Vintage Indy Cars at Milwaukee

[YankeeTR]

I HAD to go as part of my job...it was tough!

AJ Foyt Watson Roadster with 255 ci Offy...

1952 Kurtis roadster with 331 Chrysler Hemi

1940's upright "Big Car"...100 inch wheelbase with Offy engine.

Harry Miller's first Indy Car...1913 "Golden Submarine"...

here's a little video history of the Foyt car winning in '64...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CY1w_XP2K1o

 

[tomshobby]

It is great to see them. A guy in Waunakee had several vintage racers, including McLarens, in his barn. The bar burned to the ground and the cars went with it. The Shelby AC Cobra he used to race may have been in there also.

 

[Geo Hahn]

Great pics. Growing up on the NW side of Indy in the 50s the guys who drove those roadsters were my heroes. Nothing against today's fast cars and drivers but to drive one of those roadsters at its limit took major league you-know-what.

That 1940 Offy has my name on it... what's that about?

Here's a pic from a recent local show, Jim Rathman's roadster that he drove to a 2nd place finish in the '59 500.

Back in those days you could actually look at the driver as the car went by and recognize who it was -- they were only going 140 mph, sitting upright and wearing a helmet that looked like it belonged in a Soap Box Derby.

 

[YankeeTR]

I listened to my first "500" (on the radio) in 1957 as my brother and I rode around Wisconsin looking for a Jag or healey to buy.

The old upright and laydown roadsters were always my favorite cars. Amazing to see a Foyt/Watson roadster in person with a four-cam Ford backed by a Model A Ford transmission!

I'll post a few more pics as time permits...now back to work.

 

[Brooklands]

Anyone interested in vintage Indy racing should consider joining the Yahoo list of Racing History. You can check it out at https://www.racinghistory.org. It was even better when racer Len Sutton was still around as his memories were so much better than getting it from the historians, but there are a number of authors and former drivers still in the group.

 

[Lou Metelko]

I grew up about 3 miles from the Indianapolis Speedway. The sound of the treacherous Novi at full wail down the back streach could easily be heard at home during May.

Lou Metelko
Auburn, Indiana

 

[YankeeTR]

I grew up about 3 miles from the Indianapolis Speedway. The sound of the treacherous Novi at full wail down the back streach could easily be heard at home during May.

Lou Metelko
Auburn, Indiana

You could here the Novi's on the radio...they were just 'screemin' compared to the Offy's.