Midget 85 Posted January 31, 2011 Report Share Posted January 31, 2011 San Antonio 1960 The photo below was taken from a far distance and I have tried to edit and focus the photos the best I could On the very first page of this thread are shots from San Antonio and this one was recently found to add to the event. This is the starting line up and the first 4 midgets are Pacemakers with the one on the pole #4 winning this event. Directly behind him is myself in #85 and beside me is Doug McBride. Behind Doug is Denny Burton and not seen on the inside of Denny and directly behind me was Larry Schild. Maybe Doug can come on board and refresh my memory of the car and driver on the outside front row. The pole setter had set the fasted time and was very fast in the feature race which he took honors.. I started third and finished in the same position.. 'B Modified Feature - Rod Green Winner Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug 500 Posted February 2, 2011 Report Share Posted February 2, 2011 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Midget 85 Posted February 2, 2011 Report Share Posted February 2, 2011 Doug, Your slippin on me... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KGB911 Posted February 22, 2011 Report Share Posted February 22, 2011 Randy & Doug: I spent the last four hours going through every post on this thread and it brought back very fond memories. I am Dan Ruth the son of Fred Ruth the founder and builder of Pacemaker Quarter Midgets. I found it Ironic that you"Randy" started your career with a Walborg and graduated to a Pacemaker. Here is how it all started for my Dad and my brothers and I. Sometime in the Spring of 1956 Dad and I jumped into our 50 Chevy Woody and went out to Torrance Airport about two hours south of our home in Pacoima California a suburb of Los Angeles to pick up a Walborg kit. In no time dad had it together and my older brother "Steve" and I were making laps in our backyard. We were just 5 and 4 years old at the time and dad, a typical So Cal Hot Rodder was living his racing dreams through my brother and I. I remember that we raced in makeshift tracks in large parking lots and fairgrounds and we most often raced on Dirt! We were the founding members of quite a few Southern California tracks and clubs and we raced just about every weekend. My brother and I shared the Walborg and dad knew he needed another car and he knew he could build one better so he rented a 1000 sq.ft. building in Van Nuys and formed Trackmaster. The first Pacemaker, #1 was completed soon after and was a radical change from the norm and very, very Fast! The IFS in the front and the split axle in the rear and the friction shocks made it handle like a Dream. More to Come! Danny Ruth Here are a couple of Pics Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Midget 85 Posted February 22, 2011 Report Share Posted February 22, 2011 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickHolt Posted February 22, 2011 Report Share Posted February 22, 2011 Danny, May I add my welcome to Lone Star Speedzone along with Randy's. Your contributions to this history section will be deeply appreciated by the hundreds of people who spend time here on a regular basis. Nick Holt, Admin Lone Star Speedzone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KGB911 Posted February 24, 2011 Report Share Posted February 24, 2011 Mr. Pacemaker Dad, Fred Ruth, is 79 years young and still living with his wife of 60 years in the home paid for with Pacemaker profits. The 1/4 midget market faltered in the early 60's HMHO due to the monster he created and failed to follow through on. The Monster was Go Karts that bridged the age issue and broadened the customer base. The following statement will surely raise some eyebrows! Dad took a Pacemaker 1/4 midget sometime in 1958 and enlarged the body and frame about 15% and installed a McCollah chainsaw in the rear and a 1/2 midget was born! Damm it was Fast! It was a Dark Maroon color and I don't think he built more than a handful. During that same time they built the first Racing Go Kart, Duffy Livingston got the credit for the Go Kart but if they only new! Dad's Go Kart was built with many 1/4 midget parts and had two MAC 10's mounted "Sidewinder" style with the same type of rear suspension the 1/4 midget had. The only problem was that the small chains would not handle the angular movement well. I remember the maiden voyage in the FEDCO parking lot like it was yesterday! Dad was flying and the steering wheel came off in his hands! he had forgot that one bolt! I don't remember if he crashed. The Kart never made it to a track as None exhisted at that time. Thats my story and I am sticking to it! Dan Ruth Dad's current Pacemaker Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug 500 Posted February 25, 2011 Report Share Posted February 25, 2011 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jakdad Posted February 25, 2011 Report Share Posted February 25, 2011 What an awesome car!!!! Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Midget 85 Posted February 25, 2011 Report Share Posted February 25, 2011 Wonder if your dad still has the building plans to any of these old Pacemakers? Fiberglass molds etc? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KGB911 Posted February 25, 2011 Report Share Posted February 25, 2011 Doug: As you know The Pacemakers split rear axle was unique among 1/4 midgets and great for the lower classes that did not allow both rear wheel to drive the car. As I remember only the AA were allowed both to drive, that being said many QMA rules were created because of Dads creativity. In the early years we all ran Carlisle Studs in the rear on Dirt tracks "loose clay" and there were no limits other than 5" or 6" wheels so Dad welded two wheels together for the right rear and I Killed them in Stock and Modified Stock with the same car one Sunday and the Club said Don't bring it back! In the begining the demand for the Pacemakers was so High that my brother and I never had our own team cars so every weekend we ran a brand new car with a new out of the box engine which Dad bought crates of at the Army Surplus auction. Some of those motors were Pigs but the cars handled so well we always Won. I built Dads New Pacemaker last year and it is going to be featured in Street Rodder Magazine soon, the photo shoot took place in December here in Phoenix. I have lots to share and hope you enjoy the stories. Danny Ruth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KGB911 Posted February 25, 2011 Report Share Posted February 25, 2011 Wonder if your dad still has the building plans to any of these old Pacemakers? Fiberglass molds etc? As a matter of fact I do have the last body produced from the mould before Dad stopped production and sold the moulds and some fixtures to someone from Oregon I believe in the early 60's. I also have the last body from the Micro Midget mould which is another story in itself. Spoke to Dad last night and asked if he remembered anything about Texas distribution of his cars and he said he did not remember, could you fill us in? Dan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Midget 85 Posted February 25, 2011 Report Share Posted February 25, 2011 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KGB911 Posted February 25, 2011 Report Share Posted February 25, 2011 (edited) Paint Jobs The painting is a Great story. My uncle "Ron Miller" was the same age as dad and worked as a painter at a local auto dealership by day and painted 1/4 midgets at night. He was a perfectionist and did all the Pacemakers in Ditzler Nitrocellulose Lacquer and hand rubbed them all. His high school buddy, Bob Gurr, became one of Walt Disney's head design guy's and Ron got the job of painting the first Autopia cars at Trackmaster. What happened to the leftover paint you might ask? I guess you could say the Pacemackers were Mickey Moused from then on! Ron recently passed away at the age of 79 with a bunch of stories waiting to be told. Here is a good one, My Dads brother was a Engineer at White Sands New Mexico " you know the place they tested the H Bomb" He decided to start a 1/4 Midget club in Alamogordo and there was a race scheduled at the New Mexico State Fair in Albuquerque so Dad built a trailer that would hold 8 cars I believe and we loaded it up with a variety of different colored cars and headed east. My brother and I were to go there and show them that production Pacemakers could Win out of the box even at a Regional level event. It turns out that it rained the whole week before the event and they were cutting the track out at the Fairgrounds when we arrived. I remember while driving down the highway my brother and I were arguing over what color cars we were to get and Dad got so mad that he said you get the Brown one and you get the Yellow one and that's that! Come race day in front of a Hugh State Fair crowd Steve and I set fast time and second fast time and won our heat races and what was to happen in the Feature. I never saw Dad so Mad as that day when we took each other out while leading! boy the ride home was very somber. Oh yeh! Four of the cars we took were already sold to my uncles customers and the remaining four were sold at the Fair! Those were the Good Ol Day's Danny Ruth That brings up another interesting story. Back in those days Passenger Airlines were just that and only carried passengers, that being said I remember taking cars to The Flying Tiger Airlines terminal that only carried freight.Dad said they did not even have to crate them up, we dropped them off and they rolled them into the airplanes, Lockheed Constellations I believe! Edited February 26, 2011 by KGB911 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Midget 85 Posted February 27, 2011 Report Share Posted February 27, 2011 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? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Midget 85 Posted February 27, 2011 Report Share Posted February 27, 2011 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Midget 85 Posted February 27, 2011 Report Share Posted February 27, 2011 For the FUN of it ALL Another promotion for Quarter Midget Racing from days of the past.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Midget 85 Posted February 27, 2011 Report Share Posted February 27, 2011 Some names you might recognise even today Participants at the Garland Nationals Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KGB911 Posted February 27, 2011 Report Share Posted February 27, 2011 Sleepy Trip and Billy Felts both drove Pacemakers and Sleepy was a Factory driver for Dad. I feel compiled to share the following. Because the Pacemaker and KurtisKraft cars were superior to everything else in the late 50's and early 60's most of the Big races were won by Factory Teams in B and AA. My brother and I won hundreds of races and all was going good until one fatefull Saturday night at San Fernando Quarter Midget track. In the old days Moms ran the sign in, the snack bar and were the scorers and the track medics and of course my Mom was one of those hard workers. Back then there was no fuel tank vent spec and due to a horrible accident that night there is a rule now. In the AA feature a kid flipped and was upside down and methonal ran down out of the vent on him and a fire started and he was burnt very badly. Mom was on the med crew and it really affected her. She gave Dad an ultimatum and I was never allowed to race a methanol car again. Shortly thereafter Dad completed the 1st. Pacemaker Roadster "Orange Crate" and Jeff Heywood became the Factory driver as the AA class was the class that sold cars. My brother and I never drove a quarter midget again! It really Sucked! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Midget 85 Posted February 28, 2011 Report Share Posted February 28, 2011 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.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug 500 Posted February 28, 2011 Report Share Posted February 28, 2011 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... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Midget 85 Posted February 28, 2011 Report Share Posted February 28, 2011 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.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KGB911 Posted February 28, 2011 Report Share Posted February 28, 2011 To the best of my memory my last 1/4 midget race was the Nationals at the Hacienda Hotel in Las Vegas in 1960 or 61. It was a very special event as the Hacienda Hotel was the last Hotel on the Strip and they put a temporary track on the west parking lot not very far from our rooms. It was the first race there and they would latter build a track onsite for latter years. It was a Ball! Many years later,1975, I would again race in a very special event in Vegas where they paid us in Silver Dollars at the Silver Slipper Casino. I won $3000 that day and that was 3 canvas bags full of Silver! I only wish I had those coins today! Dan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Midget 85 Posted February 28, 2011 Report Share Posted February 28, 2011 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... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Midget 85 Posted March 1, 2011 Report Share Posted March 1, 2011 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.