I do believe you are right claychamp that 55 is tom gush
Here's another action shot from Chemung. Tom Gush and Darrell Welty spin in what I think is turn one. I think you can see Darrell's errant tire and wheel flying. I don't know if it was because of the Torsion Bar Suspension on that 57 Plymouth or what but it would generate so much lateral force on the right rear wheel that it would tear the center out of the wheel even if we had it reinforced. Finally Dad put about a quarter inch thick plate behind the wheel center and welded it in. That was a huge amount of reciprocating weight and must have created quite a large flywheel effect but it solved the problem!
Now that I look at it I guess it would be Grant Frisbee spinning with Darrell....It may be Gush sneaking by.
Chuck Kennison, The Gunmaker" in his FORD #9x Latemodel with a win at Twin Valley.
Maybe that isn't Grant Frisbee. I've got this pic of him in the #22? If anyone has correct info please fill us in.
Here's Darrell with the 57 Plymouth when it was brand new....first time at the track....Chemung Speedrome. It was "Petty" Powder Blue with white trim and numbers. It's definately Tom Gush in the background.
Plus take a look at the great street cars behind Darrell's #27. Looks like a new Mercury Cougar coming into the picture and there's a "special" Dodge Dart back by the fence and either a FORD Torino fastback or a dodge charger fastback back there as well!
Just wanted to revisit my cousin, Jim Kings, #Ox car. I had always thought it was the former Frank Mears #26 but I discovered that it was actually formerly Dave Kneisel's #711 Vega. My mistake was because I thought there was two of these identical cars but there were three: Norm Norton's #9, Mears #26 and Dave's #711. Here it is with Jim as the Ox.
Here's the same car when Dave Kneisel had it. I believe Dave built all three cars.
Just wanted to revisit my cousin, Jim Kings, #Ox car. I had always thought it was the former Frank Mears #26 but I discovered that it was actually formerly Dave Kneisel's #711 Vega. My mistake was because I thought there was two of these identical cars but there were three: Norm Norton's #9, Mears #26 and Dave's #711. Here it is with Jim as the Ox.
Kind of hard to be Frank's car when it's in that same pic behind the 0x
! I sure wish some one could supply me with details of the front suspension set-up on those cars. Dave didn't run that car too long, not sure why, Frank and Norm made them go.
Brian
And here's Norm's N9. Of course I read Norm built them all. You would know better than me though. I don't remember Dave driving one.
As I remember it Jim's car originally had quarter eliptic leaf springs that rode on a slider pad on the front axle. I think it may have also been trailer bars too at one point which is really pretty close to the same thing. Jim later changed it to outboard coil-overs on Koni shocks. The thing that amazes me is the extreme engine set back on these cars. Look at the pic of the car after they put the coupe body on it. Wheelbase looks long and the engine is exactly in the middle of the chassis. I also know the rear end was very narrow so all things being equal unless the rear springs were crazy heavy these cars should have been horribly tight. Probably why Dave didn't like it because my recollection is he liked to be really sideways whenever possible.
found a few photos from a USAC race on the dirt @ Syracuse in 1970...
Les Hekilla in the #68 and the cars of Terry Nichels (#83) and Woody Walcher (#84)
from a Hemmings motor news feature.
Norm Norton and Frank Mears cars were built in Norms body shop in Clark summit just up the road from Daves shop. Lewis Warnstorf the owner of Norms car kept it at my fathers garage in Kirkwood about 5 miles from fmp speedway. The car was later sold to Randy Decker. We had our coupe there also Norms car had half springs on top of the front axle with a unique weight jacker on the front using two quick change gears side by side and a half in ratchet welded to the center of one gear that he could control from the cockpit. Thank You for bringing back some great memories.
Thanks, Dale & Rockin52, those little bits of info help tremendously! I could never tell from pics if the front had a single spring or dual-spring Flemke-type set-up.
Brian