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

Nice reminiscing, Jim. I guess all of us who got started early have those kind of stories. When I started selling NSSN in the grandstands at the Jeffersonville (IN) Sportsdrome in 1949, it didn't take long to learn that the drivers and crews were all buyers. I wish I had a dollar for every time I was escorted out of the pits. It wasn't until the 1970s, when George Adams (the pit steward at the 'Drome at the time) and I were working together at the old Louisville Fairgrounds that I told him how I managed to get in there within a few minutes of him throwing me out.

 

Some more progress...
Bent up the Roll Bar


Mounted the Roll Bar. Thanks to everyone twho posted pics of roll bar mounting ideas. This one worked out well. Still trying to decide if I want to triangulate it to the back bumper or towards the front. Back bumper is next on the list to make.

 

I picked these up for my midget, but the mounting holes are not the same as my caliper brackets, for some reason I assumed they were. The mounting holes are 2 5/8" apart. Any body have any idea what they fit? Anybody looking for these for a project?

 

My JFZ 2-piston calipers measure 3 1/4" between mounting holes. Your roll bar is similar to the one I bent up.

 

Looks good, nice job on the roll bar. The Edco calipers were standard Edmunds issue.

 

here's my dad's champ dirt car on his open trailer, this is the original trailer that was used to haul the champ and the sprint car during the 60's and 70's, ive had it sitting in my yard for the last couple years and this past week i finally got started on it, all thats left to do is paint it this week and then hook it up to the 54 f100 and go to some vintage meets, i so glad its coming all together

 

Nice lookin' car, 8889!

 

Second that!

 

thanks for the compliment, i waiting on getting back my sprint car this coming weekend, i took it up to indiana to get fully assembled when i get it back i will get some pics and post them, i just found some history on this car Karl Busson drove it in 70&71 his best finish was 10th in du quion ill 1971, if anyone out there has any old sprint car parts im always looking to buy or trade i have a pretty good collection going and im really looking for a set of smoothie 16x5 halibrand if anyone has anything let me know or anyone has a lefler tail or a mold im very interested thanks Ron

 

i cant wait to get the engine down in the champ car, this car is just like it was the last day it was raced, my dad owned and built many custom parts back in the day, Gus Hoffman got him started in 1950 at the cincinnati race bowl my dad was 15 and Gus had him help out on his car and from then my dad decided to build his own sprint car in 1963, he went on to compete in usac from 1964 to 1972 and from 1972 till now the cars have never changed hands, i just wish my old man was still around to help out or at least see the progress that is being made. i do have some parts that i willing to do some dealing with if anyone out there has what i need thanks again Ron

 

Outfit is looking good Ronnie. Your going in the right direction. Keep it up!

 

Jim, Santa Fe was about the hardest to sneak into when I wasn't old enough, usually we would stop before we got to the track, I would get in the car and my dad would put the toneau cover on, I had every color and number pit pass saved if you know what I am talking about the old paper pit passes that they ran the cards on. One time we were at Kokomo, was just me to help my dad he was already sick from cancer, we had Vogler in one car and Johnny Rutherford in the other, Rutherford had just won Indy if I remember right and they had advertised the shit outta him being there and were paying him some big time appearance money, I think Rich was leading the points standing too, anyway they weren't gonna let me in the pits, I was probably 13 or maybe 14, my dad said no problem Roy lets load em up on the trailer. We started pushing the cars on the trailers and USAC and the promoter both about had a heart attack, To make a long story short I got to stay in the pits that night lol.

 

I have a Leffler tail mold.

mac miller in Indy

 

Great story, Roy. Your father had his priorities in order, and he also knew that the promoter and USAC knew which side of the toast the butter was on.

BTW, one of the things I miss about living in Indianapolis is having you deliver my packages.

 

Here is a page out of the John Gerber book. I thought you guys would get a kick out of it. Talking about purses in the 20's and what it cost to live then as well.



Here is another pic of John Gerber in his bob-tail sprinter. not much protection from the rear! This guy won a BUNCH against the best in the country. He mentions running against "A swell looking car named THE CITY OF ROSES" and other names like, Frank brisko, and even Babe Stapp!



Here are some other cars that ran with Gerber. Note, all these cars ran against each other.






JD

 

My dad often told of watching the bobtails race on the horse tracks of the upper midwest in the 20s. As it was, the upper rail of the board fence was usually just about head high to the drivers of the low slung bobtails such as Gerbers.

 

I drive semis for em now

 

Roy, Our conversation would last hours, probably just on Rich. We may get thrown off of here...But, I will say that he had the best feel of anyone I ever worked with. Smartest by far. He felt everything...our brake proportional valve(nobody else ever mentioned it) for instance...His first run with us was Xenia Ohio. He asked if we had two master cylinders after the first hotlap session. I pulled the cowl, laughing,and showed it to him. It hadnt been touched since the previous year...He also felt every corner. He knew both rear shocks were totally equal on travel before I looked. He wanted to feel a little roll instead of feeling only the sway bar..which it also had. One night in Rockford, he thought the jetting was off since the motor only ran 150...his fix ?? He reached down and turned the fuel valve half off to try to lean it out...Like I said..a thinker.
Josh...Cool post out of Gerber's book.. Great money for back then. I dont think we would have made that with a midget in a non usac show until the mid 80's...if then. I havent seen much about board tracks..have you looked into it much ?

 

Jim, have some sad news, Rich Vogler's oldest son D.J Vogler (btw my dad's name was D.J)
was found dead late this week. They are doing an autopsy as there are no signs of why he died.

All Services
are in the Chicago Area on Tuesday and Wednesday. Eleanor stated that if
anyone was wanting to send flowers or anything, they would like donations to
the Rich Vogler Memorial Scholarship fund instead. If you would like to send
a message to Eleanor her e-mail address is: [email protected]

 

I will certainy write...That's terrible news..I almost just asked about them since I had lost touch. I really feel bad for Eleanor, she has lost too many before their time.

 

Thanks for the info Roy, Thats a bad deal.

 

Damn that sucks .. keep us posted on any info
Dave

 

Board track, Laurel (Mass.?) circa 1925.

 

Now that looks cool... Unfortunately before my time. I saw some movies somewhere, it may have been one of the Dick Wallen tapes. Seemed to be bigger on the east coast...correct ?

 

Long before my time too, though it seems they were pretty much nation wide.





The first large scale board track for automobile racing was constructed at Playa Del Rey, CA in 1910. The idea of a one-mile wooden banked oval for automobiles took its rise from the much smaller banked wooden bicycle race tracks, then in use. Playa Del Rey's size and its shape was a one mile, perfect circle. Playa Del Rey burnt to the ground on 10 Aug 1913. In 1915 five new board ovals were built for motorcar racing, the first real examples of the type since Playa Del Rey. They were (1) Chicago (Maywood), IL (2) Omaha, NE (3) Tacoma, WA (4) Des Moines, IA , and Sheepshead Bay (Brooklyn), NY. Chicago, Tacoma, and Sheepshead Bay were 2 mile plank speedways (although Tacoma was actually 287 feet short of an actual 2 miles), and these five speedways, with Omaha and Des Moines included, started the fabulous and somewhat surrealistic board track era which lasted for another 15 years, i.e., 1915-1931. It was a uniquely U.S. phenomena.

 

Almost makes Talledega look like a flat track.

 

Here is another beauty with a unique story as well. I posted a link under the pics with the site where this is from. There are lots of other good pics there as well. Enjoy!

Bob Shutt


The "Prison Car"


http://journals.aol.com/redw492070/midwest-connection-/

 

Ya know, vintage race cars take time. Prisoners have time.................I'm sure it would more fun than making plates!

 

Man the tree huggers would have a field day with this one!

 

Cincinnati had a One Mile Board track in the early-mid teens as well. I'll get some pics of the "Layout plans" at dads next time I'm there..