73BOWTIE Posted January 12, 2011 Report Share Posted January 12, 2011 I attended the Astro Grand Prix midget race in the Astrodome in the early seventies, took several pictures along with having the souvenir programs, and was wondering if anyone has any stories, clippings, or photos to share. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Budman Posted January 12, 2011 Report Share Posted January 12, 2011 73BOWTIE ............................... I've bumped a thread to the top in the history section that has some stuff about the astrodome races, and a bunch of other stuff on midgets. Unfortunately, it appears quite a number of the pics have been lost on that thread. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickHolt Posted January 12, 2011 Report Share Posted January 12, 2011 Buddy, Unfortunately some people prefer to post links to pictures that are posted on other websites. The problem is that when that other website goes down or moves URLs, the links to those pictures no longer work and we are left with blank space instead of those pics. This is why it's always preferable to post the actual picture here on Lone Star Speedzone rather than posting a link to other websites. Nick That's right Nick, When in doubt, read the section that says "How to Post Pictures" at the top pf the forum. -Randy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
73BOWTIE Posted January 12, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 12, 2011 Thanks Budman!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
73BOWTIE Posted January 12, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 12, 2011 Here are three of my photos from the Astro Grand Prix. What a boyhood dream to have A.J. Foyt and Mel Kenyon pose for you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Budman Posted January 12, 2011 Report Share Posted January 12, 2011 OIC Nick. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
legfixr Posted January 13, 2011 Report Share Posted January 13, 2011 NOW, THATS REAL INTERESTING. LIKE THE OLD NOSTALGIA STUFF. WISH THEY WOULD JUST DO SOMETHING WITH THE DOME INSTEAD OF USE IT AS ANOTHER POLITICAL TOOL. BUT NOT WANTING TO START THAT WHOLE DEBATE. HOPE PEOPLE POST MORE PICS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supertx Posted January 13, 2011 Report Share Posted January 13, 2011 I was there but no pictures Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
73BOWTIE Posted January 13, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 13, 2011 Here is a picture from my souvenir program showing the track layout in the dome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RETrott Posted January 14, 2011 Report Share Posted January 14, 2011 Things were a little different then. In those days, most of the same drivers also competed in the biggest race in this hemisphere, the greatest spectacle in racing, The Indianapolis 500. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
73BOWTIE Posted January 14, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 14, 2011 Absolutely! I was 12 years old and all of my heroes were right there together racing. Foyt, Bill Vukovich Jr., Tony Bettenhausen, Merle Bettenhausen, Sammy Sessions, Mario Andretti, Bobby Unser, Lloyd Ruby, Mel Kenyon, Joe Giba (in his outboard), Tom Bigelow, Jimmy Caruthers, Bob Tatersall, Les Scott, Larry Rice, George Snider, Jim McElreath, Lee Kunzman, Johnny Rutherford, Al Unser and Parnelli Jones. Sorry, I got carried away. Just real good boyhood memories with my dad, and didn't realize at the time that the "who's who" of racing were all in attendance. What is interesting to me looking back is in the 1969 race there were no roll cages. Then the next year there were a few because they were optional but the drivers knew they would soon be manditory. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
73BOWTIE Posted January 14, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 14, 2011 More pics and newspaper clippings for your enjoyment. I don't know who drove car #41, but Bill Vukovich Jr was in the Continental Airlines #66. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tommyo Posted January 14, 2011 Report Share Posted January 14, 2011 I do have some photos from that event, somewhere in boxes around here - hang on, I'll get back to you with them --- tommyo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
73BOWTIE Posted January 14, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 14, 2011 That'd be great, thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supertx Posted January 15, 2011 Report Share Posted January 15, 2011 I heard a while back that lanny edwards was looking at the dome to move the chili bowl to but tulsa offered him a bunch to stay there Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
73BOWTIE Posted January 15, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 15, 2011 He might be surprised at the crowd it would draw here if they figure out how to not mess up the air conditioning system this time Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Midget 85 Posted January 25, 2011 Report Share Posted January 25, 2011 Remember being there also.. The echo of the offy's bounced all around the Astrodome and tears from all the Alky fuel weas a little tuff to breath there. By the time the feature race came along, the track was coming all apart. Mario and AJ ended up making a 10th mile track out of the whole arena before they red flagged the race. Cocking the wheels to the right and standing on em they would cut under each other as the track got smaller and smaller If I am correct, there was a race in 69 and maybe 70. Chris Econamacke ( spelling )was the announcer at the one I attended.. The midgets were cool looking, the track was rough, and AJ put on one hell of show as you can see in the upper paper clipping with both wheels up! I remember the audience applauding after that famous lap! Don't remember cages on the midgets in '69 as with the photo of AJ's paper clipping reflecting just a Roll Bar! The "Orange 83" was definitely rode hard and put up wet after AJ's dance with the midget! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tommyo Posted January 25, 2011 Report Share Posted January 25, 2011 Here's a few of the promised photos of the Astro Grand Prix Here's that "rode hard and put away wet" car - A.J.s car being pushed on the track A.J. standing by his car prior to the start of the race A.J.s car being pushed to the track One of the many wrecks - identified are: #4 Mike McGreevy, #83 A.J. Foyt, #80 Hank Botcher, #96 Lee Kunzman, #3 Dave Strickland, #65 Chuck Weyant, #66 Johnny Rutherford & #42 Gary Irvin - photos were labeled on the back - I must have gotten that info off the program Another wreck, this one unlabeled as to who is who - I have no actual pictures taken during the race . I was high up in the stands, and the long telephoto lens was just too shaky to use while the cars were moving! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Midget 85 Posted January 27, 2011 Report Share Posted January 27, 2011 Tommy, I do believe these photos were taken at the second event.. 1970? I'll have to dig out my program from '69 as it is different then the one posted up the thread.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tommyo Posted January 27, 2011 Report Share Posted January 27, 2011 Right Randy, it probably was 1970. Looks like they added the full cages, but I'll be that's the same #83 car from '69! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Midget 85 Posted January 28, 2011 Report Share Posted January 28, 2011 Tommy, I bet you are right on..! By the way Tommy, your slacking with the photo posting, so let's move it along..LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
73BOWTIE Posted February 4, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 4, 2011 Remember being there also.. The echo of the offy's bounced all around the Astrodome and tears from all the Alky fuel weas a little tuff to breath there. By the time the feature race came along, the track was coming all apart. Mario and AJ ended up making a 10th mile track out of the whole arena before they red flagged the race. Cocking the wheels to the right and standing on em they would cut under each other as the track got smaller and smaller If I am correct, there was a race in 69 and maybe 70. Chris Econamacke ( spelling )was the announcer at the one I attended.. The midgets were cool looking, the track was rough, and AJ put on one hell of show as you can see in the upper paper clipping with both wheels up! I remember the audience applauding after that famous lap! Don't remember cages on the midgets in '69 as with the photo of AJ's paper clipping reflecting just a Roll Bar! The "Orange 83" was definitely rode hard and put up wet after AJ's dance with the midget! I was only 13, but what an impression those races left on mE i HAVE NEVER FORGOTTEN. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
73BOWTIE Posted August 6, 2011 Author Report Share Posted August 6, 2011 The first year of the Grand Prix, roll cages were optional. That's why there is such a mix in photos. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.