RETrott

I believe Rush Johnson passed away in the late 70s/early 80s after suffering a stroke. Worth mentioning, in '74, his '72 Monte Carlo Stock Car ran about 5 NASCAR Cup races driven by Jerry Schild and had an 8th place finish in the '74 Southern 500 at Darlington, SC, on Labor Day weekend.

RE: Post #307:And don't forget Dick Trickle, Tony Bettenhausen Jr, Merle Bettenhausen, Don Branson, Roger McClusky, Jim McElreath, James MacElreath, Freddy Fryar, and Red Farmer.

Darrell, Somewhere among posts is a '62 Meyer Spdwy Program picture with the exact lap time/speed conversion. As for lap times, the '70s NARL Bronco Stocks are fairly similiar to the '60s HBRA Stock Cars. The last '60s era Bronco Stock Car time trials were, I believe, held for the '68 Labor Day Special Event. And, '68 also turned out to be the last year for the Houston Bronco Racing Association. As I recall, Melburn Ready/#44 Car set a new one lap track record of 25:10, and a few minutes later, Don Stodder/#57 Car set another new and forever one lap record of 24:99. I know they were supposedly 265/272 CID stock, blueprinted and balanced with a cam, but them motors had some thick dollars in 'em.

Jim, When the 60s began, he was 25 months old. Speaking of radio, I'll never forgive the powers that be For the undue demise of K Q U E Ans: Yeah Larry, What happened to Paul Berlin and other great voices. It's hard to believe my ears when I turn to that station now. Unfortunately, money talks..and so the rest of the story for KQUE

Mark, After recently viewing the narrated tape from 9/25/'66, which shows the incident pictured, the driver of the #84 Bronco Stock Car is identified as Roy Everett. To the best of my memory, that is correct. During the feature event, the driver ids seem correct, but at least one Bronco heat race contains errors. Those errors include the #55 Car being id'd as the #5 Car, and Elton Porter id'd as the driver of the #48 Pontiac, that was actually Pat Henry. But, as far as I could tell, the feature ids are correct.

Jim, After NASCAR was dropped at Meyer Spdwy/Houston, and the Limited Sportsman class disappeared, Ed Hamblen/the spdwy began an entry level Stock Car class as a support series for the Late Model events. The class began in '75, I believe, and continued through the last season of operation in '79. The cars used were Mustangs, Camaros/Firebirds, and Chevy IIs and Novas. Possibly, Chevelles/LeMans and Fairlanes were legal, but mostly the lighter cars were used. Engines were factory matching 250 cid L6s, and 70 series tires were required. For some reason, apparently for name recognition, the spdwy/Ed Hamblen identified this class as "Broncos" also, but basically Street Stocks with 6 cyl engines from larger cars/trucks. I've attempted to cover this subject before, but apparently you missed those posts.

Mark, From what heard, I understood the Meyer Spdwy back straightaway to measure 586 ft, and the front straightaway area slightly shorter, possibly about 560 ft. I don't recall any stated turn length measurement, and I wonder what the white line around the oval near the middle of the pavement measured. If that measured 1/2 mile, then the groove may have measured slightly more, but my guess would be no more than 9/16 mile. By the way, any idea where the 3/8 mile is measured on the Houston Motorsports Park D oval? I would think that JFM Spdwy was definitely at least 3/16 mile longer than HMP Spdwy. Randy, Unfortunately, sometimes around spdwy pit areas, it's a good idea to not believe anything you hear, and only half of what you see. But, for Meyer Spdwy/Houston Modified Stock Cars in the mid/late '60s, just guessing, I would think a 5:32 gear would be a little low. But, like I said, just guessing. The faster Modifieds could have an average speed of 82 mph+, and, like Charlie said, top speeds of about 110 mph. The Meyer Spdwy/Houston Bronco Stock Cars of the mid/late '60s era, had average speeds of 70 mph+, and I would think from 5:38 to 5:86 gears for the most part. Top speed was probably 90 mph+.

Can't wait. Emersum gooduns!

Meyer Spdwy/Houston-1962 Modified Turn 1/Turn 2 Traffic Jam Left to right: Car #10/Jimmy Willis; Car #1/Sonny McDaniel; Car #9/Billy Griswold; Car #55/Buddy Evans; Car #22/Johnny Hidalgo; Car #24/Walter Ballard. I saw this incident, Jimmy Willis in the #10 Car had quite a rough ride riding over the guardrail posts. Additional guardrail and taller posts came later. Also, the Buddy Evans #55 Car is following the Sonny McDaniel #1 Car and is barely visible just beyond the bicycling Billy Griswold #9 Car.

Mark, That does appear to be Roy Tuley, but in his Modified. Darrell and Jim referenced the incident when he was in a full bodied '56 Ford that was either a Houston Bronco Stock or a Late Model Stock Car that twisted in half after a fronstretch crash and came to rest on the inside/pit rd guardrail, right on/in the top guardrail step thru opening.

I also recall the Roy Tuley fronstretch crash, but I'm almost certain he is not driving the #84 Bronco pictured.

Mark, I'm convinced the pictured #84 Houston Bronco Stock Car is from 9/25/'66, turn 3-4, Meyer Spdwy. The driver's name, I believe, is Roy, but presently I can't recall the last name. I also believe the #84 Car had AC Auto Parts sponsorship. The yellow right front fender appears to be the Butch McQueen driven #2 Car setting backwards, after one of his spin-outs.

Denny, Uh, never mind. I'll just wait for your update, and see if my memory comes close. Darrell, All help appreciated.

Thanks Tom, I may be confusing the mid-engine car with the rear-engine car, but I just remember Chet Fillip, walking on crutches with his leg in a cast, driving a Supermodified at Meyer Spdwy/Houston that he had to basically lay down in. But, a long while ago!

Thanks Bobby, I am at a loss as to when the Supermodified Racing events were discontinued at Meyer Spdwy/Houston. Maybe David or Jim have that information. I just remember Chet Fillip driving a somewhat radical Supermodified, but I don't know if it was a Liberty Bell 300 race or not. At some point, late '60s/early '70s, the old Houston "Mighty Modifieds" that were somewhat similiar to a modified Sportsman type Modified were discontinued and replaced by Supermodifieds, as I recall. I'm thinking that the Supermodified events were discontinued at some point before the speedway closing in '79, but I don't recall the exact time frame.

Back in about '58, $380.00 was about 6 weeks take home pay for a lot of families around our old neighborhood on Houston's near northside. Just an observation. Larry, You are right about that! Sounds cheap today but, in those days it was rather expensive. Add the racing cost and there you have it.. #85

Recently, I believe Chet Filip (sp) won a USAC Silver Crown Race at Richmond Spdwy/Virginia. Chet raced Supermodified Events at Meyer Spdwy/Houston on occasion, and I wonder if he ever drove the #121 Supermodified pictured with Rat Lane. I vaguely recall Chet racing a similiar car, with a full cast on his leg, I'm thinking left leg, at Meyer Spdwy/Houston, early '70s.

Jim, From what I recall, the transferred from film and edited tape from 9/25/'66 was available in '85, and sold at Battleground Spdwy/Highlands. It was possibly produced, and narration added, for a movie/TV program, that apparently never came to be. Aside from the sound being a little out of time, which would have been corrected I'm sure, it appears professionaly done. I'm convinced, as far as I can be, that leftover scenes were added to other videos. Several mid '60s Meyer Spdwy Modified Stock Car and Bronco Stock Car color photos posted appear to be from that day's filming that do not appear on the produced film/video. It sure would be nice to have a digital re-mastered DVD, my tape is getting a little fuzzy.

Jim, Apparently we are talking about different films/tapes. The tape I am referring to was transferred from film of the complete, but somewhat edited, show on Sunday, September 25th, 1966. To my knowledge, the only daytime event for the weekly racing at Meyer Spdwy/Houston in '66. Filmed by a camera crew with more than one camera, and narrated by Ed Hamblen and an announcer whose name escapes me. In '66, the Labor Day events were night races, and the September 25th events were heat races and double point paying 100 lap features for the Houston Bronco Stock Cars and the Houston Mighty Modifieds, and the final points races for that year. After blown engines in the Joe Plowman #28 Car and the Bill Blumrick #7 Car, the Charley Schild #1 Car, running 3rd, took the lead and won the Modified feature. The Bronco feature was won by Mike Cronin in the #24 Ford, after leading most, if not all, of the race. Mike's precision driving, and the Shirey owned/built #24 that was running and handling very well, had 1st place under control, but 2nd place on back was some hard racing. During a hard fought battle between Burl Avery's #5 and Jimmy Herrin's #98, on or near lap 60, the #98 ended up hard into the turn 2 wall. I saw that event "up close", and saw it coming. After being passed on the last lap by the season champion Delbert Ready #44 and finishing 3rd, the Burl Avery #5 car and driver were DQ'd for rough driving. But, that story continued after the race, and after several participants had loaded up and left. As I recall, in '62, there was a #1 Car Modified and a #2 Car Modified, very similiar in appearance modified '38 Chevy Coupes, both with Franks Ice House sponsorship, and possibly both were Cates cars. The #1 was driven by Sonny McDaniel, and the #2 was driven by George Nash. I believe one of the cars, using the #1, was driven by Charlie Schild in '63. I have no recall of either car after that, and Charlie Schild built a new #1 Car in '64, and drove that car until he retired from driving. So, similiar in size, there may be a connection between the later #9 Modified to the earlier #1 and/or #2 Modifieds.

The #9 Modified Stock Car/modified Sportsman Modified Car is also pictured elsewhere, from about '66 if my memory of that car is correct. In Meyer Spdwy Pics 2, post #8, the #9 Car is behind the #22 Car, both modified '37/'38 Chevy Coupes w/'38 grills. The '60s era Houston Modifieds were aka The Mighty Modifieds. In More Meyer Spdwy Super Mod photos, post #29, 4th pic from top, the 4th car in line exiting turn 4 appears to be the #9 Car. The 5th pic from top, the #9 Car is behind Vaughn Brune's #75 Car, apparently while the field is being lined up for the heat race start. Also pictured, are Munson Stodder/#57 Car, Jess Tolbert/#22 Car, Jackie Woosley/#4 Car, Charlie Ritter/#51 Car, and possibly Blackie Lothringer/#98 Car. This comes from slightly educated applied guesswork/memory. On film/tape from Sunday, September 25th, 1966, the #9 white & red #9 Modified is identified as being driven by Billy Perran. I believe these color photos are from that same day.

The top pictures, I agree, are not at Meyer Spdwy, but the bottom pics appear to be. Any thoughts as to why Sonny Upton got "out of the seat" of the #44 Car?

Mark, If I remember correctly, the drive-in, which I believe was known as The Winkler Drive-In, was actually on Winkler with a back entrance on the east side of Telephone Rd. The Tele-Wink Grill was/is on the west side of Telephone Rd, across from where the drive-in was. Also, Bill's Grill was on the east side of Telephone Rd, almost at the Winkler Dr intersection.

Jim/Randy, In this section, Meyer Speedway, Memories/Stories/Photos, see post #72, third picture from top. It is my belief that the date is 9/25/'66, and parked stall-wise on pit road, right to left, is the #1 Car driven by Charlie Schild, the #28 Car driven by Joe Plowman, and the #9 Car driven that day by Billy Perran. Note the refabricated body work on the #1 Car and the #9 Car. Very similiar modifications, size, and placement. Even very similiar rear bumpers. I have no connection knowledge, but very similiar in appearance. I only remember that #9 Modified from that time frame, and have no memory of Billy Griswold in that same car.

We're talking about the same picture Jim. I am under the impression the year was '67 or '68, and Charlie Schild had retired from driving race cars about that time. From other posts, and spotted memory, I'm thinking Jimmy Willis ended up driving the former Schild Modified #1 Car that was a new build in '64. As normal, when dealing with applied guesswork, if I'm not mistaken I could be wrong. As for the #10 Car Modified in that picture, it appears identical, to me, to the Modified raced/driven by Jimmy Willis in prior years. So, it could very well be Jimmy Willis in the #10 Car, and someone else in the #1 Car.

Jim, I was referring to post #74 under Old Modified and Supermodified Photos, and I thought that it was established that more than likely Jimmy Willis was driving the former Charlie Schild #1 Car at that time. I was thinking that pic was about '67. The primered #10 Car has body modifications that, to me, appear quite similiar to the orange #10 Car that was driven by Jimmy Willis in prior years, and the same car he took for a ride on top of the turn one guardrail in '62. I need to get that photo scanned, as it has several cars involved/pictured.