The Short Chute
PAGE 2 - Newsletter #71 - Summer 2000
Hall of Fame Inductions
In mid-April the Inlernational Motorsports Hall of Fame in Talladega, Alabama held it's annual induction ceremony. This year's inductees were A.J. Foyt, Mario Andretti, Ayrton Senna, Nelson Piquet, Don "The Snake" Prudhomme and Craig Breedlove. On June 8 the Motorsports Hall of Fame of Detroit, Michigan held it's 12th annual induction ceremony. The inductees were Leonard and Glen Wood, Bob Hannah, Sam Hanks, Peter Gregg, Smokey Yunick, Tom D'Eath and Cook Cleland.
Racing Fraternity Deaths
On behalf of the Indy 500 Collectors Club we offer
sincere condolences to the families of the following
members of the racing fraternity:
Vintage Racing Magazine Makes Debut
The title of the new publication is Vintage Oval
Racing. It is billed as the ultimate guide for the vintage
oval racer and enthusiast. I got my hands on a
copy of the premiere issue through the courtesy of
veteran racing photographer and Indianapolis 500
Old Timers Club member, Leo Kulpa of Lancaster , CA.
NASCAR Winston Cup series driver Kenny Irwin
He was killed in a crash while practicing at the New
Hampshire International Speedway on July 7. He was 30 years old.
NASCAR Busch series driver Adam Petty
died in a practice session accident on May 12 at New Hamp shire International Speedway. Adam was 18 years old.
If you are interested in vintage race cars this is the
magazine for you. The contents include Vintage
Highlights (upcoming event information), club and
organization listings and feature articles covering
vintage car meets. The publication also includes Letters to the
Editor, a tech section, classifieds, etc. For
subscription information call 650-321-1411.
Kurtis Midget Book
A new hardbound book is available documenting
the history of Kurtis Midgets. The 224 page limited
edition volume, a 20 year project by author Bill
Montgomery, is entitled "Kurtis Krait Midget: A Genealogy of Speed".
More than 250 of the machines built from 1946 through 1952.
are covered. The owners, the drivers and what has become of each car .
The book is available from Witness Productions,Box
34, Church Street, Marshall, IN 47859 Tel. 765-597-2487.
President's Note
I hope everyone had a great May and enjoyed the
84th Indianapolis 500 Mile Race. It was great to see
the 1st Turn Gang on Bump Day. If you were not at
the track, you missed a classic last day of qualifications.
Congratulations to Juan Montoya for a great driving performance.
Congrats are also in order for second place finisher Buddy Lazier
for a very fine ride.
As far as I'm concerned, it was a great race day, an
exciting race, a full 500 miles of competition (no rain)
and most important, a safe race.
I have already started counting down to May 2001.
Have a great Summer and Fall. Until next time.
happy collecting.
Larry
Ward's 1962 Hand Lever Solved
In our last issue President Larry wrote a note with
a question concerning the die cast model of the 1962
Rodger Ward winning Watson Roadster. Larry
pointed out that in pictures of the car back in 1962
there is an obvious lever of some sort that appears on
the side of the cockpit. It is not on the GMP die cast
model. What was the lever?
Member Dick Smith
of Spring. Texas. appears to
have come across the horse that could give us the
answer straight from his mouth. A.J. Watson. Dick
posed the question to Mr. Watson at Indy this year .
Dick wrote: First. the 1962 car in the IMS museum
does NOT have a hand brake lever. (which probably
explains why GMP missed it-ed.) Second. it did have
one. The reason was that for a short couple of years
USAC required a second backup brake system. The
requirement was later dropped. The '62 winning
Watson WAS built with one (as seen in the photos)
but it was later removed.
