Motion Pictures An Afternoon Of Terrific Punishment

i don't think people in those days were as big a pussies as we have become these days so most people probably did'nt mind all that much...

by the way, i friggin LOVE that video. now THAT is the kind of stuff i could sit in front of the tube watching.

 

Wow that's pretty cool.... "hey we won, let's have a cigarette!!"

 

Ryan, I could get a lot more done on my '29 if I didn't spend so much time in front of this #$&^%*( computer!!! And I'd like to say it was all your fault, but.....
The HAMB has got to be, at the same time, the most entertaining AND informative spot on the 'net. It's the best cup of coffee a guy could have every morning.
Keep 'em coming, Thanks, Mike

 

Great stuff Ryan !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

My first born will be Stubby Stubberfield James! Classic!!!!!!!

Whether it be FED's, Streamliners, or this type of racing shown, It definitely takes a gut check to be a part of it.

 

those guys were absolutely fearless. i like the co-pilot hanging out of the roadster for ballast going through the turn

 

My sentiments exactly...

 

Awesome!

 

4 hours of breathing the dust would make modern racers go for the fingernail repair kit.

 

I wanna race cars like that when I grow up! Wow, thats a cool video! Thanks Ryan!

 

Funny you were thinking about old videos, there's one in particular I like. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/?p=2209

I am getting ready to refurbish the '35 Tudor's distributor. I think I am just going to box it up and send it like you did.

 

great clip!

love the little subliminal Cochran Coupe at the end too

 

That's what I was thinking too. Early in that clip the cars are turning right, and off in the distance you can see others swinging to the left. Like a big ess.

"Mines Field" on the current site of LAX was configured like that and ran races in the '33-'34 era.

http://www.caffeinecruisers.com/Frame-8-itemsofinterestpage8.html?refresh=1182269905947

 

I especially liked the "monkey" hanging out of the car on the inside of the turn, just like sidecar racing. I don't suppose any modern version of dirt track would include that trick.

 

you got it....
theres more info in Dick Wallen's "Track Roadsters, the road to indy" and also in the Hot Rod magazine article from the 50's(i think) along with some articles in the "new" magazines with features on Don Small's Bell auto parts 33/4
hop-up , street rodder, etc.

Zach

 

I thinks so, big call on the boss!!
That is real racing, the safety leather hat and no fenders, and mobile ballast on a tight turn!!
I like dust, kinda got used to it spending mucho-lotto time in the 'outback', I once watched an MP on his dirt bike disappear up to his waste in a dust hole!! Its funny but neither I or the rest of the 100 odd guys sitting on the side of that track told him about it either!!
Does that make us bad soldiers?
Doc.

 

I first learned about Mines Field in a couple of books written by Harold Olsmer called "Where They Raced" and "Where They Raced, Lap 2". (If you've spent any time at the current Irwindale Speedway you know Harold.)

He dug up extensive information on the history of racing in and around Southern California by researching all of the old defunct race tracks. "Lap 2" includes drag strips. The books are full of not only archive photos of the tracks but also photos of what's on those sites now.

They were published quite a few years ago so I'm not sure if they're still available or not, but a search on the the net might turn up something.

I'm at work right now so I can't lay my hands on my copies but if anybody wants more info, PM me and when I get home tonight I'll see what I can do to help.

 

Here's more info:

http://www.deepthrottle.com/History/lap2_book_review.shtml

I misspelled his name, it's Osmer

 

Newbie here, first time posting. Great site, BTW...
Just thought I'd put my 2 cents (price of postage back in the day) about the locale.
"Where They Raced" by Harold Osmer says the '34 Gold Cup was run on a B-shaped dirt course at Mines Field (now LAX), sponsored by Gilmore.
Gilmore sponsored many races and cars at that time, and built the Stadium as the first venue primarily for the new Midget cars. Gilmore Stadium was just a 1/4 mile oval next to Farmer's Market in downtown LA, and was razed for the construction of Television City (CBS studios) in 1950.
Thanks for the awesome clip. I love the old stuff.

 

Very priceless history,I could watch that all day. Keep up the obsession Ryan,we're all obsessed along with you!

 

I love it. Racing with a driver and a ?mechanic? in the car at the same time.. Funny how when the race was over, the first thing "Stubby ol' boy" did was reach for a smoke. ha ha.

 

Great stuff Ryan,and did i see you standing in the crowd wearing one of those funny hats lol.............

 

What roadsters were meant to do... now light me a cigarette...

 

Sadly, both Stubby and his mechanic died the following year at Indy.