History Vintage "Cageless" Midget Picture Thread

I'm still here. Might have posted this before. My Kurtis Chassis #275, warming up at the Tulare Thunderbowl, 1988.

 

2 months later at Madera.

 

Just thought of something the other day. On my KK chassis is TWO sets of rear motor mounts on each side. I will carefully remove the rearmost mounts with hope that chassis number might be under one of them. Nothing to lose, as the new engine will be a Pinto and will need new mounts.

 

Does anyone have any more Information on Pogo Lundquist birth , passing history driving a race car?

 

This is a Drake powered Kurtis driven by Bill Cantrell possibly at Balboa stadium 1947-48. Car owners Jay Walton & George French both from San Diego area. Don Cameron also drove the car some in 1947. I believe that Cameron is in the group photo on the left side. They only raced the car 2 seasons at most and only traveled the west coast as far up as Sacramento area I am told. I have no idea where it went afterwards but I do know they bought it new from Kurtis but I do not know if it was complete or a chassis with body. Any info would be appreciated here or PM. George told me if they could get the car to the races a good driver would get in it for them. I believe Cantrell won five races in August 47. Some better pictures of #56 in Dick Wallen Distant Thunder book pages 150; 155; 167; 172 & 186. My uncle George French is most likely responsible for the racing affliction I have happily endured my whole life.

 

Would anyone have a photo of Dutch Schafer's Cragar Jr. midget or information on it from the 1940's. Thanks.

 

Brought this home for yard art. Ran in the Northwest #4.

 

Hi, Being told that the Dutch Schaefer Cragar Jr. midget was light in color and number 37 on tail. Possibly this might help in locating photo of car. Thanks.

 

I recently purchased a 70's era midget project owned and driven by Mike Witzman of Toledo Ohio. Mike's dad was George Witzman of Detroit. George was a very successful midget and 'big car' driver in the Midwest in the 40's, dying in a midget accident at the Akron Rubber Bowl in 1948. Below are a few of the pictures I've located of George - I'd appreciate any press clippings or photos of George other members may have.

 

Someone in my 'hood posted these photos on craigslist in his search
for midgets and parts. They looked interesting so I tried to clean
them up a bit and here we go:

 

New (old) member just signed back on today - some great old photos on here.
Here's a favorite of mine - picture of my uncle Kenneth (Ken) Petersen that I've always liked. Northwest (Seattle area) owner/driver - he raced from the early 50's until the early 70's. He and Palmer Crowell racing head to head on a Friday or Saturday night at the old Spanaway Speedway was never a dull moment. Credited with a record 73 wins that held until Rick Moss (retired) surpassed it by a few wins 3 decades later. He was one hell of a driver and one hell of a good mechanic. I lived with him and my Aunt who just passed away last month for 3 summers - worked in his shop for $5 an hour plus room and board. A great experience. He was a GM trained mechanic from 1946 shortly after he got home from WWII.




http://nwsprintcarhistory.com/champions/series-champions/wmra-champions/

And a link above to the local club web site so you can see others he raced against like Len Sutton, Bob McLees, etc.

Bob's brother lived right next door to us when I was growing up. He'd get out in his car early Saturday mornings and just sit in his driveway and rev his engine. For years my Dad referred to that as a "McLees tune-up".

I've got a few other pictures I can post if anyone is interested.

 

Sure am, posted them up.

 

Wow that was before it became mandatory to have roll bars in the cars. Scary !!!!!

 

This picture is a little rough but it's the oldest one of Kenny in a racecar that I have. He had just purchased this car from Wes Beck. Year was 1953 in the SeaTac area. This became Kenny's #55 car in the picture I posted above. Kenny sold this car to Jim Crews in the winter of 1967 and it was rebadged as the #92 car that Kenny continued to drive for Jim. Glen Siedelman told me his Dad Bill Siedelman and Bill Helmer were paid by Jim Crews to keep this car ready to go as a backup until 1972. Then it became the #9 car that Ed Shefchik drove for Jim. So that chassis had some stories to tell.

 

School me on rear tires please.
What type of surface would dictate smooth slicks?

 

FF - I know of you from the Ford-trucks forum. I doubt I'll be schooling you on much of anything - especially tires. I can tell you my uncle ran almost exclusively on pavement tracks, not dirt. Some exceptions, but rarely. And his tires often seemed to not have a lot of grooves in them - virtual slicks. Since it was almost always a fairly tight oval he often ran a smaller inner front tire to save weight - turn easier - whatever - it was not on the ground as often as the other three tires. Eventually as speeds increased he did go to Hoosiers and wide slicks of that nature. Here's a picture dated June 1960 and he's got Firestones on it for this race. Car had been rebadged as the #5 for one season. You can see from the second picture that whatever he was doing was working for him

 

Thanks for the tire lesson TA455HO. Your pics are splendid. Kenny was a superstar.
I wonder what was required to transition a car from asphalt to dirt besides tires.
And a mud screen

 

I might be able to shed some light on that topic. At least back in the day - some traction tires, a bandana, a steelie look in your eye and someone to help hold the trophies. Sky Valley Dirt Speedway in Monroe, WA Memorial Day 1969. Roll of film printed in January 1970.

 

Jack Corley, Portland, Or.

 

Here are a few pictures of the Edmunds Sesco I recently purchased.

 

Kurtis Kraft midgets were stamped on the top of the left and right chassis rail between the dash hoop and the hoop brace, read from the outside, Also some were stamped on top of the rear member welded between chassis rails right at the rear toward the right side v , viewed from the rear. Gordon..

 

My KK chassis 275 had the numbers stamped in both places. My Dad's Chassis 121 only by the dash hoop.

 

HI DON any luck on a picture of DUTCH SCHIEFER CRAGAR JR MIDGET

 

is the CRAGAR JR midget the car he won CEDARHURST NY 1940 track championship ?
could this be a CRAGAR JR prewar car with a headrest ?

 

Portland, Oregon, driver's name "Bowser".

 

pictures of my prewar CRAGAR JR midget

 

Looking for information on a KK midget once owned in 1964 by Jim Adams in Urbana Ill. Car was purchased from Carl Spanglo in Urbana, then sold to Jack Logan in Champaign, Ill. This car was powered at the time by a V8-60 but may have had an Offy at one time. Painted yellow, then may have been painted maroon later in its life. Any info or jagged memories would be greatly appreciated.

 

Don Edmunds passed away on Tuesday, top of the line builder and racer.
https://sprintcarandmidget.com/other-midgets/midget-car-builder-don-edmunds-dies-at-89