Was just at a friend's house in Lenwood. While we were there a guy walks in to talk to the guys I was visiting. He is in the process of restoring an Indy Roadster. Chassis was built by Luigi Lesosky. Power is Dodge Red Ram. They took the car to Indy in 1959. Car was not able to qualify. Car was then used for tire testing. It was also changed to a modifed. Car ran in Northern Calif. This year the car won it's class at the Grand National Roadster Show. The guy who I met is Steve Waugh. He makes a living of restoring old Indy racers. Here is the pix.
Here is a couple more. Car is at an upholstery shop to get new upholstery. By the way the pegasus's are hand painted.
It's always nice to find people who have a true love for these great cars. Keeping the memories alive is what it's all about. Jimbo
I can't help but think it would take a REAL man to herd that thing around Indy for 500 miles. Can't imagine some of the current crop even having the moxie to get the thing qualified. Frank
Wow, that is beautiful! I have about a million questions, one of which is i wonder what those studs are protruding for on the left side in front of the tire? There are three of them. Did you guys see how short the pitman arm is fixed at? Is that a live rear axle? I would expect so excpt i can't see any seals or anything. Thanks for posting, oj
If you like Indy roadsters, you might want to check out my Indy roadster website at the "quick link" below.
The tube stubs in front of the left rear wheel are most likely for a nerf bar. At the Speedway a short pitman arm was used to slow the steering ratio down. If you have ever driven down that long straight at Indy you would see why you would not want "darty" steering. The steering wheel was large enough to give the driver the leverage that he needed. Pretty much all of the Indy cars of that era ran live axle quick changes with bird cages to hook to the radius rods. Tapered hubs in that era too as opposed to the splined stuff that the open wheel cars use now. Roo
I sat in an INDY roadster once, the elbow to tire clearance seamed real scary. thanks for posting the photos. Bob
41 Dave thanks very much for posting the pictures of the car. I could not find the entry for the car in 1959 but that does not mean it was not there. All the cars entered were powered by some form of Offy. There were four Lesovski chassis entered. There was no car numbered 13. The restoration could of have been of the car at a later date in its race history. It is a beauty. I did find a mention in the 1959 Clymer Indy Yearbook that a DeSoto powered car was entered in 1958 by Tony Capanna. Perhaps that is the car. Any chance you could find out some more details of its history? Love to know more about its history as a supermodified as well. Any idea where and who raced it in that configuration? Again thanks for sharing the photographs. Neat stuff.
Do you know any more about its history? I was trying to pin it down from the old Jack Fox Indy 500 book that has detailed lists of the Non-qualifiers for each year, and SOME, (but not all) photos for each year's non-qualifiers. Here is the list he had for 1959. He only has 13 photos of cars from this group. I have placed a black line by the ones that have different noses, or ruled out (barring earlier or later body modifications?)
I thought I might answer a few questions about the roadster. I built it for a collector. The info. was not much, just what came from the guy that ran it as a modified. The studs sticking out on the left are for the oil tank,I had to remove it to fit the car on the old trailer(am building an enclosed trailer) I run a Edmunds sprint in vintage and I run a 6" shorter pitman on pavement than on dirt,I accidently left the short arm on last year at willow springs and couldn't keep up with the steering on the straits. We will run the car at Fontana Auto Club Speedway(2 mile)It has a 3 speed chevy trans. adapted to closed drive to a champ. quick change with #7 GEAR.They didn't use #13 at Indy and with no pictures of the car I just winged the paint job.I'm not trying to represent it as anything it's not it will stand on it's own or not,the wheel and tire combination would have been 1963. 59 would have been 18" in back and16" in front. I'm building another one that will be an exact replica of P.J.s 63 winning car. I have a 270 Offy. for it, it will also be my # and my paint scheme.
Cool car that represents the era when hot rodders were still able to build cars for Indy and race them there. Thanks for sharing and thanks 1badracer for the info on the car. It should bring a smile to the faces of a lot of the front engine Indy roadster fans when they see it run.
Thanks for the clarification on the history of the roadster 1badracer. Still a very nice creation. Mac Miller another beauty.
Dave, fantastic thread...way to go! Wonderful car. It would be great to compare Red Ram Hemi notes with Mr. Waugh. Thanks for the great research and info. trakrodstr aka charlie
Not to get too far OT, anyone know more about the black T bringing up the rear? I'd love to see more pix of it (or PM me). Gary
Link to photos of our WRA Las Vegas Event 2 years ago. Car belongs to Ed Irving-I believe he was offering it for sale. http://s1011.photobucket.com/albums/af233/carl44s/Las Vegas Bullring WRA 4-24-2010/?start=all Photos by Laurence Deutsch
The black roadster behind me was indeed Ed Irving.It is a supercharged flathead, at that time it wasn't sorted out (bugs) but I'm sure it is now. He sold the car to a collector up near Yosemite.
steve, Thanks for passing on the straight info for Number 13. I think this thread is going very well. Dave
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