History Auto racing 1894-1942

I'm familiar with the Mighty Offy, but what is a "Mighty Miller"?

 

One and the same it seems.Have seen several references, such as this one in the 'Higgins-Boats that Won WW@2'

http://books.google.com/books?id=0u...r chevrolet tucker the mighty millers&f=false

Have a photo of The 1934? Gilmore Mighty Miller Offy Midget l.o.l. somewhere-Fred built 10 engines a year(101 total) and I've read it was the backbone of his business till 1942 when he went War production.

addendum:
Found it, Al Blixt Photo.

 

The first "Mighty Midget" engine was built in 1934; Miller went bankrupt in 1933. All Mighty Midgets had Offenhauser engines; Miller never built any Midget engines.

 

Duly noted.
Always appreciate your input.

I guess there was a strong temptation for many to use the Miller name.
http://books.google.com/books?id=o7...EwAw#v=onepage&q=Miller midget engines&f=true

 

Please excuse me, may I add a little something from here in Argentina,I am told, some years back two Offenhauser engines turned up here in and old shop that I belive were on the midgets that came out from USA in 1939.Does this make sense? Had some local pictures of those midgets in my files,naturally I cant find them now. Question:did these Offenhausers run on alcohol?

 

Michael - Thanks for the clarification.

Carl - Miller was a winner, and made many important contributions to the sport of auto racing.


It appears that Art Chevrolet never collaborated with Harry Miller, and the reference in the letter from Preston Tucker suggests that Art simply wanted nothing to do with Miller. Given that Tucker and Miller had worked together at Indy, and later on with aviation engines, Tucker was probably easing any apprehensions Art may have had about the Higgins job.

 

Some interesting glimpses of US midgeteers in Argentina can be found in Jack Fox's Mighty Midgets book and Chris E's Let Them All Go. East Coast guys went in 1938; West Coasters in 1953. According to my friend Leo Barbieri, a current Argentine midget racer, some of the 1953 cars were confisgated by customs when they tried to go home. The cars were eventually looted of speed parts over the next 10 years and eventually copied. It is very possible the same thing happened in 1938.

 

Interesting stuff, would like to hear more.

fwiw: A photo of Leo's Dad, Carlos -from the 60s?

 

"Historia de los Midgets" by Roberto Operto:In Nov 1938 Huracan soccer stadium in Buenos Aire was converted in to a track . He say jurnalist John Carrington metions Macoco Alzaga Unzue (Indianapolis Bugatti/Monza Miller) was responsible for bringing out the Midget team from USA, first time ever Argentina sees midgets. Mr. Broffee an important american aviator was the head man. Bill Morrisey delighted the crowds on the short curves round the soccer field at over 120 km/h. Ted Huxley flies in the air in some scrape with anothe car. They latter went to the town of Rosario about 250 kms from Buenos Aires. He mentions other drivers, Mike Josephs, Babe Bower,Hary Harts,Alland Remond, Franck Balley,James McCarron,Douan Carter and Ted Huxley, They all left aftert a month stay.There is a picture of Bill Morrisey with a JAP, will paste asap.

 

The Daily Messenger of Canandaigua (NY) reported on November 5, 1938:

Hometowns are as stated in the article, but Frankie Bailey was actually from New Brunswick, Ted Hartley from Roanoke, Dick Lynch from Jersey City (NJ), Bub (not Bud) Walker from Lawrence and Duane Carter from Fresno.​

 

The Daily Messenger of Canandaigua (NY) reported on November 5, 1938:

Hometowns are as stated in the article, but Frankie Bailey was actually from New Brunswick, Ted Hartley from Roanoke, Dick Lynch from Jersey City (NJ), Bub (not Bud) Walker from Lawrence and Duane Carter from Fresno.​

 

FYI, correct names are: Bill Morrissey, Ted Hartley, Mike Joseph, Morris "Babe" Bower, Harry Hart, Allan (possibly Allen) "Red" Redmond, Frank Bailey (actually Bali), James "Jim" McCarron and Duane Carter.

 

The Mercedes 1908 Grand Prix Racing Car.

We have a post up with this Royce Rumsey photo, a great video from Mercedes-Benz about the car along with a cutaway drawing of the engine that you may enjoy.

 

Unfortunately, Carlos Barbieri died in 2010 just about the time we had planned to host him and his son here in the US. Carlos was born in 1938 when the midgets first arrived in his home country. He was 17 when the US cars next appeared and he was immediately smitten with the little cars. Although he raced in other series, the midgets were his passion. He built many cars and even took a few laps in 2009.
Leo had a horrendous crash last year and spent this off season building a new car, a first without "The Beard" directing the shop. A link to video of the crash is posted on Midget Madness.
The Argentine cars are a bit of a "throwback" to American eyes. Big tube "Kurtis" style frames for the most part but with very wide tracks, coil over suspensions, and huge suspension travel. Skinny tires, clutches, and ONE WHEEL ONLY HAND BRAKES. Starts are from a stand still. If you touch the brake handle other than in an emergency you are black flagged. These guys need those roll cages!
Solo Midget Argentina posts lots of video. Watch a few. You'll like it.

 

That's the flame job that inspired the ones I put on my truck.

 

And so the flame is passed on from one generation to another.
Coool!

 

Rex Edmonds (from Houston, can you believe that? ) in his Fronty-Ford, circa 1926. The car was sold to Frank Toce, jr. and Bunny Donnelly in 1927, who ran it as #200 with Eddie Lyons driving. No race results, though.

 

Thanks Kurtis, that's more information than I had before. I did find some YouTube videos showing the now abandoned road. Must have been a scary run at speed!

Howard Dennis

 

I found some decent newspaper photos of Fronty Fords from the mid '20's. The first has Wilbur Shaw behind the wheel. The second shows George Souders a year before he won Indy.

 

Mr Zig-Zag-Z, you sure come up with some good finds. Thanks

 

Thank you Carl. I appreciate all of the folks who contribute to this thread. There is a lot of great material out there on the history of auto racing.

Here is something a little different, a mid 1920's Dodge Special...

 

That sure looks like one of the Frontenac/Monroe cars to me! Converted to a single seater,I guess.

 

Want to know who won?

 

And this one?

 

Don't let that radiator shroud fool you, the car looks nothing liek a Monroe or Frontenac. These things were easy to make, and copying has always been endemic to racing.