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

You're a great addition to any forum!

 

Great collection of vintage cars!

 

A virtual stroll through the pits, Langhorne 1964, among those beautiful, big ol dirt cars.

 

Neil, unless someone comes up with photos that show otherwise I think you got it figured out. When I first read about Ward stretching the car by 4" I couldn't really see how that was necessarily going to be make an improvement in handling for a road course car. But adding the extra length was likely accommodate the Buick and gearbox mounting while keeping everything fairly centered.
Good thinking!!!

 

Roy... I'm one of the guys you drive for... Sometimes. Ha Ha

 

Yes Ronnie certainly was and like many others, prior to working with Watson, he was also employed by Frank Kurtis.

 

Pat Clancy Spl. around 51/52. Unique front end with a Model A rear spring and duplex steering.

 

Just heard, Bruce Bromme Jr. passed away August 3rd.
I apologize in advance if this has been posted already.

 

Rootie, the Langhorne pix are great, if U have more, please post.
id car with no # & who is man with "wally white" on back???
mlight9

 

Can't say I've ever heard of the Wally White Racing Team and don't know who the un-numbered car is. The roll bar looks like it might be a Wally M. built car and it probably was brand new or recently rebuilt. (?) Jim Nise or Stan might have some idea.
Here's some more shots, the last one is, I think, Mario in his first Champ car ride on dirt.

 

I believe the unnumbered car is the (#14) Dayton Steel Wheel. The Wally White driver looks like Arnie Knepper who drove that car that day.

Hope that helps.

 

It appears that the latest set isn't the same race at Langhorne. Herk drove the 9 in 1963, was hurt at Milwaukee in 1964 before the Langhorne race.

 

Yeah, some are from the 63 race. Your right about the unlettered car, everything about it looks to be the Dayton car except the decal on the oil tank which could have been added anytime.

 

There are quite a few people in this photo. But you can make out Wally Meskowski in the ball cap with his hands on his hips and still wearing his "American Red Ball" uniform that he wore at Indy. And the driver that appears to be buckling his helmet looks to me at least to be Bob Harkey.

 

now that's a great photo!!

 

so is this!

 

Sometime back we kicked around the oddball Stoye Spl. that was raced sporadically early-mid 60s. Only had a pic of it at Langhorne but came across this shot at Trenton. Looks like it got changed up quite a bit, but not for the better.

 

Wow, Thanks Rootie. Lots of faces I remember. of note in the first picture the black guy to the right side facing the guy with American Red Ball on his back...Thats Ace Lane the famous photographer, Great guy I knew him and see his son once in a while. His son looks just like his Dad. As for Mario, I think your correct.

 

Here's one for Denny Z.

 

Bruce Jacobi 1963 in the dirt pic of Stoye, and Ray Duckworth at Trenton 1966. (never heard of him)

 

I think Duckworth raced with the IMCA mainly.

 

Rootie, Wow, where did you find that? Pretty sure that would be 1968 Trenton or Michigan.

 

If it is the same person from Anderson, Indiana yes he ran with IMCA and also the old Midwest Dirt Track Racing Association or the 'kerosene circuit'. His car was powered by a Ford flathead V-8 with three Stromberg carburetors up top. I think but I am not sure that he was among if not the last promoter at Jungle Park in the late 1950's or 1960. Somebody on here will know the exact details.

 

Pretty sure it's Michigan. Al Smith in the old Chenoweth car was a dnq at Trenton but at Mich. you finished 11th and Smith 12th.

 

Interesting rig at Trenton mid 60s, the Blair Spl. with a hemi and coil rear. The signage says the driver was Pa. sprint car driver Ronnie Rough, but I don't think he ever drove a champ car. I suspect it was usually run on the Pa. sprint car circuit and brought out for a shot at the 'big time'

 

Rootie, I'm thinking this was the Jake Vargo widow maker.

 

Thanks Jim

 

you're exactly wright Jim...I believe it started as Sam Traylor's..my dad sold it for Hickey or Vargo's estate...Blair bought it and ran it in URC..with the hemi in it!! it's in Pa., Ihope some day it would be restored...

 

Late 60s Terre Haute sprint action.