22 replies to this topic

[Jerry Entin]

 

Mating season at the USAC circuit? Where, when and who?

 

Photo: Bud Jones

 

From: Willem Oosthoek Collection

Edited by Jerry Entin, 24 April 2016 - 13:14.

[Collombin]

Jim Rathmann sitting on Red Amick, practice at Milwaukee in June 1959.

[Jerry Entin]

E.B. wins the prize! The photo was taken during practice for the Rex Mays Classic at Milwaukee in June 1959.

 

Red Amick spun his Lesovsky Chapman Special going into turn 1, hitting the outside wall. Trying to avoid a collision, Jim Rathmann spun the #16 Watson Simoniz Special owned by Lindsey Hopkins, which headed backward after hitting  the same wall. His car leaped into the air and landed on top of Amick's car.

 

Paul Russo avoids the duo with his Kurtis Bardahl Special, although he was too slow to qualify. Victory went to Johnny Thomson over Johnny Boyd and A.J. Foyt.

 

 

Amick escaped without injuries, but Rathmann suffered a broken back that kept him away from the racing scene for six months.

[Jerry Entin]

"Take that, funny car!"

 

But where, when and who?

 

 

Photo: George Engel

From: Willem Oosthoek Collection

Edited by Jerry Entin, 24 April 2016 - 21:04.

[T54]

"The Anxious Bride" ...

 

 

Offy sodomy?
 

Edited by T54, 24 April 2016 - 21:32.

[Collombin]

That's Herb Porter's turbocharged Watson roadster doing the damage isn't it? Bobby Grim driving. Is it Trenton 1966? Can't remember the victim.

[T54]

I think that Bob McConnell owns that car today.
The victim is Sam Session in the Walt Michner Lola-Ford.

Edited by T54, 24 April 2016 - 21:36.

[Jack-the-Lad]

What is #38 and who's the pilot?

[Jerry Entin]

E.B. outpaced the TNF field again. It is the Trenton 200 in September 1966, with Bobby Grim in the Watson/Offy Racing Associates Special, turbocharged by Herb Porter. It was the final roadster to make the field at Indianapolis a few months earlier.

 

On the receiving end is Sammy Sessions in the Michner Petroleum Lola/Ford, while Al Smith escapes the lap 20-incident with his #38 Federal Engineering Ward/Offy to finish 7th overall. Victory went to Mario Andretti over Al Unser and A.J. Foyt.

 

Jack as stated above Al Smith was the driver of the #38.

 

 

 

All research: Willem Oosthoek

[Radoye]

Wow, the difference in size between the roadster and the rear-engined car in that photo is astonishing!

[Collombin]

Doug Nye posted a wonderful shot some years ago of Clark in the tiny Lotus 29 being completely surrounded at very close quarters by about 6 roadsters on the Indy main straight. If Clark wasn't terrified, I would have been.

[Radoye]

Doug Nye posted a wonderful shot some years ago of Clark in the tiny Lotus 29 being completely surrounded at very close quarters by about 6 roadsters on the Indy main straight. If Clark wasn't terrified, I would have been.

 

I found this, it's an interesting read: https://peterwindsor...-season/page/5/

[Michael Ferner]

 

Two roadsters practicing the Pas de Deux?

 

Where, when and who?

[Collombin]

Bob Wente and Eddie Sachs, practice at Trenton in 1963.

[Michael Ferner]

Excellent!

[Jerry Entin]

With E.B.'s track record we expect this to be an easy one.

 

 

 

Photo: Willem Oosthoek Collection

Edited by Jerry Entin, 06 May 2016 - 01:01.

[Collombin]

A much better known and sadder incident - poor Pat O'Connor rides over Jimmy Reece to his death at the 1958 Indy 500.

[Henri Greuter]

A much better known and sadder incident - poor Pat O'Connor rides over Jimmy Reece to his death at the 1958 Indy 500.

 

 

This pics makes me realize, #4 wasn't a very lucky number on roadsters. There were more fatalities with Roadsters in the 50's but Pat O'Connor and Bill Vukovich were killed driving  #4...... Must be one of the most lethal numbers of the Roadster era, I don't take bets on three drivers killed in Roadsters with another, yet identical number.

 

 

Henri

[Collombin]

But think of all the races in which a roadster #4 did not kill its driver [/Jim Thurman]

Seriously though, you are probably right - although the presumably rarer #24 claimed Tony Bettenhausen and Ed Elisian I think.

[Henri Greuter]

But think of all the races in which a roadster #4 did not kill its driver [/Jim Thurman]

Seriously though, you are probably right - although the presumably rarer #24 claimed Tony Bettenhausen and Ed Elisian I think.

 

 

I guess Jim Rathman may also have had other feelings regarding #4, had he ever been aware of the deaths of Bill & Jack in a #4 already

 

BTW you are indeed right  (    )  on #24, that is another number that used on roadsters claimed two lives. But if there is  a thrisd victom or another number with three victims?

 

 

 

Henri

Edited by Henri Greuter, 06 May 2016 - 10:14.

[Collombin]

Rathmann actually drove the Vukovich "death car" (horrible term) in the following year's 500 I think.

Can't think of any roadster numbers that were in 3 fatal crashes, but will check when I get home if nobody else has replied in the meantime.

[Michael Ferner]

 

With E.B.'s track record we expect this to be an easy one.

 

 

 

Yes, indeed! Saw this thread had new posts, but then "last post by E. B." so I knew I was late for dinner...

[Henri Greuter]

Rathmann actually drove the Vukovich "death car" (horrible term) in the following year's 500 I think.

Can't think of any roadster numbers that were in 3 fatal crashes, but will check when I get home if nobody else has replied in the meantime.

 

Ah, the Vuky car....

It's gone from my country regrettably by now. But I shall never ever forget those days in July '97 that i was asked to help identifying some cars iwith an Indy history exposed in the Netherlands, seeing that mutilated horrod converted roadster of which I had no clue what it could be and two days later I was shaiking in my chair when reading an email; from a friend who was big into the roadsters who asked me if the details I had seen were 100% correct because in that case I had rediscovered the wherabouts of one of the cars that was believed to have disappeared forever. I still get goose bumps when remembering those three days.

 

Henri