[FishBurger]

Josh's thread where he proposes Twin 50's for the 2013 Smackdown, an idea I love BTW, got me digging through my old programs again. Came up with this:

Time Trials - 34 Cars - Track Record 18.76 by Al Smith

31 Gil Hess...................19.02 Bill Johns Spl.
51 Larry Dickson............18.42 Speed Shop Spl. QUICK TIME
47 Bob Pratt.................18.99 Mead Cab Spl.
3n1 Norm Brown............19.44 Mataka Bros.
44 Wib Spalding............19.09 Spalding & Murray Spl.
16 Bruce Walkup...........18.94 Dunseth Chevy
81 Don Thomas.............18.90 Thomas Spl.
25 Don Meachum...........19.09
-7 Dee Jones................19.64
60 Bill Hunter...............20.57
17 Billy Vukovich, Jr.......18.82 J.J. Smith Trucking Spl.
-6 Al Smith...................18.63 Vivian Buick Spl.
-2 Mike Mosley..............18.45 Leader Card Spl.
46 Jerry Poland..............18.67
92 Greg Weld................19.00 Dunseth Chevy Spl.
23 Chuck Booth.............18.90
-3 Tommy Copp.............19.51
93 Sonny Ates...............18.53 Iddings Auto Glass Spl.
83 Sammy Sessions.......18.50 GAPCO Spl.
50 Gary Congdon...........18.96
28 Mickey Shaw.............18.83
98 Tom Bigelow.............18.60
54 Bud Tingelstad..........19.01 Tingelstad Spl.
55 Aldo Andretti............18.97
-1 Johnny Rutherford......18.86
12 Nolan Johncock..........19.73
82 Rollie Beale..............18.56 Lay's Transmission Spl.
91 Bill Puterbaugh..........19.08
21 Carl Williams............18.85 George R. Bryant Spl.
15 Ralph Liguori.............19.18
24 Dale Burton..............18.79
84 Snooky Bullock..........19.49
77 Bud Randall..............19.29 Coke Chevy Spl.
38 Hal Minyard...............18.87 W & W Mold and Tool Spl.

Fast Car Dash - 4 Laps

51 Larry Dickson................1
-2 Mike Mosley..................2
83 Sammy Sessions...........3
93 Sonny Ates...................4

Semi-Feature - 10 Laps

38 Hal Minyard..................1
23 Chuck Booth................11
16 Bruce Walkup...............2
50 Gary Congdon..............12
55 Aldo Andretti................8
47 Bob Pratt.....................3
92 Greg Weld...................5
54 Bud Tingelstad.............4
31 Gil Hess......................7
91 Bill Puterbaugh.............6
44 Wib Spalding................9
25 Don Meachum..............10

First Feature - 50 Laps - 17:25.80

51 Larry Dickson................10
-2 Mike Mosley..................13
83 Sammy Sessions............8
93 Sonny Ates....................2
82 Rollie Beale...................7
98 Tom Bigelow.................12
-6 Al Smith.......................17
46 Jerry Poland..................18
81 Don Thomas..................3
24 Dale Burton..................15
17 Billy Vukovich, Jr....WINNER
28 Mickey Shaw..................4
21 Carl Williams.................6
-1 Johnny Rutherford...........5
38 Hal Minyard..................11
16 Bruce Walkup...............16
47 Bob Pratt......................9
54 Bud Tingelstad..............14

Second Feature - 50 Laps - No Time

17 Billy Vukovich, Jr.............3
93 Sonny Ates....................16
81 Don Thomas...................4
28 Mickey Shaw..................11
-1 Johnny Rutherford...........17
21 Carl Williams..................7
82 Rollie Beale...................15
83 Sammy Sessions.............2
47 Bob Pratt......................18
51 Larry Dickson..................5
38 Hal Minyard....................6
98 Tom Bigelow..................9
-2 Mike Mosley.............WINNER
54 Bud Tingelstad...............8
46 Jerry Poland..................13
92 Greg Weld....................10
91 Bill Puterbaugh..............14
31 Gil Hess.......................12

+As you can see, lots of passing that day. Vuky and Mosley both came from deep to win. Others moved up nicely as well. I think this is the "now history" track, dirt or pavement, that I miss second most. The one I miss most? Lawrenceburg 1/4 mile.
+This was the second '67 USAC Sprint race run on the newly paved 1/2 mile. The first race on pavement had been won by Al Smith in the Vivian Buick #6 on 6/25. The USAC midgets had run on 7/16 (a GREAT show) with Mel Kenyon winning the feature. The only race in '66 (still dirt then) was won by Bud Randall for his first (only?) USAC Sprint win. Later (I'm not sure what year) the track was returned to dirt by Earl Baltes, but it was never the same IMO.
+This was Rollie Beale's rookie season with USAC. He finished 3rd in the final points tally. We knew early on that this guy would do great things......and he did.
+There were chilling photos in the program of New Bremen (when it was dirt) spills by Bobby Black, Chuck Hulse, Chuck Allen, and Chuck Taylor. Hulse suffered career ending vision problems.
+There was an "In Memoriam" page for seven drivers lost in a tragic 1966 season. Midget great, Chuck Rodee (Indy 5/14), another midget great, Jimmy Davies (Sante Fe Park 6/11), long time favorites, Jud Larson and Red Reigel (Reading 6/11), a personal favorite, Ron Lux (Tulsa 7/16), and the great Don Branson and outstanding rookie, Dick Atkins (Ascot 11/12).
+Another personal favorite, Dave Lundy, was seriously injured at Terre Haute in '66 which I believe ended his racing career. And defending sprint car champ Johnny Rutherford's '66 season was ended in April with an over the backstretch wall flip at Eldora which broke both arms.
'66 was a bad, bad season.
+Thatsnuff.....I must now be off.

[cowboyhar69]

Marv, I was always thinking that this race was Billy Vukovich's first visit to New Bremen...It was confirmed when I took a HAR frame to Pace Powder Coating in Brownsburg during the winter of 2011...found out that Billy works in sales for Ryan Pace and had a great 30 minute chat with Billy. This was the first race that my old man gave his blessing to drive my car to when I got my drivers license. I turned 16 in June and did sneak out to Eldora (in my 60 Chevy Biscayne) and some other tracks a few times that summer!! I always had a feeling that my old man knew I went to those other races but he never questioned me about where I was!!

[Gregg]

I always like New Breman as well. My luck at the time was not always the best as Mother Nature and her fury would win out several times. I wish we had the internet and cell phones back then. I would have saved a LOT of gas.

One of my "What ifs" was Dick Atkins. He just missed the Indy 500 in 1966 thanks to an 11th hour qualification by Larry Dickson on bump day. I did get to see Dick have a solid run at the Hoosier Hundred later that year. He was the real deal that just wasn't meant to be.

Another one that didn't have much luck was Gary Congdon. His son and I have PMed each other a couple times. He is glad people remember his dad. I think he is the one that was quite young when we lost Gary so I hope he is finding out more of his dad's racing days.

I am assuming Larry Dickson was running Mutt Anderson's car that day.

[cowboyhar69]

Larry was in the Ray and Cissy Smith car.

[Gregg]

Originally Posted by cowboyhar69 Larry was in the Ray and Cissy Smith car.

Thanks Tim.

[Hubie]

Thanks FishBurger

I don't stop in here much anymore, but will do so to see if you have posted anything!

Merry Christmas, thanks for the post

Hubie

[Sprintcarfanatic]

I would have been about 4 & a half years old then.

[FishBurger]

Originally Posted by Hubie Thanks FishBurger I don't stop in here much anymore, but will do so to see if you have posted anything! Merry Christmas, thanks for the post Hubie

I try to do about one per week during the off-season.

Thank you for your comment and a Merry Christmas to you as well.

[jim goerge]

Marv Once again thanks love these post Saw a local name on the list haven;t seen for a long time Don Snooky Bullock He used to run Haubstadt every Sunday night late 50;s to mid 70;s I was wondering if anybody knew who;s car he was driveing there? Thanks

[FishBurger]

Jim, I believe, but am not sure ( ), that Snooky was in the Mid-West Manufacturing Spl. #84 owned by Carl Gelhausen. My buddy Gregg is really good on these "who drove what" questions. If he sees this, he can likely provide the answer.