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

Discussion in 'Traditional Hot Rods' started by Joshua Shaw, Jan 17, 2008.

  1. baldtireman
    Joined: Aug 3, 2009
    Posts: 378

    baldtireman
    Member

    I want one of these so bad............ John S.
     
  2. PK
    Joined: Mar 27, 2008
    Posts: 192

    PK
    Member
    from Ohio

    I'm looking forward to seeing the pics... :D welcome to the thread
    PK
     
  3. gtxrider
    Joined: Jan 3, 2010
    Posts: 74

    gtxrider
    Member

    I would have to say that is Johnny Mann with the gold helmet and white hankie is his mouth
     

    Attached Files:

  4. Ken_Schou
    Joined: Oct 6, 2009
    Posts: 822

    Ken_Schou
    Member

    So one might say that Joe Barzda was the father of the small block Chevy revolution in sprint cars. :)
     
  5. Ken_Schou
    Joined: Oct 6, 2009
    Posts: 822

    Ken_Schou
    Member

    The other night Harold Seaman told me that Johnny Mann (now in his 80's) slipped and fell on the icey stairs to his home ... but that after a visit to the crash house .. although in pain, John is at home doing well .. sitting in his recliner, eating ice cream.
     
  6. Rootie Kazoootie
    Joined: Nov 27, 2006
    Posts: 8,134

    Rootie Kazoootie
    Member
    from Colorado

    Kinda a toss up between him and Chet Wilson. They both were 'experimentng' with the sbc as early as 56 and both were pretty successful by 57, with Wilson mainly in the IMCA/BCRA in the central states.
     
  7. Offset
    Joined: Nov 9, 2010
    Posts: 1,871

    Offset
    Member
    from Canada

    Rootie Kazoootie thanks very much for the response. I knew someone on here would know. Great thread and thanks to everyone for sharing their knowledge and experiences.
     
  8. Ken_Schou
    Joined: Oct 6, 2009
    Posts: 822

    Ken_Schou
    Member

    THANKS Rootie. :)

    Now of course I'm interested in who had the first heat & consi & feature win, etc. with a sbc?
     
  9. metal bender
    Joined: Apr 1, 2009
    Posts: 178

    metal bender
    Member
    from texas

    Wow thats my old car # 45 Jimmy Murphy was driving it then, do you remember( Crazy) richard A Applegate ? :rolleyes:
     
  10. Rootie Kazoootie
    Joined: Nov 27, 2006
    Posts: 8,134

    Rootie Kazoootie
    Member
    from Colorado

    I don't have any results, complete or specific enough, of that era to really say, but this may be of some interest:
     

    Attached Files:

  11. Rootie Kazoootie
    Joined: Nov 27, 2006
    Posts: 8,134

    Rootie Kazoootie
    Member
    from Colorado

    Well I got to thinking that the 'center of the racing parts universe' back then was So. Cal. and came across this. Maybe our left coast friends can add more:



    <TABLE width=548 height=1><TBODY><TR style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17><TD height=30 width=540 colSpan=4>1957 CRA Season </TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17><TD height=13 width=540 colSpan=4>[​IMG] </TD></TR><TR><TD style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" bgColor=#eeeeee height=17 width=101 align=middle>Date</TD><TD style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" bgColor=#eeeeee height=17 width=166 align=middle>Track</TD><TD style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" bgColor=#eeeeee height=17 width=221 align=middle>Driver</TD><TD style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" bgColor=#eeeeee height=17 width=308 align=middle>Car Owner </TD></TR><TR><TD style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17 width=101 align=middle>2/10/57</TD><TD style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17 width=166 align=left>Fairgrounds, AZ</TD><TD style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17 width=221 align=left>Nick Valenta</TD><TD style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17 width=308 align=left>#4 Lee Knox - Dodge</TD></TR><TR><TD style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17 width=101 align=middle>3/3</TD><TD style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17 width=166 align=left>DeAnza Park, CA</TD><TD style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17 width=221 align=left>Allen Heath</TD><TD style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17 width=308 align=left>#11 Sunset Auto Supply - Mercury</TD></TR><TR><TD style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17 width=101 align=middle>3/9/57</TD><TD style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17 width=166 align=left>Imperial, CA</TD><TD style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17 width=221 align=left>Nick Valenta</TD><TD style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17 width=308 align=left>#4 Lee Knox - Dodge</TD></TR><TR><TD style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17 width=101 align=middle>3/10</TD><TD style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17 width=166 align=left>Imperial, CA</TD><TD style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17 width=221 align=left>Colby Scroggin</TD><TD style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17 width=308 align=left>#11 Sunset Auto Supply - Mercury</TD></TR><TR><TD style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17 width=101 align=middle>4/14</TD><TD style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17 width=166 align=left>DeAnza Park, CA</TD><TD style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17 width=221 align=left>Jack Gardner</TD><TD style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17 width=308 align=left>#1 C&T Auto - Ardun</TD></TR><TR><TD style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17 width=101 align=middle>4/27</TD><TD style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17 width=166 align=left>Gardena, CA</TD><TD style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17 width=221 align=left>Ray Douglas</TD><TD style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17 width=308 align=left>#25 Les Cone - Offy</TD></TR><TR><TD style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17 width=101 align=middle>5/4</TD><TD style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17 width=166 align=left>Manzanita, AZ</TD><TD style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17 width=221 align=left>Billy Cantrell</TD><TD style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17 width=308 align=left>#55 Henry & James Wayne - Chevy</TD></TR><TR><TD style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17 width=101 align=middle>5/30</TD><TD style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17 width=166 align=left>Gardena, CA</TD><TD style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17 width=221 align=left>Ray Clark</TD><TD style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17 width=308 align=left>#7 Al Kitts - Chevy V8</TD></TR><TR><TD style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17 width=101 align=middle>6/1</TD><TD style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17 width=166 align=left>LA Speedway, CA</TD><TD style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17 width=221 align=left>Rip Erickson</TD><TD style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17 width=308 align=left>#26 Spencer - GMC</TD></TR><TR><TD style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17 width=101 align=middle>6/12</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
     
  12. Been a little slow on my Street Sprint over the last few months,but it's a new year and things are moving.I've been worried over the steering box for a little while,and an old Schroder box I had, proved beyond repair. So a new unit was on the list,but I did not like the look of the reduction gear Schroder makes for street use.JOSH had given me a little advice on the matter,and I was going with his thoughts.Now,since I started this project some great guys have come on board with help.An old time local hot rodder could not see what the fuss was about,and he is going to build me one with street gears in place....................I'll send a photo when I get it.........................
     

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  13. jswhitaker
    Joined: Feb 10, 2011
    Posts: 2

    jswhitaker
    Member

    If this #34 car is Jon Ward's #97 sprinter that he campaigned in CRA in 1966, it has been very heavily modified. Take a look at my photos (taken during a rare daytime Ascot show in 1966). There are not too many visible common parts with the #34 car in question. I don't mean to contradict anyone, but take a look a the following links:

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Feb 10, 2011
  14. baldtireman
    Joined: Aug 3, 2009
    Posts: 378

    baldtireman
    Member

    Werent the early manual units "Ross" that came in "forklifts"???
     
  15. THE FRENCHTOWN FLYER
    Joined: Jun 6, 2007
    Posts: 5,367

    THE FRENCHTOWN FLYER
    Member
    from FRENCHTOWN

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    I know I've posted this before, but my solution was to use a steering box from an early '50s Ford pickup, made by Gemmer. I extended the shaft to make it a center steer. The ratio is correct for a street-driven car without the need for a reducer. This is the same box that some aftermarket firms sell to Model A owners who want an easier steering car. These boxes are cheap and relatively plentiful since many Ford truck owners update their trucks to independent front suspensions (I got mine for free from someone doing just such a conversion).
     
  16. Rootie Kazoootie
    Joined: Nov 27, 2006
    Posts: 8,134

    Rootie Kazoootie
    Member
    from Colorado

    Back around 67/68, used a Ross steering box out of a Massey Harris (iirc)combine for the steering in a modified.
     
  17. carl s
    Joined: Mar 22, 2008
    Posts: 745

    carl s
    Member
    from Indio, CA

    Uh Ohh
    Paging Mr Bonesteel, paging Mr Bonesteel
    [​IMG]
     
  18. baldtireman
    Joined: Aug 3, 2009
    Posts: 378

    baldtireman
    Member

    Neat............. Who has the story on this very nicel built roadster?:D
     
  19. Thanks guy's,just born in the wrong place....the pieces you mention would be hard finds in South Wales,but when you see the end result I think you will be suprised.This is a shot of the box Steve made for his 5 Window,the drawing is of the box for my sprint,a lot smaller than the original but,I think,more 'race car'.It uses new Land Rover parts,and I can use a Vega pitman arm.(same spline).
     

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  20. csiki22
    Joined: Feb 4, 2011
    Posts: 35

    csiki22
    Member

    Hi Ken! Been a fan of this site for quite sometime. Your question about the worm....wish i had an answer. i was just three when my pop died and dont remember
    anything about him or the cars.....its sad really. really wish i could be more help. my mom passed in 2004 'so i cant ask her. alls i ever knew was a guy named shoemaker had the midget and the sprintcar..im the only one in our family that has a passion for racing...everything from karts to Indy ill watch!...GO Randy Banard!!!
     
  21. csiki22
    Joined: Feb 4, 2011
    Posts: 35

    csiki22
    Member

    this site is unreal.....real happy i joined.....just wish i had more time! ha ha ha
     
  22. hseamanus
    Joined: Feb 27, 2009
    Posts: 12

    hseamanus
    Member

    The Barzda car is at the Latimore Valley Museum. It is a KK stretched midget. Totally original!

    Harold Seaman
     
    Last edited: Feb 10, 2011
  23. gninc
    Joined: Jun 13, 2008
    Posts: 25

    gninc
    Member

    Jon Ward is still around and lives near me. His #97 was built by him and is not the same car as Bonesteel's Don Thomas roadster. I even helped Jon on his roadster before Uncle Sam came and got me.
     
  24. jswhitaker
    Joined: Feb 10, 2011
    Posts: 2

    jswhitaker
    Member

    If you know how to contact Jon, he might be interested in seeing these photos that I took at Ascot in 1966. What a beautiful (and, as I remember it, FAST) race car!

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    John Whitaker
    San Jose, CA
    [email protected]
     
  25. Denny Zimmerman
    Joined: Jan 8, 2010
    Posts: 504

    Denny Zimmerman
    Member

    Mike, You probably know this, but just to make sure, in his collection Stan Lobitz has one of your Dad's midgets, the "Dollar Sign" Denny Z
     
  26. csiki22
    Joined: Feb 4, 2011
    Posts: 35

    csiki22
    Member

    No i didnt know! Holy cow is he on the HAMB?
     
  27. oldtom69
    Joined: Dec 6, 2009
    Posts: 583

    oldtom69
    Member
    from grandin nd

    another neat thing about the #34 roadster pictured at Calistoga is that it's powered by a nailhead Buick!couldn't have been too many of those running CRA.
     
  28. slobitz
    Joined: Feb 1, 2008
    Posts: 245

    slobitz
    Member
    from drums, pa

    Mike,
    Your dad bought the Kurtis from smokey Secundo. He ran it with a ferguson before he put in the falcon. he won a lot of races in that car.
     
  29. csiki22
    Joined: Feb 4, 2011
    Posts: 35

    csiki22
    Member

    Unreal getting to here from people i never knew about! any pics would be awesome
    all i have of my father is the tribute book by Crocky Wright..who died and i never met. i remember John Kay from when i was young......he always told me stories. it was one of the greatest things for me to meet Denny at whip two years ago....unreal
    We
     
  30. Denny Zimmerman
    Joined: Jan 8, 2010
    Posts: 504

    Denny Zimmerman
    Member

    Mike, Stan Lobitz has a huge get together every year toward the end of summer it's free, lots of racing people, racing movies and of course great food. It's a great get together, you will enjoy it. I'm sure Stan will let us know when it is this year in plenty of time. There will be lots of old farts like me there that knew and raced with your Dad and lots of the "Kids" of today. I have to say the "Kids" racing today are really sharp.

    Tell you what it's worth missing a day or two of racing just to go to Stans party.....did I just say that ?

    Denny Z
     

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