A lot of good painters got their start with Scheib. Most didn't stay after becoming good. Oh by the way...
“Back in the Day” – The new Mazon Speed Bowl held its first race on Saturday afternoon, August 30, 1947 with Tony Bettenhausen of Tinley Park, Ill., winning the 20-lap midget main event in the Babe Tuffanelli-owned Offy No. 1. The purse was $750 vs 40% of the gate. Racing on the new high-banked, quarter-mile, paved oval, Bettenhausen defeated Bob Muhlke and Johnny Roberts in the 20-lap chase. Later that evening, Bettenhausen won the midget feature race at Raceway Park near Blue Island, Ill. Piloting the Plaza Brothers Offy No. 61, Bob Muhlke won the next day (8/31/47) over Roberts and Byron Fisher in a record run for 20 laps of 4:28.50. After setting a track record of 13.06 seconds in qualifying, Henry Banks won the 20 lapper on Labor Day (9/1/47), defeating Bettenhausen and Gus Klingbiel. Chicago’s Tony Martinek won a hot rod feature on Sunday during the Fair. ***Thanks to the late Art Peacock for most of this information. Peacock wrote the book – A History of Auto Racing at Grundy County Fair, Mazon, IL 1923 – 1970. Several years earlier, Wayne Adams took this photo of Tony Bettenhausen at the old Mazon track, circa 1940.*** Stan Kalwasinski credit for this info/picture
Picture of A J Foyt, If memory serves, the last sprint car race he ran and won night before the Indy 500, he had not drove sprint cars for some time, got into George "Ziggy" Schneider's car and cleaned house. The man is a living legend and my racing hero growing up. If my memory has failed me let me know and I'll make corrections. John
Hey HEMIDAV I couldn't get in the Beer Garden, I was 14! But at least I was with Jenny M. in the Mustang! No I ain't tellin'!
Richard Petty went drag racing with a Barracuda in 1965 after NASCAR banned the Hemi after its dominant 1964 season
Parnelli Jones is giving rookie, Bobby Unser advice as he tries to qualify the Novi for the 1963 Indianapolis 500. Parnelli was instrumental in getting Bobby the ride in the Andy Granatelli owned car. when Parnelli introduced him, Andy asked Bobby, "Why should I let you drive my car?" Parnelli told him because I'm asking! Bobby said the first time he drove the Novi, he laid rubber all around the track. He said on his second lap in the car, wonder where those rubber marks are coming from and realized it was him. Andy is kneeling at the left of the cockpit. Robin Miller Photo Collection.
A.J. Foyt blasts by the horse barns at the Indiana State Fairgrounds on his way to winning the 1968 Hoosier Hundred driving the Wally Meskowski built Sheraton-Thompson Special. The shot captures the "Coyote Red" color really well.
Parnelli Jones and Jim Hurtubise make eye contact during the running of the 1962 500. Very close friends off the track, after the horrendous 2nd lap crash during the 1964 500, Parnelli's first fear was that Herk was in the inferno. He was relieved when Herk rolled to a stop next to him. During practice for the '62 500, Herk crashed his primary ride, and got in the Jim Robbins car late, with no practice. He qualified 29th, then raced the older Trevis built car to 13th. Parnelli dominated from the pole and probably would've won had he not lost his brakes. His pit stops were painfully slow as he even scrapped the wall on one stop to get halted. But, he still finished 7th. A unique photo!
A focused, Bill Vukovich, rolls out to practice for the 1953 Indianapolis 500. Vuky would win the pole and lead all but 5 laps to give the roadster its first 500 victory. After the race, Jim Travers asked, "Hey, Vuk! What happened to those other five laps? Why'd you let 'em get away?" Vuky just smiled.
The Jalopy Journal
