Projects Found this sweet little 1/4 midget chassis in Oakland today... build it?

Never seen one of these before and obviously couldn’t pass it up.

Looks to be a Race-Craft 1/4 Midget racer. Has some age to it with what appear to be original tires.

What would you do with it? Anyone recognize the make?

 

Looks like a fun project.

 

Oh that looks like a fun project. DO IT-DO IT!!!

 

Get that thing sandblasted and powdercoated and start skinning it! That would be a blast!

 

Yep , get some aluminum sheet and have at it.

 

My Dad used to take me to watch kids race these. Was a great time. I wanted to get one so bad! Lots of memories with that one.

 

I dont know anything about 1/4 midgets. What engines did they run on them "back in the day"?

 

^^At least here in the MIdwest, they ran Continental engines.

 

I raced 1/4 midgets from 1957 - 1961 at Cromwell Park in Lorain, Oh. Track champion in 59. My dad, uncle and a bunch of other men built the dirt track. Dad built the car from the ground up and used it used a Model T steering shaft and reworked steering wheel. The engine was a Continental, some where around 3 horse I think. Had a centrifugal clutch and dad would push me to get it going out onto the track. Dad made the fiberglass body from a mold in our garage and mom did the upholstery for the seat. Body was painted maroon and the number was 3 (long before Dale Earnhardt had that number) LOL Those were fun times back then, would love to find who has that car now if it still exist!

 

Race-Craft isn't the make?

Who'd fit in it?

 

Continental, as in the airplane engine manufacturer?

 

What kind of spring pack was used for the front end?

 

Not sure if the same or not, but Continental also made inline engines for industrial use as well as smaller air cooled engines (not sure if same maker or not). I think I may still have a twin cylinder air cooled engine around.

 

The guys that ran with our vintage club here in Minnesota were partial to Crosley's. That being said you might see just about anything. One guy had a BMW "Boxer" motorcycle engine in his "T/Q" and a Crosely engine in the BMW.

 

Hi Pete, after an Internet search I thought it looked a lot like this one (in terms of shape) that went through Bonhams auction a few years back. Also had the transverse front spring.



Also had a single bolt hole for the nerf bar.


Any other quarter midget experts recognize this one???



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Those of us "kids" that raced these 1/4 midgets were between the ages of 7 and 12 years old. I can also remember at least 3 or 4 girls racing against us boys. One was really fast and a very good driver and she also won quite a few races.

 

Of course build it, that's awesome history!

 

Build it. I did one for my girls

 

Take two...

What springs were used in the front end on these carts?

 

I have a RaceCraft body hanging in the shop.



Also, something I couldn't pass up.

 

We had a girl that ruled the roost around here. Her Dad owned a Pontiac dealership, she won over 300 trophies.

 

This place exists: http://www.classicquartermidget.com/products/CONTINENTAL-ENGINE.html

 

Find yourself a copy of the February 1958 Hot Rod, it had a lot of information on the different makes of quarter midget cars that were available.

 

Bob Gregg worked on his Son Mike's and Jack Gillis handled Merit Meadows car, they were a team. Mike was, and still is very good behind the wheel !

 

Here is the article from that February 1958 Hot Rod magazine. I have a copy of it in my collection.
Sorry for the crappy shots , I will try to get some better ones tomarrow after I take my morning meds, less shaking going on then.

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The 3 girls that I raced against, Donna was the fastest, don't know if she won over 300 trophies but she won her share, her dad owned a large trucking co. He was also one of the men that helped build the race track. Janice was the next that won quite a few races. I will never forget one race a 35 lapper that I was leading until the last lap coming out of turn 4 when she passed me on the outside and won the race. I was devastated and had a little "water" in my eyes when I got back to the pits! Her dad worked for the Sheriff Dept. and was also the flagman. Susie was the other girl and won a few races. Her dad worked for a Auto Parts Store and also helped with building the track. The track was only a mile from our house so we were usually the first ones there and got the "preferred" pit spot. LOL

 

That's a match made in heaven; one of you has a chassis, the other a body.

@Dean Lowe could chime in with more QM info as he raced one when he was a Lad. I seem to recall he's on/in that '58 Hot Rod special edition.