60'-70's Vintage Oval Track Modifieds

Yes Hooker Hood ran sprint cars and won a lot of races. Also skeeter cars{super modifieds} He also ran what is called a B car {{carb and gas} and C cars that are late models. he disliked them but said the money was alright. He still races some and helps his son Rickey and builds trailers for income. Still in the same house for 50 years. He also was good friends with Elvis Presley. I was told that was the reason for the number 99 on a race boat in one of elvis movies.

 

Great. Thanx for the info. As I recall, he was pretty fast and smooth. I think the smoothest / fastest sprint driver I ever saw was Larry Miller. I swear, the cars he drove seemed to hover over the bumps. LOVE this thread. Gary

 

That post, #8237, of Otto Harwi in the wall, is ironic in that he was lost in a crash into the third turn at Middletown.

 

I love this car.

 

Photos By Bob Farlee

 

Hooker in 1967. He was the winning-est driver in the country that year, 56 features out of 65 starts.




This picture was taken at the Memphis Rodders dinner in 2009 where they honored Hooker. Standing in front of the restored race car from 67-68 are l to r Larry Nolan of the Memphis Rodders and owner of the restored car, Hooker Hood and his son, sprint ace Ricky Hood. Hooker had a stroke a few years back and he's slowed a little, but his wit is as razor sharp as it ever was.

 

The "loud Mouth" guy"s name (on page 412)is right on the tip of my tongue... any one know who he is? Say's "Painted by Snick" on th car> Vinny Pousada used to go by "The Snickering Spic" back then, but that doesn't look like I remember him.....?

 

Dr. John, I found this photo in a 1970 Lancaster speedway yearbook and I thought you might get a kick out of it since you were friends with Bill Bitterman. I did not know that Bill was a member of the "over the wall club"! What was the relation between Dick and Bill, brothers, cousins?

 

Neat pix and info. A dually sprinter, who'd a thunk it? I think they were either banned or wider rear tires had become available by the time I saw him race! Thanx, Gary.

 

Hi,

I asked him about it back when he worked at Gene Emser Motor Sales and he said there was no relation, just a coincidental wreck. And those first-turn guardrails launched a number of cars into the drag strip's staging lanes!

 

Belle Clair Speedway...Belleville Illinois 1970...its a Willis body with 427 cu in Chevrolet

 

Quick question for anyone who can answer it...

Does anyone know who lettered this car and are there more pictures of it (color perhaps)?

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a...89730601477_1176577066_30676550_7333695_n.jpg

This is my first time seeing this car, but it is exactly what I refer to as cars from yesteryear not only being racecars, but works of art. This car is before my time, but man... that thing is awesome. Keep up with the good work, guys.

 

Here are a few of my uncle's modified, when I was a kid, I thought everyone had a race car at Fonda Speedway. Owned and wrenched by Dick Bennett and sponsored by Bernie Maruski right up to 1979.




The first two are obviously Ken Jones and I believe the third on is Bill Troutwine. I will add more in future posts.

 

over the years, my uncle had alot of drivers; Ken Jones, Jim Luke, Lou Lazzaro, Lee Millington, Jack Johnson, Lew Boyd and others

Here is Don Wayman and Jack Johnson
Back in the day, Fonda had a Ford Championship and Don Wayman won it in this car. Jack Johnson later went on to win 11 track championships at Fonda driving the infamous 12a

 

Lee Millington is the driver with the most seat time in Dick Bennett's 71 over the years, here are a few shots of him.

 

This shot, I am not sure if it is Lee Millington or Lew Boyd, they both drove the car during this period.
This is also one of the last coupes at Fonda

 

some misc shots and a couple of my cousin with the 71.
Yeah, that's the 71 on the ground...at least the bulldog hood ornament wasn't hurt. lol

 

I will have more when I replace my scanner. You may have seen this pic before, The 71 on the pole at the now defunct Victoria Speedway, I think that either Ken Jones or Jim Luke was driving. This shot has been floating around the internet for awhile now.