Here's a pic I took at Langhorne National open after the race. It was either 70 or 71. I believe it is Ray Sitterly's car. I think Bob posted one of his earlier cars. Pic by me. Now that I look the car you put up was C-38 so maybe not the same driver.
Just an FYI about some of those "old" cars: the Beagel long-nose car, the pink Akulis coupe and the Wimble 33 are re-creations. The #37 Falcon, TC-9, the Hinman "bug" (wish they had left it as-found rather than re-painting it!), the Benny Stephens 3X Vega, the 197 and others are "real" cars. The 3X is the car Benny flipped over the wall at Trenton in the '70's, 2012 Hall of Fame inductee Doug Rundell was the builder (and repairer!). Doug also crewed on Wimble's team for many years and was a decent driver, too. He and his son ran a limited super at Oswego for a few years, won a few. Oh yeah, the #78 coupe is owned and raced by Mert "Socks" Hulbert. Blackjackracing, did you get a look at the cage and gas pedal in the TC-9? Square tubing, cut and welded to make all the "bends", and a large strap hinge for a gas pedal! Also, the driver sat flat on the floor with his legs straight out.
Brian
Just an FYI about some of those "old" cars: the Beagel long-nose car, the pink Akulis coupe and the Wimble 33 are re-creations. The #37 Falcon, TC-9, the Hinman "bug" (wish they had left it as-found rather than re-painting it!), the Benny Stephens 3X Vega, the 197 and others are "real" cars. The 3X is the car Benny flipped over the wall at Trenton in the '70's, 2012 Hall of Fame inductee Doug Rundell was the builder (and repairer!). Doug also crewed on Wimble's team for many years and was a decent driver, too. He and his son ran a limited super at Oswego for a few years, won a few. Oh yeah, the #78 coupe is owned and raced by Mert "Socks" Hulbert. Blackjackracing, did you get a look at the cage and gas pedal in the TC-9? Square tubing, cut and welded to make all the "bends", and a large strap hinge for a gas pedal! Also, the driver sat flat on the floor with his legs straight out.
Brian
The TC-9 was a scary device even when it was racing back in the 1960s - I recall looking at the cage shortly after it was found and restored and thinking "that ever hits anything it's all over." Still, cool that it survived.
It's getting harder and harder to locate old stock cars - the ones that were outside were either found or junked due to rust, and the ones in barns nobody can see because, well, they're in barns.
Yeah, bakes, it's real tough to find an original anymore. I'm building a replica of my avatar car, IH Scout frame, freshly gutted Gremlin body, period suspension and brakes. Not going to keep up with the '80's Olsen and Troyer "vintage" cars but it will be fun to throw around. I'm sorry, but IMHO vintage tin over a tube chassis does not a vintage car make! Put a little effort and research into them, guys! Also, the TC-9 was not "restored" other than replacing a few missing pieces (some parts are a little "modern"). Ted Wrench, the owner when Irish Joe won his championship, still had it stored until a few years ago when John Mason pried it loose from him.
Brian
Ted Wrench, the owner when Irish Joe won his championship, still had it stored until a few years ago when John Mason pried it loose from him.
Brian
Sorry Brian but that's not quite correct. It's definitely an original and Ted Wrench may have had it in storage, but Tim Mayne in New Berlin, NY, found it and put it back on the track in the late '80's or early '90's (I'm not sure where he found it...seems to me it was somewhere near Greene NY). Tim ran it for several years with the Midstate Antique Club but the car had reached the point that it was unsafe to put on the track. John Mason was a big Joe Donahue fan and swapped Tim a tube frame car for the Tc9. I know both Tim and John so you can believe what I'm saying.
Hey Spooker...I did see the Donahue car...it's funny you mentioned the gas pedal as I had commented on this to anyone who was listening. I pointed out to my wife how big these guys Kahonna's were!
Looking forward to seeing your Gremlin...I'm one of the "undesirables" as I'm building a '93 Tobias w/ a '74 Mustang II body..should be interesting.
Ed - Thanks for the correction, I was just going by 2nd hand accounts, guess I shouldn't have taken it all at face value! Mason is such a rabid Donahue fan that what I heard sounded correct. Blackjack - Not an undesireable at all, just a different animal! I would be restoring an original if I could find one, but since they are rare as hen's teeth, I decided to just build my own. Of course, some of the period parts are pretty hard to find, too! I wish current mods had to run stock tin of some sort, but I'm pretty sure that would mean a bunch of PT Cruisers
!
Brian
If you want to know all the correct facts on the TC9,the one that would know about it more than any of us would be to contact Joe Donahue JR.
Sorry Brian but that's not quite correct. It's definitely an original and Ted Wrench may have had it in storage, but Tim Mayne in New Berlin, NY, found it and put it back on the track in the late '80's or early '90's (I'm not sure where he found it...seems to me it was somewhere near Greene NY). Tim ran it for several years with the Midstate Antique Club but the car had reached the point that it was unsafe to put on the track. John Mason was a big Joe Donahue fan and swapped Tim a tube frame car for the Tc9. I know both Tim and John so you can believe what I'm saying.
Was it the TC9 or the Circle 22 that was found parked on an old railroad grade? I recall an early Midstate show at 5MP where these cars were running. Dad and I were talking about old stock cars and we get to the track and there they were. Very cool - I give so much credit and admiration to the people who take the time and effort to keep these pieces of history alive.
The t/c9 was found next to railroad tracks, in1983
I am the event coordinator and VP of the Mid-state Antique stock car club- also track announcer at Thunder Mountain for the past 3 years. any other information you would like about the old cars and the "club" you can contact me or email with questions. -I wish Bob, you would have introduced yourself to me at the show ...it would have good to meet you
By the way the #67 car that you took a pix of belonged to Ray Kennedy out of Deruyter,NY was B class champion at mid state in early 60's and I own it along with the 150 of Pop Enders that Larry Nye drove to 2 track championships at waterloo.67/69
and yes what a privilege to own such great parts of the history of racing.
Jim chase
and the circle 22 car is now the 441 that was at the show....
and the circle 22 car is now the 441 that was at the show....
Hi Jim - Long time no talk! I think you were the one who told me about the TC9 all those years ago at 5MP. Was the circle 22 originally a #441? I always thought that the 22 was an original; if so, why would they redo it as a 441? Same way I can't understand why the guy who redid the S/360 - 21X would change the number on that. That car is a legend unto itself.
no the circle 22 was first then -not sure thats an orinigal either-but was sold to a guy that had the oringinal 441 but was far to gone to restore so he replicated the 441. as far as the s/360 goes I agree-if you are replicating something thats one thing- but if you have an original historial car. give it the respect that it deserves. so sad to see these northeast originals sold to out of staters and changed to something else.
Brian....Spooker, Do you know how bad the 3x was after going out of the park at Trenton? I would have thought it would have been totalled but the restored car looks fine. I was there that day when Bennie crashed and actually caught it on 8mm film as a 12 year old. I don't know why I was focused on him as he was running by himself and I decided to follow him down the straight and into turn one when suddenly he drifted high caught the wall and flipped right over it! If I can find it, someday I'll transfer it to DVD hopefully before the film splits to pieces! I know I burned the film in one spot as a kid by stopping it to analyse it frame by frame.
Also was the #28 Spooker the very first Gremlin bodied car? We were racing FMP when he started running that car and I don't remember seeing a Gremlin at any of the central NY tracks or seeing any in the trade papers before I saw that one. Here's a pic by L.O. Duncan of Cal Lane in one of his early cut-downs, "Bug" at Chemung Speedrome.
Dale---not to dispute you but I seem to recall the 3x going over the wall on the backstretch near the dog-leg---or am I getting it mixed up with someone else