History TRACK ROADSTERS FROM THE 1950's

Fantastic contribution. thanks you so much.

trakrodstr

 

Thank You very much for sharing these with us. Superb pictures from a golden era of racing.

 

These are a few from Oregon.

 

A few more, The shots of Jack and Manny were taken at Portland Speedway in 47.

 

Thanks Marty... I've been trying to research the trailers and those shots of Jack and Manny have some good details!

Zach

 

This was a display set up in the NHRA museum back in '05.

 

The yellow #5 is one I built for Lonnie Gilbertson, now owned by Californian Larry Lord, we were honored to be displayed with the "real ones" from the era.

 

Thanks guys for keeping this Track Roadster thread going! cw.

 

A couple pages of northwest track roadsters can be found here:

http://www.martsrods.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/vaphead/vaphead1.htm

 

Nice!

 

Some more

 

I got these originally from Bruce Craig.

 

In my opinion, track roadsters were some of the prettiest cars ever built. With the limited safety equipment, I'm thinking that they must have been killers, though.
Tom

 

A few more from Oregon some from 46, roadster pickups were very popular early in the "Track Roadster Era". The #27 had a Lincoln V12 engine!

 

Thanx for this link, too. I've seen many of these images before but can't recall exactly where. This image brings a smile. The driver is SO tall, he just must have been the guy who invented the roll bar! Gary

 

Gary,
You might have seen many of the track roadster shots in Don Radbruch's books on the Roaring Roadsters. They were a passion of his.

Another online collection of track roadsters from the Mutual Racing Association:

http://www.mtlawn.com/MRA/Page.html

Brian

 

Don Radbruch was a great guy and he did love track roadsters, he raced my red #7 car on the dirt at a vintage race at Lebanon about 10 years ago. It was great to watch him enjoy himself racing with his old friends. He included my car, along with my friend's in "Roaring Roadsters 2".

 

Shadybowl Speedway (De Graff,OH) was paved in 49 so these pics obviously predate that but thought you'd enjoy my dads pics. The current track website date these around 46.







I believe this 'T' can be seen flipping above.


Is it just me or is there a whole lot of engine setback here?

 

One of the nicest ever, Yam Oka"s # 8

 

These were two of my friends in their prime, Rosie Rousell and Dick Leibfritz. Sadly they are both gone now. They raced "when men were men"!

 

Thanx for the pix from the fine city of Downey, Ca., home of Phil and Dave Alvin of the Blaster's!! Love those track roadsters man. ~sololobo~

 

Thats Bob Estes 27 T, It was in the 1948 SCTA show....

 

"Upside Down Rounds" was my Grandpa. To this day the best man I've ever known. Thank you for posting these pictures.

 

krispi21........I sent you a PM.
Here's your Grandpa...Jack Rounds........a Great guy!
cw.

 

Thanks for posting all of these pictures. It took me several hours to get through them because I was looking at all the details. Great quality images. Thanks again.

 

Hello CW ... I saw and enjoyed your track roadster thread. I'm planning two track roadster model cars and maybe a painting of one or both of them. One is the #76 Bogasian - Rosie Rousell GMC car, the other is Howard Gardner's #10 flathead powered car. I have color information on the #76 but only have been able to find B&W on the Gardner #10. Do you have any information, knowledge of or possible leads that would be of help? I've contacted Dick Wallen and the Gardner family (who promised to find out) but so far have had no replies.
Based on my color knowledge as an artist it doesn't look like the #10 is white nor the grille shell and scallop red ... the scallop looks too light to be red in the B&W photos. Comparing the main color value with other "white" objects in the photos, I'm guseeing the main color to be yellow, orange or a light blue. The #10 color ... maybe red or black.
Attached are some pictures of the #10 and one of my paintings.
Thanks,
Joel Naprstek
[email protected]
Facebook - search name
https://www.behance.net/JFNStudios

 

That number 2 roadster won second place, at the first Oakland Roadster show in 1950.
Bill NieKamp's roadster won the title.....

 

Compare this photo of Troy Ruttman in the ELCO TWIN to the car at the NHRA museum.

 

I followed the link, figured I'd bump this up

Coutesy of @Six Ball

 

Yes it did, I think @Youngster51 would like the photo.