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

That big wooden bank looks killer...I guess we take all the cages and safety gear for granted...Those guys had nothing even close and drove every bit as hard. What's that old saying ?? There are old srint car drivers, and bold sprint car drivers...But not too many old and bold sprint car drivers ?. I assume a testimonial to how many they lost back then.

 

Tommy Milton (I think??) with his racer face on.

 

Rootie that is Leon Duray (real name was George Stewart). He had a lead foot. As to board tracks being bigger out east, California had its share starting with probably the first track at Playa Del Ray. Also had the Beverly HIlls track and Cotati andothers-Jim

 

Don't know who this is, but he's got his lucky baby shoe (?) along for the ride.

 

Rootie- that's a Duesenberg he's smiling in front of- heck, I would be too!

 

I'm not a student of the board track racers, obviously, but could that be De Paulo ?

 

That Peter DePaolo, Ralph DePalma's nephew. He was DePalma's mechanician starting with DePalma's Ballot in 1920. He went on to drive on his own, winning Indy in 1925. There is an interesting book on him Wall Smacker (autobiolographical). HIs son's baby shoes were always his good luck charm. He also wrote a neat seriesof articles called "I drove the Boards". Some great stories on the guy-Jim

 

Thanks, after posting that, I recalled reading something about his baby shoe lucky charm. FWIW- I got those pics off another site, but they originally came from the Library of Congress archives. I've never tried searching there but there should be a bunch more.

 

Here's my model T. I spent a lot of time in the Unser racing museum and the Justice brothers museum in Cali. Those old cars are awesome.
I used a lot of sprintcar and circle track components on the T.

 

Root...I was looking around for some board track footage, I found motorcycles but no cars yet. I found some still pics that were cool, and I found the offy site that has a whole section on motor sounds...made my day. http://www.milleroffy.com/
I'm sure I'm the last to find it, but I posted it just in case.

 

what is the name of the John Gerber book? I would love to get a copy - Board tracks and the pre-war era are some of the coolest stuff on wheels.

 

I can't say I've seen any board track film either, FWIW- here's a snippet of some 20s racing, http://www.auto-history.tv/filmarchive/racing/3249YC57/though not board track.

 

Found the original site/thread that the board track pics were posted, if this works, here's some more:<TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=4 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top bgColor=#f7f7f7> </TD><TD vAlign=top width="100%" bgColor=#f7f7f7><TABLE cellPadding=4 width="100%" border=0 spacing="0"><TBODY><TR><TD>[FONT=Verdana, Arial]October 1925, Laurel

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The first few pics are Bob McDonogh in Tommy Milton's Miller (he drove for MIlton). Later in the pics is Milton with the sporty French hat. Leon Duray is also included as is DePaolos #12 Duesey. It looks to be Earl Cooper in the JR8 (Miller) that was recently at the MIller Meet in its new green resplendent glory. Jim

 

Some more:<TABLE cellPadding=4 width="100%" border=0 spacing="0"><TBODY><TR><TD>[FONT=Verdana, Arial]Some photos concerning the subject, from the Library of Congress collection,
July 1925, Laurel

http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/npcc/13900/13944v.jpg
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I like this pic, I'll bet ol Fred wasn't intimidated by those high banks.

 

Rootie, the first two pics in post #2544 are of the incomparable Ralph DePalma and the photos are unusual and somewhat historic. First Ralph was always known for being impeccably dressed. He was known for always wearing clean and pressed white uniforms. IN the inaugural at Laurel he could not get his Miller to run right and had to park it after a few laps and he ended up taking over the driving for Ralph Hepburn. DePalma clipped the upper rail and was thrown and had to scramble down the track away fromthe oncoming cars. This was the very last time he drove the boards;for a DePama nut like myself it is a sad photo. The end of an era for one of the best American drivers. Articles have been written about Ralph that he raced in over 2700 contests and won 2500 a slight exageration I am sure, but he won many contests on the boards, led more laps at Indianapolis until Al Unser Sr passed him, in Big Als last Indy. He also won numerous road races, match races, set the land speed record at Daytona in 1919 (149 + when aeroplanes were not doing much over 130).What is remarkable is that he was only injured once in all of his races (American Grand Prize at Milwaukee in 1912). I guess we alll have to get old but not many better racers than DePalma. I read an article that one of the speed magazines took a pole at Indy in the fifties and DePalma came out on top as the greatest of all time. Gary Doyle's book on DePalma is in my estimation one of the best books you can read on the greats of the early days. Old Ralph had the characteristic smile-not much seemed to phase him-Jim

 

Ol Fred does look like a total badass...I wouldnt pick him as the guy most likely to lift first. Great pics...I'm sort of awestruck by the boards, especially building a mile track out of a framework and strips. The amount of labor and material to build these ??? wow.. Ralph Depalma..Another one of those legends we never got to appreciate in person.

 

WOW! Who would have ever thought that Lucy & Ricky's NYC landlord was also a board track racer..... That guy sure looks like Fred Mertz, to me, and he's got his name on the sleeve to prove it. He may not have been afraid of the High Banks but he sure didn't give Ethel any backtalk.

 

My thoughts exactly. The sub structure alone must have been massive, those boards would have had to been nailed down to trusses on fairly close centers to stay flat and solid, I would think.

 

Clipped from the Terre Haute Tribune-Star:

"View private racing collection Nov. 1

First Financial Bank and Komen Race for the Cure invite the public on Nov. 1 to see the private racing collection of First Financial Corp. Chairman and President Donald E. Smith.

It includes a large collection of race cars, racing memorabilia and more rare and unique items.

The collection will be shown from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in First Financial Complex at Indiana 159 and Harlan Drive.

Admission is adults, $10, children under 12, $5.

All proceeds from the event will be donated to the Komen Race for the Cure in support of breast cancer research, education and patient services."

This collection is impressive beyond description (it takes 3 barns to hold it all!) and if you have a chance see it, I would definitely recommend it. He only opens it up every couple years or so.

I got this off of Indiana Open Wheel website today, 10-27-08. Sounds like a good cause and a very good collection to see. This is all I know. I'm sure Roy or some of the other Indy guys will know more details. This is not far from Terre Haute, Indiana.

Gene

 

John Greber book: "Outlaw Sprint car Racer" By John Bryan Gerber.. through "Witness Productions" (1-765-597-2487)

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WIld looking ride Hilljack. I bet its a lot of fun.

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GREAT STUFF GUYS!!


JD

 

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=163095&highlight=don+smith+collection

This was posted about a year ago. Amazing and certainly worth 10 bones, wish I was closer.

 

That's some great stuff.....I havent seen those in awhile. we even have the opposing Caruthers midgets mixed in.

 

I heard a wild story passed down from an old timer, to Jim at Zakira's, to me.., about the Excitement of watching races at a Board Track. He said something I never thought of, but probably happened!!

He said that some tracks had Grandstands in the turns, and that the track and grandstands were one HUGE Structure. Well, when a group of cars would race through the turn, like at the start, He said the stands would "Move"! They would fex, A LOT!! and you feel your self getting swished around in your seat!
It sounds like it could be true.. If you've ever sat on a steel and concrete bridge in traffic and felt them move when heavy trucks drive over them.. you know? And think of wooden Roller coasters, next time your around one, stand and watch the structure in the turns, They move a lot!
Man, what a thought. (And I thought watching Sprint car racing was exciting today!)

The Mile board track in Cincinnati only lasted a few years, when it was dismantled they used (half ) the wood to build a Half mile track in Hamilton, then I've heard, when that went down they built a smaller, quarter mile track..
The other wood from the original Mile track was sold, and used in house construction all over Sharonville, blue ash and the surrounding area's. Infact, the "Sharonville Historical society's" building is a remodeled house that was one built with the wood from the track. They have a little sign on the wall about it.

JD

 

Somewhere I read that it was not unusual for the racing surface to deteriorate during a long race. Workmen could sometimes stick their heads through the splintered boards to look at oncoming cars. Repairs were made without stopping the race. The drivers weren't the only men of the times with guts.

 

When I mentioned the Cincy Board track, I was thinking it was a TWO mile track, but not sure.. so I went with what sounded more likely, ONE MILE.
Now, I realize my huch was right. Here is a Short article about the completion of the track, names entered, and purse..

July 23, 1916



http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archiv...8153BE233A25750C2A9619C946796D6CF&oref=slogin

 

The pic above of Fred Mertz as you guys call him is actually Fred Winnai in his Duesenberg 8 uniform. I am a little puzzled though by his mount. I have seen him in a couple of pics at Altoona but not in this car.

JD, it may be possible for what you say as these tracks although designed by pretty accomplished engineers, Pillsbury and Prince, they were built in short order, often in a few months by unskilled labor for the most part. Bridges are meant to move by design but I do not doubt these structures moved. Imagine the 2 mile tracks (Sheepshead Bay, Maywood and Cincinnati). Sheepshead had mostly steel superstructure but most board tracks were not quite as solid. Not only did they move but the parabolic shape supposedly held the noise which I feel would only add to the atmosphere. If I could go back in time that is probably the first thing I would visit. Imagine even the numerous OHC cars of the teens averaging 120mph on the straights and then the supercharged cars of the twenties.

What an era that most people know nothing of. I have pics of board tracks in my homeshop and car people are amazed when they see such racetracks ever existed. Great thread-Jim

 

Thanks Jim, Here is more info on the track, and a great website by Kieth Wendel.. AKA Qween City Motorsports (here on the Hamb)





http://home.fuse.net/kewendel/QCM_TV_Cincinnati_Speedway.html


Check it out..

 

This is the thread those pics are from, a lot of disscussion on who was driving what. http://forums.autosport.com/showthread.php?threadid=103835&perpage=40&display=&pagenumber=1