jakdad Posted June 5, 2009 Report Share Posted June 5, 2009 Larry, I don't know what that car is either. Maybe Barb can show it to her dad and shed some light on it. I think you're right about 61 Meyer. Looks like one of the transition cars built for Meyer after they left Playland. Mr. Meyer didn't want the Playland cars running at his track. He told me that one day when I saw him at the track. He didn't think they were built well enough for the 1/2 mile banked asphalt. I couldn't and wouldn't argue the point. He knew a lot more about race cars than I did................................... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RETrott Posted June 10, 2009 Report Share Posted June 10, 2009 (edited) RE: Post #407 I'm fairly sure I recognize 6 faces, possibly 7, in the picture that seems to involve mostly Modified racers, along with onlookers. I wonder if Gingerbread Man has any knowledge. I would gess the time frame to be from '61 - '63, Meyer Spdwy/Houston. Edited June 10, 2009 by RETrott Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jakdad Posted June 19, 2009 Report Share Posted June 19, 2009 Here's an aerial photo of Meyer Speedway in 1958. I think this was before Mr. Meyer had it repaved. http://www.historicaerials.com/default.aspx?poi=6302 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RETrott Posted June 19, 2009 Report Share Posted June 19, 2009 Here's an aerial photo of Meyer Speedway in 1958. I think this was before Mr. Meyer had it repaved. http://www.historicaerials.com/default.aspx?poi=6302 Jim, From what I understand, the track was race ready for over a year before opening up. I first saw the track in late '56 or early '57, and the dirt work was done only, with no grandstands or guardrail. The Bicycle track is outside the turn four exit, and what I believe was a Quarter Midget track is outside the turn four entrance, as shown in '57/'58. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jakdad Posted June 19, 2009 Report Share Posted June 19, 2009 Yes but around 1960, Mr. Meyer repaved the track. He said the surface they had put on originally would eat the tires off of a midget in less than 10 laps. I stopped by there when the repaving was being done. I knew the track was new and didn't understand why they were doing the work. I asked Mr. Meyer about it and he explained the whole thing. If you remember where the pit gate was, That's where we had our conversations. While talking, Mr.Meyer would look out over that track In what I would describe as love, admiration, like it was his life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RETrott Posted June 21, 2009 Report Share Posted June 21, 2009 Jim, I was not aware of the repaving. I believe there was a 100 Lap USAC Midget Race in late '59, and I remember Tony Bettenhausen Sr was leading and had a RF flat. I don't recall who won. But, as far as I know, the repaving you mentioned was probably the last time it was done. One can only imagine the quality of future events if Mr Meyer had lived a few more years. I say that because apparently he wasn't concerned with profit or even breaking even, as long as it was a great show. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
txtom Posted June 21, 2009 Report Share Posted June 21, 2009 I have a listing of a USAC Sprint Car race held 10/11/59. A.J. Foyt won the 50 lapper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jakdad Posted June 21, 2009 Report Share Posted June 21, 2009 And Parnelli nearly caught him. Needed 2 more laps. That was a good race. Billy Griswold was there driving an Olds powered Sprinter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mfbarnes Posted June 21, 2009 Report Share Posted June 21, 2009 Larry if I remember right Gene Force won that race in November. Man those were some great days, and the track was super fast. Skippy Michaels and Gene Hartley put on a good show only to have some problems late in the race. If I recall correctly it was: 1 Gene Force 2 Dale Swaim 3 Bill Homeier 4 AJ Foyt 5 Tony Bettenhausen   In Dec of '59 they had the USAC Stock Car race there at Meyers, Harold Smith and Roger Ward battled to the last lap, with Smitty taking the win.  AJ won the USAC Sprint race at Meyers in Oct of '59 Him and Parnelli Jones put on a clinic that night That may have only been AJ's 2nd or third win in a USAC Sprinter. The next year in '60 Parnelli Jones Beat AJ at Meyers, in a Sprint Car owned by the late Harlan Fike. Johnny white took over that car later on and drove for Harlan until '64 when he flipped a sprinter he built himself and broke is neck up at Terre Haute. I ended up inheriting that Fike ride after Johnny was paralyzed for life, and drove it for a couple of seasons because Wayne Weiler gave Harlan my name. Wayne drove for Harlan for many years. Harlan Fike was one of the nicest guy's I ever drove for.  If Joe Meyers would have been around loger there would have been a Texas version of Martinsville or something on the lot in Houston. I think that track was his entire life. Not that he needed any money, he did it because he loved it, and for no other reason. They broke he mold when they made Joe Meyers hat's for sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
txtom Posted June 21, 2009 Report Share Posted June 21, 2009 The complete list of USAC races at Meyer:  October 11, 1959, 50 laps, Sprint Car (Midwest), won by A.J. Foyt  November 22, 1959, 100 laps, Midget, won by Gene Force  December 6, 1959, 100 laps, USAC/ARCA Stock Car, won by Harold Smith  March 20, 1960, 30 laps, Sprint Car (Midwest), won by Don Branson  April 10, 1960, 50 laps, Midget, won by Dale Swaim  October 23, 1960, 50 laps, Sprint Car (Midwest), won by Parnelli Jones Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jakdad Posted June 21, 2009 Report Share Posted June 21, 2009 (edited) Parnelli was hard to beat in that 51 car. The Fike Plumbing Special. A Chevy powered car that drove by the Offys. I know this, when you sat in that car Mark, you were sitting in a piece of racing history. that car ran all over the country. Edited June 21, 2009 by jakdad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mfbarnes Posted June 21, 2009 Report Share Posted June 21, 2009 Y'all remember that IMCA stock car event they had out at Arrowhead in Oct of '51. It was two days of racing, the 27th and 28th. I am sure of the dates because Sunday was my fathers birthday, and we hada car in the race, driven by my uncle Bobby. What a marathon. We ran a 100 laps on Saturday, which Eddie Harrisons won in his Olds, and the 150 laps on Sunday, which Eddie won again. and then a 25 lap trophy dash, that Pat Kirkwood won. Man what a show. Arrowhead was packed to the rafters, it seemed like everybody in Houston was there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Midget 85 Posted June 22, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 22, 2009 Post 418 Â Tom, Â The midget with the flat tire that Tony was driving that day if I recall correctly was a Black and White #5? Â I was thinking it was the right rear that was going down on him. Â One thing for sure he was melting the slick down coming out of the turns it seems..and floating the left front high in the air! Â I noticed everytime he would come out of turn 4, he would glance back at the right rear tire to observe. Â I actually have an autograph from Tony that day along with AJ after the races written on a piece of paper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Midget 85 Posted June 22, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 22, 2009 The next year in '60 Parnelli Jones Beat AJ at Meyers, in a Sprint Car owned by the late Harlan Fike. Â I remember that race Mark. AJ was driving the Blue #2 AJ Watson OFFY if I'm not totally mistaken. Â I don't think I saw AJ so mad as he was that night after Parnelli took the race. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jakdad Posted June 22, 2009 Report Share Posted June 22, 2009 That's just A.J. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RETrott Posted June 23, 2009 Report Share Posted June 23, 2009 And Parnelli nearly caught him. Needed 2 more laps. That was a good race. Billy Griswold was there driving an Olds powered Sprinter. Â From what I recall, there were a couple of wave offs trying to start. Parnelli Jones had won pole position, and A J Foyt Jr was second fastest and started on the front row outside. As the speed picked up in turn three, Parnelli "appeared" to jump the start, possibly with a little help from his friend alongside. When the green flag waved, on about the third attempt, Parnelli's car was slow gaining speed and dropped to last place before "clearing out", and then set sail, passing everyone except A J. However, he was gaining fast in the #51 Sprint Car, and would have caught the #2 A J Watson Sprint Car driven by A J Foyt Jr in a couple of laps. But, passing A J that day would not have been easy. However, another ten laps would have been very interesting. Still a great show! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jakdad Posted June 23, 2009 Report Share Posted June 23, 2009 That's about the size of it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mfbarnes Posted June 23, 2009 Report Share Posted June 23, 2009 Yeah if Parnelli would have ever caught him, they would have both been wadded up in the infield. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jakdad Posted June 23, 2009 Report Share Posted June 23, 2009 If I remember right, catchin' a man is one thing, passing him is somthing else................................ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jakdad Posted June 25, 2009 Report Share Posted June 25, 2009 Changing gears again. Does anyone remember the names of the ladies that worked the pit concession stand. I think it was a lady and her daughter. Anyway they were always very nice to us no matter what kind of crappy mood we were in. Also the hot dogs were great!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Midget 85 Posted June 25, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 25, 2009 Jim, Â It wasn't the Hot Dogs that you remembered so well here..now was it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jakdad Posted June 26, 2009 Report Share Posted June 26, 2009 Just the hot dogs............................... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jakdad Posted June 27, 2009 Report Share Posted June 27, 2009 (edited) Well, This is the day we should be running the "Liberty Bell 300". Or maybe next Saturday. Our track is gone and most of the cars. Another fine mess! Maybe some of the Meyer family will see our rantings and rebuild the track as a tribute to "Mr. Joe". It could be a museum and have occasional nostalgia races. Oh well, I would show up and I have a feeling a lot of you would too......................... Edited June 27, 2009 by jakdad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geezer Posted June 27, 2009 Report Share Posted June 27, 2009 Man I had forgot all about that, & Ronnie & I were talking about that race a couple of weeks ago. Wouldn't it be great if someone would rebuild the 1/2 mile & some oldtimers, like me & Jimmy, Denny, Larry & Jerry would build some old replica modifieds? Probably couldn't find enough 38 chev bodies though.Sure would be a kick though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jakdad Posted July 4, 2009 Report Share Posted July 4, 2009 (edited) LIBERTY BELL 300!!!!! Â HAPPY 4th TO EVERYONE!!!! Â HAVE A GREAT DAY!!!!!!!!!! Edited July 4, 2009 by jakdad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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