[FishBurger]

Suffering the first pangs of racing withdrawal, I again dip into my stash of old programs ro relive, as best I can, some of the thrills of sprintcar racing past. Hang with me friends....I will try not to get carried away with this exercise as I have at times in past off-seasons.

Salem Speedway
Joe James - Pat O'Connor Memorial - 10/4/64

Time Trials - 28 Cars - Track Record 17.98 (100.111) A.J. Foyt 9/29/63

51 Mickey Rupp...............18.60 Karter's Holiday Spl.
86 Bob King....................18.90 Offy
-4 Jud Larson.................18.07 A.J. Watson Offy (F.Q.)
-2 Roger McCluskey.........18.82 A.J. Foyt Chevy
-9 Gordon Johncock.........18.12 Weinberger Homes Spl.
75 Arnie Knepper.............18.56
77 Dave Norris................18.49 Roger Coke Spl.
-7 Chuck Engle...............19.52
65 Bud Randall................18.52 Smith Chevy
25 Dee Jones..................18.67
-1 Bud Tinglestad...........18.65 Competition Eng. Spl.
96 Dave Weir..................18.73 Kimberly Chevy
-6 Bobby Unser..............18.60 Key Chevy Spl.
53 Bob Mathouser...........19.19 McCurdy Offy
19 Bob Harkey................18.63 C & J Eng Offy
71 Bruce Jacobi...............18.53
83 Mario Andretti............18.27 Gapco Chevy
36 Gary Congdon............20.18
41 Chuck Rodee..............19.17 Offy
-3 Don Branson..............18.09 Wynn's Friction Proof Offy
31 Al Miller......................19.57
27 Norm Brown...............No Time
11 Johnny Rutherford.......18.55
93 Buzz Gregory..............19.21 Idding's Auto Glass Spl.
35 Chuck Taylor...............19.99
20 Jim Murphy.................19.75
55 George Morris.............21.88
44 Ronnie Duman............18.77

First Heat - 8 Laps - TR 2:26.20 (98.48) Parnelli Jones - 8/2/64

65 Bud Randall............2
71 Bruce Jacobi............4
11 Johnny Rutherford....1
75 Arnie Knepper.........3
-6 Bobby Unser............6
51 Mickey Rupp............5
19 Bob Harkey.............7 - Spun
-1 Bud Tinglestad.........8 - Spun

Second Heat

51 Mickey Rupp............1
-6 Bobby Unser............2
-1 Bud Tinglestad......Scratch
19 Bob Harkey...........Scratch
25 Dee Jones...............3
96 Dave Weir...............4
44 Ronnie Duman.........7
-2 Roger McCluskey.......5
86 Bob King.................6
41 Chuck Rodee...........8

Consy - 10 Laps - TR 3.16.68 (91.519) - Dick Pratt - 8/6/61
(That's what we called the Semi-Feature/B-Main back then. )

-2 Roger McCluskey.......1
44 Ronnie Duman.........3
41 Chuck Rodee..........12
-1 Bud Tinglestad.........2
53 Bob Mathouser
93 Buzz Gregory
-7 Chuck Engle............11
31 Al Miller
20 Jim Murphy
35 Chuck Taylor
36 Gary Congdon
55 George Morris

Feature - 100 Laps TR 32:32.15 (94.045) - Parnelli Jones - 9/3/61

-4 Jud Larson...............3
-3 Don Branson............2
-9 Gordon Johncock.....12
83 Mario Andretti..The Winner
77 Dave Norris.............4
65 Bud Randall...........16
71 Bruce Jacobi...........11
11 Johnny Rutherford.....5
75 Arnie Knepper.........13
-6 Bobby Unser.............6
51 Bob Mathouser........14 (Mathouser in for Rupp)
-1 Bud Tinglestad..........8
25 Dee Jones................7
96 Dave Weir..............10
44 Al Miller...................9
-2 Roger McCluskey......15

+Previous 1964 Salem USAC sprint feature races had been won by Bud Tinglestad on July 4 and Parnelli Jones on August 2. Jones win was in A.J. Foyt's car and I believe this is the one where legend has it that unbeknownst to Super Tex, Parnelli had "borrowed" the Foyt car for the day.
+Jack Bowsher won all three ARCA stockcar features in '64.
+This was Roger McCluskey's first event since being seriously injured at Reading earlier in the '64 season.
+Back then we stayed at the Salem Motel the day before the race and had a ball at the Go-Kart track east of Salem and next to WSLM radio station.
+GREAT day of racing as I recall in spite of the no-name field.

I must be off......or so I've been told.

[Andrew S. Quinn]

Originally Posted by FishBurger Hang with me friends....I will try not to get carried away with this exercise as I have at times in past off-seasons.

Please do get carried away,Marv. I've missed your posts....

[dirtball]

Some names I haven't heard in a long time, sigh. Thanx.

[#1jackhewittfan]

I like post like these thank you i could read stuff like this all day.

Posted via Mobile Device

[Russ]

Great stuff, I really enjoy reading your posts.

[Pine]

I didnt start following USAC until 1997 and I too like these post's.... Would Bob King be related to Irvin (doubt it). I only ask because they both happen to be #86 ???

[racephoto1]

Is this the Salem race that sent Andretti to Superstar status?

[FishBurger]

Originally Posted by racephoto1 Is this the Salem race that sent Andretti to Superstar status?

I believe the James-O'Connor win was his most prestigious win to that point in his career, though he had won three feature races (in a midget?) in one day at two different eastern tracks in 1963 which was quite a feat. My first recollections of seeing Mario race are in Rufus Gray's GAPCO Chevy in 1964.

[Gregg]

Originally Posted by FishBurger I believe the James-O'Connor win was his most prestigious win to that point in his career, though he had won three feature races (in a midget?) in one day at two different eastern tracks in 1963 which was quite a feat.

Hence the #3n1 Mataka sprinter and silver crown car.

[jim goerge]

Marv Glad to see you posting these race results again I;ve missed them and please get as carried way as you want with them