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

Dick Atkins

 

Don Branson

 

Just like us mortals, Mario had to learn to crawl before he could walk.

 

MarioFranKri,
Duke Cook on left, Roger, Wally[the builder in the car]

 

Yes, That is the car and in 1961 it was owned by Sonny Beck
Thanks for the picture as I have not seen this one.

 

Yes, they are the same but the #11 car was Sonny's dad's car (Harold Beck Sr.) I know that in the mid 50's there were a lot of sprints running this grill. Thanks for the responce.

 

Here are couple Mario photos. I may have posted them before, but here they are anyway.

 

Al,as far as I know you didn`t post these before.

Beautiful shots!

 

'Up on the wheel'- Sacto 67.

 

Al Consoli is the master.

 

YES, I am very interested in this project. Please post the pics as you progress. I am a relative of Sonny's and he hand-built my parents house in the late 70's. If I understand you correctly, there were two Beck cars. The #7 and #11 and that you are restoring the #7. I did not realize there were two Beck cars. I'm only familiar with the #11 and am under the impression that car won the first ever Eldora USAC sprint car race with Stan Bowman driving. Any idea what happened to the #11? Thanks!

 

Thanks JimG. for the identification

Rootie, what a great collector you are, keep them coming, please

Al Consoli, I agree with the other members your photos are WOWWWW !!! (can't say better )

This picture is from Dick Ralstin, Springfield 1968

 

Another one from the USAC Champ Dirt-Cars 1973 :

 

Does anyone know why they quit using the PLYMOUTH engine in the champ cars?
They ran good and had plenty of power. Greg Weld set on the pole with one[Indy mile?]
Jim

 

If this is the car I think it is, that's not a Plymouth but a Gurney - Weslake Ford.

The car now belongs to a guy by the name of York ( kin to Tom) in northern Indiana.

 

Other than McCluskey - already mentioned - I'm not sure who any of the people standing next to the car are.

The guy kneeling next to the car looks like Mitch (can't think of last name) who stooged for Foyt for years and who was famed for showing up at alot of the Indiana USAC sprint car races with a water trough full of ice and water melons.

 

Mario's car was a Weslake/Ford and Welds was a Plymouth which was essentially a Weslake/Plymouth. Weld put it on the pole in all of the dirt car races it was entered in 1969. Don't know why they gave up on it but it was a factory backed effort and it probably was a 'corperate' decision.

 

think jimmy sills won the silver crown race with a mopar at richmond a few yrs ago

 

[
The guy kneeling next to the car looks like Mitch (can't think of last name) who stooged for Foyt for years and who was famed for showing up at alot of the Indiana USAC sprint car races with a water trough full of ice and water melons.[/QUOTE]


Wow old Gypsy Mitch I havent thought about him in a long time! And he isn't exagerating he would have a pickup truck full of watermelon

 

I was thinking that might be Bruce Walkup in the cowboy hat, plaid shirt & driving suit pants . Not sure if he had gone East yet at the time this picture was taken, though.

 

Another one from a 1966 sprint car race, we can see Mario leading Roger McCluskey, Bobby Unser and Don Branson : 4 legends in the same pic

 

And one from the 1968 Sacramento 100 race: Mario leading Bud Tinglestad , Bill Vuckovich and Gary Bettenhausen

 

Another one from 1967 in the A.J. Watson built Leader Card sprinter

 

1969 at Sacramento
Greg Weld on the pole with the STP Plymouth powered #60 with Al Unser in the Vel's Parnelli Jones Ford DOHC # 3 along side. Mario Andretti in the STP Offy, inside of the second row with Jim McElreath in his own Chevy powered car # 14, outside second row.

 

I was there to watch the race at Lebanon Valley. Went with my dad. We both watched in awe as Mario hung the ass end out to the wall lap after lap.

This pic looks like Lebanon.