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

Thanks Ken! I'll ask my brother Lou. He's in contact with Gary pretty regularly.

 

Thanks to all for another great year of excellent photos and story telling.

May you all have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

 

If I may, I'd like to pass on a story about the Cicconis. Incidentally one of the best families I've been privileged to meet in racing, and some of my favorite people.

Once at IRP, they had rented the oval to test. I was in the office early, as usual, and about 7:30 I got a radio call from the maintenance shop that a Cadillac had just blown through Gate 6 and headed for the oval without stopping. The rental supervisor had been over there waiting for them. I told him to run them down.

A few minutes later he said he had caught them, and wanted to know what to do with them. I said, "Let me guess, at least one of them is bald, and the ringleader is a wiry little guy with a bad attitude."

He replied, "They said you don't need to get personal. Should I just sign them in?"

I told him to send them to the office. I was happy to see them again.

Thanks for reminding me of this. It's going to make it into one of my columns on Frontstretch.com next year.

 

1989, was building my first and only all new car and was at a shop on Gasoline Alley, Lou Sr. was having a car built there, He asked me if I wanted a cup of coffee, I said no thanks, he said again in a few seconds you wanna cup of coffee, I said no thanks, Lou kinda gives me this funny look and said no you don't understand you do wanna cup of coffee and I take mine black. So I figured I better jump in the truck and go get him some coffee lol

 

Hi, I'm Geri Smith, my dad was Frank Smith from Scranton, Pa. If you have any questions about its history, contact me [email protected]

 

My old man can be a psycho sometimes, huh? That blue sprint car looks like a giant Munchkin, doesn't it? That's pretty neat. That sucks that some creep stole a vintage sprint car and equipment. I'm sure if he tries to peddle it to someone in the circuit they won't get too far. Hey Roy- I saw photos of you in the AJ Watson Dirt Champ coil car. I didn't know you ran for him. I liked Senter's coil car. What did you think of the one you ran?

 

This is my first post. What a great find this was. I have loved sprint cars since I was a little guy. My first race was when I was 5 or 6. My dad took me to the races at the Minnesota State Fair. Troy Ruttman became my hero that day. I have a real passion for the 60's era roadsters also. I will post some pictures later. MERRY CHRISTMAS everyone.

 

I drove it 4 or 5 times, I liked it on Dirt but at IRP it had a real bad problem with the front tires shaking violently coming off 2, not sure what was the cause butit seemed like I remember maybe Wilke had the same problem with Rich's car but they figured it out

 

Roy,
Did Olivero drive that car any?

 

WAAAAAY before I did, I drove it in like 91 or 92

 

Bobby, you can call him a psycho at times, but he's one of the best people I ever met. I'd love to see him again. Even my wife likes him.

 

Just found out Dale moved back to the Phoenix area, if you are trying to contact him sendme a private message for his address or phone number

 

MERRY CHRISTMAS Everyone!

My Computer has been on the War Path... Still is. Great stuff.

Carry on!

J Shaw

 

The #21 HOW car has to be one of the best looking cars ever! I'd love just sitting in it.

 

We had that problem on one or two cars, and it was caused by radius arms that were too flexible. Senter's car did that at Phoenix one time, and so did Leyba's, so we put larger diameter radius arms on both sides and it fixed the problem.

 

Found a couple of old photos digging through some stuff. The first is of The late Hank Henry in one of his own creations taken in 1966 at San Gabriel Valley Speedway.- later known as 605 speedway- in The Vern Williamson Chevy.
The second one is a Jim Chini pic of Ol Herk in the famous 56 in 62 or 63 (not sure) at Sacramento.

 

Hank Henry was a pretty good driver in addition to being a superb fabricator. Sadly two years after this photo was taken we lost Hank in a terrible crash at Ascot. I was there that sad night. a little known bit of trivia about Hank's wreck- two other drivers were involved in the same crash- a rookie named Robbie Powell and another one named Jan Opperman. History shows that Opp went on to be one of the greatest to ever mash a throttle.

 

Indy friend John Lawson needs left coaster Glen Necessary's phone # You can E-mail me at [email protected]
Now back to our reg. schd. thread

 

Thanks Jerracer. Great photos and info on Hank Henry!

 

After a little research, I discovered that the Hank Henry pic was from '67 not '66. The car was #16 in 66.

 

I had an old sprint car follow me home the other day and it came with lots of history. I have done a lot of research but I have a couple of blank spots and am wondering if anyone has any info on Paul Mead who was a car owner in the midwest and ran USAC from 1962 to the mid 70's? He was also partners with Glen Nibel. I would appreaciate any and all help.

Thank You,

 

Jerracer,

Thanks for mentioning about Hank Henry and his fabricating abilities. I understand the #56 Sterling Plumbing car still exists - some of the major components are missing - and one of his last cars, the "J Ram Chevy" 4 bar car is still being driven by Jim Oskie.

Offy 220

 

Yeah, Jimmy still drives his old car from time to time. It was the only four bar car that Hank ever built.

 

Before he came to USAC sprints did Lee Kunzman run Knoxville or IMCA sprints,or was he a pavement specialist?Hi-bank Hauler,Pa. and Wyo.

 

He was the 1967 IMCA sprint car ROY in 67. IIRC he drove for Trostle for a while, so I'm sure he probably ran Knoxville.

 

Brian26......thanks for the info on the passing of Ralph Parkinson Sr. Remember seeing him race at Knoxville way, way back. Truly one of the grassroots guys.

 

Before his open wheel days, Lee Kunzman drove dirt track stock cars in E. Iowa at Hawkeye Downs in Cedar Rapids and Tunis Speedway in Waterloo Ia. as well as other dirt tracks in E. Ia. In 1965, we bought some of the suspension and engine out of Lee's old 1957 Chev stock car for our stock car project and he moved on to a really nice 1966 Chevelle convertible stock car. That was, I think his last stock car before midgets for Dick Ritchie in Cedar Rapids and sprint cars for Mel Moffitt and sprint cars for Merle Heath.

 

I hope this helps, the info you're looking for is alittle before my time.

I think Mead Cab Company was out of Columbus, Indiana and that at one point Bobby Black drove the car - not sure of other drivers. I think that there was a rather spectacular crash that was part of that tenure.

The last I heard Glen's widow still lives in Edinburg, Indiana and his son was still involved in racing in some manner under the name of Niebel Automotive, also in Edinburg.

No cliams as to accuracy, but I hope this gives you something to work with.

 

When Lee first came to USAC and came to Salem he was having a hard time gettig around. One of my oldest friend [Charlie Masters, who was really good on the hills] went to Lee. Lee told me when he got in the Sprint Car Hall Of Fame that when Charlie was trying to help him get around Salem that Lee had to get up on the hills. Charlie is from Ky and Lee thought he was saying get up on the heels and did not understand what Charlie was saying. So Charlie told Lee to get behind him for a few laps and he would show him. So Lee cought on real fast and still thanks Charlie for his help. Lee always got a kick out of trying to figure out what Charrlie was saying.
Jim

 

There is a car in Boise, Idaho that is supposed to be the old Sterling Plumbing #56 It now has a bolt on cage, and Chevrolet power. Still a very pretty race car. I will try to post a Picture of it on the track last August at Twin Falls, Idaho.