Question for history buffs.
 

Was talking with a freind about how sprint car drivers are starting so young, and how it doesn't seem there are as many old guys drivin. Brought up some interesting questions. 1. Who was the oldest sprint car driver to drive competitively, and how old was he? 2. Who is the oldest driver currently driving, and how old is he? 3. This one is for any drivers, or former drivers, What would be the hardest things to overcome with being older, vision, back pain, reflexes, having to stop to pee? (Last one was intended as a funny) Would like to here some feedback, cuz there is a bud light involved somewhere.

Question for History Buffs!!.....
 

Must be a few...only one comes to mind at the moment....Steves Dad Bob Kinser !!..believe his car # was 65,and mita been his age at that time also......
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Brucer':32:

In central pa there is a driver that goes by Cowboy Jim Kennedy who has to be in his late 70's and races winged 305. Added bonus is when he wins he has a victory lane trademark of yodeling..PRICELESS!!! He did won a race within the last yr @ Clinton county.

Some guy running with the WAR series that's in his 70s can't remember his name. And they may not have to stop n pee but probably have a helluva time remembering where they parked the trailer! Joke .....

Re: Question for history buffs.
 

"Ralphie the Racer" Ligouri ran for a long time, Joe could probably verify the age he last competed. At Ventura, the younger Douglas (can't bring up their first names right now) started running in the Senior Division. His father enrolled in Corey Kruseman's Sprint Car School (I think he was in his 80's) got hooked and joined his son.

Re: Question for history buffs.
 

Had the honor of racing against the 76 year old Ray Bugg earlier this year. Unfortunately Ray got hurt in a crash at 411 speedway in Tennessee, and may be done racing. Also raced a couple of weeks ago against a 70 + year old Dave Thorman (not exactly sure how old Dave is). Also my Dad, Len Larkin is still racing at 68. He's won several heat races this year at Creek County Speedway in OK.

Johnny Johnson? Really old.

Re: Question for history buffs.
 

Cowboy Jim Kennedy is either 79 or 80 now and did win a 305 Sprint race at Clinton County back in June of this year.

Cowboy Jim at the Grove.

http://davidm.smugmug.com/Racing/i-R...Kennedy-XL.jpg

Re: Question for history buffs.
 

Bob Thoman is still running up front in non wing sprints at I believe 74 yrs old ( he is the one priviously mentioned as racing with WAR)

Johnny and jay both raced late in yrs

Re: Question for history buffs.
 

Johnny Johnson retired a couple years ago at 81
Mel Kenyon at 76
I think Bob Kinser retired racing about 62, may have been 66 but was still winning occasionally.


Chuck, still waiting for Gordie Howe to suit up and play in 8 decades of professional hockey. Yes, he played a shift on a IHL team back in the 00s-10s first pro season was '44

Ok, back on topic. Mario Andretti is 73-74 and still starts the two seater at Indy events

Re: Question for history buffs.
 

Haven't heard much from him this year buy Hurryin' Hank Lower was still racing, and winning, in his early 70s.

Re: Question for history buffs.
 

Tubby Black out in Missouri was pretty old and we had a guy named Roy "Pappy" Singleton who raced at Chillicothe, Ohio and other southern Ohio tracks years ago who raced in his 70's.

Re: Question for history buffs.
 

I had the pleasure of being pitted next to Tubby one night at St Francois (Farmington, MO) one night back in 2000-2001... what a neat guy. Classic case of "He's probably forgotten more than I will ever know"... The worst part of the night was when the trailer doors closed and we drove away cause that meant the chatting with him was finished.

Re: Question for history buffs.
 

He sure is still running up front. He won the first or second night of a 2 day season opener with the WAR series in Lebanon, MO last season. I've seen him race probably 15 times and he always seems to find his way into the top 3-5 by the end of the night, and I don't think I have seen him put a single wheel wrong any of those nights.

Re: Question for history buffs.
 

jim, pappy and carl jodrey both were old birds. lol they had some pretty good battles between themselves. thought it was kinda of funny when the track finally told one or both of those guys they had to weld the cage to the frame... cowboy kennedy tops all of the old racers. he is still very competitive in his class. he's had some bad crashes through the years...

Re: Question for history buffs.
 

How about Benjamin Franklin Rapp (Benny Rapp)?

Al Thomas #72 ran 12th Friday night at Farmer City Raceway. He will be 80 in 2 weeks.

He officially retired this winter. He still goes to alot of races to watch and always has that Hank smile. In fact he was at Gas City for sprint week.

Johnny Johnson told me he won the last race at the Bloomington half mile! Yes half mile. That's way before my time! Surely someone remembers what year that would've been?

Hooker Hood, Kramer Williamson?

Re: Question for history buffs.
 

I've got nothing to offer as for drivers. Maybe Rickey Hood, or Donny Sink? 60's maybe?

As for health issues, I know Levi Jones, and Kinser both had neck issues a few years ago. Surely it takes a toll on the eyes. Not to mention hearing.. hahaha

Re: Question for history buffs.
 

Jim Lingar, a.k.a. "The Racing Engineer", still runs all of the SOD races. I have no idea how old he is but I am guessing over 70. If not..... uh.... Sorry, Jim.

Heck of a nice guy, too. He went out of the park at Hartford last year - over the Turn 1 wall. We all held our breath but he was fine. His yellow & blue #70 sprinter landed on all four wheels. After the race, I asked him in the pits what when through his mind as he was headed over the wall.

"I closed my eyes," he said without hesitating.

Howard Kaeding and Roger Rager both raced well into their years too.

Re: Question for history buffs.
 

Frank Riddle From Tampa had to be up there in years, I sure he probably is the oldest starter in Little 500 History.

Re: Question for history buffs.
 

Frank Riddle was 68 when he ran his last Little 500 in 1997.

Benny Rapp was 73 when he ran his last Little 500 in 2001.

Not sure if anybody was older than Rapp when he last ran.

Re: Question for history buffs.
 

Last year I made the trip to see USAC at I-96 Speedway..and to see my cousin.

I also met a guy who posts on here named Dick Mahoney. All I'll say is that Dick is a wee bit older than I am. But is much better looking.

Re: Question for history buffs.
 

Benny Rapp & Hank Lower come to mind, I know they're up there in yrs but can't say exactly. :6:

Ron Koehler was first alternate this year. He's not a kid anymome! He ran the must see show on wednesday that week.

Re: Question for history buffs.
 

Ron turned 77 years old on May 25th!!