150 replies to this topic

[ensign14]

Good stuff.

[eldougo]

Originally posted by Jerry Entin

This is a Kurtis sportscar that was street legal owned by Jack Hinkle.
photo lent site Bob Lawrence

Nice road car that....

[Jerry Entin]

Jack Hinkle and his good friend and mechanic Chet Johnson.
This is from the 1979 June Sprints and Jack Hinkle was 66 years old.
Chet Johnson always wore this red beret.

 

Jeri Hinkle , Jack Hinkle's wife has told me the story about it.

 

It was during World War Two. Chet  Johnson was on a tank coming into a town in France,all the people were cheering and jumping up and down. Chet reached down and grabbed the red beret off a guy on the street.

 

Chet sadly passed away a few years before Jack in around 2001.

 

 

photo lent site Forget me Not Pix

Edited by Jerry Entin, 01 April 2020 - 15:45.

[Jerry Entin]

Richie Ginther and Jack McAfee in Porsches and Jack Hinkle in his Kurtis Offy. 500X

Ginther won the event.held at Eagle Mountain Race course.

 

Ralph Miller's Lotus 11 with Jack Hinkle.s Kurtis Offy 500X parked next to him

The first 500X example was SX-1 and was built for Jack Hinkle. Hinkle installed a four-cylinder Offenhauser midget engine and used it to compete in the smaller displacement race categories of its day

Getting a drink behind the car is Chet Johnson and Jack Hinkle is sitting in chair.with white Pith Helmet on.

Edited by Jerry Entin, 03 April 2020 - 18:06.

[Jerry Entin]

Jack Hinkle's 300S Maserati with Chet Johnson working on it.

 This Maserati was raced by Dale Duncan and Jo Bonnier at Sebring in 1958.  Jack Hinkle was the third assigned driver,

But Jack Hinkle never took the wheel. It was owned by A.V. Dayton.

 

 

Top photo Pete VanLaw collection.-copyright 2003 VanLaw collection.

Bottom photo Richard Macon collection

all research Willem Oosthoek.

Edited by Jerry Entin, 08 April 2020 - 00:04.

[PRUNET]

Late in 1956, Jack Hinkle drove a Ferrari 750 Monza (probably 0498M) in some races including Stillwater (2.9), Coffeyville (30.10) and Fort Sumner (?). Can anyone confirm and add photos ?

Antoine

[Jean L]

Hello,
Yes for Coffeyville 30/10 and it is 0498M(MD).SCCA magazine Jan 1957 say "This was the first time out for Jack Hinkle in his new Monza".
Race 4 1st n°1 Ferrari 4,5l Dale Duncan
2 n°7 Ferrari Monza Jack Hinkle
3 n°12 Ferrari Monza Loyal Katskee (0554M)
Jean

[ERault]

Don't you love those obscure SCCA meetings ! According to Barchetta, John Kilborn and 121 LM 0558 raced at Coffeyville on october 21. Surely there was not 2 meetings in 2 weeks and some dates got confused ?

As an aside, which 300 S did Hinkle raced ? That an unusual (and beautiful to my eyes) color scheme !

[David McKinney]

Originally posted by ERault
As an aside, which 300 S did Hinkle raced ?

3060

[coco]

Originally posted by David McKinney

3060

Wrong! See my upcoming book about the 300S. History of all cars chassis-by-chassis!

Ciao!
Walter

[Jerry Entin]

Jerry Hansen #44 and Jack Hinkle #61 CanAm Lolas in the 1975 Elkhart Lake June Sprints

 

 

photo: Sports racing Ltd

Edited by Jerry Entin, 03 April 2020 - 11:47.

[Manfred Cubenoggin]

Jerry Titus.

Now there's another name worthy of a stand-alone thread.

[David McKinney]

OK, that will teach me for taking my information from unreliable websites
My only defence is that I've never studied sportscars in the same depth as single-seaters

[coco]

Originally posted by Jerry Entin
David McKinney:
We can argue which chassis number the Hinkle car was, but it was not 3060. That particular chassis started out as a factory entry at Sebring in 1956, heavily damaged in the Esses by Menditeguy. The damaged 300S stayed with Maserati Corporation of America on Long Island, where Jerry Titus [later of SCG] single handedly rebuilt it as a long-nose car. It was left unpainted in bare aluminum. Mighty ugly to look at, but it ran well. In 1957 John Edgar rented 3060 a number of times for Shelby, who won at Cumberland and Lime Rock. After that it was raced by Bob Bucher in the Northeast.

Incidentally, CoCo, when are we finally going to see that 300S opus of yours, promised so many Christmases ago. Production problems?
all research Willem Oosthoek.

The opus comes in full swing! The editor is going to get final editing. Good work about 26 cars and their very complicated history takes more time than with 3 or 10 cars.................! Also you know that I am doing the art-work by myself and as a professional Art-Director I am very demanding on that!

Ciao!
Walter

[ensign14]

Best. Plug. Ever.

[Jerry Entin]

Dean Case and Bob McKim and Jack Hinkle in 1948 next to Jack's street version Kurtis. Their midget in the background. Bob McKim drove and Jack Hinkle and Dean Case sponsored it.

 

photo L.A. Ward - lent site Darrin McKim collection.

scanned for site and all research Bob Lawrence.

Edited by Jerry Entin, 01 April 2020 - 13:32.

[Jerry Entin]

 

                                           Jack Hinkle's Lola T 160 bought from his buddy Carl Haas.

Edited by Jerry Entin, 08 April 2020 - 00:10.

[Manfred Cubenoggin]

Jerry:

Those images of the 'street' Kurtis are tantalizing indeed. Beyond cool, in fact. Pls, more details if you have 'em.

[Jerry Entin]

Jack McGrath and Freddie Agabasin and his good friend Bill Vukovich

Or as their fellow Indy drivers called them  The Thin Man and The Mad Russian.

Edited by Jerry Entin, 02 April 2020 - 21:20.

[fines]

That's not Jack McGrath in the middle - perhaps Jack 'Cactus' Turner?

[fines]

It's Tony B. alright, you cannot mistake HIM for anyone else! Just to make sure, there's a pic in Wallen's Fabulous Fifties, p384, showing Tony with long(ish) hair, just as in your photo, and the pic is well dated by the car he is leaning against: the 1952 Kuzma, as purchased by Bob Sweikert in the summer of 1955, and before sold on to Pete Salemi in early 1956!

[Jerry Entin]

Jack Hinkle and his friend Carl Haas.
They both loved cigars. Carl doesn't seem to be offering Jack Hinkle one here.
photo Jeri Hinkle collection - scanned for site Laurie Williamson.

Edited by Jerry Entin, 02 April 2020 - 16:49.

[Jerry Entin]

Jack Hinkle and his friend Jim Kimberly
Notice Jack is packing his own cigar in this photo. This is a hunting trip and Jim Kimberly was the President of the SCCA.
photo Jeri Hinkle collection - scanned for site Laurie Williamson.

Edited by Jerry Entin, 01 April 2020 - 23:56.

[Johnny Mac]

I believe the gentleman to the left in the photo with Tony B. is Jimmy Daywalt, a noted driver during that era.

[Jerry Entin]

Jack Hinkle and his Maserati in action. #21 is Bobby Aylward. Jack is right next to him [not visible #2

Edited by Jerry Entin, 03 April 2020 - 14:04.

[Jerry Entin]

Porsche 906 Carrera this is what Jack Hinkle's Porsche looked like

Edited by Jerry Entin, 04 April 2020 - 09:01.

[Jerry Entin]

Jack McGrath in the Hinkle Special in 1951

 

 

photo: IMS photo

Edited by Jerry Entin, 04 April 2020 - 09:34.

[Jerry Entin]

Jack McGrath in 1953 in the Himkle Special

 

 

photo: IMS photo

Edited by Jerry Entin, 04 April 2020 - 09:39.

[David M. Kane]

Jerry:

That Rex Dean photo is awesome!

[chuckbrandt]

Does the Hinkle Special Indy car still exist?

Chuck

[fines]

Originally posted by chuckbrandt
Does the Hinkle Special Indy car still exist?

No, see: http://forums.autosp...235#post3114235

[Jerry Entin]

The Great Jack McGrath in the Hinkle Special in 1953
Jack McGrath qualified 3rd at Indy and finished 5th in 1953. Car is Kurtis Kraft 4000 Offy

photo from Duke Westerhaus collection - scanned for site Bob Lawrence
all research Bob Lawrence

Edited by Jerry Entin, 31 March 2020 - 20:22.

[T54]

Jerry, thanks for posting that geat pic of Jack McGrath! I assume that the car is based on a Kurtis chassis or was it a home-bred machine?

[ZOOOM]

This car was at the Miller at the Milwaukee mile show last Saturday. It is purported to be the original McGrath car.


Here it is at speed along with Rathman's 59 Indy second place car.
That's a Miller front drive of about 1928 comming into the pits, in the foreground.
ZOOOM

[Jerry Entin]

Chuck here is the Hinklle Special as it exists today

This is from the Vintage Indy in 2011 and that is Dick Dittman the owner at that time.

Dick is now 91 years old. 

Edited by Jerry Entin, 04 April 2020 - 01:34.

[Fred Burke]

I own Jack's Cooper Monaco, and have a few historical pictures and references that I will attempt to post, if someone will help. I have pics in digital form, but cannot seem to figure out how to post them (computer illiterate!).

Below is a summary version of the car's history:

Tracy Bird Cooper Monaco-Ferrari
… #CM 5/62 was the fifth and last chassis produced by the Cooper Car Company in 1962, serving
as the prototype for the “King Cobra” of the following year. Originally equipped with a 2.7L
Coventry Climax FPF that had been used in Grand Prix racing in Europe, CM 5/62 was delivered
to Wichita banker and oil man Jack Hinkle, who was an important figure in American racing:
• Car owner for driver Jack McGrath, who won the Indy 500 pole in 54,
and finished 3rd in ‘51 & ‘54
• Chairman of the SCCA Board in ‘61
• Accomplished sports car driver, winning 9 of 12 races and the MiDiv
D Mod championship in ’64
(in CM 5/62)
(picture of Jack Hinkle receiving CM 5/62 from the factory, ‘62)

“Garnett, KS: With 65,000 persons watching, Ken Miles … finished
ahead of Harry Heuer driving a Chaparall and Jack Hinkle driving a
Cooper Monaco. Hinkle in the Cooper Monaco had the best time --
1:53. Dick Thompson 1:59. Harry Heuer and Ed Hamill in a
Cooper Monaco Ford 1:56.” Kansas City Star, July 8, ‘64

(picture of Hinkle and CM 5/62 in action, 64)

Hinkle sold CM 5/62 after the ‘64 season to Tracy Bird, who installed a 3.0L Ferrari V12 GT
engine and raced it very successfully in ‘65/’66:
“the car was… unbeaten on the West Coast in the 3 Liter D-Mod class of those days. It regularly won the
class and would run 2nd or 3rd overall in Nationals, and won overall in Regional races that didn’t have too
many big Modified cars. I won the Class in Division and was leading the Run-offs at Riverside that Fall by
a good half lap, when (gearbox problems caused a DNF). The car was always #91 – my number from the
1951 Palm Springs race.” Tracy Bird.

Bird was also an important figure in racing. While Chairman of the SCCA Board, Bird developed
the USRRC series, and with Jim Hall, was the architect of the Can-Am rules.
“Tracy Bird and Hall … worked out rules … on the telephone. Each had a car of his own, Hall a
Chaparral and Bird a Cooper [CM 5/62], and they would call each other after 8 p.m. when rates were
cheap. One would mention scoops and the other would rush out to measure scoop size on the car sitting in
his garage, and either agree or propose a modification.” Leon Mandel.
Bird sold CM 5/62 in ‘68 to Pete Lovely, who is well-known for
also installing a Ferrari engine in a Cooper T-51 Grand Prix
chassis and racing the resulting “Cooper-Ferrari” at the Formula
1 race at Riverside in ‘60, finishing 11th.
“The following year (‘66), the SCCA boobs eliminated the class, so I sold the car
to Pete.” Tracy Bird.

(picture of Gary Grove and CM5/62 in action at PIR, ‘68)

CM 5/62 was acquired from Lovely in ‘74 by William Cammarano, who restored the car to Tracy
Bird specs, enjoyed it for 30 years, and then sold it on to Fred Burke, who intends to continue the
chain of good stewards of this historically significant sports racing car.

[Jerry Entin]

Jack Hinkle in 1962 when he first took delivery of his Cooper Monaco.

photo - Fred Burke collection.

Edited by Jerry Entin, 02 April 2020 - 00:06.

[Jerry Entin]

Here is a letter from Jack Hinkle explaining his Cooper Monaco to previous owner.


Letter lent site - Fred Burke collection.

Edited by Jerry Entin, 03 April 2020 - 13:37.

[Jerry Entin]

Jack Hinkle's Cooper Monaco as it looks now.
Jack's Cooper CM/5/62 at Monterey for the Vintage races in 2006. Now owned by Fred Burke.

photo - Fred Burke collection.

Edited by Jerry Entin, 02 April 2020 - 01:58.

[Jerry Entin]

Bank Billboard from the early 60's.


photo lent site Fred Burke collection

Edited by Jerry Entin, 01 April 2020 - 04:26.

[Jerry Entin]

Jack Hinkle in his Cooper Monaco in the day.


photo Fred Burke collection.

Edited by Jerry Entin, 01 April 2020 - 04:23.

[Jerry Entin]

Jack Hinkles Cooper at Monterey Vintage races

 

Fred Burke collection

Edited by Jerry Entin, 03 April 2020 - 13:41.

[Jerry Entin]

Jack Hinkle in his CanAm lola

 

photo Jeri Hinkle collection

Edited by Jerry Entin, 04 April 2020 - 14:40.

[suthvid]

I love seeing these shots of Jack's car. I've read previously on this forum of the whereabouts (and demise?) of his Brabham, does anyone know what happened to the Porsche 906 and the Lola T160? My father was a friend of Jack's and Chet's, and I was privileged to visit the shop and see these cars. You can not imagine what it was like as a young boy to see these beautiful works of art, and Chet's shop was immaculate. As my father would often comment "you could eat off the floor". I would love to see these cars again.

The shot of Jack taking delivery of the Cooper looks to be Chet Johnson's shop off of Douglas Street near Lawerence Stadium (as it was called back then).

John Sutherland

[etceterini.com]

John, are you Bob's son??

-cliff reuter

[RA Historian]

Originally posted by suthvid
I love seeing these shots of Jack's car. I've read previously on this forum of the whereabouts (and demise?) of his Brabham, does anyone know what happened to the Porsche 906 and the Lola T160? John Sutherland

Jack's Lola T-165 was at the Road America historics back in the 80s driven by some fellow (can't remember the first name) named Nero. It still had the same replacement rear deck on it that was installed after Jack backed into the guard rail in the 1977 June Sprints. Hinkle ran the T-165 from 1970 through 1979. Don't know about the T-160 that he had in 1969.
Tom

[suthvid]

Cliff,

No, my dad was Tom Sutherland. He passed away in 1984.

As for the Lola in question, it might not had been the 160 I'm thinking of but the 165. I found a picture, I'll scan it and upload it. I graduated high school in '72, and it seems like it was after 1970. Unfortunately, between moving to MA, getting married twice, and cleaning out the house after my mom's death, I seem to have lost most of my photos and negatives. The single shot I found may be all that's left.

John

[mgruss]

I am intereted in what you came up with. I own a 53 Cunningham coupe ordered and owned by Jack Hinkle. He must have been a pal of Briggs?

Martin(mg@gruss.com)

[B Squared]

Photos of the great Jack McGrath in Hinkle's Indy entries from 1952 and 1953. The '52 car looks quite similar to the car in the photograph of post number 74) on page two. The 1953 shot was taken in a similar time frame to the photo of Jerry Entin's post number 89).
 

Kurtis Kraft (KK) 3000, 270 Offy, Maroon/ Silver, Qualified 3rd, Placed 11th


KK 4000, 270 Offy, Q3, P5

Brian

Edited by B Squared, 10 April 2020 - 14:31.

[fines]

Originally posted by B Squared
The '52 car looks quite similar to the car in the photograph of post number 74) on page two.

It is the same car, and the '53 car is the same as in the next posted picture (post #75).