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

HA! All the cars I build now need to have 16" wide seats 'cause the current owners are all a little "wider" than Spike and Johnny were "back in the day", when we all used 14" wide seats.

mac miller in INDY

 

Another e-mail from Betty Packard. Like her, I hate passing on news like this. She said it's getting so she's afraid to open the e-mail every morning. This one was forwarded to her by Shirley Boyd, from Karin Christie. I felt a lot of people on this thread would want to know...

"thought you want to know that Bob is in the hospital and was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis. He's been having serious breething problems for several months, lost weight, no appetite, and was tired all the time. On Thursday, he felt like he was having a heart attack and I called 911. After spending hours in the emergency room, he was admitted to Three Rivers Community Hospital. He is in room 367; the hospital phone number is 541-472-7000. He now is in the care of a lung specialist, but I'm sure you know what a horrible disease pulmonary fibrosis is, and that there is no cure. At this point, I hope they can make him comfortable so he can still enjoy whatever time he has left."

 

WOW!!

What an absolutely BEAUTIFUL race car!

Thanks for posting it!

(right-click-save...right-click-save....) ;o)

JG

 

Spike-thanks for posting the Avatar. I found your galleries after I sent last reply, and found those color photos too.

About the color photo from Birmingham which I posted, that was a USAC show. Photo came from the Cavalcade of Auto Racing collection which I bought, and it was labeled on the back. There was another Ruth racing with CRA back then-perhaps it was his car. Still another Ruth, Ted, raced with AAA in the late 1940's with the Eastern Division. He had a wild spill at Flemington in 1949; don't believe he ran after that. Any relation there?

 

The "Caveman"

 

Pete Folse chasing down Johnny White.

 

That would be perfect to go with your avatar wouldn't it?

 

Rootie-
Lol, thats pretty much on the money! The three with shades were my brothers, the other guy was my sisters husband. But he was also quite motley!! That pic was taken after my heat race; notice they havent even cleaned the windshield for the feature. lol. I did have a disagreement once in a while, but unlike Johnny White, i would never have been brave enough to get A.J. mad at me!! lol.
mac-
Thats pretty good about the seats; a 14 was plenty for me and Earl Halaquist, and Denny Zimmerman, just to name a few.
Thanks again Rootie for more great pics.
You guys are all the best; I feel lucky to know you even if only on here!
Roy, i agree with you; there will never be guys like those from back in the day!!

 

OldBill-
There was another Jim Ruth who ran with CRA back then. I think he even lived in Indy for a while, and had a Champ Car.
Ted Ruth i have never heard of; may have been related, im not sure tho.

 

Two photos of Ted Ruth at AAA races at the Grove in 1948.

 

Was this car owned buy Vinnie Andronaco from New Cannan, Ct? Really nice guy that passed away 8-10 years ago, I have some of his paperwork and his 1948 Eastern States Racing Associuation race club pin. The car survived up into the 1960's was sold to Don Boas in Wilton, were it is now is anyones guess.

 

Racer5c I agree too meny are leaving without being recored or talked to before it is to late .There are still plenty of old timers around to get info from like Danny Kladis.

 

Bob Higman is also another guy very interesting to talk to. Trust me on that one.

 

The37Kid: Yes, that was the Andronaco car, a Riley, I believe. It also ran URC in 1949. Larry Smith, Mark Sooy, Bob Cooney, Jimmy Ferrick and Dan Moody also raced it in 1948 and 1949. It last ran AAA in 1950 with Dick Karalus and George Lewis driving.

 

Got a call from Zakira Jim today.. "We got another Miller in"

That's all he has to say, I was in the truck before he hung up.

----------------------

1926 Loco-Mobile "junior 8"

Ran Indy in 1926, 27' & 28'

Also ran as the Dayton Thorobreed Spl.

and as a Joe Gemsa owned "Orange Blossom Spl.

-----

Although this car looks incredibly complete, the more jim showed me the original blue prints, and pictures.. It became obvious that only about a Third of the original car is here. So, it will get a complete restoration..


Enjoy!










This was One of only TWO cars Miller put this style front spreader bar on.























Beautiful.. But wrong axle.

 

---------------------------------------------------------------





------------------------------------------------------------------



-----------------------------------------------------------------





------------------------------------------------------------------






---------------------------------------------------------------







--------------------------------------------------------------

 

Wow!!!

Thanks for posting.

I really like the spreader bar.

Shame he only used it twice.

 

I am still looking for some info on this car believed to be from the Cincy area. It ran some USAC pavement shows in the 60's, can anyone help? Jerry Poland drove the car some, this is he pictured in the car.

 

Gosh Josh, please keep all of us posted on the restore progress; what a history!
PK

 

Wish I could help you, the bodywork alone should make it quite memorable. If you haven't already, you might ask over here:

http://www.midgetmadness.com/forums/index.php

 

S'more 'Action Track' action:

Mario working the #3 Gapco car- 1965

Jerry Daniels looking quite relaxed in the #55- 1967

Bobby Grim on the pedal in the #4- 1965

JR in fine form in the #83- 1962

 

Josh, I'll bet you just left the phone hanging in the air.

 

Rootie-
More great pics! Thank you!
THAT must have always been an exciting place to race, or watch races.
Do you know who built that older GAPCO #83 car? I always liked the looks of that car!

 

From what I've read about it, its history is pretty much a mystery. It was raced in the IMCA in the 50s with a hemi engine and Vic Ellis was killed in it in the late 50s. It then went through various owners until Rufus Grey got it in the early 60s. He made some fairly minor suspension changes and it really started to hook up and the rest is, as they say, history.

 

I believe I posted these pics of the restored Gapco car way back when, but in case they were missed:

 

Rufus Gray told me several years ago that the original car was a Hillegass, bought, as you said, from Vic Ellis. It doesn't quite look like a Hillegass to me; perhaps a Hille stretched midget.

 

Yep..

I'll keep you all posted.

JD

Sorry Steve E, I don't recognize it. I'll show my old man next time I'm over there.

 

Thanks for posting the photos! Is this the same car Joe Gemsa restored in the 1970's and ran with a Gerber designed & built engine, I think it carried a number 43. I always enjoy reading about cars like this with known history, actually a LONG history. Picking a date in the cars past and restoring it to that period in time can be a problem. Finding a Miller 8 vs. restoring it with the 4 is quite a desision to make./ Please keep us updated on the cars progress. Personally I like "The Dayton Special" look the best.

 

Josh

You Ohio boys are bunch of "Cheeky Bastards" for aways coming up with wonderful and rare beauties. Please - please keep us informed on this one!