Doug 500

Randy, In the picture above is from 1962 Texas Championships in San Antonio, the first picture is of David Watkins from Garland, the second is Ellis Clark from Dallas, the third is Mike Kidd from Dallas, not sure of the driver in the foreground of the forth picture, but the background driver is Bill Palm from San Antonio. Mike Kidd went on to become a champion motorcycle racer. The B Mod race from the Garland Nationals is one of those that I will always remember. After running on the outside of the second place car for half of the race, I finally passed the car and began to gain on Sleepy, but the chain broke and I was out of the race. Doug...

Dan, Welcome to the Lone Star Speedzone. When I raced in the early 60's, we often raced 2 Pacemakers. I helped set-up many other race cars locally, Walborg, Curtis, Viper, Rice ect. But none seemed to feel and handle as well as the Pacemaker. My dad was also a tinkerer. He was always looking for ways to improve the Pacemaker or to make a faster engine. He lowered both Pacemakers in the rear so, they were about 1/4 - 1/2" off of the ground. One car was shortened to the minimum length allowed. That car was fast, we were the top qualifier many times with that car. At the Garland Nationals, our modified stock Pacemaker was turning times as fast as some the AA's. Thanks to your dad, Randy and myself were able to enjoy some of the most memorable times of our childhood. Doug... p.s. I love your dad's new Pacemaker.

Randy, I'm sorry that I don't remember this event. The only person that I recognize is, my sister Barbara giving the trophy to Rod. Kind of funny how we use to cringe when we received a trophy from the the trophy queen.

Kyle, I agree with Randy, Awesome! Welcome to the Zone. I like the carb air cleaner and the push lawn mower at the upper right of the picture. We had one of those too. Thanks for sharing. Doug...

Randy, That is a really great find. The car is in such great condition for its age. I know that Sandra is smiling. Now, if we could only find a way to bring it back home to Texas. Doug...

Randy, Back in July, we posted about the Quarter Midget Museum Project that you wanted to start. I know that we all have our personal lives to live and our work consumes about 1/3 of that time. So, I will try to help you to get the ball going. We need to come up with a name of the project. Texas Quarter Midget Museum, National Quarter Midget Museum, what ever you think. I will will write up the articles of incorporation and submit them to make the organization a 501c3. I will donate to the organization all of the Quarter Midget memorabilia that I have. All of the news clippings, all of the trophies, my helmet, jacket, gloves, everything. I don't have any of my old quarter midgets, but I will actively peruse old 50 and 60's racers that I know to do the same. If we decide to make it a national thing, it can be like the National Corvette Museum. I would rather have everything that I have to be shared with all those interested in Quarter Midgets, than lost in a hurricane, flood or just sitting in some barn somewhere. Let me know what you think. Doug...

Randy, I agree with Nick. As we all get older, it is important that we all try and preserve the early years of Quarter Midget Racing. Racing quarter midgets in Texas produced many great racers like yourself, Coggie, Debbie, Sandra, Larry, Denny, Rod Green, Mike Kidd, David Watkins, Linda Hice, Mike Ferrish, Ellis Clark, Danny Woods, Pamela, Bill and Cindy Palm, Dale and Kenneth Bragg. This is only a small list of the drivers that I looked up to and respected racing against both locally and regionally. I know that LSS is mostly a regional deal, but it is really interesting to read the posts from all of the quarter midget racers nationally. Thanks Nick, for having the foresight in giving Randy the medium to bring back those precious memories of our child hood. Thank you Randy, for giving us the opportunity to share those memoies. Doug McBride..

Randy, How is the museum project turning out? If I can help in any way please let me know. I think that your efforts to preserve Texas Quarter Midget Racing history is not only beneficial to those of us that participated in the past, but to those that are doing what we really enjoyed doing today. Doug McBride...

Randy, I also missed Sandra at our reunion. As far as loosing to a girl, I never looked at it that way. I raced against Pam & Cindy Palm, Beverly Dowda, and Susan Joseph here in San Antonio. Linda Hice from Dallas and Sandra from there in Houston. I never saw them more than a great competitor. To be the best, you need to beat the the best, and these ladies were definitely great competitors. I won some and I lost some, but we all were great friends. I would like to thank Tom Taylor for being the great racing historian that he is and for being a friend of my family. Doug McBride...

Kenny, Thanks for sharing your collection with us. I haven't seen so many old parts and engines since I was, well, a long time ago. Thanks for having the foresight in preserving the past. Thanks for your input in the history of our Sport. Doug...

Kenny, Thanks again, for sharing your collection of beautiful cars with us. The Quarter Midgets are a great rememberence of my early years. The Corvette's, are the great times that I'm experiencing now. Thanks again, Doug...

Kenny, Welcome to this Forum. I too, love the 14 car. Reminds me of my idol AJ Foyt. Would also like to see pictures of the Vette in the picture. Thanks, Doug McBride...

Phil, I'm glad that you have found this site. I have many memories of the great drivers, as yourself, from the Dallas area. We just attended a reunion of some of great racers from the Houston area and we had an awesome time. I'm glad that you and Larry from Houston were able to continue your racing experience from the QM days. Randy and his wife Molly, have done a fantastic job in preserving the Texas history of QM racing from the 50's and 60's. I have given Randy all of the things that I had, so that they could be posted here. If you have anything to add to this site PLEASE contact Randy, Midget 85, he will help you in any way that he can. I look forward to meeting up with you soon. I'm Thankful for all of the friendships lost and then found on this website. Have a safe and Happy Thanksgiving. Doug...

Randy, I wanted to thank you, and Molly for preserving the history of our youth. Frances and I want to thank you for including us in your reunion. We, as did the others, had a great time, and we look forward to the next one. I'm sorry Sandra wasn't able to attend; we all hope she has a speedy recovery. I felt honored to be in the presence of such great competitors, and such dear friends. Now, if Larry would only share the mixture of that steak sauce. Thanks, Doug McBride...

Randy, I hope you and Molly are ok. If there is anything that I can do to help, we are here for you all. We have family still there in Houston, and we will keep all of you in our prayers. Doug...

Randy, Meant to post this here, not as a new topic. We started racing here in San Antonio at Las Palmas Shopping Center in the late 50's. We later moved to Terrell Plaza Shopping Center. On April 1, 1962, the track at Comanche Park opened and the first race took place. The track was called the Comanche Bowl and was dedicated at 2:00p.m. on Sunday just before the racing started. County Commissioner A.J. Ploch was the honored guest at the dedication ceremonies. Wow, I thought, a man with the initials of A.J. dedicating our track. On April 23, we had our first really big race. We had David Watkins from Garland, David McDermont from Shreveport, Linda Hice from Dallas and Mike Kidd from Dallas to participate in the first AA Fuel race held at the track. Of the early racers that I raced with, Mike Kidd went on to become a Nationally renowned motorcycle racer. On Thanksgiving weekend 1962, the Alamo Quarter Midget Club held the Texas State Championship Races at Comanche Park. Doug...

Sandra, I'm glad that you, Randy, and Coggie were a part of my memories of the early 60's racing in Houston. I also have memories of Mike Kidd, David Watkins, Rod Green, Ellis Clark, Mike Farrish and Linda Hice from the Dallas area. There was Danny Wood from Corpus Christi. Also, Pamela, Bill and Cindy Palm, Dale and Kenneth Bragg and numerous other racers from here in San Antonio. Thank You Randy, for your hard work in keeping this forum going. Doug McBride

Bruce, I have been out to the track at Comanche Park a few times, walked the pits and watched some of the races. It sure brings back some great memories. I think the reason that, 1/4 midget racing has survived here in SA is due to the fact that the track is on County property. A.J. Ploch was the county commisioner that was instrumental in having the track built in Comanche Park 1. He provided the land, equipment and materials needed to make our track happen. The cars have changed, the trailers (ie. haulers have changed), but it's still, boys and girls having fun and developing memories that last a life time. Doug McBride... Randy, The #26 car was JJ Martinez, the #6 car was Bill Palm, and the other car was Pamela Palm. These were taken in our 1/4 midget infancy days at Las Palmas. All of our Dads, were mechanics at Kelly AFB. I think that the first picture is from the Nationals in Tulsa. Doug...

Randy, I think that these were the Nats in Tulsa. We had two cars 500 and 500B. One was for modified stock and one for the B modified class. I remember the temperature being 104*. We had fast time in the B class. We also entered the car in the A Fuel class. During qualifying, they put alcohol in or gas tank instead of gas. The car run very badly. Once my dad discovered the error and we got to make our second qualifying run, we qualified second. If you notice the white enclosed trailer in the back ground, that was the one that we used to haul our cars to the races. It was quite inovative for the time and a big move up from the double decker trailer used by most people during that time. Doug...

Randy, The first and last picture is of me and little sister. The second picture is Bill Palm and the third one I think is Thad Blessing. Doug...

Great find Randy. Hope you can find the parts to get it restored. Good Luck! Doug McBride...

Randy, I talked to Tom yesterday and he told me about this site. Reading this brings back alot of memories of you all there in Houston and the lost friendships from Dallas and Corpus. The first big race that I ever won was the Gulf Coast States Championship there in Houston. I remember doing a morning TV show there with Sandra and one other. Remember driving Coggies cart and having to have a pillow behind me to be able to reach the pedals. I managed to run off the track and the announcer told the other drivers to watch out while I was out there. I guess, when I almost broke the track record, they felt a little more at ease. Remember running a 75 lap race in Dallas. Everyone had to make a mandatory pit stop. Also, remember winning the Nationals in Florida and Tulsa. I guess the one race that I remember most, was the Nationals in Garland. My dad had built an awesome motor. He decided to re-ring it the night before the race and it siezed up the next morning on breakin. We got a loner from one of the Dallas racers. I didn't qualify that great. There was a problem with the motor dying in the corner. I raced on the outside of the second place car for half of the race. When the engine fineally stopped missing, I went into second and was catching up to Sleepy Tripp. Never made it, as the chain broke. I will try and upload some of the pictures and articles that I have. If you would pm me your address, I will send you an article that I ran across yesterday as I was going through my scrap book. Hope we can get togeather soon. Doug McBride...