Features VINTAGE SPRINT CAR PIC THREAD, 1965 and older only please.

Beauty!

 

Agreed. I first saw the McNamara at Salem when I was in high school and immediately thought it was the prettiest sprint car I'd ever see. So far, I was right.

 

Josh & Greg
Hi guys
For all members just a note to say that Gibbs Brand Lubricant & Penetrant is now available in Australia. It is used through out the US in the automotive industry. ring 02 9900 9455 or wayne@phenixindustries.com.au
Regards Wayne

 

Another Joe Fiore restoration.....

 

Thank you daveww1 for the excellent detailed photos. They will help me in my own project, particularly in getting the placement and mounting of the crash bars and body mounting methods correct. Nice

 

Here is my dad and his uncle 1946 era sprint. 4 cyl. ford marine engine said it put out over 100 hp. The nose was made from a 40 ford hood. It was in West Roxbury mass.

 

Looks like a Midget car to me.
Sprint cars are larger.

Neat to see it!

 

It would be most appreciated if folks could share some history about the late Les Hill, a prominent sprint car and supermodified builder in the late 1950's to early 1970's, and also a car owner, who manufactured Hil-Bilt sprints and supermodifieds for both dirt and pavement in Greenfield, Tennessee. Les had an associate, Jack Elam, to whom he later turned over the business, and Jack went on to more success as today's J&J Auto Racing chassis manufacturers in McKenzie, Tennessee. Drivers of the era who wheeled Hil-Bilt racers included Hooker Hook, Rickey Hood, the Swindells (Sam and his son Sammy), Chuck Amati, Dick Gaines, Bubby Jones, Ellis Palasini, Ed Lynch, Sr.

Many thanks in advance for sharing any information and/or photographs you may have of Les Hill and his Hil-Bilt creations.

 

In the day the midget guys could race six days a week, Check out how far they stuck out of the car with no roll cage!! they killed alot of them in those days, Big Cahonies!!!

 

Add to that .. those Cromwell helmets were made out of nothing more than paper mache.

 

Hello,

It's taken me the better part of a week to get to page 100 of this thread, and I celebrate that feat by registering here.

I have been a casual fan of open wheel racing since I was very young, but nothing on the level of most of you on here. I also grew up around a few drivers and old flat trackers.

In one of the early posts there is a poster for races at Whiteman Speedway. I used to go there for speedway motorcycle races when I was very young, got to watch Swede Savage among others. Also where I got to know Sonny Nutter, and later crew on his midget and sprint cars.

I have seen pictures of the Cheesman Offy. My friend John Ryals did some work on that car a few years back, and I got to sit in it in his shop. I cannot comprehend what it must have been like driving those cars back in the day, with your entire upper body hanging out in the breeze. Real men indeed.

There were all the nights I spent in turn one at Ascot, both in the infield and in the stands. Some of the best memories I have. I was there for the last sprint car race, when Billy Boat became the first and only person to get into the 17's. The place went nuts!

I have always been a bike guy, but at one point I thought a roll cage would be a good idea. I started in micro sprints, worked my way from the 250's, to the 600's, then I must have had a stroke or something, because I bought a shitbox old midget and proceeded to blow every dime I had and a few I didn't have on it.

After a couple years of the USAC deal, I got into a VRA 360 sprinter, and did that for a couple of years until divorce, disillusionment and poverty set in. Now I am back racing motorcycles in the desert at 50 years old and having a ball.

Anyway, I love the pictures, and especially the history and stories that some of the folks here share. Epic stuff!

Carry on.

 

Hello, Here is my dads first helmet. Then my helmet. What A difference!

 

Hi... I'm looking for pictures of the South Bay Auto Body Special, that ran CRA in 1963 and 1964. It was based at Ascot, Porky Rachwits drove it most of 1964. It was black and gold. Thanks in advance.

 

Welcome, cfmracr84. Many of us have traveled similar routes in our racing endeavors however, I never thought I had a stroke, but now that I think about it...... Oh, by the way I did avoid the divorce.

Blacki-Suede

 

Ron. I was told by a friend today thar Chuck Pritchard lives in the Tampa Florida area. Good luck