Powers Welding / King Custom Machine # 51 Sprinter
 

My wifes uncle is Bill Powers, who along with Bill King ,co-owned the King/Powers #51 Sprinter back in the late 70's thru the mid 80's. I was just looking for any old good stories, who drove for them, were they successful, type of cars, where the ran, kind of equipment, etc. on their team. It is kind of tough getting information out of Bill sometimes. Thanks in advance for all of your info.

Re: Powers Welding / King Custom Machine # 51 Sprinter
 

Your wife must be Shelly.

Re: Powers Welding / King Custom Machine # 51 Sprinter
 

My wife is Mary, Shellys cousin.

Re: Powers Welding / King Custom Machine # 51 Sprinter
 

I don't know much, I do believe Bill Powers made the first ever offset wheel.

Re: Powers Welding / King Custom Machine # 51 Sprinter
 

I think he said they were runner up one year in USAC points. All I know for sure is that Powers did not care to run second. He says if you ran second, you lost, and that was not worth a s%#t!! I also think they were one of the first teams to run a lot of titanium engine parts.

Re: Powers Welding / King Custom Machine # 51 Sprinter
 

Some of the driver's that I witnessed in the 51 car were: Jack Hewitt (won Hulman Classic in it); Rich Vogler; Larry "Buckwheat" Gates; Eddie Leavitt; to name a few. They had a mechanic/wrench nicknamed "Doc"

Re: Powers Welding / King Custom Machine # 51 Sprinter
 

Larry Gates is restoring the #53 silver crown car (1982) that these guys were involved with. Lowell Schmidt owned it. If you know Larry call him he would love to show it to you, its an awesome car, with a Sam Jones motor in it. if anyones got any pictures of this car or Larry, I'd love to see them

Re: Powers Welding / King Custom Machine # 51 Sprinter
 

I remember buckweat in the car. I believe it was white with red lettering. He ran some usac races with it.

Re: Powers Welding / King Custom Machine # 51 Sprinter
 

I may have a picture from an old program of Chuck Amati in what might be the 51 car you are talking about at Granite City. If someone who knows how to get pictures on here will send me their e-mail address, I'll send it to you to post, or if someone thinks they can tell this computer illiterate how to do it, I'll give it a try.

Re: Powers Welding / King Custom Machine # 51 Sprinter
 

I know Larry Martin drove it and later drove my #15.

Re: Powers Welding / King Custom Machine # 51 Sprinter
 

My grandparents lived right behind Bill King and the race shop in Evansville Bill was a very nice guy. My uncle keeped his latemodel at my grandparents house and bill would come over or papaw would send us back to bills shop to pick stuff up. Bill also owned Kngs machine shop and I think now lives in flordia. He employed my grandfather after he retired to help keep the shop clean (just to give him something to do and talk racing with each other).

Re: Powers Welding / King Custom Machine # 51 Sprinter
 

Two memories I really remember of that car. In the early days of WOO it was wing optional. It was up to the track. Kokomo wingless, Ferkel , no nerf bars to save weight.Him and Buckwheat get together ,and Buckwheat skies it. Goes as high as the light poles. Looks like its all over for Gates, it was coming down cage first. At the last moment it lands wheels down.Gates breaks his leg. He gets a cast on it. A couple of days later he breaks it of with a hammer, and makes one out of leather he ties on. One tough SOB.

Another time at Terre Haute,Levitt guts the motor going into 1. I mean he gutted it, pieces of crankshaft, with rods still attached laying on the track. It was one fast car, spectacular with Eddie on the cushion.

Re: Powers Welding / King Custom Machine # 51 Sprinter
 

Wow!!!!!!
That is the kind of stories I am interested in hearing......Thanks for the info.

Re: Powers Welding / King Custom Machine # 51 Sprinter
 

I've heard that story about the Ferkel deal many times from Gates, dont believe hes forgiven him yet! if I can figure out how to post pics I have some of the car being restored, can someone tell me how, Thanks

Re: Powers Welding / King Custom Machine # 51 Sprinter
 

If my memory doesn't fail me, I think that was in a fast car dash. I thought at the time those guys were really going at it hard for probably $50

Re: Powers Welding / King Custom Machine # 51 Sprinter
 

My Father, Cliff Cockrum drove the 51 car at Paragon on his last race before retirement. Rich Vogler had been driving the car at the time. I remember the photos of the baby blue and white/King Machine car. I have a newspaper clipping showing dad, hooking a rut and standing the car straight in the air, nose to the sky, I'll see if I cant locate it.

Shane Cockrum