History VINTAGE SPRINT CAR PIC THREAD, 1969 and older only please.

[Engine Pro 5X]

This car went to Knoxville in the mid 60's. Jay Woodside won the race in 1966 and the 55 car ran 3rd if I remember right. Frank Lies was the driver for Kenny and Pat Riffel. Kenny always told me he thought they could've done better but Frank wouldn't hold her on the mat all the way around the track. He said it just didn't feel right. This pic is at the Hutchinson Nationals in 1974. Worst wreck I.ve ever seen. At this time Kenny was one of the few car owners to have won the Hutchinson Nationals 3 times>>>>.

[BZNEIL]

I think I might have some pictures of the Gilstrap car at the burg, or a program. I'll dig around.

[racer5c]

Originally Posted by Engine Pro 5X

This car went to Knoxville in the mid 60's. Jay Woodside won the race in 1966 and the 55 car ran 3rd if I remember right. Frank Lies was the driver for Kenny and Pat Riffel. Kenny always told me he thought they could've done better but Frank wouldn't hold her on the mat all the way around the track. He said it just didn't feel right. This pic is at the Hutchinson Nationals in 1974. Worst wreck I.ve ever seen. At this time Kenny was one of the few car owners to have won the Hutchinson Nationals 3 times>>>>.

Kenny should have stood on the nerf bar and patted Frank on the head when he wanted him to lift.

[Engine Pro 5X]

Originally Posted by racer5c

Kenny should have stood on the nerf bar and patted Frank on the head when he wanted him to lift.

If you know Kenny like I do and remember Frank there wasn't much patting on the head going on. It was usually some sort of a disscusion to say the least>>>>.

[BZNEIL]

Here Is Gilstrap At the Burg During his championship season.

[indybigjohn]

Found this site through a link on another and was HOOKED! Found the photo below on the first page and couldn't believe it. Joe James-Pat O'Connor Memorial from September of 1961. I was standing at the end of the front straightaway shooting 8mm movie film. Parnelli took the lead from the pole but hit some oil left from the pushoff process and slid high toward the fence. Foyt got by underneath as he held on to it, and when they came out of 2 Jones was pointed toward the inside, and floored it. He took advantage of the downhill run and shot past Foyt on the inside going into 3, and led the rest of the way. After the race A.J. wanted to know where he came from. He thought Jones had crashed. Both cars had Number 1 on them because Parnelli was the USAC Midwest Sprint champ and A.J. won the Eastern championship. Last year they had two champions, and Jones won the first USAC National Sprint Car Championship in 1961. Got to find that old film.

[indybigjohn]

Here's a couple from Salem in 1963. I'm kind of proud of these. I think it was Chuck Engle who hit the fence hard and came to a stop on the inside of turn 2. The fireman was just standing there, and I could see from the heat waves that we had a methanol fire. The driver put his hand on the tire and then yanked it back like he had burned it, then reached out for help. I ran over and grabbed the straps on his uniform and pulled him out. Ruined my brand new DA Lubricants jacket doing it. Anyway, that's what I looked like 45 years ago.

[indybigjohn]

Okay, racer5c. I also have the utmost respect for Pancho. We became friends when he was driving Stapp's cars and I was a newspaper editor in Scottsburg, where Buzzy Dobbins' Chevrolet dealership was located. The thing that prompted me to post this was the photo of Pancho upside down in the Hardee's car at IMS. In 1988, we had Hardee's as the sponsor of our Thursday Night Thunder series at IRP, and on the third night Ted Dudine of Hardee's was up in the tower, and so was Pancho. Ted was looking at a copy of NSSN with some photos and a story on the last week's races, and remarked, "I don't know when we've gotten this much coverage."
I responded, pointing at Pancho, "It wasn't so long ago. He did it for you, but you had to turn the Star front page over to read the logo."

[Engine Pro 5X]

Originally Posted by indybigjohn

Found this site through a link on another and was HOOKED!

What a great pic. That's what I like about racing back in the day.A.J. is running a Offy and Parnelli is running a small block Chevy. That's real racing>>>>.

[Race Artist]

I don't mean to belabor the bit on the "To Please A Lady" car and film but here's a link to some pictures and more on the car and it's history. Click the other links too, there's more interesting stuff there.
http://www.loubrooks.com/news_donlee.html
Joel

Originally Posted by corngrower32

Not sure.. I was going by what I was told. Interesting! I'll check it out.


Here is the "other" car, The actual Movie car. They said the movie was "to please a lady" but doesn't look like it from your "still pic" above..

"they" have been wrong before!



Thanks.
JD

[Joshua Shaw]

Good deal! "Race Artist"... Keep the info coming. Thats why we got this post going.. To bring guys with big knowledge together in one place.. But you don't have to drive anywhere and you can visit at your lesure..

IndyBigJohn... WOW!!! Great stuff.. WELCOME.

Got my 32 ready for the trip to the MILE tomorrow..
I can't wait!

Hmmm???...

...What blast from the past names will put together a ride for traditions sake?..

...What crazy contraption will Tobias bring?...

...Will a young hot shoe make the dash, and remind us of the days when a young man HAD TO RUN GOOD on the miles before he was considered for the "Speedway"?

...Will it go flag to flag... I wonder if thats ever happened?..

...What the hell is Tobias trying now?..

...WILL THERE BE A CUSHION?... (God help the heavy left footers if that happens)

...Will there be a red flag and a refuel???

...who will bring out the fifteen year old cars and RUN GOOD!!

...Does Tobias even read the rule book?

JD

[29 sedanman]

Tobias is the Man! My favorite guy to watch. He may not start up front but he will be picking them off, you can bet your ass on that one.

[Joshua Shaw]

He is definatly the "entertainment" of the night...

I love his Inginuity.. you HAVE to have guys like that out there.. bending the rules and thinking outside the box.

JD

[racer5c]

Originally Posted by corngrower32

He is definatly the "entertainment" of the night...

I love his Inginuity.. you HAVE to have guys like that out there.. bending the rules and thinking outside the box.

JD

have you seen the new "midgets" he is building? Kind of a spec car deal but look to be very cost effective

[Joshua Shaw]

Originally Posted by racer5c

have you seen the new "midgets" he is building? Kind of a spec car deal but look to be very cost effective

No.. the only thing I've seen lately in midgets that caught my eye, was the "lay down" indoor cars Westfall and a few others were driving at Columbus indoor last year.. They moved the engine over so the drivers legs could go out past them, then they put the drivers ass right on the floor. It gets the center of gravity VERY low.. Its not a new thing.. kinda along the Indy roadster way of doing things.. but neat.

Post a pic of Tobias' new midget..

[29 sedanman]

There is an awsome movie on Turner Classis Movies right no called Indianapolis Speedway from 1939. Lots of neat old sprinters shown leading up to the race at the speedway. Its about over but you might want to catch it some time if you have not seen it.

[Joshua Shaw]

My ol' man called me this morning FREAKING OUT about that show.. Our god damn Cable doesn't get that channel.
He said it was showing a lot of dirt..

JD

[29 sedanman]

Yep lots of old dirt cars. It is worth finding and watching. I want to see it again, because i missed the begining.

[Offy]

Originally Posted by indybigjohn

shot past Foyt on the inside going into 3, and led the rest of the way.

Damned Chevy killed another Offy!

[jusjunk]

Nice pic... Damn its tuesday all ready and all i can think about is last week.. Indy 2 days ,Salem on saturday night ,anderson on wendesday terra haute on thursday and the little 500 in anderson on saturday nite.. Mowed the lawn sunday when i got home and even had time for a run in the roadster with out the top on monday....God i need to retire
Oh ya cant forget the great tour from Josh... Life is good... here i go back to work Keep the pics coming..........
dave