North Texas Skinny Cars

Lucky161 · 1/9/11, 10:09 AM

---------- Post added at 10:13 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:09 AM ----------

This is an example of what we called "skinny" cars in the N Texas area in the late 60s early 70s. It was an evolution from the earlier full width 55-57 Chevys to compete with earlier coupes which were starting to run with modern V8s instead of the old flat heads and inline 6s. I don't know of any other place that ran these cars. After a few years, they were replaced with Vega, Pinto, Gremlin etc bodies and became more like modifieds in the rest of the country.

Ken Bonnema · 1/9/11, 2:44 PM

Thanks Lucky!!,

We ran the exact same thing in Nor. Ca. They were called Limited Sportsman out there, They were NASCAR sanctioned and top runners included 1966 State Champ Vic Irvan, whose son Ernie went on to win the Daytona 500, former Winston West Champ and Riverside 500 winner
" The Racing Farmer" Ray Elder and 1974 NASCAR Super Modified State Champ Lloyd Beard among many others. Just like you, we started with full body " claimers" (no fenders) then they started makin' them skinny about 1965. Then came teardrop wings, Corvair and Vega bodies and eventually they went back to full size, again without fenders. The class was dropped in the early 80's but was re-born in the mid 90's and renamed Valley Sportsman. They are still racin' them at Merced, Chowchilla and Madera in the Central Valley. I'll post some links here pretty soon. BTW, LOVE them Crackle Pipes!!

---------- Post added at 11:20 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:44 AM ----------

Here's a couple of links. The first one is Don O' Keefe's Antoch memory's page. He and his Wife Linda, race the LOK Ent. 0k Sprinter and Midgets and now live in Pittsboro. Don started his racing career in the Sportsman Class at Antioch in 1974.
http://antiochspeedwaymemories.homestead.com/

This one is to a 50 year history of Stockton 99 Speedway in Ca. If you start around 1962, you can watch the evolution of the class but it's worthwhile to start at the beginning as there is lots of history here. The first Main Event Winner was none other than Bill Vuckovich and many other legends followed him. Stockton 99 is the last of the old time NASCAR tracks and they are still runnin' strong. ENJOY!!

http://www.stockton99speedway.com/Hist/HistINDEX.html

Lucky161 · 1/9/11, 7:33 PM

Wow! I wasn't aware of any other "skinny" cars. They look very similar. Thanks.

1/9/11, 2:44 PM	#2 Re: North Texas Skinny Cars
Ken Bonnema Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 5,802	Thanks Lucky!!, We ran the exact same thing in Nor. Ca. They were called Limited Sportsman out there, They were NASCAR sanctioned and top runners included 1966 State Champ Vic Irvan, whose son Ernie went on to win the Daytona 500, former Winston West Champ and Riverside 500 winner " The Racing Farmer" Ray Elder and 1974 NASCAR Super Modified State Champ Lloyd Beard among many others. Just like you, we started with full body " claimers" (no fenders) then they started makin' them skinny about 1965. Then came teardrop wings, Corvair and Vega bodies and eventually they went back to full size, again without fenders. The class was dropped in the early 80's but was re-born in the mid 90's and renamed Valley Sportsman. They are still racin' them at Merced, Chowchilla and Madera in the Central Valley. I'll post some links here pretty soon. BTW, LOVE them Crackle Pipes!! ---------- Post added at 11:20 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:44 AM ---------- Here's a couple of links. The first one is Don O' Keefe's Antoch memory's page. He and his Wife Linda, race the LOK Ent. 0k Sprinter and Midgets and now live in Pittsboro. Don started his racing career in the Sportsman Class at Antioch in 1974. http://antiochspeedwaymemories.homestead.com/ This one is to a 50 year history of Stockton 99 Speedway in Ca. If you start around 1962, you can watch the evolution of the class but it's worthwhile to start at the beginning as there is lots of history here. The first Main Event Winner was none other than Bill Vuckovich and many other legends followed him. Stockton 99 is the last of the old time NASCAR tracks and they are still runnin' strong. ENJOY!! http://www.stockton99speedway.com/Hist/HistINDEX.html

1/9/11, 7:33 PM	#3 Re: North Texas Skinny Cars
Lucky161 Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 243	Wow! I wasn't aware of any other "skinny" cars. They look very similar. Thanks.