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

I don't think that photo is Winchester. Steep banking at the start finish line? Looks more like Anderson Speedway to me.
HG

 

I was thinking the same thing about it not being Winchester. I don't remember any grass like that at Winchester on the front straight. It's damn sure Benny Rapp, though.

 

Is it just me, or does anyone else think they ought to change the name of that damn bicycle race to something other than "Little 500"?

 

JMO. They have both been using the name for so long it's kinda become innate to both. I dont think those interested in either are confused by the other and those not interested in either well... don't really much care.

 

If you go to youtube and type in "Little 500", 99% of what you get back is about the bike race. To me, that's a slap in the face. I know, I'm getting old and bitter. I remember one year after they started using roll cages, the green came out and somebody in the middle of the mass went up on top of another car's cage, did a 360 and came back down on the track and kept rolling. I kept waiting for the end overs to start and see cars heading for the catch fence, but it never happened. A couple cars pitted right then, so I'll bet they were changing their skivies. The start of the Little 500 (cars that is) is the wildest thing in racing.

 

Another analogy would be the word "nationals". Go to youtube and type in 'sprint car nationals' and you will get several different "nationals" from several venues. Yet most all sprint car fans recognize the Knoxville Nationals as the nationals.
'

 

Sun Valley Speedway - Little 500 - Rapp won the pole position that day...That's National Speedways, Inc.'s Gene Van Winkle holding the checkered flag...

Just finished a story about the IMCA's involvement with the Little 500 from '62 to '71. Just need to post it someday..

Kyle Ealy
Midwest Racing Archives
www.midwestracingarchives.com

 

I've felt that way for years even though I'm originally from Indiana and my wife went to Indiana University.

 

It's less than 30 days until the 2011 edition of the Winchester Old Timers. 2 days of track time and new this year is NO pacecar and Saturday night bench racing session at the Randolph Grill in Winchester, Indiana.
This is your chance to drive on the World Famous 1/2 mile high banks.
August 20th and 21st. Info at:
www.winchesterot.com or PM me here on the HAMB.

Come join us as we make history at Winchester Speedway....

HG

 

Glad you are making those changes to the format HG.
Also hope you line up a responsible person to do a professional write up this year.
Thanks to you and all who make these events happen.

#15 will be there this year, Tom McGriff and Randall Cook of Indianapolis will be running it for me. I left it in their care following Millers at Milwaukee.

Right now it's being readied for the trip to Michigan Speedway for the Friday Salute to Indy ON-Track Day as part of the Concours of America; Aug 6th to Salem for the Joe James/Pat O'connor Memorial. After Winchester I'll be back in the drivers seat at Darlington SC then back to the West Coast for the Oct Santa Barbara Salute to Indy Concours and finally the WRA,WCVR SWC 3 day Vintage Event at Havasu City Speedway in AZ.
Carl Schulz
Indio, CA
Keep an eye out for this guy in my car, will ya?

 

Thanks Smithy. Especially for the handball that started it. Right place at the right time. Message from the right bloke. Paul Farrell has been helpful with a couple of other cars to Australia too.
The Benny Rapp car will stay here indefinitey.
Has new 327 fitted but need to do fuel system, brakes and rear tires. Driveline has a nasty clunk. Hope to have it running for Calistoga.
Got work to do on other cars for Monterey Historics which is mid-Aug so time is scarce.
Green is a no-no, a good thing that you've been dedicated to it's eradication. Good luck with the completion.
Howdy to the guys.
Jim

 

KK500 - Some drivers lean to the side in the turns while some sit straight up looking very proper and proud. I remember Benny Rapp being a "forward leaner". When the green dropped, you could see him stretching the shoulder harnesses trying to help push the car forward.

 

Couple of old IMCA shots. Gene Bell in the Safety Racing nailhead powered #55. Not sure who is in the #1, Moughan maybe?

 

What about this shot from Sydney Australia back in the day. The driver is using all the "body english" he can muster to get the car around the track.

 

The Edmunds 54 did indeed make it to KC. It was bought by Jr Waters and driven by Doc waters for at least one year before being sold to Gary Scott and numbered the Wee 3. Waters had Edmunds add understruts to the front half of the frame for added strength. Edwfitzgerald

 

Dean Mast. Dean's got his "lean" on. Look at the left front - perfect. On the cushion and on the gas.

 

IMCA at Allentown. I recognize Jerry Richert, Ray Tilley, Gus Linder, Daryl Harrison, Ted Wise, amongst others. Check out Benny Rapp in the #14 in the center - he's got his "forward lean" working. Jerry Richert always leaned forward, too, but he arched his lower back which made him look very proper. I remember him peaking over that high side panel.

 

Jerry Richert with the Wagner Chevy "High Side Panel". I got this from speedblitz.net

 

Nice clear day in Tampa

 

Weren't they all? Look at all of the people in the grandstand. And, that's not the main grandstand - as you know PK - the covered grandstand would always fill up first. To me, this was Disneyland.

 

I was told last week Dave spun the SanDiego Steel products roadster a few years back too...

I'm proud of em all. To hell with "parade" laps, these are race cars... LEAN ON EM!

J Shaw

 

Remember to bring this up at the drivers meeting
in an hour
:>)

 

Any more Gus Linder or Ted Wise pics?? Thanks.. John

 

Here's the only other one I have with Ted Wise:

Winchester. 7/16/67 #54-Luke Easter, #2 Curley Boyd, #21 Ted Wise, #91 Darl Harrison, #14 Benny Rapp, #77 Chick Hale, #95 Karl Busson, #3 Dave Weir
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Several years ago I was talking with Dale Blaney at Wayne County Speedway in Ohio and I showed him the photo above of my dad leading the heat race at Winchester. His response? "Hey look, Ted Wise!" I guess they were neighbors.

 

Naa Carl, what really goes over good at a vintage meet is when you ask them if your allowed to work on the car during a red flag

 

I'll remember that Roy...lol
HG

 

Pics of the "lean"...................

P.S....easter, Benny's mechanic Frank is still with us also.

 

The first photo sure looks like Benny is spinning out! He must have went in a little strong. If you enlarge the photo to its fullest, you can also see hes giving a kind of a WTF wave with his left hand. Also, those headers look like (2) part: cylinders 2 and 4 going together and 6 and 8 going together. Are they still that way?