This photo was taken at the Columbus Hole in 1949 with Billy Earl leading in Lawrence Neville's #43. The 3 wide battle for second is Larry Crockett on the inside in the Wall's #23 and Pat O'Connor is in the middle in Bob Creech's #42. The rest of the cars are unknown to me?
Does anyone out there have any photos or stories to share of the Neville/Earl team, Pat O'Connor, Larry Crockett, or the Columbus Hole?
( Photo is courtesy of Tom Neville son of Lawrence Neville )
Can't help ya on the others, but as a kid, I hung out at Dan's garage, was raised not far from Neville's Ford store at Hope, bought some NEW A Ford fenders off him one time, spent a lot of time sitting on the hill there, then later ran a 37 Ford sedan there, and even later, we raced go-karts there a time or 2. That picture, must be the backstretch, going into turn 3, and if ya didn't make it, they'd fish ya out of Clifty creek, which ran with the backstretch. Don't remember there being any spectators on that side, but from the picture, it shows them. In 1949, I woulda been 12yrs old, that would really strain my memory! Thanks for posting! Bob!
"Being old, isn't half as much fun, as getting there"! Ole Robert I!
I know from some of my research that Billy Earl ran a sprint car in 1946 at Franklin Indiana with a International 6 cyl truck motor. It is also reported that he did run the car 1981. I also tracked down one of his scrap books and it's at the Sprint Car Hall of Fame.
I was there a few times in the late 40's and early 50's,as I would have been 10 years old in 49,and from the shadows of the Sun, I think this was taken on the Backstretch as there were no seats on the back,just Clifty creek. I lived across the street from Dan walls at that time,and until 1963.Dan used to test his race cars on 14th street,from Union to Michigan streets where there were not houses at that time.
Originally Posted by SprintManDave:
I was there a few times in the late 40's and early 50's,as I would have been 10 years old in 49,and from the shadows of the Sun, I think this was taken on the Backstretch as there were no seats on the back,just Clifty creek. I lived across the street from Dan walls at that time,and until 1963.Dan used to test his race cars on 14th street,from Union to Michigan streets where there were not houses at that time.
Ya know Dave, I think you're correct, the trees had me fooled, that would be right, the picture is showing them coming off of turn 4, onto the front stretch, is that the way you figured it? When we were there watching, we always sat more toward turn one, then about where those trees are, is where my Ford died one night, really, it quit, and I got out, and was just going over that little fence, when someone rear ended the car, and broke the torque tube loose, and drove it thru the seat I had been sitting in, not much left to work with. Thanks Dave, your memory is better than mine, but I am older! Bob!
"Being old, isn't half as much fun, as getting there"! Ole Robert I!
I talked to the owner of the photo plus found a 30 second color home movie clip of 'The Hole'. The picture was taken from the infield (obviously) coming off turn 4 heading down the front stretch.
Found this site. You may have seen it already but it Has a few stores and some good pics on there. Shame it had to close down. Looks like it would have been a fun place to race.
Thanks a bunch for the link, didn't know it was available, now ya got my mind in a scramble, maybe SprintManDave can help out. I got an email this morning from Jerry Castor, he added some info that helped, but now I'm trying to think of the name of the resturant that was in one of the pictures, taken downtown, I know the Tucker dealership, was across the street, or had been, and on rare occasions, we'd get to eat there on "egg night". Bob!
"Being old, isn't half as much fun, as getting there"! Ole Robert I!
I remember my dad talking about that place ! Does anyone remember another track west of Taylorsville in what they used to call the Hog Bottoms ? I know he used to go there also.
