19 replies to this topic

[Jerry Entin]

Nedra Ware in Marshall, Texas, where her rooms are filled with racing paraphernalia

On October 20 some 160 former race drivers and mechanics joined the Reunion at Soldier Creek Ranch in West Fort Worth. Gracious hosts were R. David and Sherri Jones. Some well-known names of the past were present to enjoy the traditional barbecue and we will post photos of a number of them in this thread.

However, on our way to Fort Worth we first made a stop in Marshall, Texas, to visit Nedra Ware. Texas-born Nedra raced a Siata in the January 1957 Little Sebring race and was very competitive with production Porsches around the Southeast in the late fifties/early sixties, when she and husband Jim Ware lived in Chattanooga and West Palm Beach.

Nedra is still good friends with former racers Smokey Drolet, Lonnie Rix and Bob Bellows, and was part of J. Frank Harrison's crew at Nassau in 1962. She fondly remembers how Lloyd Ruby drove her around the track on his Harley-Davidson.


photo: Willem Oosthoek

Edited by Jerry Entin, 24 October 2012 - 19:56.

[Jerry Entin]

Among the cars on display at Soldier Creek Ranch were the Lotus 23 of R. David Jones and the newly restored Elva Mk 7 owned by Willis Murphey.


photo: Willem Oosthoek

Edited by Jerry Entin, 24 October 2012 - 20:03.

[Jerry Entin]

Willis Murphey of Fort Worth and his Elva Mk 7. Willis used to race a Chevy-powered Ferrari 250TR around the Southwest in the early sixties.

photo: Willem Oosthoek

Edited by Jerry Entin, 24 October 2012 - 20:07.

[Jerry Entin]

The Lotus 23 of R. David Jones was the former Mason O'Keiff car. O'Keiff was very successful in it in the mid sixties.


photo: Willem Oosthoek

Edited by Jerry Entin, 24 October 2012 - 20:11.

[Tim Murray]

Nedra Ware in Marshall, Texas, where her rooms are filled with racing paraphernalia
photo: Willem Oosthoek

Nedra posted here for a while, and had some good stories to tell:

Well I've got one wilder!

We were in Ft Lauderdale Frank Harrison, Smokey and me. Frank asked me to take Smokey to dinner as he had to go somewhere. After dinner, Smokey and I walked past Frank's room on the second floor of the motel and we heard voices. The doors were glass lattices, so Smokey broke a pane with her fist so she could open the door from the inside. Well, Frank was with this chick - naked, of course - so Smokey took her by the hair and out to the balcony to throw her over it and into the swimming pool! Thank goodness we all stopped her...

Frank read the Bible all the time, but sometimes it didn't work.

NW

Any chance she could be tempted back here to tell a few more, Jerry?

[Jerry Entin]

Charlie Barns as seen at the reunion

Charlie Barns of Dallas began his race career in late 1959 with a 1.3-liter Alfa Romeo Veloce. He was a consistent winner in EP class in those early years.

Tim: I can ask her if she would relate a few of her stories.


photo: Willem Oosthoek

Edited by Jerry Entin, 24 October 2012 - 20:27.

[Jerry Entin]

Reunion host R. David Jones

R. David ran his first race in January 1960, at Hondo, Texas. His car was a Lotus 11/Climax bought on a payment plan from his employer Bill Parham. It was the former Bobby Aylward 11 and David won the Novice Race in it. Later in the year he decided to go back to school and the generous Parham was willing to take back the Lotus, reimbursing him the installments. Later in life David became a top SCCA executive. He still competes today.


photo: Willem Oosthoek

Edited by Jerry Entin, 25 October 2012 - 02:08.

[Jerry Entin]

Fabulous co-host Sherri Jones was able to join the party, in spite of her daily chores, taking care of the numerous residents at Soldier Creek Ranch: cows, a horse, donkeys, chicken, fish, dogs and cats. Since my last visit the resident peacock decided to move across the road to a neighboring property, although Sherri still hears his cry once and awhile.

photo: Willem Oosthoek
all research: Willem Oosthoek

Edited by Jerry Entin, 25 October 2012 - 02:15.

[Jerry Entin]

Bob Walters

In between banking jobs, Bob Walters crewed for Bobby Aylward and Delmo Johnson in the late 50s/early 60s. Various customizations on Aylward's Maserati 250S, such as the leather headrest, were Bob's work.

In late 1961 Bob did the racing chores on behalf of Pat Boone in the movie State Fair, released in 1962. Its racing scenes, supposed to take place in Dallas, were actually filmed on a dirt track at Oklahoma City. Bob's car was the Dean Knight Ferrari Monza with Chevy engine. Other drivers featuring in the movie were Delmo Johnson [XK-SS/Chevy], Ernie Grimm [Lotus 11/Climax] and his brother-in-law Enus Wilson [Maserati 300S/Chevy].

photo: Willem Oosthoek

Edited by Jerry Entin, 25 October 2012 - 02:22.

[Tim Murray]

Tim: I can ask her if she would relate a few of her stories.

Excellent - thanks Jerry.

[Jerry Entin]

Delmo Johnson and J.C. Kilburn.

Veteran drivers both. Delmo ran his first race at Eagle Mountain early in 1959. His car? Of course "blackie", his black 1959 Corvette. Later in the year he bought Bob Stonedale's Jaguar XK-SS/Chevy, to be repainted black as well.

J.C. came from Illinois, where he raced a number of different cars, including a Lotus 11. By the end of 1960 he became sales manger for Alan Connell's M-B dealership in Fort Worth, giving him ample opportunity to continue racing in the Southwest.

photo: Willem Oosthoek

Edited by Jerry Entin, 25 October 2012 - 21:10.

[Jerry Entin]

Bill Janowski of Monsterati Special fame.

Numero Uno! having flown in from California with his own plane, Bill Janowski was a little peckish by the time the barbecue was served. He was number one in line.


photo: Willem Oosthoek

Edited by Jerry Entin, 25 October 2012 - 21:14.

[Jerry Entin]

Coming down from Oklahoma, Toly Arutunoff was in good spirits and remarkably mobile after his dreadful accident on a snowy highway last year.


photo: Willem Oosthoek

Edited by Jerry Entin, 25 October 2012 - 21:19.

[arttidesco]

Thanks for putting so many faces to names that until now I have only read about

[Jerry Entin]

Enus Wilson started racing a Corvette in 1957, then switched to a Maserati 300S, followed by two Birdcage Maseratis. All were painted purple.

Art: Glad you are enjoying seeing the Texas reunion and the participants.


photo: Willem Oosthoek

Edited by Jerry Entin, 25 October 2012 - 21:30.

[Jerry Entin]

Enus Wilson, Toly Arutunoff, Ernie Grimm Jr. and Charlie Barns


Ernie Grimm Jr's father was also named Ernie Grimm. Ernie Sr was married to LaVeeda, Enus Wilson's sister and he raced a variety of cars: Corvette, the ex Hap Sharp Maserati 200SI, Enus' Maserati 300S/Chevy and a Lotus 11/Climax. LaVeeda raced an Alfa Romeo in her days.


photo: Willem Oosthoek

Edited by Jerry Entin, 25 October 2012 - 22:55.

[Vettefinderjim]

Coming down from Oklahoma, Toly Arutunoff was in good spirits and remarkably mobile after his dreadful accident on a snowy highway last year.


photo: Willem Oosthoek

HELLO TOLY. SO HAPY TO SEE YOU UP AND ABOUT. I AM SORRY I MISSED THE EVENT. MY WIFE IS HAVING SOME MEDICAL ISSUES.

[Vettefinderjim]

HERE IS WHAT WE CALIFORNIA PEOPLE DID ON THE SAME WEEKEND. THOSE OF US THAT COULD NOT ATTEND WENT TO THE RIVERSIDE RACEWAY MUSEUM TO PAY OUR

''TRIBUTE TO JERRY GRANT''

http://forums.corvet...erry-grant.html

Edited by Vettefinderjim, 25 October 2012 - 23:11.

[RA Historian]

Charlie Barns of Dallas began his race career in late 1959 with a 1.3-liter Alfa Romeo Veloce. He was a consistent winner in EP class in those early years.

Charlie was the 1964 SCCA GM National Champion. Drove a Merlyn Mk VI, as I recall.
Tom

[Jerry Entin]

Willem Oosthoek and Frank Lance

Frank Lance worked for Jim Hall, Ebb Rose, John Mecom and Carroll Shelby. Frank Lance has seen it all and he was a tremendous resource for Willem's upcoming book Sports Car Racing in the South, Volume 2, will be out by early next year.



Photo: Bob Walters