Forum: HoseHeads Sprint Car General Forum (go)
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Pic #4 is Pete Folse

Pic #3 says Miracle Power on the hood, I'd guess Tommy Hinnershitz, but the "S" in the front bumper and the location of the picture are making me wonder.

www.teamwmotorsports.webs.com

Pete Folse is in the #4 Buckner Offy and don't you love those good 'ol IMCA heavy tracks that required those knobby tires. I have no idea of the #55 car or the young man wearing glasses but the third photo, the Miracle Power car, looks a little like Deb Snyder but the shadow across his eyes makes me wonder. Great selection of old photos and thank you for displaying them and jogging the memory of an old man.

Absolutely right on Pete Folse.

In pic 3, the "S" is the first letter of the driver's last name.

With that clue, it has to be Wib Spalding.

Actually, it's another picture of Deb Snyder.

The other driver is Dick Ismus. I honestly don't remember him other than having this photo.

The hecklers can be pretty tough when they get to arguing about today's racing but I don't think they'll bother to comment about the vintage stuff. Thanks for posting and keep them coming.

Stan Meissner

Here are a few more. Then I'm going to have to get something done around the house! LOL

The first 3 were all taken at Knoxville some time in 1952. I'm curious if anyone can identify the drivers in the first two. The third picture of the midget, I don't have any record of who the driver was.

The last 2 were all taken on May 24, 1952 at the IA. State Fairgrounds. (Probably at the Hawkeye Futurity.) The 1st of these pictures should be easy to identify. The last one of the #2 was a very popular and successful driver of the day who later tragically died in a racing crash, as so many poor souls of that era did.

Hope you enjoy these as well.

The bottom picture is the Les King Offy out of Omaha, NE. I don't know who the driver may have been (Slater?), as Les had most of the top drivers of the era at one time.

Les King was my wifes Great Uncle. She has stories from when she was little, stopping by Uncle Les's shop. She wasn't allowed to spend alot of time there however, as her parents thought the language was a bit too "colorful" for a little girl. They had a Minah bird at the shop that cussed as well. LOL!!!

I recall a family reunion, probably 20 years ago. Les' son was there with a STACK of his dad's scrapbooks. Sadly, the son has since passed away and nobody seems to know where the scrapbooks went.

My father-in-law used to tell some stories, but he's gone as well.

I don't mean to be hoggin' your thread, but this stuff is just awesome!! Thanks!

www.teamwmotorsports.webs.com

You are right, Bob Slater was in the car at the time.

I remember all too well when Bob was fatally injured at the Hawkeye Futurity in D.M. on May 24, 1953 if my notes are correct.

Slater and Bobby Grim were turning into one of the great rivalries of the day. Probably on a par with the later rivalries between Jan Opperman and Kenny Weld and Steve Kinser and Sammy Swindell.

The rumor in the day was that Slater and Grim didn't particularly like one another, but I don't know if there was any truth to it or not.

CORRECTION: Don Branson was in the #2 car at the time. The #1 car with Mary Lou on the hood was Bob Slater's car.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bannister_Federal_Complex

This is about the old wooden track in Kansas City Mo

JB33Fan,

Thanks for posting these old pics. Sometimes the pit shots are just a cool as on track shots. Some of these trailers had some enginuity built into them. Can you imagine driving all night towing one of these on a two lane most likely all the way to and fro? Here is a pic that your mother would have liked,I'll bet.

Nebraska State Fairgrounds

BC

This is an experiment. Obviously I didn't take this picture. It is from the 1957 IMCA yearbook. (I'm hoping there's not a copyright issue here, as this is almost 54 years old now.

Anyway, another one of the all time greats in my opinion.

Are these pictures of high enough quality to bother trying to post any more of them?

Thanks to all of you for your comments and responses.

Jerry and Marge made a fine looking couple!

Bob Slater was killed on June 5th, 1955 at the Iowa State Fairgrounds track. The second photo of the driver with his leg on the trailer might be Vic Ellis of Cedar Rapids, the first midget photo could be Dick Ritchie. The #11 midget appears to be a Frank Kurtis chassis and it has a Ford V-8 60 engine but I do not know the driver. Thanks again for these windows into the past and please continue to submit them.

I stand corrected on the date of Bob Slater's death. I should have double checked that before posting it.

The driver in the first picture i(I believe the car # is 55) is Dick Ritchie.

The driver standing with his foot on the trailer is Red Hoyle.

Regarding the photo of Bobby Grim, according to the 1957 IMCA Yearbook, Grim started 35 races in 1956 with a record of 24 wins, 7 second places, 2 third place finishes, and 2 fourth place finishes.

A pretty enviable record I would say.

Well, it appears this thread has pretty much reached the end of its life span, so I'll post these four final photos and we'll put this nostalgia post to bed.

Many thanks to those who looked, and especially to those who responded.

It's been fun!

Kenny Higginson - Taken May 24, 1953 at the IA. State Fairgrounds

Billy Jim - Taken the same day as the above.

Bobby Grim, car owner Hector Honore, and the famous "Black Deuce". This was taken in August of 1955 at the hotel they were staying at. The hotel used to sit on the south-west corner of Euclid and East 14th Street in Des Moines.

Don Carr with myself on Don's right side. This was taken in June of 1959 at the Iowa State Fairgrounds.

Thanks again to all of you and have a Happy Holiday Season!

Thank you again for posting these wonderful old photos. In the future if you have more please submit them.

Stood next to this very car less than 1 year ago. Complete with the original 270 Offy engine. It is still as pretty as ever even though it has not been restored. When race cars were real and so were the drivers.

The first picture is of Dick Ritchie,with Leon Mensings#55 I also drove for Leon a few times. Bob Clements,Montello,Wi.