RETrott

Jim, The magazine picture that I believe you posted has a primered modified late '30s Chevy Coupe Modified #10 that looks a lot like a former Jimmy Willis Modified to me. As for the radical coupe Modified, when I think of #99, I recall the name of Willie Migl. Maybe just a coincidence, or related to the elsewhere pictured #99 Supermodified with the Mopar motor that was identified as a Willie Migl driven car. I remember Willie Migl racing at Meyer Spdwy/Houston, but I have no situational recall.

If I'm not mistaken, I could be wrong, but I think the #121 Supermodified is a Bill Hite front/side engine creation, and the Supermodified with no visible number is a Bill Hite rear engine creation. Probably about '72, give or take a year or so. The #122 Supermodified is I believe the Hugh Richards driven car that would "turn and go" when exiting the turns at Meyer Spdwy/Houston. His best place to pass, and then carried the speed to the next turn exit.

How tall is Junior Norman? I would guess 5' 4" at the most. I wonder who else might fit in the #39 Modified.

Great Supermodified Racecar pictures. The Winged Supermodified #44 Car, is I believe, the Red Upton owned/built car, but the driver may or may not be Sonny Upton. I recall that car being driven in at least one Meyer Spdwy/Houston event by Larry Schild. And, I believe it was driven by someone else in other events, after originally being driven by Sonny Upton. I am unaware why Sonny got "out of the seat". As drivers go, I always thought he was a good choice. The pictures appear to be MS/Houston and JS/Jackson.

Randy, You've got my cobwebs agitating, but I don't know if they will heat up or not.

Jim, I keep hoping for more and more pictures. I am equally amazed of the Meyer Spdwy/Houston pictures of cars/drivers/crews that I remember, and of the ones I don't remember. And, the stories told and untold.

Chuck, Munson Stodder III passed away a few years ago. From memory, I would guess 3 to 5 years ago.

Same here Jim. I think the last I heard he was still part of Norman & Son Trucking on East Navigation. But, that is a while ago.

Junior Norman raced Bronco Stock Cars in '66, and possibly switched to Modifieds in '67. As I remember, the Modified he raced looked quite similiar to the Munson Stodder raced Modified from '66. I don't remember Junior in Supers or Late Models.

Mark and Chipmunk, In Texas Racing History, Meyer Speedway 2005, Post #59, appears to be possibly from Jackson Motor Spdwy, and pictured is Munson Stodder III in the Stodder Racing Super with wing. Looks to me like the same car pictured in this section, but with wing added. If memory serves me correctly, the late Munson Stodder III's dad, Munson Stodder Jr passed away while this car was being built and near completion. Also, as I understand, the number style was decided after observing a steak sauce bottle label while visiting a food establishment on Telephone Rd/Houston.

Jim, Without a doubt, the shorter wheelbase Roadster Sprint/Supermodified Car was built with the '50s-'60s era USAC Championship/Indianapolis Roadster Cars in mind, but I just don't think it's a conversion. But, as normal, if I'm not mistaken, I could be wrong. It is, however, worth mentioning how fast a 150 mph lap was at Indy in '60 without wings/downforce, and those skinny tires and powered by a 4 cyl Offenhauser motor in those old but gorgeous Roadsters. Jim Hurtubise (sp) in a similiar car ran 149+ mph (average speed) in '60 time trials, although the pictured #8 Car looks, to me, to be a '56-'58 version. I would guess that the #8 Car is an A J Watson built car. He built several winning cars, and his USAC Sprint Car, driven by A J Foyt Jr, won the 1st Feature Race ever at Meyer Spdwy/Houston in '59.

Buddy, Regarding the Waldo Harper #10 Super Modified Car, did it not have a wing? Or, was it left off during transport? I would think that by '70, all of the Supers had wings, but if I'm not mistaken, I could be wrong.

We be ready!

As normal in those days, 5 to 6K RACE FANS in the GRANDSTANDS!

Uh, actually, didn't he briefly, in '63, race a '50-'52 Purple Oldsmobile #80 Bronco Stock Car that was uh, purple? The #80 Studebaker Bronco Stock Car, owned & driven by Don Myers Sr and sponsored by Jimmy Preuss, is pictured at Meyer Spdwy/Houston from '65.

It has somewhat of an offset/roadster look Jim, but I don't think it was ever an Indy Roadster.

The #55 Modified Car pictured in post # 1 is hard to see, but am I seeing a car similiar in appearance to the Falcon Fender bodied Modified Car #3 that was raced in the late '60s at Meyer Spdwy/Houston? If not mistaken, I could be wrong, but I am curious.

Randy, From what I recall, Ray Withrow raced a Ford at Meyer Spdwy/Houston starting in the early '60s Bronco Stock Cars. He was among the faster cars when the Broncos were getting started about then, and raced with my brother, Tracy. After the Broncos, I believe he raced Late Model Stock Cars, and possibly Modifieds, but I'm not sure. Robert Diestch (sp?) raced Bronco Stock Cars at Meyer Spdwy/Houston in at least '65 & '66, and I raced with him in '66, when he drove Bob Barnes' blue #16 Chevy. He is on film in the 9/25/'66 100 Lap race crashing in turn four, almost turning over on the left side. As for him in Modifieds, I have no recall. Both of those guys were good hard driving racers.

What a lot of "new" race fans may not know, is that at one time in NASCAR during the mid/late '60s and early '70s, for the most part the only competitive cars were the Dodges/Plymouths, and the Fords/Mercurys. And, that was about the only cars racing, except H B Bailey's Pontiac. Of course, that was in the days of production stock passenger cars being modified for racing, and the cars had individuality.

Almeda Auto Parts, I believe, is now operated by a former employee of H B's. Maybe a lease or lease/purchase arrangement, so there is a possibility of some of those old race cars/parts being "stored". Unlikely anything usable today, but possible historic value.

Josh, Were you trying to lean forward to get that LF tire back on the ground? That's really a great picture!

See there, you could have snuck that 312+ into that Stude!

Jim, Those Studebaker frames were almost as strong as the early unibodies. So yeah, probably would need a couple of spares...

The car I saw was the low slung Studebaker, maybe a Hawk, and probably about a '55 model, and of course, orange. Probably had a Buick motor, but a long time ago and I'm not sure. You should have built one of those Studebakers for the Broncos of the '60s and used that big Ford motor you had, and labeled it Studebaker. Who would have known the difference? Probably would have been caught in '67, but maybe not before then! I always thought that with some R & D with the engine power range/torque, and gearing, with the handling capabilities, those cars could have been very competitive against similiar era Stock Cars. Randy, as to your above comment.. Looks like we keep making the same trip and taking that same exit off the freeway, again...and again... That sounds very familiar Mark. Any description regarding the Modified? My train of thought, without rails of course, is late '50s/'60 at Playland Spdwy/Houston, and/or early/mid '60s at Meyer Spdwy/Houston. Also, the name Jack Cade keeps floating around that space between my ears. Is/was there any connection?

I seem to recall Modified racer Jimmy Willis preparing a mid '50s Studebaker for Daytona, but I'm thinking about '64 or so. I don't recall any results information, just reminded when I spotted one of those Studebakers on the video.