Mutual Racing Association?
 

Does anyone have any information about this organization?

By "googling" I came up with this information:

NATIONAL SPRINT CAR HALL OF FAME & MUSEUM
TOM CHERRY by Don Anderson & Dave Argabright
http://sprintcarhof.com/FileGet.aspx?ID=128

He was instrumental, along with Dutch Hurst and others, in forming the Mutual Racing Association in Muncie, Indiana in 1938, Tom's hometown. Running "roaring roadsters", the group raced at the Muncie Steeplechase (literally, a steeplechase course) in 1939. By 1940, they began racing on the tight paved oval at Mt. Lawn Speedway near New Castle, Indiana. That was the year of Tom's first Mutual championship.

The Mt. Lawn website has an entire section devoted to the Mutual Racing Association. You can find it at www.mtlawn.com/MRA/Page.html

I know that in the fall of 1960 the membership of the Mutual Racing Association was combined with another club to form UMRA. I also know that the MRA had been sanctioning three-quarter midget racing for several years.

Had the MRA evolved from roaring roadsters to TQ's? Or was the MRA similar to USAC with different divisions, one of which was TQ's?

Does anyone know where I might be able to find statistics on any TQ races sanctioned by the MRA, or any other organizations?

Thanks,
Sandy

Re: Mutual Racing Association?
 

Sandy,

As the note suggest Mutual was a roadster association started by people like Dutch Hurst - first sanctioned the little 500 and raced all over Central Indiana - I think the Mutual you are thinking about was another TQ club that (if I recall) was based in Southern Indiana (I have just drive all night from Canada to see Reid play hockey so it is real early and I'm a tad fuzzy) In other words we are talking about 2 different groups

Re: Mutual Racing Association?
 

Ralph Yeagle raced with the Mutual club. We need to get him involved in this.

Joe

Re: Mutual Racing Association?
 

Originally Posted by psullivan:
Sandy,

As the note suggest Mutual was a roadster association started by people like Dutch Hurst - first sanctioned the little 500 and raced all over Central Indiana - I think the Mutual you are thinking about was another TQ club that (if I recall) was based in Southern Indiana (I have just drive all night from Canada to see Reid play hockey so it is real early and I'm a tad fuzzy) In other words we are talking about 2 different groups

Thanks Pat. I looked at the photo's and I knew the cars were not TQ's but the name was the same. Then when I saw the Muncie location I just assumed it was the same group.

Sandy

Re: Mutual Racing Association?
 

Originally Posted by TQ2M:
Ralph Yeagle raced with the Mutual club. We need to get him involved in this.

Joe

Joe,

There is a photo in the 1977 yearbook. It is from the 1961 banquet and has the following people in it:

Mel Harpring
Mike Quirk
Rick Meyer
Bud Montgomery
Elmer Smith
Tommy Gray
Bill Campbell
Eddie Clearwater
Ralph Yagle
Bob Parsons
Jim Gettlefinger
Dick Dwenger
Rollin Harpring
Sonny Ates
Russ Hankins
Don Ralston
Ralph Pipe

We need to get as much information as we can from these guys so that we can document the early days of TQ racing in the area.

Sandy

Re: Mutual Racing Association?
 

Sandy, I have a couple of "comebacks", that will be racing again this year, after a long hiatus, I'll ck with them, their fathers were involved back in those years, and before, one was a magazine publisher, for motorcycle powered, open wheel cars, he may have all the info, back to day one. Bob

Re: Mutual Racing Association?
 

Sandy,

I think it is really cool how many people on that list from '61 helped me 20 to 30 years later! Bud, Rick, Mel and Rollin, Elmer and Dick.

I have a great picture of your dad and Dick Dwenger in the Notham car hanging on my office wall.

I had the opportunity to talk to Ralph Yeagle a couple of years ago and enjoyed his stories, though I didn't know alot of the people he was talking about. I'll make some calls and see if Ralph might join us here. He has never been known as shy!
Joe

Re: Mutual Racing Association?
 

Originally Posted by TQ2M:

I have a great picture of your dad and Dick Dwenger in the Notham car hanging on my office wall.

Joe

That's pretty cool Joe. I would like to make two copies of that if you don't mind.

Charlie Dwenger

Re: Mutual Racing Association?
 

You bet Charlie. I'll see you soon. Madison was on of my favorites.
Joe

Re: Mutual Racing Association?
 

Sandy, does the name Bill Eply, Epley, come up in your data base? He said his dad ran, when they ran a lot at Muncie, in the early years. Bob

Re: Mutual Racing Association?
 

Originally Posted by TQ2M:
Madison was on of my favorites.
Joe

Good deal!

BTW...I am looking for a ride (for a past champion, not me) for the Madison race. Any chance that you would blow the dust off your car and bring it to Madison? He's a great driver and a heck of a guy. Just a thought....


Thanks Joe!

Charlie Dwenger

Re: Mutual Racing Association?
 

Charlie,
My car is apart and retired. I wouldn't be opposed to helping the right car/driver combo. I've got a lot of "stuff"!
Joe

Re: Mutual Racing Association?
 

Originally Posted by TQ2M:
Charlie,
My car is apart and retired. I wouldn't be opposed to helping the right car/driver combo. I've got a lot of "stuff"!
Joe

Thanks Joe!

I'll keep on lookin for a ride for "the SNAKE." It has too be a good ride. I hate to see this guy get into a "back-yard special." That is why I ask about the "Deuce-M."
You always did have alot of "stuff"....the "right stuff." :checkered:

Catch ya later,

Charlie Dwenger

Re: Mutual Racing Association?
 

Sandy,

I went back to 1st annual TQ National Championship program for a race held at Richmond (IN) on 9/21/57 - it noted the formation of the Midwest TQ Assn at the Rushville Airport (I wrote about this a bit in a SC & M article on the UMRA a few years ago) in 1951 and an indoor race was held at Hobart Arena at Troy Ohio (I have this program and Don Hewitt was a participant -or at least entered ). What really confused things is that by 1957 the Midwest TQ Assn is based in Muncie (a home base for the Mutual Racing Assn Roadsters)- At Columbus Oh the Buckeye TQ group was formed - and at Salem (undoubtedly at the fairgrounds)The Mutual TQ group was formed - The UMRA as a 1970 promotional flyer notes was formed by "uniting" Midwest with other existing clubs in Fall, 1960.

Re: Mutual Racing Association?
 

Originally Posted by TQ29m:
Sandy, does the name Bill Eply, Epley, come up in your data base? He said his dad ran, when they ran a lot at Muncie, in the early years. Bob

Bob,

I just looked at all of the information I had on UMRA through 1981 (I don't have anything for 1961 & 1964) and the name Epley does not appear.

Sandy

Re: Mutual Racing Association?
 

Originally Posted by psullivan:
Sandy,

I went back to 1st annual TQ National Championship program for a race held at Richmond (IN) on 9/21/57 - it noted the formation of the Midwest TQ Assn at the Rushville Airport (I wrote about this a bit in a SC & M article on the UMRA a few years ago) in 1951 and an indoor race was held at Hobart Arena at Troy Ohio (I have this program and Don Hewitt was a participant -or at least entered ). What really confused things is that by 1957 the Midwest TQ Assn is based in Muncie (a home base for the Mutual Racing Assn Roadsters)- At Columbus Oh the Buckeye TQ group was formed - and at Salem (undoubtedly at the fairgrounds)The Mutual TQ group was formed - The UMRA as a 1970 promotional flyer notes was formed by "uniting" Midwest with other existing clubs in Fall, 1960.

Pat,
Thanks for the info. I'll have to pull out my SC&M magazines and find the article. I know there was a TQ race on August 16, 1966 at Marysville, Ohio that was not a UMRA race. That night Rick Meyer drove for my dad and qualified 12th, won the heat and finished 6th in the feature (making $35.00). Maybe that was the Buckeye TQ's? Ralph Bickel, Jr. would probably have more information in that group.
Sandy

Re: Mutual Racing Association?
 

Sandy, I believe he was out of the Michigan group, that ran primarily at Muncie, and his favorite track was Rushville, probably in the time frame you mentioned. Did you come up with anything on Benny Nay? He was a self described"backmarker", but now is the owner of a car, that knows Victory Lane! Bob

Re: Mutual Racing Association?
 

I remember Benny. He ran in the early to mid 80's.

Re: Mutual Racing Association?
 

I have some of Bennys mags. stored away somewhere. I think it was called Midget and Minisprint magizine (?)

Re: Mutual Racing Association?
 

Joe, he came to a few races this past season, lives in Oak Hill, Ohio. He bought JL's car, and plans on running some races this summer. He sent me some of his old publications, very interesting, and one heck of a writer, and graphics, I'll have to add one of his "impressions" as my avitar! Bob

Re: Mutual Racing Association?
 

Originally Posted by Sandy Lowe:
Bob,

I just looked at all of the information I had on UMRA through 1981 (I don't have anything for 1961 & 1964) and the name Epley does not appear.

Sandy

In 1964 I started racing TQ for Tommy Brand & Oscar Lucas Ralph Gentry Was the president Soupy Campbell Sonny Ates & I done alot of confusing Ralph he let me run I was only 19 you was supposed to be 21, it was alot of FUN.. Butch Wilkerson#1:angry-smiley-007::angry-smiley-007::checkered::checkered:

Re: Mutual Racing Association?
 

Originally Posted by TQ2M:
Ralph Yeagle raced with the Mutual club. We need to get him involved in this.

Joe

Sandy that #32 car with Burton driving I believe is Lowell Walls car from Columbus Ind. He had 23/32 cars Crochette drove 23, I think Burton got killed at Mt Lawn Speedway, I really enjoy getting back in THE GOOD OL DAYS HAHAHA! Butch Wilkerson#1:angry-smiley-007::angry-smiley-007::applaud::applaud::checkered:

Re: Mutual Racing Association?
 

Originally Posted by Sandy Lowe:
Joe,

There is a photo in the 1977 yearbook. It is from the 1961 banquet and has the following people in it:

Mel Harpring
Mike Quirk
Rick Meyer
Bud Montgomery
Elmer Smith
Tommy Gray
Bill Campbell
Eddie Clearwater
Ralph Yagle
Bob Parsons
Jim Gettlefinger
Dick Dwenger
Rollin Harpring
Sonny Ates
Russ Hankins
Don Ralstonmy
Ralph Pipe

(

We need to get as much information as we can from these guys so that we can document the early days of TQ racing in the area.

Sandy

Ralph Pipe is Ralph Piper from Rushville In. my Dad race from around 1953-1961

Re: Mutual Racing Association?
 

The original Mutual Racing Association folded by 1953. Tom Cherry took what was left of it to form the All American Racers. The original group that started Mutual was Dutch Hurst, Tom Cherry, Kenny Eaton, Roger Cox, Eddie Ropon (the first Mutual champion in 1939), Melvin Dudley, Ralph Ormsby. This was done in very late 1938 at Columbus, In. In 1939 they ran at a track in Muncie called 'The Steeplechase' which Dutch owned along with other central Indiana tracks like Montpelier, Columbus,In at a place called 'the Hole', This track was later shortened and paved at renamed 'The Velodrome' In 1941 midgets ran under the Mutual racing Assoc along with what was then called 'stock' cars which morphed into track roadsters. That year was the first year they raced at Mt Lawn and later that was the home track for Mutual until its demise. Some of the MRA champs were, Kenny Eaton, Dick Frazier, Tom Cherry, Smoky Stover, Avery McAdams, Red Renner.
The MRA never sanctioned any TQs. The midget division only ran under the MRA banner at ArmsCamp, Greenfield, Richmond and the Velodrome pre WWII, it didn't sanction midgets after the war.
DG

Re: Mutual Racing Association?
 

If you're talking about the "Columbus Speedway", the "Pit", or the "Hole", I don't remember it ever being paved, but it coulda been, before my "time". Bob

Re: Mutual Racing Association?
 

No it was not paved. I intended for that comment to reflect the Muncie Velodrome. Fingers were faster that the brain. I beg forgiveness...I have lots of history on Mutual and photos, just to much to fit in this little box.
DG

Re: Mutual Racing Association?
 

I kinda figured you were typing faster than we could read it, just wanted to make sure I hadn't missed something there. Thanks! Bob