108 replies to this topic

[Jerry Entin]

The 1960 12 Hours of Sebring proved extremely tough on all the top contenders. All four Birdcage Maseratis dropped out, as well as the NART Ferrari 250TR. Early on, the private Ferrari 250TR of Jack Nethercutt suffered a long delay that would cost it the race. The great beneficiaries were the underpowered Porsches, although the German marque also suffered its share of retirements. Hans Hermann and Olivier Gendebien won the event in a 1.6 Liter Porsche RS-60, followed home by Bob Holbert and Roy Schechter in a 1.5 Liter Porsche RS-60.


Above photo shows the 2nd place Sebring Porsche RS-60#44 of Bob Holbert and Roy Schechter. Roy is the good looking guy in the white driver's suit. Bob Holbert in the cockpit and crew chief and reserve driver Howard Fowler on the right. The car was a private entry owned by Hubert Brundage of Brumos Porsche of Jacksonville, Florida. It was brand new, having arrived from Germany only three days before the race.

Internationally, Roy Schechter was relatively unknown. He was the quintessential SCCA amateur driver in those days, competing mostly in regionals in the Southeast where his name was often misspelled in the race programs and final results.

This thread is going to show the great looking race cars of Roy Schechter and tell the forum members about Roy Schechter.

Today Roy is 85 years young and he still flies his own airplane, an experimental Glasair. This thread is long-overdue, it came at the suggestion of Willem Oosthoek, and Roy has kindly loaned Willem his personal pictures to tell the story of his race career. Some of the cars Roy raced were a Mercedes 300SL, a Lotus 11, a Porsche RSK, a Lotus 19, a Beach, and of course the RS-60 Porsche that he took to 2nd overall at Sebring in 1960
all research Willem Oosthoek- photo lent site Roy Schechter collection

[Jerry Entin]

This great picture from Sebring in 1960 shows Roy Schechter driving the #44 Porsche to a fine 2nd place finish.

The 1.5 Liter Porsche RS-60, here with Schechter at the wheel, was no match for the larger engined works RS-60 of Hermann/Gendebien, although Holbert managed to lead the eventual winners during the first two hours. With 8 hours completed the two Porsches led the race, running 1-2 until the checkered. Fastest laps were 3:25.42 for the winning car on lap 123 and 3:28.11 for car#44 on lap 119.

But#44 did have its problems as well. Towards the end of the 12 Hours a broken bolt on the cylinder head of Schechter's Porsche RS-60 caused an oil leak. Mechanics Glen Carroll and Vasek Polak tried to remedy the problem but could not stop the leak completely. After losing valuable time in the pits, Schechter drove as fast as he dared, feeling the hot breath of Pete Lovely in the Nethercutt Ferrari 250TR down his neck. He managed to outrun the Testa Rossa by a lap.
above photo lent site by Dave Nicholas www.barcboys.com
all research Willem Oosthoek

[Jerry Entin]

Roy Schechter was born in New York City on June 27, 1921. He studied pre-med at the University of Virginia, but World War ll intervened. Roy volunteered to join the U.S. Army Air Corps and received his ground school training at Maxwell Field, Alabama and his flight training at Union City, Tennessee and Courtland Airbase, Alabama,where later in life he would compete in many sportscar races. He received his wings at Seymour, Indiana.

Based in the heel of Italy as a 23 year old First Lieutenant with his own B-24 Liberator flight crew, Schechter executed 52 missions over Nazi territory, including six raids on the oil fields of Ploesti in Rumania. The latter were so dangerous, someone claimed Roy aged six years because of them. Later on, he flew P-38 and P-47 fighters from North Africa across the Mediterranean into Europe. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal for his efforts.

After the War a cousin in Palm Beach, Florida introduced Roy to his future wife, whose dad owned a chain of movie theaters in the Miami area and Nassau. Roy joined the family business, which is how he met E.D. Martin, who ran a similar chain in Georgia and Northern Florida. Schechter's first competition event was a club race at Sebring, the day after the 1957 12 Hours, He finished 3rd in class at the wheel of a Mercedes-Benz 300SL. It did not take long for E.D. Martin to catch the racing bug as well, also in a 300SL.
All research Willem Oosthoek
photo lent site Roy Schechter collection

[RA Historian]

This could be interesting. I have often wondered about Roy. He was the "unknown" driver who finished second at Sebring, then seemingly fell out of sight. A couple years later I recall that he drove a Lotus 19, when those were the cars to have. It seems that he drove his 19 only a very few times, then sold it, I think, to the Causey twins.
Tom

[iharos]

Another wonderful thread by Jerry. Looking forward to following this.

[Jerry Entin]

This is a picture of Roy Schechter's Lotus 11 winning at Courtland, Alabama in 1957.

After the 300SL Mercedes, Roy Schechter bought a 1.1 liter Lotus 11 that he raced in G Modified class. That class was for cars with engines 1.1 to 1.3 liters. Luigi Chinetti in New York sold the Lotus 11 to him, indicating that in those days Luigi's activities were not confined soley to Ferraris. Richard Macon bough a Cooper Monaco from Luigi, while Lee Lilley bought a Lotus 11 from Chinetti's soon to be partner George Arents.

The above picture shows Roy Schechter winning the opening race of the Confederate GP held at Courtland, Alabama on July 7, 1957. The 15-lap, 50 mile race was for production cars under 1.6-liter and modifieds under 1.5 liter. Roy spun out during the early laps and was passed by Jim Harbour's Porsche 550. But by lap 5 the Lotus 11 was back in the lead, which it kept till the end. Harbour's Porsche and Lucky Casner's hot Alfa Romeo Veloce followed him home.

And I hope you do enjoy this thread Iharos and thank you very much for your kind words.

all research Willem Oosthoek- photo lent site Roy Schechter collection.

[Jerry Entin]

Another photo of Roy Schechter and his Lotus 11

The above photo was taken on that hot weekend at Courtland, Alabama in July 1957. One month later Schechter entered the car in the SCCA National at VIR Danville, where he finished 6th overall in Race 5, a 14 lapper for FM and GM entries. The FM class Porsches of Bob Holbert, Charlie Wallace, Dick Thompson and Sesslar finished ahead, while Jesse Wyllie in a Lotus 10 and Schechter were the first GM finishers.

Schechter started 1958 well by winning Race 5, a 25 lapper for G Modifieds and C,D and E production cars, in the Orange Bowl National held at Opa-Locka's Masters Field on January 12. Next came the Regional at New Smyrna Beach on February 16, where he scored 4th overall and 1st in GM class in Race 4 a 12 lapper for modifieds, only beaten by Joe Sheppard in a Maserati 200S, Lucky Casner was entered in a Ferrari 500TR and E.D. Martin was in a 3.5 liter Ferrari Monza.

The New Smyrna feature Race # 6 which ran over 40 laps was another matter. Running a strong 2nd overall behind Sheppard towards the end of the race, Schechter got into the marbles briefly. The Lotus 11 got sideways, to be T-boned by Peter Laffe's Bobtail Cooper. Both cars retired with extensive damage.
all research Willem Oosthoek-photo lent site Roy Schechter collection.

[Jerry Entin]

The Monday edition of the Daytona Beach Morning Journal featured this shot of Schechter's damaged Lotus 11, with Peter Laffe on the right consoling Roy. Just another racing accident! Schechter did not feel like repairing the Lotus 11 and sold it to Lucky Casner, who had inherited second overall in the feature after the accident.
all research Willem Oosthoek.

[Jerry Entin]

A pleased Roy Schechter with his new Porsche RSK in September of 1959. He preferred race number 7, but since others used it already, he was often forced to go with 27 or 37 instead.

After selling his damaged Lotus 11 in February 1958, Schechter started the Porsche phase of his race career. He bought a used 1.5 -liter 550 RS from Mike Marshall in Miami, to be run in F Modified. Marshall himself had been very successful with the car until he crashed it in practice for Bill France's professional New Smyrna Beach races in February 1957. The car wasn't that badly damaged, but Marshall ended up partly paralyzed, confined to a wheel chair. The unfortunate owner was not deterred and continued campaigning as a car owner. Schechter's 550 may well have been the same car that carried Eddie Crawford to Victory for Marshall at Fort Pierce in September 1957. Roy bought it with a service contract, meaning that Marshall Motors did the maintenance.

Roy's first 550 RS race came at VIR on May 4, 1958, for a 3rd in FM behind Don Sesslar and Bob Holbert. Later in the year he and co-driver Lew Rappaport led most of the Sam Collier Memorial, a 6- hour race held at Venice, until passed by Joe Sheppard's 550 in the final hour. Another good result came in the Bahamas in December, where Schechter took it to 6th overall in the feature for the Nassau Trophy.

By 1959 the 550 became a bit long in the tooth and Schechter upgraded to a new Porsche RSK with 1.5-liter engine. His first outing with the RSK came on September 6, in the 4 Hours of Alamar, a little remembered event in Cuba. Relations with the U.S. were still good enough for the SCCA to do most of the organizing of the Cuban race, in spite of the fact it came with a good purse. Roy Schechter suffered from a slipping clutch and finished 4th overall.
all research Willem Oosthoek- photo lent site Roy Schechter collection.

[Jerry Entin]

Roy Schechter and his RSK Porsche in the December 6, 1959 Nassau Trophy race.

After his mechanical problems in Cuba. Roy bounced back strongly in the October 11, Courtland Sports Car races. In the preliminary he fought Jim Hall in Frank Harrison's 450S Maserati for 15 laps, leading six of them. However, in the end the 400 horses of the big Maserati proved too hard to overcome. In the 25-lap feature the battle continued until Hall ran out of tires. Eight laps from the end Hall was forced to pit for new rubber, while Roy fought off E.D. Martin's Ferrari Monza for first overall victory over the big iron.

Two week later, at Dothan, Alabama. Jim Hall used longer lasting Dunlops but had to concede to Martin's new Birdcage Maserati. Dothan's Napier Field did not benefit the smaller cars and Schechter had to settle for 3rd overall.

Roy's season ended with the Nassau Trophy in the Bahamas, where he finished 14th overall, between the Rodriguez Brother's Testa Rossa and Lloyd Ruby's Maserati 570S. Earlier in the week he scored 7th overall in the Under-2-liter race for the Governor's Trophy.
all research Willem Oosthoek, photo lent site Willem Oosthoek collection.

[Jerry Entin]

This image is from the Daytona Beach Morning Journal of February 1, 1960. The front runners of the compact car race at the Daytona Speedway get tangled: Paul O'Shea #9, Richard Petty #43 and Larry Frank #76, while Roy Schechter #17 slips through safely.


Bill France organized a number of speed events leading up to the 1960 Daytona 500. Sunday, January 30th, started with two sportscar races, both won by Ed Rahal in a Jaguar D Type. Next on the program were two races for compact cars on the 2.5-mile banking. Oval track stars present were Fireball Roberts-Corvair, Joe Weatherly-Falcon, Speedy Thompson-Simca, Marvin Panch-Valiant, Curtis Turner-Falcon, Larry Frank-Valiant, Lee Petty and son Richard sharing a Valiant, The road racers were represented by Schechter-Valiant, Paul O'Shea-Valiant, Pedro Rodriguez-Volvo, Ricardo Rodriguez-Corvair, Denise McCluggage-Volvo, Ed Hugus-Corvair, Jeff Stevens-Valiant and Chuck Dietrich-Volvo. All races were live broadcast on CBS'S Speed Spectacular.

Race #1 for the compacts, a 10-lapper, proved a bonanza for the Valiants. Panch finished ahead of Frank, Stevens, O'Shea, Schechter and Lee Petty. Race#2 was for 20 laps and proved that compacts can cause a pile-up as well. While leading, O'Shea got bumped from behind and when the dust had cleared, O'Shea, Richard Petty and Jeff Stevens were out. At the checkered Roy Schechter finished an excellent 2nd behind Marvin Panch. Larry Frank was the only other entry to go full distance. One lap down came Joe Weatherly and Curtis Turner in Falcons, while 9th place Denise McCluggage was the highest Volvo finisher, beating Pedro Rodriguez and Chuck Dietrich.

This was Roy Schechter's first and only experience racing at the Speedway. He anticipated trouble and stayed in the lowest lane possible, thus escaping the carnage. He led most of the feature, but was not informed by his pit crew about the rapidly gaining Panch. Schechter was passed four laps from the finish by the future 1961 Daytona 500 winner.

all research Willem Oosthoek.

[Jerry Entin]

Schechter sold his 550RS Porsche to Glen Carroll early in 1959 and raced his RSK Porsche last in Nassau in December 1959. He does not recall where the RSK ended up. For Sebring in March 1960, Roy was invited to co-drive the Brumos RS-60 with Bob Holbert.


Here is a photo of the team's last pit stop. A tired Bob Holbert is resting on the pit wall after his stint, with Schechter ready to tackle the last hour of the race. Mechanics are trying to fix the Porsche's oil leak. Vasek Polak is ducked down on the left hand side of the car. After bringing the car across the finish line in 2nd overall, Schechter joined the celebrating team for a cigar and a coke. Holbert mentioned that he never expected Roy to finish the race "I thought we would have to pick you up somewhere along the track in the dark."
all research Willem Oosthoek-photo lent site Roy Schechter collection.

[Jerry Entin]

Sebring 1960 turned out to be the only World Championship event that Roy Schechter ever participated in. In fact this, and the Pensacola National the following weekend, would be his last sportscar events for 1960. By now a Miami Springs-based Porsche dealer, soon to add the Volkswagen franchise, Schechter concentrated on his business.



However, there was still room for other types of competition. In August of 1960 Roy entered his first sail boat race, the annual Key Largo 50 miles across Biscayne Bay. He won, sailing his Catamaran across the finish in 3 hours, 15 minutes and 30 seconds, a new record. The record stood for 10 years.
all research Willem Oosthoek- clipping lent site Roy Schechter collection.

[flat-16]

Keep up the good work, Jerry

This thread is developing nicely, with the usual standard of photos. To someone who's grown up in the UK and formed their opinions on the US scene via the eurocentric media, your threads on the less obvious American events have been a revelation to me.


Justin

[Jerry Entin]

Glad you are enjoying the thread Justin. As they say " You have seen nothing yet" The forum members are very Lucky that Roy Schechter has loaned his great pictures and told the stories of his racing to the members.

[Lotus11Register]

This is Roy's Lotus Eleven at the New Smyrna, Florida track. Like post #8, it shows that he had a rough weekend although today Roy doesn't remember this incident, only the crash that occured later. The photo is from an obscure 1959 sports car book by Tom McCahill, better known as a writer for Mechanix Illustrated magazine. The caption reads: Fallen Lotus, de-wheeled, rests at sideline .

When I last spoke with Roy (thank you Willen Oosthoek for his number) his recollections proved me wrong in my assumptions about which Eleven this likely was. There are several distinctive touches to the body work, and other racers remembered it as a 1.5 liter, but Roy either doesn't know or disagrees with those observations. There doesn't appear to be a trace of it before or after his ownership. It's another puzzler.

[Charles Helps]

Originally posted by Lotus11Register

... It's another puzzler.

[Jerry Entin]

Interesting photo, but it is unlikely that it shows any type of racing incident. Let's see when it could have been taken. The 1958 New Smyrna Beach Regional hosted six races on Sunday:

Race 1: 7 laps for novices [including several MGAs]
Race 2: 12 laps for F, G and H production, and H modifieds [more MGAs]
Race 3: 12 laps for B, C, D and E production [no MGAs]
Race 4: 12 laps for all modifieds [no MGAs, with Schechter finishing first in GM, fourth overall behind Sheppard, Casner and Martin]
Race 5: 40 laps for the Race 2 classes [more MGAs]
Race 6: 40 laps for all modifieds and B, C, D and E production [no MGAs]; Schechter was running 2nd overall when the collision took place.

So whatever the Lotus 11 situation depicted in the photo, the image was not taken during any of its races, as Schechter did not compete against MGAs. I guess it is a wheel/tire change or some other kind of preparation before Race 4 or 6.

all research Willem Oosthoek.

[thomaskomm]

Hello Jerry Entin!
I have a question: In your first Photo about the Sebring race 1960 is there Hubert Brundage anywhere? He was the creator of the Original formula vee the nardi (1960) at first a Formula Junior car, but then rebuilt as an own class.

Thank you for reply

Thomas

[Jerry Entin]

Not the best picture but the guy on the right in the checkered shirt is Hubert Brundage. Seen with Roy Schechter and Bob Holbert.
photo lent site Roy Schechter collection.

[Jerry Entin]

This is for Jay Sloane: Schechter got his Lotus 11 from Luigi Chinetti, so the lead to follow is... who traded his Lotus 11 for a Ferrari, with lots of additional cash no doubt.
Also, Schechter sold the Lotus 11 to Lucky Casner, in "as is" condition. Roy remembers that Casner had the Lotus 11 repaired. Roy also recalls that at some point at Daytona, Casner invited TV anchorman Walter Cronkite to take the wheel in the car, to get a feel what it was like. Cronkite had raced at Sebring in 1959, finishing 40th in a Lancia Appia Zagato entered by Charlie Kreisler. I wonder if the event that Schechter remembers was the January 1960 Daytona Regional race [preceeding the compact race event in which Schechter finished second] that was broadcast by CBS, Cronkite's employer.
all research Willem Oosthoek.

[Ray Bell]

Originally posted by Jerry Entin
.....The above picture shows Roy Schechter winning the opening race of the Confederate GP held at Courtland, Alabama on July 7, 1957.....

Superb name for an event! Thanks Jerry for all of this, keep up the good work...

By the way, I hope you don't mind if I pinch that Valiant photo for use on an Aussie Mopar forum? The guys there will be quite chuffed at that sight. All credit to the paper, Willem and yourself, of course.

[Jerry Entin]

If it was indeed the January 30/February 1 Daytona Regional that Cronkite sat in the former Schechter Lotus 11, there is more to the story. Promoter Bill France had arranged for world heavyweight boxing champion Ingemar Johansson to race a Lotus 11 in one of the televised events. However, the champ's insurance company objected and he was only allowed to wave the starting flag. But knowing Casner's flair for showmanship, it is entirely possible that he volunteered his Lotus for this stunt.

What happened to the car after that? On March 5-6, 1960, two Lotus 11 appeared for another Regional at the Speedway, both in FM: Burrell Besancon of Hollywood in #2 and George Lehman of Lakeland in #36. Could either have been the Schechter car? Casner is likely to have sold the Lotus 11 locally.
all research Willem Oosthoek

[Wolf]

Sorry that I don't have anything of substance to contribute to this thread, but merely wanted to thank Jerry, Willem and all who are making this wonderful 'little' thread full of great photos, info and stories...

I've never heard of the man before, let alone knew anything about him, but now I'm quite intrigued and charmed by the whole story. Thanks guys.

[Jerry Entin]

Roy Schechter in his Porsche 550 RS, at Nassau in December of 1958.

The nose of the car is all taped up after a little off-road excursion in the Speed Week. The driver approached one of the turns too fast and decided to go straight rather thas risk an overturned car. The fence was not kind to the Porsche's nose, but in spite of the damage Roy Schechter finished 4th overall in the Porsche race on Saturday and 5th overall, first in FM in Sunday's Memorial Trophy. In the 252-mile Nassau Trophy, Roy Schechter came home 6th and 1st in FM again.

I am glad you are enjoying the thread Wolf. The forum members have Laurie, Willem's wife to thank for scanning all these great photos that were lent the site by Roy Schechter. She is the one who has made it possible for me to post them.

all research Willem Oosthoek. photo from Roy Schechter collection.

[Jerry Entin]

Roy Schechter's Lotus 19.

Masters Field, Miami, late summer 1961. In his search for a "hotter car" Roy Schechter ordered the latest Chapman product, a brand-new Lotus 19 with 2.5 liter Climax engine. Chassis 958 came in Roy's color choice, an attractive blue. Its price was around $12,000 and it arrived with a roll bar installed already, plus a windshield wiper.
all research Willem Oosthoek-photo lent site Roy Schechter collection.

[Ray Bell]

Originally posted by Jerry Entin
.....it arrived with a roll bar installed already, plus a windshield wiper.....

Chapman didn't waste too much tube on that roll bar, did he?

Was the wiper required for US regs?

[Jerry Entin]

Ray: No sanctioning body in the U.S. required windshield wipers on cars. The device would only have been necessary if Roy Schechter's Lotus 19 was ever entered in the 12 Hours of Sebring, which it wasn't. Neither the BRP Lotus 19 of Moss, nor the Arciero Lotus 19 of Gurney featured wipers when introduced in the U.S. in 1960. And I agree that roll bar looks marginal.
all research Willem Oosthoek.

[thomaskomm]

Thank you Jerry!!
This photo is very good for my reasons! The thread is phenomenal! Can´t stopping reading..

Thomas

[Jerry Entin]

Roy Schechter and his Lotus 19, with rear view mirror and minus the wiper, during the December 1961 Nassau Speed Week.

Roy had high hopes for his state-of-the-art purchase. Unfortunately, it was not to be. Although the owner recalls the Coventry-Climax as being "a super engine", the car's gearbox let him down in virtually every race entered, with continuous ring-and-pinion gear failure.

Schechter's first race with the Lotus 19 came on September 16-17, 1961, at the Big Pine Key hillclimb, time trials held in the Florida Keys. Next, he entered the Pensacola Regional on October 28-29, followed by the Osceola GP at Geneva, Florida on November 11-12. Each time the Lotus failed to make it to the finish.

Finally, at Nassau in December, Schechter managed to reach the checkered, for a 3rd overall in one of the 5-lap preliminaries. But the Lotus completed only 3 laps in the December 10 Nassau Trophy feature race.

The team tried to harden the ring-and-pinion gear. When the gearbox failed again in practice for the next event, the July 28-29, 1962 Divisional at Sebring, Schechter decided to sell the car. In August 1962 chassis 958 went to Dean Causey in Indiana.
all research Willem Oosthoek- photo lent site Roy Schechter collection

[Jerry Entin]

Roy had much better memories of his reliable Porsche 550 RS, here seen in the 6th Sam Collier Memorial Trophy, a Six Hour race held at a twisty 3.5-mile airport course near Venice, Florida on October 12, 1958. The track, featuring four high-speed corners and six sharp turns, was known to be hard on tires and clutches.

On Saturday Schechter finished 3rd overall [1st in FM] in the sprint, behind Ed Rahal's 3.4-liter D-type Jaguar and George Koehne's Maserati 200SI. For Sunday's Le Mans start 45 cars lined up, 19 modifieds and 26 production entries. Among the modifieds were a 250TR for E.D. Martin/Bill Kimberly, Ed Rahal's D-type, Lotus 11s for Lucky Casner and J.J. Packo, 2-liter Maseratis for Koehne and David Lane, and the 550 Porsches of Schechter and Joe Sheppard. Production cars ranged from Corvettes to Turners and DB Panhards.

The Six Hours was to be run on a complicated Index formula designed by Reggie Smith, race secretary of the Sebring 12 Hours. However, in the end it did not make a difference in the overall results. Martin led the first hour, Schechter and co-driver Lew Rappaport the next four, while in the final hour Sheppard's Porsche just squeezed past Schechter's car. Both completed 133 laps, also good for a 1-2 in the Index of Performance. Rahal --who got soaked in fuel after a bad pitstop -- came next, 5 laps down, then Lane in 4th. Cuba's Johnny Cuevas claimed 5th overall with a Porsche Carrera GT, making it a complete Porsche day.
all research Willem Oosthoek-photo lent site Roy Schechter collection.

[Ray Bell]

The Gibsons had an answer to that ring and pinion problem here in Australia...

They lapped in a Vauxhall crownwheel and used that instead of the original ZF piece. It was a near perfect fit.

They still failed, but cost a lot less and failed less often.

[RA Historian]

Roy Scheckter is probably reading that, slapping his head, and thinking, "NOW, they tell me!"

[Jerry Entin]

Second owner Dean Causey was not any luckier with Schechter's Lotus 19. Repainted red but with the flimsy roll-bar still in place, he and twin brother Dave entered the Road America 500 on September 9, 1962. In an incident that happened to several Lotus 19 drivers at the time -- Stirling Moss, Dan Gurney, Lloyd Ruby, Augie Pabst -- the car caught fire, on the pace lap in this case. The flames were extinguished and damage turned out to be superficial. After repairs the Causey's continued and finished 23rd and last.

The photo shows Dean Causey before the car's second race under his ownership, the October 21, 1962 Pacific GP at Laguna Seca. Still with windshield wiper, but now with a much sturdier roll-bar. In a field of 25, Dave Causey qualified 21st and dropped out in the first heat.
all research Willem Oosthoek- photo from Willem Oosthoek collection.

[Jerry Entin]

Not even Roy Schechter would recognize his chassis 958 by 1965, when Dean Causey had introduced numerous upgrades to keep the Lotus 19 competitive.

Here is Dave Causey at the wheel of the Lotus 19, now powered by a 289 Ford V8. The race is the 1965 Road America June Sprints, where Dave finished 2nd overall behind Jim Hall's Chaparral 2. The race was started in torrential rain and was cut back from 40 laps to 20. For a while it looked as though the raintire-equipped Lotus would be a match for the remaining Chaparral [Hap Sharp crashed his on the opening lap] but as the track dried out, a 2nd overall was the best to be accomplished.
all research Willem Oosthoek-photo lent site Willem Oosthoek collection.

[Jerry Entin]

Roy Schechter's last race for 1960, the April 3, 1960 SCCA National at Pensacola, Florida. He ran the same 1.5-liter RS-60 used at Sebring the week before.

The photo shows the start of the feature race, with Hap Sharp [#95 Cooper Monaco with Maserati power], Gus Andrey [#25 Tipo 61 Maserati] and Roger Penske [#6 Porsche RSK, partially seen] filling the front row. Row 2 shows Bill Fuller [#17 D-type with Chevy power] and David Lane [#133 RSK with ant-eater nose and Camoradi livery]. Schechter [#47] is on row 3, next to Chuck Cassel [#16 RSK]. In the back is Art Huttinger with his #45 Bocar XP-5.

Andrey won the race, followed by Penske [1st in FM], then Lane [first in EM because of his 1.6 liter engine], with Schechter 4th [2nd in FM] and Cassel 5th [3rd in FM]
all research Willem Oosthoek-photo Willem Oosthoek collection.

[Jerry Entin]

Roy Schechter's first ride in his Porsche RSK, at the September 6, 1959 Alamar 4 Hours in Cuba. It was held at a track not far from Fidel Castro's home residence. While the national Anthems are being played, Roy and his #7 RSK can be seen in the middle of the row. Joe Sheppard's #2 Porsche 550 RS and Alfonso Gomez Mena's #43 Ferrari 250GT TdF complement the front row.

It rained part of the race. Roy ran solo but suffered from a slipping clutch. He finished 4th overall. Joe Sheppard shared the 550 RS with brother Bob and won the race, over Gomez Mena and Ramiro Montalvo in the 250GT and Fausto de Chavez and Diego Febles in the Jaguar XK-SS.
all research Willem Oosthoek.-photo from Roy Schechter collection

[Jerry Entin]

Roy Schechter's next competition car came in 1963. It was the first-ever Beach, chassis 3-005, a design by Gene Beach of Clearwater, Florida. The car was essentially a continuation of the Begra Mk 3, designed by Gene Beach with Henry Grady.

Now also a BMW distributor, Roy ran his Beach in H-Modified with a 700 cc BMW motorcycle engine. He remembers his purchase as "a wonderful little car". His first race came at Sebastian, Florida on July 20-21, 1963, where he retired with a broken exhaust. In the Daytona Regionals for the Paul Whiteman Trophy on August 31-September 1 Schechter was 2nd in HM on Saturday and won his class on Sunday [12th overall]. Two more class wins followed at the Donalsonville, Georgia Regionals on September 21-22, 1963.
all research Willem Oosthoek-photos lent site Nick England

[Jerry Entin]

Today is Roy Schechter's birthday and he is 86 years young. Happy Birthday Roy from the Nostalgia Forum.

[Bjorn Kjer]

[Jerry Entin]

This is Roy Schechter today in his Glasair experimental plane. It can go over 200mph and cruise at 170mph. Roy flies as much as possible. He loves it!

Control Panel on Roy's plane.

Roy sitting on the wing of his Glasair.
photos lent site Roy Schechter.

[Jerry Entin]

Roy Schechter in his Porsche 550RS. This was Roy's second race in the car. This was at Chester, South Carolina, May 17, 1958. Roy retired due to a broken connecting rod. The Victory went to Dan Clippenger in J. Frank Harrison's Maserati 450S.
all research Willem Oosthoek- photo lent site Roy Schechter collection.

[Jerry Entin]

Roy Schechter in his Porsche 550RS at the Sam Collier 6 hour held at Venice, Florida on October 12, 1958.

Roy Schechter going by the abandonned Lotus 11 belonging to Lucky Casner.
all research Willem Oosthoek- photos lent site Roy Schechter collection

[Alan Cox]

Thanks again for another fascinating thread, Jerry, and for Roy's input and all who have provided photos.

[Jerry Entin]

Here is 7 year old Robbie Schechter in 1959 with a friend of his, from England I believe. This was at Nassau. Robbie was a big fan of his dad Roy Schechter's racing. Stirling Moss was someone young Robbie looked up too. Robbie was the proud owner of a quarter midget that he and his friends ran at empty parking lots. Roy Schechter was his mechanic.
Glad you are enjoying the thread Alan. Roy Schechter has been kind enough to loan Willem Oosthoek his great pictures from his racing days. And to tell his stories about the races to the forum members. We also have Willem's wife Laurie to thank for scanning these photos so I can put them up for the forum members to enjoy.
above photo from Roy Schechter collection.

[Jerry Entin]

Roy Schechter liked his trusty bubble shield, here he is carrying goggles as back up. Picture shot from pit wall at Nassau in 1961.
photo Roy Schechter collection

[Jerry Entin]

Le Mans starts were very popular for 1950s SCCA regionals in the Southeast, until the Club banned the practice after some near-calamities at Boca Raton in March 1959. This is the start of the November 16, 1958 feature at Dunnellon Airport. Roy and his #27 550RS are lined up next to his archrival: Joe Sheppard's #2 Porsche. Bill Cooper's Morgan beat them both off the line. Schechter finished 3rd overall behind the Ferraris of Lucky Casner and E.D. Martin.

And away they go!
all research Willem Oosthoek-photos Roy Schechter collection

[Jerry Entin]

Another Le Mans start, this time for the December 7, 1958 International Nassau Trophy. Roy has his taped-up #30 Porsche 550RS, with little Ricardo Rodriguez [red overall] in a similar car #9. Carl Dorr of Miami, racing the Alfa-Romeo Veloce #22, takes his cockpit comforts to new heights by wearing shorts. Carl looks more like a streaker than a racer.

Roy Schechter finished 6th overall, Ricardo Rodriguez dropped out, while Carl Dorr took the Alfa to an excellent 12th overall.
all research Willem Oosthoek-photos lent site Roy Schechter collection.

[Jerry Entin]

Another shot of the November 1958 Dunnellon race, with Roy Schechter leading Duncan Forlong's Porsche Carrera and Ed Rahal's D-type Jaguar.
All research Willem Oosthoek- photo lent site Roy Schechter collection.

[P 4 Staff]

Originally posted by Jerry Entin

Another Le Mans start, this time for the December 7, 1958 International Nassau Trophy. Roy has his taped-up #30 Porsche 550RS, with little Ricardo Rodriguez [red overall] in a similar car #9. Carl Dorr of Miami, racing the Alfa-Romeo Veloce #22, takes his cockpit comforts to new heights by wearing shorts. Carl looks more like a streaker than a racer.

Roy Schechter finished 6th overall, Ricardo Rodriguez dropped out, while Carl Dorr took the Alfa to an excellent 12th overall.
all research Willem Oosthoek-photos lent site Roy Schechter collection.

Jerry...fantastic pictures Got me to go through all my old motor magazines just to scan this drawing of Kent Hollinggård from a "Teknik För Alla" 1959.



Best: Staffan