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mlight9
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Posted: Thu Oct 29th, 2009 09:24 pm |
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This is for the oldtimers, I am seeking info & pix from 1949 era of midget racing. The drivers were, Bill Spear, Al Duris & Jim Florian ( I think Jim??).
They were all from Ohio but drove to Penna. & drove at a track near Lebanon called Hilltop. The racing lasted 1 or 2 years, & consisted of Offie's & V8-60's. ARDC had most of the drivers or at least a lot.
I do not remember car #'s or colors except for one thing. One of the cars was painted to resemble a cigar, i.e. the car was brown, a gold band was around the middle of the car(rite @ the cowling) & the nose was painted to look like the hot end of the cigar.
Over the years, I have heard small bits of these drivers, but never anything about their excursion to Penna.
Just found your site a week ago & have been on it everyday so far. I figure another month or so & I'll get to the end.
I hope someone will have info for me, thanks,
mlight9.
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denracer
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Posted: Fri Oct 30th, 2009 05:16 am |
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Unfortunately, all have passed away. Al Duris was killed in a sprint car back in the late 40s or early 50's. He had already been promised a ride in the Indy 500. I was too young to remember Al, but Bob James and Al's brother, Johnny Duris, a fine racer himself, told me much about him and his talents.
Bill Spear drove for a number of different car owners with much success. I can recall watching him at Sportsman Park and later, Cloverleaf Speedway where he drove for area car owner Wimpy Vobler.
Jimmy Florian was the driver I knew best. Jimmy and Dick Swarzlander (not the PA driver) were quite a team in the midgets. Jimmy ran midgets and roadsters and then switched to stock cars as NASCAR was started. Jimmy won the NASCAR race at the old Dayton Speedway, which was the very first NASCAR GN win for Ford. Jimmy ran a few more GN races with the Ford and his own Olds and then came back to run stock cars at Sportsman Park. Jimmy drove the famed 17X of Shorty Christianson for a few seasons and he and Swarzlander teamed up in the Swarzlander #27 Offy and won a lot of races with Tri-State, and a few of the other regional series. Jimmy was also a pilot and told me how he flew his Bi-plane to Darlington for the first race there. He figured out how to follow the roads and the train tracks and got there safely. He used to carry a picture of that plane, painted cream and red, just like the 1950 Ford he drove. Jimmy was a true character and had vintage race cars he toyed with and enough parts to build another plane, if he chose to do so. A genuine character.
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mlight9
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Posted: Fri Oct 30th, 2009 07:14 pm |
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Denracer, thanks much for the info. I take it you never heard of the racing in Penna. or who drove the "cigar" midget. If you learn anything, let me know. I appreciate your taking time to answer me,
mlight9.
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denracer
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Posted: Tue Nov 3rd, 2009 10:12 pm |
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| I do remember seeing a color photo of Jimmy Florian in a midget, taken at the Akron Rubber Bowl, and it was a brown #30. I do recall all those guys running in Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, etc, but I was too young to be traveling to the tracks by myself back then. The next time I talk to Bob Miley, I'll ask him if he remembers any of that stuff. I do recall stock cars of the 50s with wild paint schemes and I'm sure the midgets had the same.
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s55mercury66
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Posted: Thu Nov 5th, 2009 02:33 am |
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I had/have an Open Wheel with a pic of Jimmy Florian in a midget, # 11, with two beer bottles for the numerals. If I find it, I'll post it.
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denracer
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Posted: Thu Nov 5th, 2009 03:10 am |
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That's the Solon Springs Offy and those were soda pop bottles, believe or not. Tubby Kirchner, who owned Solon Springs, was the car owner. We all keep hearing rumors that the car is still around here, hidden away in a garage or something, but it's never reappeared. I think Bill Spear also drove the car at one time. I can't wait to see the picture.
Thanks
Denny
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s55mercury66
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Posted: Sat Nov 7th, 2009 02:27 am |
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I'll look high and low for it. The same article has the Pearson Offy in it too, with Paul Hooper behind the wheel.
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backintime
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Posted: Fri Nov 20th, 2009 05:12 am |
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Hey Denny - You know the subject of midget auto racing will get my attention.
The #11 may be around northern Ohio, but verifying the identity is another thing. Without knowing the chassis # of the original #11, it is impossible to know for sure. I have seen what is said to be the #11.
Last edited on Fri Nov 20th, 2009 05:21 am by backintime
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backintime
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Posted: Fri Nov 20th, 2009 05:15 am |
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| Denny - Here's a photo of Bill Spear circa 1946 Attachment: Bill Spear .jpg (Downloaded 26 times) Last edited on Fri Nov 20th, 2009 05:18 am by backintime
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backintime
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Posted: Fri Nov 20th, 2009 05:17 am |
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| Denny - Here's a photo of Jim Florian taken in 1949 at Sportsman Park Attachment: J Florian.jpg (Downloaded 26 times)
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