Midget 85

Sometime back we lost a few of the photos that were posted when the forum was down. Here's one that got lost, so I thought I would post it again. This is a color version of my last race car. A Pacemaker Midget manufactured in the west coast. Feature Win -Spring 1960- Pasadena Race Track

Doug, Thanks for keeping up with us and for dropping by as always it is good to see you here. We are also very saddened to hear about your dad. He was always a gentleman and good friend to the quarter midget world and an awesome mechanic! You should be proud of that and also recognize that many had high repects for him. I know I did. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. As to Tom, he has been a great help in connecting us again and I thank him for that. Although I have never met the gentleman in person, I have heard nothing but great things about Tom and that's good enough for me. Maybe someday I will get to meet him. He does wonders for the racing world from what I can see with his postings and knowledge in the racing business. Say Thanks to Tom for us. If there is anything we can do for you are your family, please let us know. Thanks Doug for everything and I will have your photos sent back to you soon. -Randy

Bruce, Life is but a short time and I only wish she could have seen this photo for I am sure she would have been thrilled to see this shot especially since she lost all of her photos in a flood. Sandra was a wonderful person in all aspects of life while a respective competitor as well. I had nick named her "Tomboy Honea" and would joke with her. She was a Good Sport. Good shot as you can see the left front wheel and the suspension hiked up from the torque of the engine. The Moss midgets were famous for the suspension rise when accelerating. It was a dead give away when running beside these midgets as to when the the foot was on the pedal. I used to watch for the hike when competing with the drivers of these midgets as to know when to jump the gun on them. The same would go when they let off the accelerator and you would see the nose dive. Colorful to watch no doubt. Sandra now joins her father for the race track in another deminsion. I'm also sorry we missed her at the reunion. She called me the day before apologizing for not being able to attend. That's when I found out she was fighting the cancer. This looks like the same day we all raced at Scholls Field in Galveston where we all took home honors. It was a Labor Day race weekend and took place in September, 1960 I am happy to know that a few of us were able to save photos for this posting on Lone Star Speed Zone. I would never guess I would be telling the stories of those wonderful days of Quarter Midget racing in it's infancy. Thank goodness for the memories and the time to live and tell about them for others to enjoy. I appreciate the information on the photo you pointed out showing you, Robert and your dad. That clears up some of the guessing. I can't remember some of the others as the photo was rather a far away shot and some of the drivers were either new or had left after the photo was shot. This was taken in late 58 or early 59. I had just started driving the Pacemaker midget when this was shot. I can tell because I also got the Bell racing helment the same time of the midget and you see I have it on. I wrecked #76 in May of 1958. It was probably my favorite midget as far as looks, but there was no comparison to the Pacemaker when it came to handling. It's amazing how I can still feel the midget and steering wheel grip still today. Thanks for all the photos Bruce and it's a pleasure to see and hear from both of you after all these years. Keep posting all you can. The photos are great. I can't think of another sport that could compare to racing these little machines. Enjoy while we can ..the memories and input on this forum. Wonderful days they were! -Randy

Tom, This is very sad news indeed... I haven't heard from Doug in awhile and need to contact him. I appreciate the information Tom. What a nice gentleman he was.

Bruce, Right on! I couldn't have expressed it any better. Yes, we were lucky to have been a part of the early days of racing them Quarters! Trying to figure a way to get back in one! Nothing like the experience as a kid, hearts beating fast, butt tingling and a tight grip on the wheel with a side eye of the competition on your tail end, the RPM roar in your ear, the smell of fuel, an occasional glance at the spectators and of course the dads giving us the signal to hammer down and most importantly a desire to be a winner! Trophy queens were a good reason too..! Got my vote buddy!

Nick, How dare you mess with those quarter midget post..lol Robert and Bruce, Good to hear from you Robert and we welcome you also to the legends of Quarter Midget drivers in Houston and Texas as a matter of fact. You guys need to attend my classic car shows held on Saturday nights in Spring. For the past seven years we all come together and show off our cars with attendance records reaching 300 to 400 hundred classic cars. Visit my web site when you have a chance or better yet bring your classic out and join us!

Bruce, The top photo was taken at Allendale shopping center or otherwise known as Lolly Pop Speedway and sponsored by the Pasadena Jaycees along with MJ Burton being instrumental in starting the night races there. A few day races were held there also. The trophy queen in the top photo appears to be Pam Miller who also drove the red and white "Grand Prix" midget sponsored by Carnation Milk company. I'm a little fuzzy on her car number at the moment but I'm sure it will come to me soon.. The bottom photo reflects the late Sandra Honea who we lost to cancer last year and is shown here as the trophy queen. Sandra drove the red and white "Moss" midget #10 and several shots of her are on this thread further back. She could not make the reunion in 2008 due to her illness and soon after we were informed by family she had left us. We were saddened to hear of her passing.. The photo was taken at the Gulfgate track as you can see all the sponsors painted on the fence. I want to say the photo on the bottom was probably taken in the Spring of 59. 1959 was the last season for the Gulfgate track which became a Go-Kart track only for a short time and was sponsored by the Telephone Road Lions club. In 1960 races were moved to Pasadena Rodeo grounds and that was the last track I drove on besides the Galveston track. This stuff really brings back those fun days of our youth. I miss them dearly but the memories are as fresh as yesterday.. -Randy

Bruce, This is awesome! Uncle Burt Lynn had the TV show on Channel 2 in Houston and was very instrumental in promoting the Quarter Midgets in this area. The Sunday morning broadcast was very popular. The photos are awesome and really bring on the memories. I was in that rodeo parade also in 1958 or 59. My car was loaded on the trailer and I was sitting in it as I was being towed behind the car. My job was to wave at the crowds and hand out flyers about the race track. When the parade had a lag in the forward motion, Burt would lead the cars in a circular motion until the parade picked up again as you see in the photo you posted. Since we couldn't stop we just drove in a circle. Bruce, are you sure that is 1960? Burt was no longer the promoter at the Gulf Freeway track as Joe Jordon had taken over as the promoter. I am thinking this is February 1959 just before Joe Jordon took over. I have a few of those ribbons somewhere packed up in a box along with trophies and memos. Boy am I glad you found us here! Thanks, Bruce for the shots!

Hi Bruce, You are very welcome and it's wonderful to see you guys again! You would know your midget better than I, although the front sure looks like the nose piece of a "Cherokee Midget". You will see Junior Wingo driving one further back on this thread. Looking at the photo you posted, that is a "Race Craft" midget that Robert is driving for sure! Not sure what Tommy is driving but would bet it is a "Home Made" midget as so many were in those days. I remember these cars like yesterday and what fun we all had as young racers. We all hung around Playland Park and Meyer Speedway as we grew up. Lost my dad in 1992 and can still remember the fun we all had as our dad's were the mecehanics in most cases. Stay in touch and find more photos if you can. I am also a moderator for this thread and if you need posting help, be sure to let me know. Get a load out of that 59 Ford Ambulance in the background. They were always around just in case.. Many great memories out there. Good to hear from you Bruce!

I remember racing against Bruce in this midget. The car pictured looks to be a "Cherokee" midget and if I recall correctly was painted a light yellow with red nose stripes and green lettering reflecting the colors of the Monterey House Mexican Food establishments. His brother Robert Dowdy if I recall correctly drove a Racecraft midget. This photo was taken around 1959-60 time period. Might have been at the Liberty, Texas track or possibly Lollipop Speedway. The smiling gentleman is Robert and Bruce's father. Good to see the memories created here. #85

Bruce, It's certainly been a long but short journey in many ways. We welcome you to the forum on Quarter Midgets from the early days as we all raced against each other on one race track or another. It certainly would have been nice to see you and Robert at the recent reunion back in November 2008. Keep the photos coming and welcome back to the original 1/4 midget guys! Denny Burton actually started this forum but seldom visits with his busy schedule running the big cars now days. I sorta took over to keep the forum running and updated. Randy #85

Don, Keep the photos coming as you find them. What great memories with the classic midgets! Keeps the youth in us all.. -Randy

Awesome Vintage Stuff!

Don, Great Stuff here! I can remember when all this was happening in the racing world. What glorious days! Thanks for the research and interesting link..

Jim, Haven't seen or heard from Roy Tuley in years. I would certainly love to see one of those old modifieds restored but I would say the chances are slim. I think one would have showed up by now. The best chance we have would be to build a clone. Unfortunately, many were sent to the bone yard and even sadder probably crushed and and has been melted down and made into one of the import Toyotas you see on the Freeways. Now that will cork you! I was speaking to Danny Bolton the other day and how he wishes he would have kept his old modified. As the 60's began to close out, many of the old 37-38 Chevy coupes were decapatated into roadsters. He does however still have one of his old Winged Modifieds sitting his garage along with a few pictures of Page Reynolds hanging on his office wall. Page worked at his shop a few years back before passing on us. Forsight to one of these cars being saved was not in mind at that time. It's our misfortune.. I still think Plowman's or Schilds modified would have been awesome. Even Red Garner's old coupe mod would be cool to see restored. Who knows, maybe there's one out there somewhere. Just have to keep our fingers crossed.. Happy Holidays to all!

Stay tuned guys and I should get the correct specs on the Old Sprinter.. Interesting facts on the Olds Engines!

I'll do that for sure. When I first saw it, reminded me of the Sprinter that Parnelli raced against AJ at Meyer Speedway. I will call him to get details.. These were great race cars with style!

Jim, I believe it does if I'm not mistaken. He's a friend of a few Classic Olds collectors. Didn't get to chat with him very long due to the busy night. The owner is Dave McArdle I would like to get some history on this one.

1957 Sprint Car This was a welcome treat to my weekly Saturday night classic car shows at Niftee 50ees in Spring, TX. The owner brought it out from Crosby, TX and everyone there gave it plenty of oooss and aaaahs! A Classic Quarter Midget is in the background..

Don, The drivers of these open cock pit racers were true grit! Had to have guts without a doubt and some paid the price.. One of my favorite drivers Cecil Elliot was one of them. A few 1/4 Midget drivers weren't so lucky either. Injuries were always a concern in the world of open cock pit racing. Thanks for sharing.

More Retro 1/4 Midgets of the past.. Here is another King Size Wahlborg Midget that ran the 1/20th and 1/10th mile tracks in the 50's and 60's. In the back ground is a Big Brother of the midget world. I can still smell the alky fuel bellowing out the exhaust of both midgets in their days.. Gotta love it!

Don, The center photo is a Kurtis Craft Midget. The one below looks like it was built from a narrowed and sectioned hood from a Ford or Chevy from what I can tell and is a dead giveaway of how the little midgets got their start in the early days. The photo on top looks to be a Micro Sprinter.. Thanks for all you do.

Don, In reference to the caption post above.. This training midget as it was known to most of us was actually around in the 50's not the 20's. Note the centrifical clutch with a belt, and protective nerf bars around the wheels and body. These cars were used in Amusement Parks, Go Cart tracks, and may have been used in what is referred to as "Board Racing" up North quite possibly. The protective nerf bars were in place to keep the midgets from climbing over one another, and to protect the cars from damage. The engines were stock and speeds were kept down by a governed carbureator. The wheels were basic wagon wheels. They were not intended for any competition, just amusement rides and or training. In my early days I actually saw one of these things in 1957 at the Gulf Freeway Quarter Midget Track. It was being used to train young wanna be's how to drive and or experience the driving thrill. That was here in the South but, not saying it wasn't used for Board Racing in other parts of the country. This is interesting to even see one of these little trainers still around. The car was actually spun off the new thrill of 1/4 Midget Racing which was sweeping the country back then. Thanks as always for the history and photos.

Thanks fellas, This is awesome and I should make plans to be there.. I would love to have some of these guys at one of my shows in Houston someday! Thanks for the continued updates.

Don, These are great looking Midgets and Sprinters! Full size and you can now see how the Quarters were patterned after. Those were Great Lookin Midgets in those days and still are in my books! Wish I could have been there.. Do we know where this was happening? Thanks for sharing.