We had Dad's Kurtis Kraft Replica shipped to me last spring and I have been going through it all summer. Here are some updated pictures. View attachment 4112305
KK4000 #356 - John Zink's first Indy entry (1952) Featured entry at the Mecum Indy auction, May 14-19 https://www.mecum.com/lots/SC0519-370046/1952-kurtis-kraft-4000-indy-car/
I just bought this, the find of a lifetime .... Does anyone recognize the man in the black and white photo?
My Father inlaw Chas Bud Howsman was very good friends with Frank Curtis back in the day. My family owned Glendale saw works which was across the street from Franks shop on Colorado Blvd in Glendale. Oh the stories my Father in Law would tell me about those good old days... from a more simple time! On ANY given day you might have Indy guys show up, drag racers, road racers, land speed record holders, kids wanting their quarter midget stuff. If it went FAST or you wanted to go FAST you could find someone or something to go FAST in ... Glendale Ca.
Just a tidbit of trivia...... Ak Miller approached his good friend Frank Kurtis when he was starting construction of the "El Caballo II" racer. He needed a chassis, and Frank was the man.... Turns out Frank had sold the business.... But, he still had a key to the building. So, in the middle of the night, Frank and Ak procured a 500X chassis. The rest is history. Now, there are those who say yup, another of Ak's tall tales, but in all the years of listening to Ak's stories, I have never heard of one being disputed... Those were the times, and those were the men who gave us the great times we have today !!!!
Hello! I found your post while searching for photos of my grandfather, Martin Whittle. He was the crew chief for John Ramp in the 1950s and I have a few of his photos of that car! My Dad was also part of the team, drove the truck, and worked on the car. My great uncle Al Whittle was the promoter for many of midget races in the Midwest where the car raced I am happy to share any old photos I have of the car and would love any info and photos you have about it.
Hello to you as well. Thanks for the message, and I would love to hear from you. My cell number is 9l6-2O4-3l7O. I'm in Elk Grove, CA. Since purchasing the car, I've found an Offy engine rebuilt by Joe Gemsa, completed the fabrication work necessary to get the car to 1950's configuration and had the all aluminum body completed by Chris Kopp (he lives just outside Portland, Oregon). Chris learned his trade from Jerry Weeks. Chrome and Paint will complete the project. Also, since purchasing the car, I have found many photos of the car, plus a 1958 Color Video of the car racing at New Bremen, Ohio. Thanks also for the pictures. I have not seen those photos, but found 2 others that appear to have been taken at the same time. I have not seen the John Ramp Truck, so it was great to see the photo. From my research, John Ramp and Leroy Warriner did so well in 1948-49 that a second car was purchased and the team ran for a couple of seasons. I take it, that's when you Dad crewed for John Ramp. I have many pictures with Larry Crim as crew chief. I also know that John Ramp fell on hard times, and sold the second car (#76 and had the opposite paint scheme as the #67 car with Navy Blue body and White Scallops). That would have been around 1952, because Les Cadwell (Wayne Park Garage) purchased the #67 and he went on to win the 1953 AAA National and Midwest Championships with Leroy Warriner driving). Here's the similar pictures to the photos you posted that I have from the 16th Street Speedway. Also included is the current state of the car in bare aluminum with the Offy Engine mounted. Give me a call when you get a chance. If I don't pick up, leave a message and I'll call you back. Thanks, Alan
Reading the history here pulls my family into the HOT ROD mix as well. Dad went to hoover High School and his best friend was BILL MARCELL who coincidently also worked for Ernie Alvarado s camera shop. Bill owned Tom Medleys coupe before DAD owned it, in that immediate area were shops like Wes Cooper, Kong Jackson. Ackmo , Kurtis and a bunch more. Truly Hot Rod nirvana. Bill Marcel also went on to become Mickey Thompsons right hand man at M/T maybe you know him or worked with him? Here is where two ulterior universes met up. I married a young lady whos step father worked across the street from Frank Kurtis shop... Glendale saw works- Bud Howseman was his name and he was good friends with Kurtis as well as his Father in Law , LOU WELCH who owned NOVI and soon they were running Franks latest race car designs. Good times!!!
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