Forum: HoseHeads Sprint Car General Forum (go)
Moderators: dirtonly  /  dmantx  /  hosehead

Do any of you old-timers/historians recognize the car in this picture?

The only hints I will give you is that it was taken on May 26, 1951 at the Ia. State Fairgrounds. The driver was later fatally injured on Sept. 21, 1952 at Atlanta, Georgia.

If this works, and there is any interest out there, I will try scanning and posting more of these pictures. It does take me quite a while to do so though.

Frank Luptow

The car was called the "Black Panther."

later,

Bob Mays

Don't have to look too hard to figure out why we lost so many drivers back in the day and not just in sprint cars. No roll bar, no bungie straps for arms, flimsy seat belt, catching rocks to the face w/what they called back then--helmets, have to be a brave sob to climb in one now, much braver back then.

 Lawlessness and liberalism equals Hell.  NY City, 
Detroit, Seattle, Chicago, Minnepolis, etc. We saw it. 
Burning hundreds of buildings, a thousand assaults and 
dozens of murders. Getting worser and worser.

Great job guys!

Here's another one taken the same day.

I'll give you these clues:

He hailed from Independence, MO. and at one time drove for Nebraska Hall of Fame car owner Les Vaughn.

Herschal Wagner?

Absolutely correct.

I'll try to post some more (hopefully harder ones) later.

I'm sorry I don't have any action shots, but is there still any interest in those old stills?

So you figured out how to post pictures? Good!

Chuck.....

JBlundy #33 fan forever-----by all means keep 'em coming

Yes, finally.

My 13 year old grandson couldn't get it to work either, but my great niece suggested I post them on Photo Bucket and then copy and paste them. That worked for me.

Thanks again for you time and help and Chuck.

Herschal didn't change that much over the years so the full face photograph was a dead giveaway.He lived in Hickman Mills and was proud of it !To those of us who lived in the area we also called it RUSKIN HEIGHTS. Yes, the same area that got hit by the devastating Tornado of 1957.

Bud's Bride

Here are a few more.

The first one was again taken on May 26, 1951 at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. This was a pretty well known driver.

The next 4 pictures were all taken at Webster City, IA. on June 10, 1951, and are probably a little more obscure. In fact, I only know the last name of the driver of the #30.

I apologize that no car # is visible on the last photo, but that's the driver standing by the cockpit. He was pretty popular back in the day to my recollection

Hope you enjoy these as well.

Herschel was my mother's hero. She swears to this day that he and Jerry Blundy (my obvious personal hero) were two of the nicest guys to ever walk the earth, let alone sit in a sprint car. Glad you enjoyed this photo. It seems a waste for all these to be sitting in my photo album, so I'm glad I figured out how to share some of them.

blundy fan you are correct blundy was a awesome man. in fac a close frind of mine owns a orginal blundy car and races it with the mississippi valley vintage club. his name is kirby wood

LETS RACE BOYS

I believe I met him at Nostalgia Night this past summer at Knoxville. I talked to him afterwards and told him how great it was to still see that beautiful red #33 out there. Jerry gave me a lot of wonderful memories that I will cherish forever. A long time ago I used to exchange letters with Jerry and Marge. She too was a wonderful person.

I remember Marge telling me once that Jerry always had a great co-pilot as he had God in the cockpit with him, but that every once in a while Jerry would do something that would scare even God to the point that he would jump out, and that was when Jerry got hurt.

The #3 is Deb Snyder; I believe the #6 is Al Speth; the #30 ?; the #42 is Merle Heath's car, probably Ken Rubright driving; last one ?

later,

Bob Mays

You are correct on Deb Snyder and Ken Rubright. The #6 car was Al Kern. The number 30 I only have a last name of Erickson for, don't know his first name.

The last one is Phil Mocca.

This is some of the best stuff on this board, thanks for posting. LOVE'EM!!

www.teamwmotorsports.webs.com

Thanks for the encouragement.

I've lurked on this board for years but been hesitant to post anything up until about the last 6 months or so. It can be a pretty tough crowd some times.

Anyway, here are four more. The first one is of Len Meade, again taken on June 10, 1951 at Webster City, IA. The next three were also taken at Webster City, but in 1952. I don't know the exact date. I'm curious if anyone can identify the drivers in the last three. The very last one of the #4 car shouldn't be too hard.