History Vintage "Cageless" Midget Picture Thread

[daveww1]

[daveww1]

Some close-ups of the nose.

[daveww1]

[daveww1]

[tractorguy]

Not sure if I mentioned it the last time this subject of the Ritter car in Michigan came up. I have an old rail frame basket case that I got near the Detroit airport about 10 yrs. ago. Someone had cut the frame to shorten/lengthen ? and never completed. Had been "updated" to Crosley front and rear axle but has very early full aluminum body and veery well done frame. Possibly built by Clyde Adams. Just in case, I picked up two Elto basket cases. Sure would like to find a cheap angle drive gearbox. Need to get going on more info history on car.

[DocF]

First of all, thanks for the pictures of the NOS Hillegass tin. That is very informative, indeed. Also, I just like looking at the work of these panel beaters rather than the plastic we use now.

Second, by all means document that basket case. The people who can help you are getting few and far between and it needs to be done ASAP. I know thousands of race fans and I only know three who have seen an Elto run in a real race. One is in his mid 80s, one is 78, I am 68. All just youngsters.

Doc

[28dreyer]

Originally Posted by Buildy

DocF,

I believe the Vuky Drake still exists. It was featured in Circle track Magazine in the 80s,and I think the car recently was up for sale. I don`t know who owns it now.

Originally Posted by CTtoPA

This one?

http://www.internetsalespartner.com/...2_DSCN4351.JPG

Can someone tell me about these two cars as relate to Vukie?

The one pictured below is a postwar Kurtis tube frame with the flared nose "nostrils" that carry into the hood sides, comination hood/cowl flare, headrest, and wishbone radius rods front and rear with close together pivot points. My understanding is that Kurtis made about nine of these for the Drake engine..

The car in the above link would appear to be a pre-war rail frame car, flat tail, conventional nose and hood with parallel front radius rods

[DocF]

Originally Posted by 28dreyer

Can someone tell me about these two cars as relate to Vukie?

The one pictured below is a postwar Kurtis tube frame with the flared nose "nostrils" that carry into the hood sides, comination hood/cowl flare, headrest, and wishbone radius rods front and rear with close together pivot points. My understanding is that Kurtis made about nine of these for the Drake engine..

The car in the above link would appear to be a pre-war rail frame car, flat tail, conventional nose and hood with parallel front radius rods

I believe he did drive both. The red #4 is shown in the Ed Hitze Kurtis book with Vook driving.

Doc

[casper]

Quick update on my quarter midget collection. Newest addition 1958 Racecraft (white with black scallops) also a 1957 Racecraft (orange), 1957 Moss Midjet (blue), primered 1956 Speedway, and the seven cars in the garage, 57 Kurtis, 61 Lenny Gonsel, 58 Racecraft, 57 Racecraft, 56 Stevenscraft, 59 Whalborg, 57 Vikingcraft. Still looking for a track roadster style 1/4 midget.

[sideways27]

Did you get any photos of the nose behind the tail of the midget?

[RABs32]

Originally Posted by sideways27

Did you get any photos of the nose behind the tail of the midget?

Is this the one your asking about.....Rich

[sideways27]

Originally Posted by RABs32

Is this the one your asking about.....Rich

Yes, the first photo with the two half sections. I have seen this photo before and it appears that they are for a vertical grill rather than a laid back grill. Im I correct or are they laid back? I have an early Hillegass (1937) midget and the nose is vertical. I have studied Hillegass and somewhere I read that he built his bucks in 1938 and changed his nose and tail. Still trying to do some rearsearch.
Thanks Rich.

[28dreyer]

Originally Posted by sideways27

Yes, the first photo with the two half sections. I have seen this photo before and it appears that they are for a vertical grill rather than a laid back grill. Im I correct or are they laid back? I have an early Hillegass (1937) midget and the nose is vertical. I have studied Hillegass and somewhere I read that he built his bucks in 1938 and changed his nose and tail. Still trying to do some rearsearch.
Thanks Rich.

Try this

[28dreyer]

Over the weekend, the vintage cars ran at Webster City, IA Hamilton County Speedway. 48 cars signed in, about half were open wheel. Of that group there were only three non caged midgets, one non-caged sprinter and one non caged TQ. Are we aging or what?

Pictured below are two #82 Harry Turner midgets. The VW powered Tub car of Lance Turner, and the Chevy II powered tube frame car of Jim and Sue Lothe.

Also the covered grandstand Friday night during track prep for Saturday.

[carl s]

Originally Posted by 28dreyer

Over the weekend, the vintage cars ran at Webster City, IA Hamilton County Speedway. 48 cars signed in, about half were open wheel. Of that group there were only three non caged midgets, one non-caged sprinter and one non caged TQ. Are we aging or what?

Pictured below are two #82 Harry Turner midgets. The VW powered Tub car of Lance Turner, and the Chevy II powered tube frame car of Jim and Sue Lothe.

Also the covered grandstand Friday night during track prep for Saturday.

Thanks for the photos.

"Of that group there were only three non caged midgets, one non-caged sprinter and one non caged TQ"

It's becoming an issue for Vintage Racing Groups and Events. Running them together on the small tracks can be dicy at best and crazy at worst
and an insurance underwriting nightmare.
I predict a new class of 'obsolete' (not necessarily 'vintage' or historically significant) racers to blossom and the old cars (such as my own to have less and less options to run on ovals) We already see this in So Cal at Ventura and now Perris with back gate paying 'Senior Division Sprinters.
Since there is almost zero management/promotion/regulation/coordination amongst the vintage 'oval' crowd I expect this to come about in a less than optimal fashion over the next few years.

I'm doing as many events as I can whilst still available.

[LEE GREENAWALT]

Feburary 12 1977 Atlantic City Convention Hall NJ. , ARDC Midget show. Bob Cicconi gets the feature win and that's me in victory lane ( Bob has his arm around my neck ) can you tell I was a Cicconi fan? These are pictures from my dad's archives. enjoy!

[indybigjohn]

Now THAT'S vintage. Bob Cicconi with hair.

[LEE GREENAWALT]

here's another one from AC in 1977 . enjoy!

[LEE GREENAWALT]

AC from 1977 ARDC.

[LEE GREENAWALT]

and another!