Re: Lawrenceburg 100 Lapper for Sprints - 7/16/66
 

Marv, Earl Smith moved to Georgia in the early to mid eighties. He was running late Models still just a few years ago. He use to come up every couple years and run the North South 100 at Florence. He always makes a point to wear his " John Mugavin 1978 Northern Kentucky Speedway championship shirt". Hes a great guy and his old crew even comes out of the woodwork to help him when he comes up here.

Chick Hale and Ross Smith are the only two guys I have raced mods against that still wore open face helmets. Ross was just a 1 night comeback but Chick raced with his up till the mid 90's even at Eldora.

Re: Lawrenceburg 100 Lapper for Sprints - 7/16/66
 

Marv.

Bobbie Adamson(the correct spelling of his first name) was a pretty serious sprint racer in his time in Western and Central PA. He was driving the 35 for Wilbur Hawthorne in both Western and Central PA, and then moved to Central PA to drive for Al Hamilton. And he went to Ascot and Manzanita as well, and did pretty well, at that time.

While I could be wrong, I seem to recall that he won a major race at Ascot. He was among the first Western PA drivers to venture to the Selinsgrove/Williams Grove circuit and experience success. He was a heck of a wheelman!

Re: Lawrenceburg 100 Lapper for Sprints - 7/16/66
 

Ross Smith was clearly the fastest man that night but, they were experiencing over heating problems. The car was the black#5 owned by Oakie Drout (a local bookmaker). It was built by Herb Porter and Don Brown and was driven in USAC competition be Bobby Marshman until he died in 1964. I do believe Ross won the championship in 66 and he also won won of the 100 lappers that year. On the night I remember, Sheldon Kinser led most of the race with Ross chasing him. Fairly late in the race, Kinser's Brewer Cadillac powered sprinter threw the driveline out and Ross went on to win it. Ross was one of many drivers and racers to come out of a community in Cincinnati called Sayler Park.

The yellow #12 dune buggy-appearing modified was built by a guy by the name of Art Burkhart ("Burkie"). My dad drove for Burkie (modified)for several years and quit just before Burkie built that car (@1960ish). Frankie Mack was the first to drive. It was unique in that it had no front suspension. The axle was welded solid into the design of the frame much like a go-kart. It was an ill-handling car to say the least. Brett Burdette's grandfather took over the ride from Frankie Mack and was driving it the night that Marv references in this post. All of Burkies cars back then were yellow#12's and powered by a 312 Mercury engine with 3 single barrel carbs.

That's how my memory tells me it was. If any oldtimers remember it differently, chime in.

Re: Lawrenceburg 100 Lapper for Sprints - 7/16/66
 

I see Larry Dickson driving a #64. Who's car was that?

That #12 you were talking about....I think I saw it over at the race museum outside of Cinncy years ago...some guy named "Rusty" can't think of his last name had it. I took a photo of it and will try to find it and post.

And, Bobbie Adamson did win the Pacific Coast race at Ascot Park way back around that time. He was about the first week end warrior "super modified" racer from the east (that meaning not USAC sprint drivers) to venture out west to race.

Re: Lawrenceburg 100 Lapper for Sprints - 7/16/66
 

The guy's name was Larry Rust. He died before he could complete his museum project. He bought the straight axle modified that I built in 1978(Gremilin body) pictured on my website for that museum.

Re: Lawrenceburg 100 Lapper for Sprints - 7/16/66
 

Here is a picture I found of Mr. Adamson in 1966 ....