[FishBurger]

Having just rested up for a day after watching Al Unser take his second Indy 500 win on 5/29, we headed west for a day of midget racing. With the 2010 Chili Bowl about to warm us up from recent frigid temps, I thought this might be timely.

Time Trials - 31 Cars - Track Record 19.51 by Bud Tingelstad

-4 Jerry McClung...............19.33
85 Bill Koepfer...................20.23
11 Bill Renshaw..................19.10
91 Harry Beck....................19.42
84 Tom Bigelow..................19.26
-6 Billy Engelhart................19.15
96 Lee Kunzman.................19.35
15 Roger West...................19.27
20 Johnny Anderson............19.21
42 Gary Irvin......................19.31
16 Chuck Taylor..................19.99
10 Les Scott......................19.77
66 Billy Vukovich, Jr.............19.27
16 Gary Bettenhausen..........18.75 Quick Time and NTR
74 Sonny Ates....................19.80
88 Jigger Sirois....................20.72
25 Bob Wente.....................18.77
82 Chuck Arnold..................19.36
21 Gary Ponzini...................20.15
95 Johnny Batts..................18.95
-1 Jimmy Caruthers..............18.75
55 Sammy Sessions...............DNQ
29 Sammy Sessions..............19.21
97 Bob Evans......................19.83
21 Arnie Knepper..................19.18
-2 Dave Strickland................19.11
27 Roger Branson..................19.41
-5 Danny Caruthers...............19.40
63 Larry Rice........................19.63
69 Jim McClean.....................19.75
51 Larry Dickson....................19.51

Fast Car Dash - 3 Laps - No Time

No.Driver.........................Finish

95 Johnny Batts...................4
25 Bob Wente......................3
-1 Jimmy Caruthers...............2
16 Gary Bettenhausen...........1

First Heat - 6 Laps - 1:56.17

63 Larry Rice.......................8
-5 Danny Caruthers..............2
96 Lee Kunzman...................1
66 Billy Vukovich, Jr..............3
29 Sammy Sessions..............4
-6 Billy Engelhart..................7
95 Johnny Batts...................6
16 Gary Bettenhausen...........5

Second Heat - 6 Laps - 1:56.02

69 Jimmy McClean.................8
27 Roger Branson..................1
82 Chuck Arnold....................3
42 Gary Irvin........................7
84 Tom Bigelow.....................2
31 Arnie Knepper...................5
11 Bill Renshaw.....................4
74 Sonny Ates......................6

Third Heat- 6 Laps - No Time

10 Les Scott........................8
91 Harry Beck.......................7
51 Larry Dickson....................1
-4 Jerry McClung...................6
15 Roger West......................5
20 Johnny Anderson...............2
-2 Dave Strickland.................4
25 Bob Wente.......................3

Fourth Heat - 6 Laps - 1:56.34 NTR

-6 Billy Engelhart...................1
63 Larry Rice........................3
29 Sammy Sessions...............2
74 Sonny Ates......................5
42 Gary Irvin.........................7
69 Jim McClean.....................6
-4 Jerry McClung...................8
91 Harry Beck.......................4
10 Les Scott........................9

Semi-Feature - 8 Laps - 2:33.68 NTR

82 Chuck Arnold....................1
51 Larry Dickson....................2
-5 Danny Caruthers................4
27 Roger Branson...................3
91 Harry Beck........................6
63 Larry Rice.........................5
97 Bob Evans........................7
16 Chuck Taylor.....................8
21 Gary Ponzini......................9

Jim McClean #69, Sonny Ates #74, Bill Koepfer #85, and Jigger Sirois #88 were all scratched from this race. I just noticed that defending USAC Midget Champ Jimmy Caruthers who had run 2nd in the dash, was not listed in any of the heats or the consy. I have no explanation as there were no provisionals then, the other three in the dash ran heats, and Jimmy ran the feature starting 8th. Maybe I just screwed up back in '71..............naw, that couldn't be it.

Feature - 40 Laps - 13:20.06

20 Johnny Anderson................3
31 Arnie Knepper....................4
-6 Billy Engelhart....................8
-2 Dave Strickland..................2
11 Bill Renshaw......................7
95 Johnny Batts................The WINNER
25 Bob Wente.......................16
-1 Jimmy Caruthers................14
16 Gary Bettenhausen............15
29 Sammy Sessions................18
84 Tonm Bigelow....................17
15 Roger West.......................10
66 Billy Vukovich, Jr.................6
42 Gary Irvin.........................12
-4 Jerry McClung....................13
96 Lee Kunzman......................5 Hard Charger in Linne Midget
82 Chuck Arnold......................9
51 Larry Dickson.....................11

+Not a bad little field of cars and drivers,wouldn't you agree? Beats the midget field who showed up at Salem in '09.
+Will not subject my IOW friends to my usual lame and, at times, erroneous, comments as it is now time to prepare for the regular Tuesday night gathering at Willie's Sports Cafe for some hot chicken wings and cold Amber Bock served by the smokin' Roxanne. (Hey, I'm old but I'm not dead.............yet.)
+Later Y'all!

[smith19]

Just want to know one thing. Did bob evans let you sit in his car. Well someone was going to say it...........

[Danny Burton]

31 cars!!!???!!!

[Pat O'Connor Fan]

I attended this one, too. Batts was driving the car nicknamed "Herbie" which Mel and Don campaigned a few season. It was a Kenyon copy of Willard Coil's car that Mel had campaigned one season. These were the days of skinny tires, guys. Today's midgets seem to have wider left fronts than these guys had for right rears!
I think Batts was running on M&Hs that day.

[FishBurger]

Originally Posted by smith19 Just want to know one thing. Did bob evans let you sit in his car. Well someone was going to say it...........

Naw Chris, this was years before he hung up the helmet and starting selling biscuits and gravy.

[Bruce Harrison]

My first USAC midget race. I seem to remember that being 1 of Lee Kunzman's first races back after his Odessa injuries the previous season.

Thanks for sharing!

[Pick Five]

I really need to know the back story on this "sitting in Bob Evans car". Thanks!

[Gregg]

Originally Posted by Pick Five I really need to know the back story on this "sitting in Bob Evans car". Thanks!

This is Marv's second home, or maybe even his primary residence.

http://www.bobevans.com/Default.aspx

[Pick Five]

Ah, I see now. I was going another direction with it!
The Bob Evans listed in the results (my Uncle Bob) was married to my grandfathers sister Anita back then.
Every time I visited her as a kid I made her pull out the 8mm movies of Bob racing, and most were from his short time in USAC.
The last time I saw her we tried to find those movies but to no avail, and that was a number of years ago.
Sadly Anita passed away just last week.
I'm not sure what Bob is doing or where he is at this time.
I do have a few photos from back then, one of which I'm going to need some I.D. help on.
I'll dig it out and scan it, then I'll get back to the board with it as soon as I can.
Marv (FishBurger) thanks for posting the vintage results. Fun Stuff!

Raymond Karr
ShortTrackin.com[COLOR="Black"]

[Mud Packer]

Originally Posted by Gregg This is Marv's second home, or maybe even his primary residence. http://www.bobevans.com/Default.aspx

Gregg,

Here is some "food" for thought. A primary residence is considered as a legal residence. Criteria for a primary residence consists of mostly guidelines. Possible factors include:

*Mailing address-A discussion with Danny Burton can clarify this one.
*Telephone Listing-Most everyone knows to call Marv at Bob Evans.
*Time spent there-A no brainer. Eats there everyday and has "company" over periodically. Ask Mr. Rudisell or fishnman.
*Voter registration-A closer look at the court houserecords should tell all.
*Location of personal effects-A few dishes and a working stove should suffice.
*Stated purpose of residence on insurance policies-Not quite sure about this one.