txtom Posted February 16, 2008 Report Share Posted February 16, 2008 Any open wheel fans on here? Got some pics for you from Texas World Speedway April, 1973. #14 A.J. Foyt in the Gilmore Coyote. #25 Gordon Johncock in the Patrick Racing Eagle. #11 Mario Andretti in the Viceroy/Parnelli Special #8 Bobby Unser in the Olsonite Eagle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mfbarnes Posted February 16, 2008 Report Share Posted February 16, 2008 Was at that race, super fast in those days, I believe Unser set a track record that weekend, even a World Close qualifying record of 212.766 mph, that car was really flying. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jakdad Posted February 16, 2008 Report Share Posted February 16, 2008 Thanks for the pics. Did Lloyd Ruby make that race? Just wondered what he was driving at that time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
txtom Posted February 16, 2008 Author Report Share Posted February 16, 2008 Bobby Unser did indeed run the time you posted. And if Ruby was there, I don't currently have the pic. Here are a few more for ya: Joe Leonard in the #1 Samsonite/Parnelli Special. Gary Bettenhausen in the #5 Sunoco/DX McLaren. Roger McCluskey in the #3 Lindsey Hopkins Special. Art Pollard in the #20 STP Double Oil Filter Special. Andy Granatelli owned this car. Salt Walther in the #77 Dayton/Walther McLaren Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mfbarnes Posted February 16, 2008 Report Share Posted February 16, 2008 I am pretty sure Lloyd was there, he was driving a Yellow Mclaren with a Fuschia colored helmet. Lloyd was always flashy, and a really great guy. Him and my father were really good friends for years. Lloyd still resides up in Wichita Falls. Now that was one hell of a racer. Never won indy but he was really one of the greats. He's like the Mark Martin of Indy. So Close so many times, but a great guy and solid racer. I am looking for myself in those pictures, because I was all over pit road. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jakdad Posted February 16, 2008 Report Share Posted February 16, 2008 I think Lloyd lives on or near the lake up there. Probably fishin'............................... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mfbarnes Posted February 16, 2008 Report Share Posted February 16, 2008 I think Lloyd lives on or near the lake up there. Probably fishin'............................... Yes Him and Peggy still live up on Shoreline Drive on the lake, and yes it's single malt scotch and a rod and reel these days. He turned 80 years old this year last month, he is a real piece of work. He's got his own dock and boat ramp and not a care in the world. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RETrott Posted February 18, 2008 Report Share Posted February 18, 2008 Thanks for the pics. Did Lloyd Ruby make that race? Just wondered what he was driving at that time. Jim, Did you recognize that rascal on the LR of A J 's Coyote? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jakdad Posted February 18, 2008 Report Share Posted February 18, 2008 Gosh Larry, He looks familiar but my eyes aren't that good Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RETrott Posted February 18, 2008 Report Share Posted February 18, 2008 Gosh Larry, He looks familiar but my eyes aren't that good Looks like Gary Smith who was part of the Foyt team about that time, and I'm sure that's him. He bought our # 9 Bronco Stock Car at the end of '67, and ran it as the # 99 Car in '68. However, the front end frame was severely damaged in a front straightaway crash exiting turn four. The car was rebuilt onto a '56 Chevy body/frame and was red & white, and is pictured on this site at Cowboy's Almeda Spdwy/Houston being driven by Tracy Trotter after the season ended at Meyer Spdwy, fall of '68. Almeda Spdwy was it's original five eights mile dirt configuration at the time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jakdad Posted February 18, 2008 Report Share Posted February 18, 2008 Almeda was fun. Went out there after the season at Meyer, wound up having to put a new body on the car. The only guess I had about the Guy by AJ's car was Kyle Petty, which made no sense at all. Almeda scared Ed. He said he would fire any of us that ran out there during the Meyer season. Some of us snuck anyway...........................Don't tell me I can't do somthin' with my own car..........................When ever we did stuff like that, Jimmie Day would giggle then belly laugh, thought it was great sport. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
txtom Posted February 26, 2008 Author Report Share Posted February 26, 2008 jakdad- You asked earlier about Lloyd Ruby at this race. He did not run this event. Shown here is the rundown for the race held April 7th, 1973: Position/Name/Car type/Engine/Car# and Sponsor/Laps completed/Reason out: 1 Al Unser Parnelli VPJ1 - Offy TC #4 Viceroy 100 1h 18m 19.000s 2 Gary Bettenhausen McLaren M16C [3] - Offy TC #5 Sunoco DX 100 Finished 3 Mike Mosley Eagle - Offy TC #98 Leader Card 100 Finished 4 Johnny Rutherford McLaren M16C [5] - Offy TC #7 Gulf 100 Finished 5 Joe Leonard Parnelli - Offy TC #1 Samsonite 99 Flagged 6 Dick Simon Eagle 72 [7212] - Foyt TC #44 Travelodge 99 Flagged 7 Roger McCluskey McLaren M16A [2] - Offy TC #3 Hopkins Buick 98 Flagged 8 Lee Kunzman Eagle 72 - Offy TC #16 Hopkins 97 Flagged 9 Sam Sessions Eagle 72 [7201] - Foyt TC #9 MVS 94 Flagged 10 Lee Brayton Coyote 72 - Foyt TC #61 Diamond Reo 92 Flagged 11 AJ Foyt Coyote - Foyt TC #14 Gilmore Racing 91 Cut tire, suspension 12 Mel Kenyon Coyote - Foyt TC #19 Hopkins 91 Flagged 13 Swede Savage Eagle - Offy TC #42 Patrick Racing 90 Broken suspension 14 Larry McCoy Atlanta - Offy TC #63 Eastern Racing Associates 84 Broken suspension 15 Billy Vukovich Eagle 72 - Offy TC #2 Sugaripe Prune 75 Cut tire 16 Salt Walther McLaren M16A [3] - Offy TC #77 Dayton-Walther 74 Broken wing 17 Dee Jones Mongoose - Foyt TC #51 Minnesota Serendipity 65 In pits 18 Rick Muther Eagle 72 [7205] - Chevrolet Crower 8 34 Electrical fire 19 Art Pollard Lola T270 - Foyt TC #20 STP Oil Filter 32 Broken front hub 20 Bobby Unser Eagle - Offy TC #8 Olsonite 30 Broken piston 21 Jimmy Caruthers Eagle - Offy TC #21 Cobre Firestone [Fletcher, Robert L.] 30 Clutch failure 22 Mike Hiss Eagle 72 - Offy TC #6 Thermo King Air Cond 22 Oil leak 23 Gordon Johncock Eagle 72 - Offy TC #25 Patrick Racing 14 Dropped valve 24 Larry Dickson Kingfish 72 - Offy TC #58 Midwest Mfg Dura-Pot 14 Oil leak 25 Mario Andretti Parnelli VPJ2 - Offy TC #11 Viceroy 10 Broken piston 26 Tom Sneva Tipke 73 - Offy TC #39 Tipke 5 Broken magneto DNS Steve Krisiloff unknown #0 Did not start mfbarnes, Ruby did run the fall Texas 200 on October 6, 1973 in the #18 Eagle 72- Offy sponsored by Commander Motor Homes. He finished 4th in this event behind race winner Gary Bettenhausen, Johnny Rutherford, and Lee Kunzman. Ruby was the first car 1 lap down. According to the data I have, Ruby only made 1 other start in an Indy car at TWS, the Texas 200 on 31 October, 1976, where he finished 13th in the #73 Eagle 74-AMC, sponsored by "California-Oklahoma." He retired after 74 laps with an oil leak. And that "AMC" was the engine, derived from a Rambler! The USAC Indy cars did not run TWS again until 1976, and their last race was 29 July, 1979. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RETrott Posted February 26, 2008 Report Share Posted February 26, 2008 Didn't seem to need any field fillers in that race. I do wonder though, when did Mario Andretti turn a 214 mph lap at TWS? Also, when did A J Foyt Jr hit the wall with, I believe the RR, in his Coyote/Foyt Car? Also, I seem to recall a race at TWS when it appeared, at least to me, a misplaced caution/pace car helped put Lloyd Ruby a lap down. I don't know for sure, but after watching a lot of races, it looked like that to me, and if not maybe someone remembers and can explain. And, anyone who never saw those early '70s era Indy Cars going 210 mph+ at TWS, or similiar track, certainly missed a combination of talent and bravery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mfbarnes Posted February 26, 2008 Report Share Posted February 26, 2008 Didn't seem to need any field fillers in that race. I do wonder though, when did Mario Andretti turn a 214 mph lap at TWS? Also, when did A J Foyt Jr hit the wall with, I believe the RR, in his Coyote/Foyt Car? Also, I seem to recall a race at TWS when it appeared, at least to me, a misplaced caution/pace car helped put Lloyd Ruby a lap down. I don't know for sure, but after watching a lot of races, it looked like that to me, and if not maybe someone remembers and can explain. And, anyone who never saw those early '70s era Indy Cars going 210 mph+ at TWS, or similiar track, certainly missed a combination of talent and bravery. Larry, Mario Andretti set the world closed-course speed record of 214 mph during qualifying for the Texas 500 on October 6, 1973. That record stood in the Guinness Book of World Records for twelve years. Since then many Indy cars have tested at unofficial speeds of 238 mph. Talk about hanging your shirt tail out........ mfbarnes, Ruby did run the fall Texas 200 on October 6, 1973 in the #18 Eagle 72- Offy sponsored by Commander Motor Homes. He finished 4th in this event behind race winner Gary Bettenhausen, Johnny Rutherford, and Lee Kunzman. Ruby was the first car 1 lap down. According to the data I have, Ruby only made 1 other start in an Indy car at TWS, the Texas 200 on 31 October, 1976, where he finished 13th in the #73 Eagle 74-AMC, sponsored by "California-Oklahoma." He retired after 74 laps with an oil leak. And that "AMC" was the engine, derived from a Rambler! The USAC Indy cars did not run TWS again until 1976, and their last race was 29 July, 1979. I guess the fact that both weekends set speed records and two many flipped sprint cars and blows to the head in those cheesy Bell helmets we managed to save our lives in, the races all run together, thanks for putting the peices back together for me Tom. I do know for certain, those races were the greatest, talk about flat out flying, they were doing it. The spring race was the Twin 200's was it not? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
txtom Posted February 27, 2008 Author Report Share Posted February 27, 2008 Yes, the April 7 races were billed as the Twin 200's, with the USAC Stock Cars the other half of the bill. Here is the finish of the Stock Car event: (Quite a few names Texans will recognize) Fin St Driver # Owner Car Laps Money Status Laps Led 1 14 Gordon Johncock 28 Hoss Ellington Chevrolet 100 7,804 running 28 2 8 Roger McCluskey 2 Norm Nelson Plymouth 100 4,802 running 10 3 7 Ramo Stott 14 G.W. Pierce Auto Parts Dodge 100 3,260 running 14 4 12 Johnny Rutherford 97 Terry Nichels Dodge 100 2,049 running 0 5 30 Clarence Lovell 61 Don Bierschwale Chevrolet 99 1,656 running 0 6 9 Jack Bowsher 21 Jack Bowsher Ford 99 1,472 running 0 7 10 Verlin Eaker 99 Terry Nichels Chevrolet 98 1,288 running 0 8 25 Kenny Reiter 71 Cathryn Powell Dodge 97 1,104 running 0 9 2 Bay Darnell 12 Trailer Train Inc. Dodge 96 1,012 running 0 10 17 Aubrey O'Connor 96 H.B. Bailey Pontiac 94 920 running 0 11 29 Phil Cronin 6 H.B. Bailey Pontiac 93 828 running 0 12 26 Harold Fair 104 Hugh Fair Ford 93 736 running 0 13 33 Tony Bettenhausen Jr. 38 Gordon Van Liew Chevrolet 93 681 running 0 14 36 Dean Roper 41 Childs Brothers Ford 92 644 running 0 15 22 Darwin Sandstrom 88 Darwin Sandstrom Ford 91 626 running 0 16 19 Larry Moore 26 Luther McDonald Chevrolet 89 607 running 0 17 28 Jay Behimer 57 Jay Behimer Dodge 88 589 running 0 18 5 A.J. Foyt 50 A.J. Foyt Chevrolet Chevrolet 84 570 engine 48 19 27 Ray Bolander 55 Jerry Becker Chevrolet 84 552 running 0 20 37 Bob Whitlow 51 Bob Whitlow Dodge 80 552 running 0 21 23 Lefty Robinson 77 Truck Wholesale Inc. Chevrolet 77 552 running 0 22 32 Leroy Austin 85 Cecil Austin Plymouth 69 552 oil pressure 0 23 35 Dick Beinlich 66 Donna Beinlich Ford 64 552 running 0 24 13 Don White 9 Don White Dodge 63 552 oil pressure 0 25 31 George Wiltshire 157 Russell Wiltshire Dodge 58 460 running 0 26 16 Bill Gardner 79 Bill Gardner Chevrolet 57 460 oil pressure 0 27 11 Paul Sizemore 70 Paul Sizemore Plymouth 55 460 oil pressure 0 28 4 Butch Hartman 75 Hartman's White & Autocar Dodge 54 710 head gasket 0 29 1 Jim Tobin 10 Jim Tobin Dodge 46 460 engine 0 30 3 Sal Tovella 7 Fred Tovella Dodge 46 460 engine 0 31 21 Roland Early 35 Roland Early Automotive Chevrolet 31 368 oil pressure 0 32 15 Paul Feldner 3 Joan Feldner Dodge 27 368 engine 0 33 34 Art Bormet 22 Art Bormet Chevrolet 12 368 oil pressure 0 34 18 H.B. Bailey 36 H.B. Bailey Pontiac 11 368 ignition 0 35 6 Gary Bettenhausen 4 Trailer Train Inc. Dodge 10 368 handling 0 36 24 Jigger Sirois 29 Joe McFarland Ford 2 368 engine 0 37 38 Harry Cooper 17 Harry Cooper Dodge 0 368 oil pressure 0 38 37 Dave Whitcomb 48 Dave Whitcomb Chevrolet 0 368 oil pressure 0 Notes: Qualifying rained out; starting grid set by draw. Time of race: 01:30:56 Average Speed: 131.952 MPH Race Purse: $ 44,350 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy66 Posted February 27, 2008 Report Share Posted February 27, 2008 TXTOM, Wasn't 1973 the year the big wreck happened at Indy and Swede Savage was killed? I believe Gordon Johncock won the 500 that year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
txtom Posted February 27, 2008 Author Report Share Posted February 27, 2008 Yes it was, Andy. Not only Savage, but also Art Pollard in practice, and a crewman for another team who was hit by an ambulance on pit road.. Here is a link to a story about it: 1973 500 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RETrott Posted February 28, 2008 Report Share Posted February 28, 2008 Yes it was, Andy. Not only Savage, but also Art Pollard in practice, and a crewman for another team who was hit by an ambulance on pit road.. Here is a link to a story about it: 1973 500 Help me out here Tom. At Indy in '73, was/wasn't Gordon Johncock and Swede Savage both driving for the STP team? And, was/wasn't the crewman who was struck and killed on pit road part of the pit crew for a third STP team car, and was possibly running toward the Swede Savage crash? Another question is which team was Art Pollard driving for in practice when he crashed and was killed? As for the STP Racing Team, was it Patrick Racing, or Granatelli Racing at the time? I know what my train of thought is, but am not completely sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mfbarnes Posted February 28, 2008 Report Share Posted February 28, 2008 Yes it was, Andy. Not only Savage, but also Art Pollard in practice, and a crewman for another team who was hit by an ambulance on pit road.. Here is a link to a story about it: 1973 500 Help me out here Tom. At Indy in '73, was/wasn't Gordon Johncock and Swede Savage both driving for the STP team? And, was/wasn't the crewman who was struck and killed on pit road part of the pit crew for a third STP team car, and was possibly running toward the Swede Savage crash? Another question is which team was Art Pollard driving for in practice when he crashed and was killed? As for the STP Racing Team, was it Patrick Racing, or Granatelli Racing at the time? I know what my train of thought is, but am not completely sure. Swede Savage crewman Armando Teran was run over by a fire truck speeding the wrong way toward Savage's crash while crossing pit road, he never saw it coming, it knocked him completely out of his shoes. George Bignotti said it was one of the gloomiest things he ever had to do, was walk out there and pick up his shoes off of pit road. Teran was just 22 yrs old. To someone standing a few feet away, the sound of the thud was enough. Teran was dead. But the reflex thought was the irony of betrayal, not the horror of racing. Who would think to look both ways before stepping out into the all time one-way street? Almost no one. Well he didn't and it killed him. Something to think about at the track fellas. You know Art Pollared drove the turbine car for Granatelli in previous years. April 7, 1973 - In the College Station Texas 200 Art qualified the #20 STP Lola eleventh. Art ran only 32 laps before a broken front hub took him out of the race. Art finished 19th and won $1,271.00. Al Unser won the race. Granatelli chose to put Graham McRae in the third STP car for the 500, along with teammates Swede Savage and Gordy Johncock On May 1st, a day with 21 mph winds, Pollard took his #64 Cobre Firestone Special to a lap speed of 182.002 mph as teammate Jimmy Caruthers in the #21 turned laps at 173 mph. Art was fourth fastest in practice on May 3, with a lap speed of 188.877 mph and teammate Caruthers was fifth fastest with a lap at 181.268 for the Fletcher Team. ...And heeeeee's on it! (In my best Tom Carnegie voice) He was on pace for "A NEEWW TRAACCK RECOORD!!! Art exits turn four at Indy one last time in the morning practice session. Because on May 12, 1973 - On a windy pole day at Indy, Art Pollard went out for the morning practice session prior to qualifying for the 1973 Indianapolis 500. Less than an hour into the morning session, at 9:37 am the #64 Cobre Firestone Special Eagle from the Fletcher Racing stable car clipped the wall coming out of turn one and did a half-spin as it headed to the grass on the inside of the short chute. The chassis dug into the grass and flipped upside-down, slid a short distance and then flipped back over as it reached the pavement again in turn two, finally coming to a stop in the middle of the track. The total distance covered was 1450 feet. The car was demolished. The impact tore off two wheels immediately, and the wings were also torn off during the slide. Pollard's lap prior to the crash was timed at a speed of 197.152 mph. Pollard was rushed to Methodist Hospital in the new Cardiac ambulance. His injuries were reported to include pulmonary damage due to flame inhalation, burns on both hands, face and neck, and a broken arm. His car rolled over and was engulfed in a fireball. Pollard was pronounced dead an hour later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeilTPS Posted February 29, 2008 Report Share Posted February 29, 2008 MF Barnes: You wrote, "Teran was dead. Who would think to look both ways before stepping out into the all time one-way street? Almost no one. Well he didn't and it killed him. Something to think about at the track fellas". I recall the incident at Indy. Being a race official for a few years, a catch 22 situations existed. Teran was a crewman who became a self appointed safety official. The emergency vehicle that hit him was running counter-traffic on the pit road. End result - a tragic fatality. Neil Upchurch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mfbarnes Posted February 29, 2008 Report Share Posted February 29, 2008 Believe it or not there is video of Art Pollard's Crash http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWAPE6uzsgc Horrible crash, and methanol burning and you see the safety worker trying to reach in the invisible flames. Sad Sad Day at the Brickyard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mfbarnes Posted February 29, 2008 Report Share Posted February 29, 2008 Check out this cast of characters Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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