[FishBurger]

Came across the program for my first ever USAC Sprint Car race (the program says "Big Car Races"). I doubt that many, if any, here would have much interest but I enjoyed reviewing the events of that day.

20 Cars - 10 Offy Power - 10 Chevy Power

Time Trials
1 A. J. Foyt 18.80 (Defending Eastern Sprint Car Champ)
1 Parnelli Jones 18.80 (Defending Midwestern Sprint Car Champ)
21 Elmer George 19.10
3 Chuck Hulse 19.15
19 Leon Clum 19.21
10 Bud Tinglestad 19.22
9 Roger McCluskey 19.40
53 Ronnie Duman 19.42
56 Jim Hurtubise 19.42
20 Dick Pratt 19.65
31 Jim Hemming 19.66
15 Leroy Neumayer 19.67
7 A.J. Shepherd 19.68 (This was Gus Hoffman's car)
37 Bob Mathouser 19.74
17 Dave Norris 20.02 (Kerry's Dad)
80 Hugh Randall 20.28
35 Red Renner 20.34
5 Allen Crowe 20.51
57 Cecil Beavers 20.95
77 Martin Cosat 21.25

Interesting format back then. Top 5 qualifiers to the 100 lap feature starting straight up.

Heats were started straight up with top 4 to the feature in order of their finish. Next 4 line up in front of the next heat.

16 cars started feature.

1st Heat....................Start.........Finish
10 Tinglestad..................1.............2...
9 McCluskey..................2.............1..2.36.2
53 Duman.......................3.............3..
56 Hurtubise....................4.............4..
20 Pratt..........................5.............8..
31 Hemming.....................6.............5..
15 Neumayer....................7.............6..
7 Shepherd....................8.............7..

2nd Heat
31 Hemming.....................1.............1..2.38. 25
15 Neumayer....................2.............2..
7 Shepherd....................3.............3..
20 Pratt..........................4.............4..
37 Mathouser...................5.............5..
17 Norris.........................6.............6..
80 Randall.......................7.............7..
35 Renner.......................8.............8..

3rd Heat or Consy?? Only top 3 transfer
37 Mathouser..................1.............2..
17 Norris........................2.............1..4.3 0.49
80 Randall......................3.............4..
35 Renner......................4.............3..
5 Crowe - Scratched
57 Beavers - Scratched
77 Cosat - Scratched

Parnelli Jones (Fike Plumbing Chevy #1) won the 100 lap James-O'Connor Memorial with Elmer Feorge (Howe Special Chevy #21) 2nd and A.J. Foyt (Bowes Seal Fast Offy #1) in 3rd. For some reason that's all I had written down. Danny Burton and/or Keith Wendel probably have the rest. :wink

Hey, racing is done here for the season......whaddya expect from me? :checkered:

interesting to me that the car counts from back then are pretty much the same as they are now at the banked half mile speedplants!!!!

[fishnman]

Awesome reading Fish!:applaud:

[illiNOISE]

Originally Posted by FishBurger Time Trials 1 A. J. Foyt 18.80 (Defending Eastern Sprint Car Champ) 1 Parnelli Jones 18.80 (Defending Midwestern Sprint Car Champ)

95.74 mph average with no cages. Perhaps this belongs back on the "biggest balls" thread. LOL. Also, I'm surprised that USAC would allow two drivers to carry the champion's number 1 back then.

Originally Posted by FishBurger Interesting format back then. Top 5 qualifiers to the 100 lap feature starting straight up. Heats were started straight up with top 4 to the feature in order of their finish. Next 4 line up in front of the next heat.

Who would have guessed that USAC would actually have a more fan friendly format today than in their so-called "glory days."

[mac miller]

Originally Posted by illiNOISE Also, I'm surprised that USAC would allow two drivers to carry the champion's number 1 back then.

USAC had an eastern sprint car division and a midwest sprint car division back then....... In 1960, Parnelli was the midwest div. champ and Foyt was the eastern div. champ, making them both eligible to run the #1 in 1961.

[racephoto1]

Great stuff, look at the entry list, a hall of fame in itself !

[old timer 38]

Started going to Salem in 1947 an over the years have seen some of the great's driving there an to me it's and to me it's still one of the all time great track's

[Charles Nungester]

See our friend and IOW poster Cecil Beavers on there What year was this? 1492?



Great read Marv!
Chuck

[bobO]

tx u always great 2 get a blast from the past they laid the ground work so i get paid 2 do somthing i would do 4 free now a days :applaud:

[Hubie]

100 laps! I did not realize that they used to run 100 laps!

That is really, really taxing I would imagine.