The Short Chute
PAGE 2 - Newsletter #90 - Spring 2005
Club Notes
IMS Press Release – May 13 will be known as Tom Carnegie Day at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Carnegie will be in his 60th year as the familiar leading voice on the Speedway’s public-address system. An autograph session, video tributes and public-address tributes are scheduled, commemorative pins will be given away and bobble head Carnegie dolls will be for sale. “I’m honored that the Speedway would officially recognize ‘Fast Friday’ as Tom Carnegie Day,” Carnegie said. “That’s very meaningful. (60 years) is sort of (a long time). You look back and say, ‘My gosh,’ how did that happen?’ That’s my feeling right now. But it’s been easy. And it’s been inspired by love of the race and love of the people who’ve been there all those 60 years. Of course, the Hulman-George family. What they’ve meant to racing, what they’ve meant to the leadership has inspired me to be here, to be part of it. I just appreciate the attitude of the family and the fans. After 50 years, it began to be important.”
In our book “The Roadsters of Indianapolis . . . Glory Days” there is a car that appears on page 154 that, telling it’s Indianapolis history alone, does not do justice. It is the last roadster built by Eddie Kuzma and, although entered three times, it was never in the starting field for The 500. However, it appeared in eleven Championship races from 1964-1966. Here is the record of those races:
1964 Trenton Start 8 Finish 11 Mario Andretti
Milwaukee Start 9 Finish 3 Mario Andretti
Trenton Start 6 Finish 22 Mario Andretti
Phoenix Start 3 Finish 18 Mario Andretti
1965 Phoenix Start 3 Finish 6 Mario Andretti
Trenton Start 5 Finish 2 Mario Andretti
Atlanta Start 8 Finish 2 Mario Andretti
Langhorne Start 3 Finish 4 Mario Andretti
Phoenix Start 13 Finish 6 Bud Tingelstad
1966 Phoenix Start 10 Finish 3 Chuck Hulse
Mt. Fuji Start 15 Finish 11 Chuck Hulse
As you can see, the car finished in the top three five out of eleven races and in the top ten seven of those eleven races. It played a large part in carrying newcomer Mario Andretti to his first National Championship in 1965.
For the past several years the car has been owned and maintained in it’s 1964 livery by Don and Joan Lyons of Dowagial, Michigan.
Dick Wallen's New Book Is Fabulous
(We Say That Every Time)
Boy, did I make a mistake! My wife was in a hurry, getting ready to go somewhere. I was waiting for her. Having a few minutes
to kill I picked up Mr. Wallen’s new book “Roaring Roadsters, The Road to Indy” and started looking through it. Well, by the
time I made myself put the book down The Boss was getting pretty anxious, you might say.
First, I read the Foreward by A.J. Watson (I don’t know how anyone got Mr. Watson to say so much about himself). Then I
started looking at the pictures. Wow, the pictures are so clear and so many of them have captions that include famous names,
Jack McGrath, Jim Rathmann, Troy Ruttman, Pat Flaherty, Dick Rathmann and on and on. Those cars are great. Don’t you wish we
could watch them again?
Following is a book review by Dan Fleisher:
“Roaring Roadsters, The Road to Indy,” is only a slight departure from Dick Wallen’s array of traditional, terrific books
featuring Midget, Sprint and Champ cars as its main theme is track roadsters, referred to some as Hot Rods. However, as the
book progresses, the roadsters of the California Roadster Association do become Sprint cars of the California Racing Association.
Never-the-less, this book is another of reliving the open-wheel days of oval track racing that is accomplished by Wallen,
not only in regard to the story line and historical review, but with numerous, interesting quotes from many racing legends
including car builder A.J. Watson, who offered the forward, and Knoxville Sprint Car Hall of Fame inductee, Walt James.
James, who served as President of C.R.A. for 20 years, has a terrific, “folksy” way of relating his personal stories,
often evoking chuckles from the reader.
Wallen has the unique ability of obtaining photos from racing historians and collectors alike, and “Roadsters” is no
exception. The pictures, many of which have never been seen previously, are brilliant. They capture the “who’s who” of
roadster drivers who traveled the road to Indy and later captured the prestigious event, including Troy Ruttman, Jim
Rathmann, Pat Flaherty and Bob Sweikert.
“Roadsters” is the seventh treasure published by Wallen and meets the high standards he sets for himself regarding
content, style and quality. It is a must for all open-wheel aficionados.
Orders can be placed by calling 623-566-5578 or writing P.O. Box 10561, Glendale, AZ 85318-0561.
Price: Hard bound – $75; Deluxe with matching sleeve – $100; Shipping UPS – $10; Foreign Air Mail – $45; Boat Mail – $20.
