Midget 85

Gene,

Welcome to the Quarter Midget forum and to Lonestar Speed Zone.

Your contribution is greatly appreciated!

-Randy

Moderator

Yes,

I do remember Tubby Gonzales. Character indeed!

Awesome cars posted here!

Dan,

This sounds like the path we all have taken in one way or another.

Once a car guy always a car guy!

Thanks for the updates and photos

Charlie had a transmission shop on Washington and did a few transmission rebuilds for MJ Burton's car lot which was located on Washington also.

Course he did other work as well.

Larry,

Close, Larry Schilds Bronco was Red on top, white in center section and blue on the bottom and had a gold # 2 on the doors not 7

More photos

Randy, Larry, Denny, Larry Robertson

MJ and Charlie still at it..

More of the legends and friends

Raymond Walker - Race Car Builder

Ronnie Chumley

Sharon Chumley

MJ Burton / Charlie Schild.. still discussing the better driver..

Melinda ( Wade ) Swanson - Daughter of the late Billy Wade

Stella Wade - Widow of the late Billy Wade

Peggy Trotter

and the debate continues ..

Tommy,

Absolutely!

Matter of fact, Charlie and I were looking over some of those carriages and trying to come up with an idea or two on converting them to a modified!!

We had a wonderful time..

Meyer Speedway Legends

I was recently invited to a surprise birthday party for Dodie Burton who was the former wife of the late Don Burton from Playland Park / Meyer Speedway days.

A call from Denny Burton to come to the party, so I grabbed my camera and headed out.

Below are a few photos I snapped of the legends and other family members that were also attending the party.

It was good to see these people once again!

Hope you enjoy..

George Nash #24 Modified

Ronnie Chumley #6 Modified

MJ Burton #5 Modified

Birthday Girl Dodie Burton

Below, MJ Burton and Charlie Schild in discussion on who was the better driver at Meyer Speedway and who was burning the funny stuff in the tanks..

Many of us remember these people and reflect back on them with an image of a younger time.

It is important to note how quickly time passes and our duty to preserve our heros of the circle tracks and what pleasure they gave to us all at Meyer Speedway.

The half mile stormers are reaching their "Golden Years" now

We will all get there someday and we wish them many enjoyable memories of the racing days passed.

More photos coming..

Some Questions Answered

While visiting with the old drivers of quarter midgets I did have an opportunity to ask Larry about the mishap at Meyer Speedway with Jerry Mann.

Larry did confirm that he was driving the # 2 winged modified formally driven by Bill White the night of the accident.

Jerry was driving the orange # 12 sprinter modified that was heavily damaged.

I will post some of the legends of Meyer Speedway and Playland on the appropriate threads.

stay tuned..

Another Semi Reunion of Quarter Midget Drivers

Just recently I received a call from Denny Burton of Houston with an invite to a birthday party for his Mom Dodie.

So, I grabbed my camera and made my way down to the local scene.

Surprisingly, I haven't seen Dodie since 1961 during the Quarter Midget years and it was a wonderful opportunity to see her and wish her a wonderful birthday. She has just turned 80 and still going strong.

While visiting I also ran up with a few quarter midget drivers again and also a few legends of Playland Park and Meyer Speedway.

Thought I would share a few here with the Quarter Midget drivers.

Randy (Coon)Shannon, Larry Schild, Denny Burton, Larry Robertson

Awesome!

Racing in the Mile High City / Denver promotion

courtesy of Doug McBride - San Antonio, TX

Torso Restraint

Thought it would be interesting to note the photo below as to the extra body restraint to the driver Mike Kidd .

Note the extra belt to keep Mike upright in the cockpit..

The claw hook is snapped to the left rear nerf bar on the Pacemaker

Dan,

That would be like winning the Indy 500!

Did they offer a winner's cold glass of milk with that? Must have been fun...

Doug,

At least you had a good reason.

My dad forgot to tighten the sprocket key at a race in Grand Prarie, TX and after a few laps the the gear box was spinning like crazy due to no hold on the sprocket.

We had changed gear ratio and the race was about to start so in a hurry, the key pin was missed..

Cost me the feature race ....and that's racing..

Danny,

Understand completely. Same was the story with my mom when building my stock car project and was halted after a fatal accident at the speedway.

When you were still living at home, mom's did have some input.. and the pressure was on dad to steer the idea away or have hell to pay...

Oh well, at least I got to drive the Quarters and that alone was a wonderful time of my young life.

One that will last in memory a long time..

Some names you might recognise even today

Participants at the Garland Nationals

For the FUN of it ALL

Another promotion for Quarter Midget Racing from days of the past..

More Photos May 1962

Courtesy of Doug McBride - San Antonio

I am sure Doug can give us more information on the photos below.

They were taken in May of 1962 and unknown to me at this time.

Our thanks to Doug for the photos..

David Watkins - Garland TX

Ellis Clark - Dallas TX

Mike Kidd - Dallas TX

Unknown / Background Bill Palm - San Antonio TX

Danny,

Might think of making a new mold out of the last Pacemaker body..

I will be the first to buy a shelling of the mold, seriously.

I would like to build a replica of my once owned Pacer!!

At least you would now have a mould to go with the shelled body.

Any other spare parts?

Danny,

All I can say is we ordered ours straight from California and it arrived at the Houston International Airport as it was then off Telephone Rd.

I remember picking up the car at one of the loading docks at the airport / Houston.

There were two more with mine. My midget was the only one that didn't have a white circle painted on the nose and we had special ordered the paint scheme.

Ask your dad if he remembers this one?

-Randy

Wonder if your dad still has the building plans to any of these old Pacemakers? Fiberglass molds etc?

Danny,

First of all, I would like to welcome you to Texas and secondly to Lone Star Speedzone.

We have met so many people on this forum, reconnected with old friends, and met many new friends from neighboring states that were associated with the roots of Quarter Midget racing and it's very beginning.

We are happy to have you join us and to add your ideas, thoughts, and most of all the history to share with everyone.

I must say that it was one of the most enjoyable times in my life and this thread is probably one of the most popular sections of Lone Star Speed Zone.

The information you have provided is absolutely amazing as many of us have been searching for the roots of the famous Pacemaker midget and the history of it as well.

Please feel free to insert your important history to this thread as I know many are very interested to learn and also reflect back on perhaps the most fun decade that many of us hold dearly in our thoughts.

As with many, the thrill of racing stayed with us in some form or fashion as we progressed in life to either move on with racing to the big times or into street rods and hot rods or some form of auto related fun.

California was instumental to starting the Quarter Midget world which quickly spread throughout the states. Thanks to people like your dad who visioned his part in building one of the finest Quarter Midgets in it's early beginnings. Truly awesome info here!

Again, thanks for your support and history to this thread. We look forward to more and hope you consider this a home for your part of the Quarter Midget history!

-Randy

Moderator

LSSZ