indy

    Gee I always thought he was a Hoosier boy because he had a muffler shop in Speedway In at one time. Either way a legend for sure.
     
  12. kwmpa
    Joined: Mar 14, 2006
    Posts: 1,231

    kwmpa
    Member Emeritus
    from Pa

    I know very little about him definitely need to do some research on him...I am going to contact the Indy museum and see if they are interested in it for display....anyone know who owns the car last I heard it was restored and in PA
     
  13. Ricci32
    Joined: Jul 30, 2010
    Posts: 416

    Ricci32
    Member

    I saw jim race a dirt mod at fonda ny
    in the early 70's my dad took me to meet him after the races he told me how he almost won indy several times. As a little kid i remember how nice he was. I also remember what was left of his hand from a crash / fire. May have been one of his last rides.
     
  14. SpeedwayRyan
    Joined: Jan 10, 2008
    Posts: 38

    SpeedwayRyan
    Member

    I work at IMS as a graphic designer, so I just took a look through all the '61 photos that I have easy access to...but unfortunately Herk is wearing either a plain white t-shirt or his firesuit in all of them.

    In the Photo Shop upstairs (I work in the Hall of Fame Museum building) there are WAY more photos than what I have on hand here, so it's quite possible that you could track down a shot of him in that shirt if you want to take the time to flip through a lot of photos.
     
  15. kwmpa
    Joined: Mar 14, 2006
    Posts: 1,231

    kwmpa
    Member Emeritus
    from Pa

    See that's the thing I don't know if it was given to him before or after the Indy race. Either way it's cool and i know the information is good..the relative who gave it to me is a US Customs inspector and not a big car buff so the information was pretty specific for that.
     
  16. tommyd
    Joined: Dec 10, 2010
    Posts: 11,999

    tommyd
    Member
    from South Indy

    Trying to get Indybigjohn on this. He just may know something. He don't ferget nuttin.
     
  17. thunderbirdesq
    Joined: Feb 15, 2006
    Posts: 7,091

    thunderbirdesq
    Member

    Hot damn, that's awesome Kev!!!
     
  18. steel rebel
    Joined: Jun 14, 2006
    Posts: 3,604

    steel rebel
    Member Emeritus

    Here is the best, only picture of old 99 I could come up with.
     

    Attached Files:

  19. steel rebel
    Joined: Jun 14, 2006
    Posts: 3,604

    steel rebel
    Member Emeritus

    Okay here's a couple more. When real men raced!
     

    Attached Files:

  20. Andy
    Joined: Nov 17, 2002
    Posts: 5,389

    Andy
    Member

    He was an really nice guy. I talked to him a few times in the Walgreens on Proctor street in Port Arthur. He worked on boats at the marina.
     
  21. I worked with Jim's brother Pete in N. Tonawanda for a few years and met Jim a couple of times. A great guy and ALWAYS had a new story. His house in N. Tonawanda had a huge shop and garage area. Shaking hands with Jim was an experience (due to his burns) and honor. One time he was traveling with a sprint car team and stopped by the shop. He was tig welding some pieces and when he was done with his part I noticed he had welded some tubes together. After dunking it in the sink he handed it to me and told me to keep racing. I still have the piece. Jim and Pete wore so many different shirts during their racing that he may have just been handed that shirt. Most of the images I have seen of Jim he was wearing a white shirt. (images that are not public).
     
  22. kwmpa
    Joined: Mar 14, 2006
    Posts: 1,231

    kwmpa
    Member Emeritus
    from Pa

    Can you give me an email of someone to contact about donating the shirt to the Hall of Fame Museum


    Posted from the TJJ App for iPhone & iPad
     

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