BILL VUKOVICH AND I WENT TO THAT RACE! ERNIE PURCELL FLIPPED TO HIS DEATH GOING IN THE FIRST TURN DRIVING A SUPER MOD. IN A HEAT RACE AND AS THE CARS CAME DOWN THE FRONT STRAIGHAWAY TO THE RED FLAG DRIVER WALT REIFF WENT ON THE TRACK TO SLOW THEM DOWN AND A CAR SWUNG TO THE INSIDE AND RAN OVER WALT AND KILLED HIM! THEN IN THE FEATURE JIMMY GORDAN WAS KILLED ON THE BACK STRAIGHTAWAY WHEN HE FLIPPED IN LEN FASS'S SPRINT CAR THERE WAS SEVERAL CARS INVOVLED! THEN LATER OWN WAYNE WEILER TOOK PEAT BROTHER'S SUPER OVER THE FORTH TURN WALL AND WAS UNHURT! JERRY BLUNDY HAD ONE OF THE FIRST 4 BY 4 CHEVYS AND HIDE FROM THEM! MOST OF THESE GUYS HAD LITTLE OR TIME ON A MILE TRACK!:checkered:

Marv,I think your reading comprehension is still better than mine, so don't let that bother you.

I also recall being at a race there when it was still dirt when Jim Malloy got a rock thrown up into his face during the race. As his goggles filled up with blood, he continued and finished the race. He pulled into the pits, got out of the car and collapsed.

They don't make them like that any more.

Those Thursday night races of which you spoke - I could not attend as I worked Thursdays back then until 9 P.M. That really hurt not seeing those.

Do I remember right that Steve Chassey won his first USAC sprint feature there too?

marv, that indeed is george harbour in our car. we won our first track championship that same year at atomic speedway. ran against jd leas and junior many times. i have one of those imca trophies somewhere . i think that little fella i bring to the races with me got a hold of it and his mom hid it (DAMAGE)= busted ass from his granny if she found out...george did a real good job for us with many wins. lived a block from jim doran who ran queen city speedway when it was paved. the place is leveled now.

Steve,
In one of the last seasons Jerry raced full time, he would come over to the track at Champaign IL. on friday nights. I think it was '77 or '78, same red #44 Trevis chassis, he got in line for hot laps and a riot nearly broke out when a green and white chevy push truck came up behind him to push him off. To say he was a little superstitious would be an understatement.

I've got some clips of that race on an old Dick Wallen VHS I have. It doesn't show the front stretch deal, but does mention it. It does show Jimmy Gordon's crash from a camera angle high in turn three. If I remember right, Gordon got on the inside berm and started a nasty series of flips down the backstretch. He flipped right into the path of (Ronnie?) Ray and Ray had nowhere to go. Gordon's car disintegrated, and you didn't have to wait for the tape to tell you that he didn't survive. It shows footage of a shaken, but unhurt, Ray getting into the ambulance after the crash. Bad deal, indeed.

I recall a summer or two when Jerry Blundy drove a "super" on Sunday nights (when he wasn't off racing sprint cars somewhere) at the little track at Lincoln, IL. The track, long gone, was just northeast of IL 10, across the street from the fairgrounds. I think the car was a #117 owned by an explosives guy named Jay Ellis. Those Sunday nights were almost like an ATM for Jerry.
Thanks to Marv for rekindling some great memories, but it does remind me that I am truly an oldtimer* now.

*One of those darned gray-haired old coots always talking about the "good ol' days".

Pat O'Connor Fan,
Thought I'd post a few more photos of Jerry for You and everyone here like myself being 'oldtimers' to feed on Don't mean to turn this initial posting into a J Blundy post,but its kinda neat to see some of these old moldie pics,if it's someone you seen race 'from way back'.
Superduke, 10-4 on the 4x4 setup.If this thing didn't have a sound all of its own at the time,with the full length 3.5 inch headers. Sweet! Jerry actually engineered up most of the block stuff such as main caps etc. Jerry pretty much done everything on his own cars. Not many drivers can say that and still be competitive. Not a nicer guy either. But come race time Jerry was strictly business,having to do everything from stem to stern,in regards to maintaining the car.
Here is one from Lincoln Ne '62. This would have been an IMCA race as well. Can't think of the flagman's name? How many flagman these days wears a tie to the races? How many women wear a dress anywhere,let alone to an auto race. This is Jerry with his wife Marge.I like this shot, Pretty classy. Marge passed away about two years ago BTW.

http://www.eazylivin.net/margejerryblundylincoln.jpg

Here is one from Sedailia Mo. '68 .1 mile track. Ray Lee Goodwin on the inside.

http://www.eazylivin.net/blundygoodwinsedalia68.jpg

This pic is taken not sure were. I'm guessing about '73 '74. Notice the 'roof' This was the year after Jerry got both arms broke,so hence, He had Floyd Trevis put a roof on it so his arms couldn't go outside the roll cage ,if he got knocked out.These old Trevis cars had some sweet lines on them, Full belly pan,grill,upholstery nicer than a Cadillac,weight jackers both sides, the whole 9 yards. This is not a real clear pic.

http://www.eazylivin.net/BlundyCali.jpg

Take Care,
BC

Thats gene vanwinkle from lincoln! Gene and al sweeney they ran imca national speedways and frank winkley had the rest of the imca races like st.paul and races in wis. (ect)

do you know where the picture of him standing next to his car was taken?
i used to watch IMCA at plant field during the florida state fair in feb.
it would have been around 1971 or 1972

interpreter66,
The posed pictures of Jerry is at Plant Field Tampa, '72. I like that picture. He looks like he is ready to take numbers and kick,,,you know what!How many years did you attend races at Plant Field,anyway? What names do you remember most? Just curious.I'm not sure Jim Riddle even raced there? I would think he would have around this time.