[FishBurger]

+I've had a few suggestions with respect to these retro-results threads I post occasionally during the off-season. But, to follow those recommendations would likely be painful if not impossible........so, here goes another one.
+We had some doubts that this James/O'Connor Memorial would be run on this Sunday as the weather didn't look too promising.

Time Trials - 18 cars - Track Record 18.22 by Don Branson on 8/4/63

25 Al Miller.......................19.35
75 Arnie Knepper..............18.84
_1 Johnny White...............18.32
_9 Bud Tinglestad.............18.15
_3 Bob Wente...................18.66
10 Bob Harkey..................18.69
25 Gordon Johncock..........18.73
_2 Roger McCluskey..........18.34
_7 Don Branson................18.09
_5 Mickey Bullock..............19.00
_4 Chuck Hulse.................18.75
_7 Chuck Arnold................20.34
83 Johnny Rutherford.........19.00
_6 George Morris...............19.67
26 Ted Pfieffer...................21.15
66 Mickey Shaw................18.92
97 Bruce Jacobi.................20.06
21 A.J. Foyt......................17.98 - 100.111 - Quick Time & New World Record

+Foyt's sub 18 second lap won him $1000 for bringing the 1/2 mile record back to Salem. It had been held by Parnelli Jones and Roger McCluskey each with an 18.06 lap at Winchester on 9/2/62.

Trophy Dash - 3 Laps

_1 Johnny White..................1
_9 Bud Tinglestad................2
_7 Don Branson...................4
_3 Bob Wente.....................3

+The Foyt 21 and McCluskey 2 were scratched from the dash.

Joe James-Pat O'Connor Memorial 100 Lap Feature - 32:48.3

21 A.J. Foyt........................5
_7 Don Branson..................4
_9 Bud Tinglestad..............12
_1 Johnny White.................3
_2 Roger McCluskey......WINNER
_3 Bob Wente.....................2
10 Bob Harkey..................13
25 Gordon Johncock............8
_4 Chuck Hulse..................6
75 Arnie Knepper................7
_5 Mickey Bullock..............11
83 Johnny Rutherford.........14
25 Al Miller.........................9
16 George Morris...............17
97 Bruce Jacobi.................10
_7 Chuck Arnold................16
26 Ted Pfieffer...................15

+Mickey Shaw was a scratch in his 66.
+Foyt led the first 67 laps before shredding a right rear. He lost three laps in the pits.
+McCluskey also blistered a right rear and slowed noticably in the last 20 laps or so but still beat Wente to the checkers by a lap.
+Time of the race was waaaaay off the record mostly due to a Chuck Arnold crash into the back stretch wall when he lost a wheel.
+McCluskey won $1250 with his win. The total purse was $7000 (against 40% of the gate which was down due to threatening weather).
+A young (22 years old) driver (not competing on this day) by the name of Steve Stapp was announced as the winner of the Jerry's Sportsmanship Award.
+There were only 3 Offys in the field this day, the #7 (Branson), the #4 (Hulse), and the #7 (Arnold). The rest were Chevy powered.
+I heard ZERO complaints about car count.
+We had a great time at the Go-Kart track east of town (next to a radio station) before bedding down at the Salem Motel.
+Nothing else in my notes or memory, so I must be off.

[ronmil]

Marv,

I was a late bloomer when it came to going to Salem; my first race was the 1967 James/O'Connor Memorial. They still had Foyt's qualifying record permanently displayed on the sign on SR56.

[fish]

Thinking about A.J. Foyt turning a lap under 18 seconds on a 1/2-mile in that era sends chills through my spine. Track records don't seem to mean as much these days.

[jim goerge]

Marv Thanks again my friend for posting these results I never got to go to any of the asphalt tracks as my dad and his buddies were dirt only Those guys must have had ex large driving suits cuz they had to have nads as big as basketballs

[davidm]

Marv, I always enjoy these post!

[Mud Packer]

From an open wheel fan who hadn't made it to the Hoosier state yet for this race, thanks for all of your treks back through time. These trips down through memory lane provide some relief from the boredom of winter weather. Keep them coming since a new blanket of snow has arrived again today. Spring really has to be around the corner, right?