193 replies to this topic

[Jerry Entin]

 

Sometimes we get lucky with historical material. Last week Willem Oosthoek received a CD containing many color images of fifties sports car racing in the Southeast, although without any IDs about places or dates. The CD was sent by Harry C. Reynolds, author of a book on Formula III cars. Harry received it from a friend, who received it from Carl Brown. Brown mentioned in letter that he received the photos "from a friend whose father [handlebar mustache] used to race back then.".Since the CD contains many images of Tampa race drivers Duncan Forlong and Joe Sheppard, it is likely the the Forlong family was the original source of the photos. Duncan always featured a handlebar mustache. So.... off to the races again:

 

Start of the December 1956 Nassau Governor's Trophy for the smaller classes, showing:

 

#128 Manuel de Teffe in a Maserati A6 GCS

#38 Marion Lowe in a Frazer-Nash TF

#21 Allen Markelson in [according to the results] an Arnolt-Bristol Bolide; obviously not

#93 Wacky Arnolt in an Arnolt-Bristol Bolide

#45 Duncan Forlong in an AC Bristol

#39 Jim Lowe in a Frazer-Nash LM II

#26 Carl Haas in another mystery car, listed as a Porsche 550RS; but is it?

#34 Bob Publicker in a Yellow 625 LM in the race results it is claimed the car is a 500 TR

 

All research: Willem Oosthoek

ID help Bill Wiswedel

Edited by Jerry Entin, 03 March 2020 - 22:00.

[Jerry Entin]

Nassau, December 1956. Carroll Shelby, Masten Gregory and wife, and John Edgar [with hat] relax in front of the Edgar Ferrari 857S of Richie Ginther and the Boano-bodied Ferrari 250GT of Jan de Vroom.

 

All research: Willem Oosthoek

Edited by Jerry Entin, 02 March 2020 - 00:59.

[Jerry Entin]

Nassau, December 1956. Alfonso de Portago takes a passenger out in his Ferrari 860 Monza. He finished 2^nd in the Governor’s Trophy and 3^rd in the Nassau Trophy.

 

All research: Willem Oosthoek

Edited by Jerry Entin, 02 March 2020 - 01:05.

[Jerry Entin]

Nassau, December 1956. The Ferrari 857S raced by Phil Hill. He dropped  out in the two main events.

 

 

All research : Willem Oosthoek

Edited by Jerry Entin, 02 March 2020 - 01:13.

[bradbury west]

Brilliant photographs posted generously, Jerry and Willem.
Many thanks
Roger Lund

[Jerry Entin]

Nassau, December 1956. And then there was this young chap from England, who seemed to get the attention of all the girls.

Edited by Jerry Entin, 02 March 2020 - 14:54.

[Jerry Entin]

Nassau, December 1956. After his works Maserati entry fell through, Stirling Moss feared he would be without a ride. Briggs Cunningham’s wife Lucy's cousin Bill Lloyd  [seen here in a white T-shirt] stepped in and offered him his private Maserati 300S for the Nassau Trophy feature. In 1954 they had been co-drivers in the Sebring 12 Hours, winning the race with Cunningham’s OSCA MT4.

 

all research: Willem Oosthoek

Edited by Jerry Entin, 02 March 2020 - 20:11.

[Jack-the-Lad]

Brilliant.

Thank you.

[RA Historian]

 

 

#26 Carl Haas in another mystery car, listed as a Porsche 550RS; but is it?

 

 

That is Haas in a Porsche 550 Spyder. It is s/n 550-04. It was a works car in Mexico in 1954. It went to Robert Davis in 1955 and then to Fred Vetter of Elm Grove, Wis. in 1956. It was silver when Vetter raced it. He sold it to Haas in the fall of 1956 who painted it black. Haas raced it in 1957, still in black. Later it went to George Van de Sande, who repainted it silver.

 

I saw Vetter, Haas, and Van de Sande race the car. In fact, Vetter lived some half dozen miles from my home, and I remember seeing the Spyder parked under an awning next to his house.

 

Tom

[Jerry Entin]

Nassau, December 1956. Stirling Moss and Bill Lloyd discuss the changes of their 300S, after Lloyd damaged its body and radiator in an earlier race, and after Denise McCluggage fried its clutch on the way to scrutineering. Stirling seems optimistic, though.

 

The D-type in the background was raced by W.Walter  Huggler.

 

Thanks for the info on the Haas Porsche Tom.

Edited by Jerry Entin, 03 March 2020 - 00:37.

[Jerry Entin]

Nassau, December 1956. AC Bristol driver Duncan Forlong prepares for the start of one of the heats for the Governor’s Trophy. The Porsche next to him is F. Grauds’s Carrera.

Edited by Jerry Entin, 02 March 2020 - 18:03.

[Jerry Entin]

Nassau, December 1956. Another Porsche ready for action, this time the 550S raced by Mike Marshall, whose transporter shows up in many Southern pictures.

Looks like Vasek Polak helping him in white shirt and glasses.

Edited by Jerry Entin, 02 March 2020 - 18:11.

[Jerry Entin]

Nassau, December 1956. Cuban-American Johnny Cuevas with his Porsche Speedster.

Edited by Jerry Entin, 02 March 2020 - 18:16.

[Jerry Entin]

Nassau, December 1956. And Art Bunker brought his own Porsche 550S, doing well by finishing 9^th oa in the Nassau Trophy.

Edited by Jerry Entin, 02 March 2020 - 18:23.

[Jerry Entin]

Nassau, December 1956. The same cars as in the opening shot, lining up for the start. Duncan Forlong’s #45 AC Bristol up front, and there is that #26 Carl Haas car again, confirmed by Tom to be a 1954 Porsche 550S.

Edited by Jerry Entin, 02 March 2020 - 18:42.

[Jerry Entin]

In the Nassau Trophy Carroll Shelby led the first ten laps in the Edgar Ferrari 410S, then Moss took over with the Maserati 300S that Billl Lloyd owned. Here he comes in for refueling. 

Edited by Jerry Entin, 02 March 2020 - 19:55.

[Jerry Entin]

 

An impatient Moss waits for the fuel man, who turned out to be Bill Lloyd himself.

Edited by Jerry Entin, 02 March 2020 - 19:43.

[Jerry Entin]

Are we ready yet? Denise McCluggage looks on.

Note the lack of any safety equipment in the day.

Edited by Jerry Entin, 02 March 2020 - 19:51.

[Jerry Entin]

After his pit stop and with Shelby dropping out, it was smooth sailing for Moss and the Lloyd 300S. Following him at the finish were Masten Gregory and Alfonso de Portago, both in Ferraris.

Edited by Jerry Entin, 02 March 2020 - 20:08.

[wolf sun]

Wonderful.

Thank you, Jerry.

[Repco22]

Nassau, December 1956. And then there was this young chap from England, who seemed to get the attention of all the girls.

Great pics thanks Jerry & Willem. Looks like Stirling's mother and sister, Pat, in red top. And in next pic, Stirling's father, Alfred, holding paper.

[Jerry Entin]

Nassau, December 1956. Frank Baptista raced this Lotus Eleven Monza

Edited by Jerry Entin, 03 March 2020 - 00:56.

[Jerry Entin]

Before we leave Nassau 1956, an image of two timeless English beauties taken during the Speed Week: the #100 AC Bristol of R. Gillespie and the #39 Frazer-Nash of Jim Lowe.

 

Next stop: the 1953 Sebring 12 Hours, the second one organized.

Edited by Jerry Entin, 03 March 2020 - 22:00.

[Catalina Park]

Lovely photographs Jerry.

[raceannouncer2003]

Great photos.

 

Here is a link to an audio recording from Nassau 1956, "Pit Stop", from Riverside Records.  It featured sounds of the cars and voices of many of the well known drivers.

 

 

Vince H.

Edited by raceannouncer2003, 03 March 2020 - 07:01.

[Manfred Cubenoggin]

Swell stuff, Jerry.  Thanks to you and Willem.

 

Back in post #14 showing Art Bunker in his Porsche 550S, I immediately thought of Don Wester in his RS61 some years later.  Seems it influenced DW enough to do almost a direct copy of the livery.

[Jerry Entin]

 

Sebring, March 1953. This was the second annual 12 Hours race and still very much a local U.S. event, with only the works Aston Martin team among the entrants. The pit accommodation was still very rudimentary for the 51 participants.

 

The #8 is Bill Spear’s 2.7-liter Ferrari 225S, co-driven by Phil Hill. The car dropped out after 56 laps with differential problems.

 

Repco 22 thanks for the ID of the Moss Family. I guess they got to go to Nassau with Stirling. Nice Family trip.

 

All research: Willem Oosthoek

Edited by Jerry Entin, 03 March 2020 - 14:52.

[Jerry Entin]

Finishing second overall was the #30 works Aston Martin DB3 driven by Reg Parnell and George Abecassis, one lap behind the winning car.

Tent structures like the one in the background provided protection from the elements.

Edited by Jerry Entin, 03 March 2020 - 14:57.

[Jerry Entin]

Sebring, March 1953. Number 5 had to be Jim Kimberly in those days. Kimberly co-drove his 2.7-liter Ferrari 225S with mechanic Marshall Lewis. They brought it up to 3^rd overall during the fifth hour before retiring after 95 laps.

 

The white #91 OSCA MT4 was driven by Jim Simpson and George Colby, which finished 9^th overall.

Edited by Jerry Entin, 03 March 2020 - 16:13.

[Jerry Entin]

Sebring, March 1953. The overall winner, Briggs’s 5.4-liter Cunningham C4R, which was raced by Phil Walters and John Fitch. Running second overall behind the works Aston Martin DB3 of Peter Collins and motorcycle champ Geoff Duke, the Cunningham took the lead after the Aston Martin collided with a Jaguar after three hours of racing. The fellow with the hat is John "Jack" Donaldson. He was a master mechanic in the day.

 

picture ID Walter Carroll.

Edited by Jerry Entin, 07 March 2020 - 14:38.

[Jerry Entin]

Sebring, March 1953. Another Cunningham entry was this 2-liter Frazer-Nash TF assigned to John Gordon Benett and Charles Moran. It lasted only 28 laps.

Edited by Jerry Entin, 03 March 2020 - 21:58.

[Jerry Entin]

Sebring, March 1953. Jake Kaplan of Providence, Rhode Island entered his Jaguar XK-120M for himself and Russell Boss. They finished 10^th overall.

Edited by Jerry Entin, 03 March 2020 - 18:05.

[Jerry Entin]

Sebring, March 1953. Then there were two A6-GCS Maseratis. Fritz Koster of New York brought #48 for himself and Jorge Daponte of Argentina, but the latter never got any track time when Koster was disqualified after only 15 laps for a pit violation.

 

The #64, entered by Walter von Schoenfeld of Argentina, was co-driven by his fellow countryman Rene Soulas. They finished 27^th overall…. “although eventually non-classified because of insufficient distance covered.”

Edited by Jerry Entin, 03 March 2020 - 22:46.

[Jerry Entin]

Sebring, March 1953. A 724 cc Crossley-engined Siata, this one owned by Tom Scatchard of Philadelphia. He and Henry Wessells took it to 20^th overall.

Edited by Jerry Entin, 04 March 2020 - 00:44.

[Jerry Entin]

Sebring, March 1953. Hobart Cook of New York brought this 745 cc D.B. Panhard for himself and Frenchman Andre Moynet. They were disqualified for a pit violation after 130 laps.

 

Strangely, Ken Breslauer’s official Sebring records list the drivers as Bill Cook and John Marshall.

Edited by Jerry Entin, 03 March 2020 - 22:45.

[Jerry Entin]

Sebring, March 1953. This 2088 cc Morgan Plus 4 was entered by Mike Rothschild of New York, for himself and Jack Nile. They completed 119 laps, good for 23^rd overall, but were non-classified for insufficient distance covered. Sturdy bumpers, though.

Edited by Jerry Entin, 03 March 2020 - 21:52.

[Jerry Entin]

Sebring, March 1953. This 724 cc Crosley-powered Siata Spyder was entered by Paul Hessler of Delaware. Harry Beck and Charles Devaney drove it for him to a credible 18th overall.

Edited by Jerry Entin, 04 March 2020 - 00:35.

[Jerry Entin]

Sebring, March 1953. An attractive Jaguar XK-120 Coupe about to undergo many hours of pounding. Entered by Austin Conley of New Jersey, Conley co-drove the car with Norm Christianson. They retired after 56 laps.

Edited by Jerry Entin, 04 March 2020 - 17:03.

[Jerry Entin]

A C-type Jag entered by David Hirsch of New York for Bob Gegen and Harry Gray. The three-digit number for Sebring seems unusual today, but in 1953 the entrants still determined the race numbers used. The C-type finished 4^th overall, having occupied that position for the finals seven hours.

This is the final image of 1953 Sebring 12 hours on the CD

Edited by Jerry Entin, 04 March 2020 - 17:09.

[Jerry Entin]

Boca Raton, March 1957. Lining up for the Race 3 for the big production entries are:

 

#55 Duncan Forlong [AC Bristol]

#47 Evelyn Mull [AC Bristol]

#48 Walter Huggler [AC Bristol]

#711 Art Habersin [Gullwing Mercedes]

#14 Walt Hoover [Arnolt-Bristol] #78

#87 Jim Mackensie [Corvette]

 

all research: Willem Oosthoek

Edited by Jerry Entin, 04 March 2020 - 20:45.

[Jerry Entin]

Boca Raton, March 1957. This photo shows that Duncan Forlong was actually on the third row of the grid. The front row entries were:

 

#93 George Koehne [Gullwing Mercedes]

#27 Roy Schechter [Gullwing Mercedes]

#39 Edmund Rahal [Arnolt-Bristol]

 

Overall victory and DP1 went to Rees Makins [Gullwing] over Koehne and Chick Butcher [Gullwing]. Mackensie’s Corvette claimed CP class and Rahal EP class, beating Forlong and Mull.

Edited by Jerry Entin, 04 March 2020 - 20:50.

[group7]

Willem & Jerry, thanks for sharing these, brilliant images, worth a small book on their own,        

 

Michael

[Ray Bell]

Fabulous stuff, Jerry... and thanks to Willem sharing...

 

Apart from the race cars and the people, there is an eclectic lot of background cars in there. I think I see a Singer in a Nassau shot, one pic features front and rear views of Morris Minors, there are a few with Mk 7/8 Jaguars and an XK or two, a road-going Porsche, and I wonder about the cream-coloured car mostly hidden behind Moss in the Maserati. Another one of interest is in the background of the Masten Gregory shot. And a pair of Hudsons in one shot and the initial pic of the Nassau start looks to have a Humber Snipe on the sidelines.

 

And what is that dark car right above Duncan Forlong's head in the taped-up Nassau pic?

[Jerry Entin]

Boca Raton, March 1957. The starting grid for Race 6, the feature for the Silver Trophy:

 

#36 Joe Sheppard [Lotus 11]

#4 Warren Smith [Lotus 11 owned by Duncan Forlong]

#17 Jack Ensley [Jaguar D-type owned by Gay Jackson]

#111 Dick Dungan [Lotus 11]

#96 George Arents [Ferrari 500TRC]

#71 John Cochran [Porsche, running in FM so likely non standard]

 

Ensley won over Arents and Sheppard [according to MotoRacing] but the Boca Raton News reported that Ensley won over Sheppard, with Arents in third.

Edited by Jerry Entin, 05 March 2020 - 21:19.

[Jerry Entin]

Gainesville, GA, May 1957. English cars lined up for the 2^nd Enoche:

 

#37 Jim Quackenbush [Lotus 11]

#55 Duncan Forlong [AC Bristol]

#15 Warren Smith [Lotus 11, owned by Forlong]

Edited by Jerry Entin, 05 March 2020 - 23:14.

[Jerry Entin]

Gainesville, Ga, May 1957. Joe Sheppard’s #36 Lotus 11 joins the line-up.

At the finish of the feature the score was Sheppard, Smith, Forlong, Lonnie Rix and Quackenbush.

Edited by Jerry Entin, 05 March 2020 - 23:20.

[Lee Nicolle]

Seeing the pic of Stirling with a pudding basin helmet he must have had a cast iron face. Even with those little aero screens the stones would be flailing their faces. A modern full face with visor sounds a lot better! And tearoffs on the visor!

[Jerry Entin]

Edited by Jerry Entin, 05 March 2020 - 23:30.

[Claudio Navonne]

Thank you Jerry for sharing this little gem!

[rudi]

Interesting to see the Lotus 11 of Sheppard and Quackenbush still in their Sebring BRG colour, the noses being repainted to cover the plate numbers.