txtom Posted June 15, 2007 Report Share Posted June 15, 2007 Jones stated it was a car that belonged to Rutherford's father. Next time my dad or I see Bill, we will ask about the car's lineage. In addition to the Dreyer car, Jones has another Kurtis (I believe); he had two others that he has sold in recent years to collectors in Australia. Australia has a huge following for the Midgets, and there are several Offy powered racers currently competing. Jones has built a few Offy engines for competitors there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tx33 Posted June 16, 2007 Report Share Posted June 16, 2007 hey tex44 - thanks for turning me on to this forum - I'll dig thru the old stuff and post some pixs. The Ace Haas #21 was the first midget I got my hands on (Ace and my uncle grew up in Waco together) - I painted and lettered the car when I was 15. Great days Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Budman Posted June 16, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 16, 2007 Welcome 33. Look forward to you posting you pics. We LOVE pics! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tx33 Posted June 16, 2007 Report Share Posted June 16, 2007 Thanks Budman - here a shot of Ace Haas' #21(1961) if I can figure out how to post it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tex44 Posted June 17, 2007 Report Share Posted June 17, 2007 Since posting the 1937 video's on the midget website they have been enjoyed by more than 2000 people. A gentleman by the the name of Jim Taggert in S.Dakota has done some extensive research on the films and its pretty amazing. A few weeks ago Dick Monahan let us know about the videos of the midget racing at Houston in 1937 on the Southern States Midget Association site (ssmamidgets.com). I'd encourage everyone to take a look. The films are a little "choppy" but they show some great action featuring some of the best known midget drivers of the '30s including Frankie Beeder, Tommy Hinnershitz, Bill Schindler, Joe Garson, the Zale Brothers, and the "Marchese Twins" -- McQuinn and Sorenson, to name a just a few. The videos also show some things that we've discussed in the such as the push starting of the race cars before and during the races. All sorts of stuff. I've done some research about the winter racing in Houston. A couple of fellows from my area, Carl Forberg of Omaha, NE, and Chris DeHaven of Sioux City, IA, competed down there in '37. Anyway, I put together a little history of the Houston races that are featured in the Houston videos. The National Auto Racing News of November 4, 1937, reported that "the first midget race ever to run in the state of Texas" was held at Houston Speedway on October 31, with "more than 9,000 people jammed into 7,000 seats." Ads in the NARN preceding the opener announced that Houston Speedway would be part of a southwestern midget circuit including San Antonio and Fort Worth. The Houston and San Antonio tracks were advertised as asphalt but that didn't materialize. They were to pay 50% of the gate with a $500 guarantee the same as at Freeport on Long Island, NY. Eventually Houston, which ran on Sundays and Wednesdays, offered a $750 guarantee. The ads also announced that the field of drivers was limited and to "write or wire for okey before coming here." Johnny Zale of Chicago won the first feature followed by Bill Morrissey, Ted Hartley, Carl Forberg, Roscoe Hough, Chris DeHaven, Dee Toran, Joe Garson, "Pip" Henson, and Bob Muhlke. A Freeport-style race program was used consisting of four 8-lap heats, two 10-lap semi-finals, 12-lap consolation, and a 20-lap final. Other drivers mentioned in the first NARN article were Walt Fusco, Kip Young, Jimmy Brock, and Harry Hart. "Wally Zale Beats Star Field at Houston, Texas" was the headline in the next issue of NARN. "Eight events, each one better that the previous one" were presented with Johnny Zale's big brother Wally taking the feature. Houston must have been the place to be as other drivers listed as competing included Frankie Beeder, Bill Schindler, Lewis Durant, Harry McQuinn, "Shorty" Sorenson, and Art Hartsfield The November 18th issue of the NARN tells us that "The Houston Speedway continues to be the eighth wonder of the world, with the populace going gaga over the miniatures and packing the stands at the twice-a-week races." (Man, nobody writes like that anymore!) Frankie Beeder and Harry McQuinn won the features that week and a few more names were added to this all-star cast of drivers - Don Welsh, Ray Nestor, Len Musick, and Clarence Rose. The next weekday show (now on Thursdays instead of Wednesdays) was rained out but the Sunday, November 21, feature went to Wally Zale. He took his second 20-lap feature in front of a crowd held down to only 4,000 because of "snappy weather." It took six tries before the starter let the 14 car field go. Schindler led from the pole for six laps then Beeder held the point until the 11th when Zale took over 'til the finish. Jimmy Caris of Chicago shows up in the reports for the first time driving the No. 15 Krause Offy. The Thanksgiving night feature finish was Beeder, Hart, Morrissey, Hartsfield, McQuinn, Sorenson, Fusco, Garson, Caris, Johnny Zale, Muhlke, Henson, Brock and Wally Zale. Wes Saegesser, of Ripley's Believe-It-Or-Not fame, shows up in the results for the first time this night. For variety, the Sunday, November 28, races used a different style program with the fastest 14 qualifiers earning their way into the 25-lap feature which was started straight up. Four progressive 10-lap heats and a 12-lap consolation were also run but had no bearing on the feature lineup. Fast qualifier Harry McQuinn lead all the way followed by Sorenson and Morrissey. Wally Zale and Frankie Beeder "staged the greatest knockem down and dragem out contest ever seen on a midget track" until the 13th lap when Zale put Beeder out of commission. "Houston Folds Up Until Spring" was the December 16 NARN headline announcing that Houston Speedway was going to end it's inaugural season due to extremely cold weather -- "the worst in 20 years." Some of the drivers settled down around the area to wait for the races to resume in the spring while others headed north for the indoor season. Jim Taggart Brookings, SD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tex44 Posted June 19, 2007 Report Share Posted June 19, 2007 OK Budman, you wanted pictures. tx33 sent these two links to me, there are some awsome pictures on these 2 sites. Jimmy Sams Racing Photos Floyd Seago Photos That outa keep you busy for awhile Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
txtom Posted June 20, 2007 Report Share Posted June 20, 2007 Tex, Buddy aint the only keeping busy on those sites.................. I emailed the links to my dad, and he is especially glad to see the pics of Arlington Downs, which was located basically a little southeast of where the new Texas Rangers ballfield is now. He was a spectator at the '47, '48, and '49 races, which he thinks were the only AAA big car races run there. My grandfather was close friends with the promoters of these races; one was named Fred Lockwood, and the other was Babe Stapp. You probably know the name Seth Klein, the chief starter from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Klein came to Arlington for at least a couple of these races, and stayed with my Grandparents and Dad at their house on Falls Road in North Dallas, near Preston Road and Walnut Hill Lane. My dad has a neat old story of challenging Klein to identify all the Indy Winners. Klein was able to name all of them to that point, but my Dad knew them in order by year. And Dad was 11 years old in '47. Another visitor to the Taylor house was pretty famous also; his name was Duke Nalon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Budman Posted June 20, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 20, 2007 Tex44&33, Those are some incredible midget photos. Thanks. Really enjoyed looking through all those. Lot of Texas guys in those. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PAPA Posted June 23, 2007 Report Share Posted June 23, 2007 tx44 and budman Check out thr tucson part of this link http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&...h+Google+Images Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tex44 Posted June 23, 2007 Report Share Posted June 23, 2007 PAPA, Excellent site. Lots of good history there. Just some of the names I noticed that went on to run Indy (or as it was referred to in those days, the speedway) Johnny Parsons Bill Vukovich Jimmy Bryan Bill Cheesebourgh Roger Ward Duke Nalon Duane Carter Also noticed one of the best car builders ever listed as a driver, Don Edmonds Did you see the Kurtis Roadster, Bob Gregg #57 Kurtis Roadster? Was one I hadn't seen before. Here is another good one Pacific NorthWest History Be sure to look at the "Hauler Page" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PAPA Posted June 23, 2007 Report Share Posted June 23, 2007 tex44 I was looking at the classified section on the Ayssie site and ran across this: Wanted. Information and photos of an Edmunds rear engined midget built for L.T.Caruthers in the 1960s. Believed to be in Perth. Stan Cowan on e mail SCowan6886@aol.com Ive never heard of this. Do you know anything about a rear engine Midget? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tex44 Posted June 23, 2007 Report Share Posted June 23, 2007 PAPA, I think Edmonds only built the one, but I've seen pictures of it. I'll look and see if I can find it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PAPA Posted June 24, 2007 Report Share Posted June 24, 2007 This is a really cool site. http://www.b2-design.biz/Racing/bogan_racers.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tex44 Posted June 24, 2007 Report Share Posted June 24, 2007 PAPA, These are rear engine midgets that Don Edmonds built. There was also one that ran on the east coast built by someone else. They're lifespand was short as they were banned by most associations. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PAPA Posted June 25, 2007 Report Share Posted June 25, 2007 I have no idea how well they performed but they do look COOL. Id like to have one just play with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tex44 Posted June 28, 2007 Report Share Posted June 28, 2007 Here ya go Budman, help you pass away the time with no smokes.... Early 70's (1) Mike Lightfoot (66) Wayne Rutherford (50) Roadster- John Logan (22) Pat St.Cricq (1) Mike Lightfoot (5) Norman Negus (99) Allen Porter (22) Ricci Ware Sr. Terry Mussett Bill Ward Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucky161 Posted June 29, 2007 Report Share Posted June 29, 2007 This site in general and this thread in particular are too cool. Thanks to all of you for sharing your memories and pics. I never went to Arlington Downs, but I know exactly where it was. My dad went there at least once for a stock car race. I'll have to check and see if he went to any others there and will be showing this stuff to him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickHolt Posted June 29, 2007 Report Share Posted June 29, 2007 Tex44, Those are some awesome pics... keep 'em coming, sir... Nick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Budman Posted June 29, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 29, 2007 Been a little busy Tex, but I did take time to enjoy those pics late last night. I appreciate it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tx33 Posted July 1, 2007 Report Share Posted July 1, 2007 Here are some pixs from BigH - '80-'81 SWIMS race. tex44 should enjoy these -thats his 44, yours truly and Ronnie Burke, Stan Fox#9, Dan Jollif and Tim Pangborn#27- hope you all do Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tex44 Posted July 3, 2007 Report Share Posted July 3, 2007 Bill Ward Pat St.Cricq Going through some of this old stuff trying to get the Astrodome slides ready I came across this jewel. Printed in 1947 it is 160 pages of driver profiles. Most are California drivers, with a few east coast drivers. Only 3 Texas drivers Corky Benson, J.D.Park and Cecil Green. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tex44 Posted July 9, 2007 Report Share Posted July 9, 2007 Excellent video site. Shows the complete race not just highlights. http://www.watchmotorsports.com/midget.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tex44 Posted July 13, 2007 Report Share Posted July 13, 2007 Lucky161, When you talk to your father in regards to Arlington, ask him if he knew of this one. Had to do some research to come up with this much information on it. Epsom Downs was an upscale horse racing facility. It was open just three years from 1933 to 1937 and was considered one of the top two race tracks in the state (along with Arlington Downs). Those dates coincide with when the state legislature approved betting on horse racing, and then when the legislature outlawed horse betting. The first race at Epsom was Thanksgiving Day, 1933. Its last race was March 27, 1937. It was the largest of the Texas tracks, with seating for 10,000, though 25,000 people showed up for the first race. Epsom Downs was located in an area near Jensen Drive and what is now Hwy.59. Epsom Downs was named after a race track that the British royal family still visits in Epsom, England. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobby Posted July 13, 2007 Report Share Posted July 13, 2007 Interesting how the article refers to race cars as "jobs". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Budman Posted July 13, 2007 Author Report Share Posted July 13, 2007 Wow, Tex ............. Champ car racing in Texas in the '30s . Cool. Can you tell us more about the two guys in the pic? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.