Jimmy Kite Subaru Midget
 

Looking for info on this unique car.

Where is it at these days if it exists?

Who built the engine? Why didn't they continue on with the program?

Re: Jimmy Kite Subaru Midget
 

Re: Jimmy Kite Subaru Midget
 

Originally Posted by jontheturboguy:
Looking for info on this unique car.

Where is it at these days if it exists?

Who built the engine? Why didn't they continue on with the program?

I remember the car and saw him drive it at Lanier Raceway in Georgia about 15+ years ago IIRC. I recall that the car pushed thru the turns so badly that he stuffed it in the wall coming out of turn four. Maybe it was a pearl white with red/blue trim and #6?

Just going down memory lane here which for me is a dead end road sometimes.:3:

Sorry, that's all I know.

Re: Jimmy Kite Subaru Midget
 

There was a driver by the name of Dennis Miller, from Galveston, Indiana, who drove a Subaru-powered midget in the mid to late 1990s. I wonder if this was the same car Jimmy Kite drove or if there was another one out there.

---------- Post added at 02:14 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:26 PM ----------

Miller's car was #88, but I don't remember the color of it.

Re: Jimmy Kite Subaru Midget
 

Didn't Jerry Covington from Muncie have a Suburu powered midget. or am I at the end of the dead end? Bob

Re: Jimmy Kite Subaru Midget
 

Tom Hooker built the engine and it ran at The Speedrome. I don't remember if they ever ran it on the big tracks or not but when it was running right it seemed to be a strong engine.

I don't remember who the car owner was for sure, you could check with Scott at Leaders Edge he may be able to give you more info. I'm not sure if Hooker is still on Gasoline Alley or not but sure he could help you out also.

Re: Jimmy Kite Subaru Midget
 

Originally Posted by Seadog:
I remember the car and saw him drive it at Lanier Raceway in Georgia about 15+ years ago IIRC. I recall that the car pushed thru the turns so badly that he stuffed it in the wall coming out of turn four. Maybe it was a pearl white with red/blue trim and #6?

Just going down memory lane here which for me is a dead end road sometimes.:3:

Sorry, that's all I know.

The #6T Subaru-powered midget was owned by SEA Racing out of Speedway, Indiana. It was sponsored by Indy Karts and American Legion. Jeff Snelling also drove this car at one point in the mid-1990s.

---------- Post added at 08:36 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:28 PM ----------

Chet Fillip and Eric Gordon have also wheeled the SEA Racing car at some point in the '90s as well. The team was owned by Scott Anderson.

Re: Jimmy Kite Subaru Midget
 

I know they ran the subaru at IRP at least once. I remember Kite transfering to the feature in the b-main but the motor blew going across the start finish line/

I have a "hero" card for ERic Gordon for the SEA team. I am trying to get it scanned and will post if I can.

Re: Jimmy Kite Subaru Midget
 

I know Jimmy won a heat at Salem with it, either wwar or Namars, I can't quite remember. If I remember correctly, the guy who built the car had made his own heads. The day Kite won was the first time I met him.

Re: Jimmy Kite Subaru Midget
 

Originally Posted by hoosierhillbilly:
I have a "hero" card for Eric Gordon for the SEA team. I am trying to get it scanned and will post if I can.

When Gordon drove for the SEA team, it was listed as a Cosworth engine. So, when did the Subaru make its debut?

Also, around the same time, Mark Gerke had a Toyota in his midget, which was different at the time.

Re: Jimmy Kite Subaru Midget
 

Herere is the back of the card. THey reference the motor as the Hooker/Subaru Midget Engine. Eric Gordon is about 41 so this card was from 16-17 years ago. I have a couple of other cards for Gordon's Silver Crown and SPrint cars. THey look to be from 1992. I would guess that the midget card is the same age. This woudl make sense because I went to a lot of midget races during that time frame.

Re: Jimmy Kite Subaru Midget
 

Originally Posted by richie:
When Gordon drove for the SEA team, it was listed as a Cosworth engine. So, when did the Subaru make its debut?

Also, around the same time, Mark Gerke had a Toyota in his midget, which was different at the time.

I remember when he blew up that Toyota at Salem and slid in his own oil and it almost went under the backstretch guardrail. I think Gherke owned a Toyota dealership in Panama City, Florida. He was developing that engine on his own without factory support IIRC. Bright red/orange, #71?

Again, memory not so good so don't shoot me if I'm recalling this incorrectly.:10:

Re: Jimmy Kite Subaru Midget
 

When my brother and I were building cars at Competition Welding we built a midget for Ralph Ligouri in '93-'94 just for the Subaru motor. I don't think he ever got it to run consistently.

Re: Jimmy Kite Subaru Midget
 

Originally Posted by Seadog:
I remember when he blew up that Toyota at Salem and slid in his own oil and it almost went under the backstretch guardrail. I think Gherke owned a Toyota dealership in Panama City, Florida. He was developing that engine on his own without factory support IIRC. Bright red/orange, #71?

Again, memory not so good so don't shoot me if I'm recalling this incorrectly.:10:

Everything sounds right, but I believe it was #14. Don't worry, I won't shoot you. :) I have a picture of the car somewhere.

Re: Jimmy Kite Subaru Midget
 

Hi guys. This is Jimmy Kite. I had some friends tell me you were asking about an old Midget I use to run around here in Indy. Lot's of fun memories of that car from back then, dirt and pavement. Jump started my USAC career. Tom Hooker owned the engine...and John Black owned the car. Not exactly sure where John is these days. But Tom is on Gasoline Alley. T.H.E. I obviously don't get out to the race tracks as much these days as I use to until I hopefully can get back in a sprintcar or midget around here. But I'll definitely ask around and see what I can find. By the way...what's the reason you are looking for that car?

Re: Jimmy Kite Subaru Midget
 

Originally Posted by jimmykite:
Hi guys. This is Jimmy Kite. I had some friends tell me you were asking about an old Midget I use to run around here in Indy. Lot's of fun memories of that car from back then, dirt and pavement. Jump started my USAC career. Tom Hooker owned the engine...and John Black owned the car. Not exactly sure where John is these days. But Tom is on Gasoline Alley. T.H.E. I obviously don't get out to the race tracks as much these days as I use to until I hopefully can get back in a sprintcar or midget around here. But I'll definitely ask around and see what I can find. By the way...what's the reason you are looking for that car?

Hey, welcome to the board Jimmy. You are among friends here (mostly). I've always been a fan of yours and could find me in the stands cheering you on, be it midget, sprint, SC or IndyCar. You have been missed at Indy the past few years and hope to see you again in the race sometime.

I'm not sure why they were asking about the car.

I think my recollection of that car pushing so badly that you walled it at Lanier years ago is correct, no? Was that you?

Come back to IOW often and let us now what is going on with you.

Cheers.

Re: Jimmy Kite Subaru Midget
 

Jimmy,

Good to see you on IOW. When Jack Calabrase and I started the Rumble In Fort Wayne, Tom Trusty was a great friend and help as a sponsor, and supporter of midget racing. I know he helped you back in the day. I miss him.

Randall Williams has a midget team out of Dayton, Ohio that runs indoors with us. He asked me if the Subaru engine would be legal for our indoor races. I approved it as a part of our rules last year. Now I hear from one of his drivers Ryan Klinghofher, that he may be building a car with one. Do you mind if they contact you to ask about your experience with it?

I hope things are going well for you.

Tony Barhorst
www.rumbleseries.com

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