The black Corvette was Bob Cross, a genuine jerk. In 1964 he smashed a guy's windshield with a baseball bat over a parking dispute in the U-City loop. The red #46 C-Modified was Dick Durant (later #47). His fuel-injected Corvette engine can seen in front. #9 H-Modified was the former SCCA president and St. Louis businessman (can't think of name) who Jim Boehm drove for later (unless that was already Jim driving?). Very low-slung green modified probably the rich oilman/landowner Jack Hinkle. He later drove #61 ASR, a bright red Lola or McLaren.
Mid America Raceway was the first road course facility that I went to back in 1980. We started going there to watch SCCA races. One race that sticks in my mind was when Paul Newman raced his 280ZX in the GT1 class. He wasn't there to qualify, so he started from the back of the pack and he ended up winning the event. It was really cool seeing a movie star in person, and then to see such an exciting race.. Wow! After that event I became a road course racing enthusiast. Thanks for the memories, Paul Newman and MAR. R.I.P., Mr. Newman. You are missed.
Yes, the SCCA...:-) My dad raced against Paul Newman @ MAR that year. Dad (Ron McNear) drove a red TR-6 #97. My sisters' and I were tickled that PAUL!! was on 'our' race track. Newman had the big ole RV up inside turn 1. Fascinating....Those were the days!!
Very interesting. I love the old TR-6!! Within the last year, my friend bought a 1969 convertible/hardtop Corvette that was raced in the same class back then. As a matter of fact, we just got the engine running yesterday and plan to rent out Gateway International Raceway for testing in the coming weeks. The guy who owned it was from our area (Wildwood, MO). I would imagine you saw his car racing against your Father. I doubt you remember the car, but just in case, it was a red, white and blue Vette.
LOL... we lived in Manchester! I remember there being alot of 'Vettes in the SCCA. I kinda remember a red, white and blue one.... Dad taught me how to drive at MAR! ~Was talking about that yesterday, while at the drag strip in Newport, AR. Drags are fun and exciting, but I really prefer the road racing. Sure miss it!!
I was there for a Paul Newman race too. The one I saw he won the pole position but his Datson z car would not start at the beginning of the race. The race started without him. He finally got it started and was a quarter lap behind. He did catch up and actually won the race. His wife Joan Ann Woodward came out of there rv and got on the roof to watch the race.
@@bobhoward9440 Actually, that became part of Newman's act. I ran in those race groups in a different class. Paul was often competing against John O'Steen in a D Production Porsche 924. It became kind of a competition between the two. One or the other always won the Pole in qualifying, but as O'Steen always used to say - "It's more fun passing people than running away from them' so the two began playing a game of coming up with a reason to start at the back of the pack, so they could carve their way past everybody on their way to the win. O'Steen would usually strategically miss the last call to the grid which meant he had to roll off the grid behind everyone else. And Newman and his crew always had a car that would take their place at the head of the grid before the race, but the car mysteriously would never start when the call to fire the engine came out. The hood would go up and the guys would fumble around under the hood till everyone else started up and rolled out on the formation lap....and when the pack was about half way around the formation lap, the Datsun would suddenly come to life and Newman would storm out to catch up to the pack. He did this at a couple races in which we competed. But the result was that as the checkered flag fell and we were accelerating and shifting through the box up to speed, Newman was roaring down on the pack, already up to full speed and he would blow through the starter's flag full bore...ripping through the accelerating pack like a jet fighter slicing through a pack of bombers heading towards a target. When you raced in the same race with Newman, you made darn sure to keep an eye on your mirrors when the green flag dropped because you knew darned well you were soon going to be eating his dust.
This is great! I lived in Wis. in the early to mid 60s, saw many races at RA, Lynndale & Milwaukee, never Mid america. You prominently showed one of my favorite cars from back then, Dick Durant's Chevy Spl. #46- what a great car. What were the other 2 cmod specials you showed, black #14, & the Devin bodied #36? #36 almost looked like Durant's previous special he built with the Pontiac engine.
Yes, the first track is Indianapolis Raceway Park (IRP). The second track shown I suspect is the long gone Greenwood Roadway in Iowa. Finally at 5:47 we have Mid-America Raceway. I sadly miss them all.
We used to sit across from the tower on the outside part of turn one. Great spot for passing at the end of the long straight (see 6m 14s). The back portion of the track was in a valley that could be viewed from a wooded hillside. It was very picturess (sp?). The pits... What pits? They worked on their cars in the field/parking area right next to the main straight. Like it was yesterday, I still remember seeing Paul Newman's crew working on his 280ZX in the "pits." IIRC, Newman flew in on a helicopter.
There were several tracks put together. I put in a number of laps at these tracks. I believe there is footage from the old IRP...Indianapolis Raceway Park...Road America and finally MAR before the footage from Lambert
wow. great video. My dad, Glen Shepard, is in this right at the 6:00 minute mark in his #93 HM Jabro. I went to this track many times as a kid. I just went back in July of 2015 not really expecting to find the track. After some serious driving around and looking around I found a portion of the racing surface...the back straight and final turn leading to the front straight up the hill is still there. It was getting dark, so I only walked around for a few minutes....very cool to see. I took some photos and they can be found at this link to my Flickr album flic.kr/s/aHskk1WUT7
The black Corvette was Bob Cross, a genuine jerk. In 1964 he smashed a guy's windshield with a baseball bat over a parking dispute in the U-City loop.
The red #46 C-Modified was Dick Durant (later #47). His fuel-injected Corvette engine can seen in front.
#9 H-Modified was the former SCCA president and St. Louis businessman (can't think of name) who Jim Boehm drove for later (unless that was already Jim driving?).
Very low-slung green modified probably the rich oilman/landowner Jack Hinkle. He later drove #61 ASR, a bright red Lola or McLaren.
Mid America Raceway was the first road course facility that I went to back in 1980. We started going there to watch SCCA races. One race that sticks in my mind was when Paul Newman raced his 280ZX in the GT1 class. He wasn't there to qualify, so he started from the back of the pack and he ended up winning the event. It was really cool seeing a movie star in person, and then to see such an exciting race.. Wow! After that event I became a road course racing enthusiast.
Thanks for the memories, Paul Newman and MAR.
R.I.P., Mr. Newman. You are missed.
Yes, the SCCA...:-) My dad raced against Paul Newman @ MAR that year. Dad (Ron McNear) drove a red TR-6 #97. My sisters' and I were tickled that PAUL!! was on 'our' race track. Newman had the big ole RV up inside turn 1. Fascinating....Those were the days!!
Very interesting. I love the old TR-6!! Within the last year, my friend bought a 1969 convertible/hardtop Corvette that was raced in the same class back then. As a matter of fact, we just got the engine running yesterday and plan to rent out Gateway International Raceway for testing in the coming weeks. The guy who owned it was from our area (Wildwood, MO). I would imagine you saw his car racing against your Father. I doubt you remember the car, but just in case, it was a red, white and blue Vette.
LOL... we lived in Manchester! I remember there being alot of 'Vettes in the SCCA. I kinda remember a red, white and blue one.... Dad taught me how to drive at MAR! ~Was talking about that yesterday, while at the drag strip in Newport, AR. Drags are fun and exciting, but I really prefer the road racing. Sure miss it!!
I was there for a Paul Newman race too. The one I saw he won the pole position but his Datson
z car would not start at the beginning of the race. The race started without him. He finally got it started and was a quarter lap behind. He did catch up and actually won the race. His wife Joan Ann Woodward came out of there rv and got on the roof to watch the race.
@@bobhoward9440 Actually, that became part of Newman's act. I ran in those race groups in a different class. Paul was often competing against John O'Steen in a D Production Porsche 924. It became kind of a competition between the two. One or the other always won the Pole in qualifying, but as O'Steen always used to say - "It's more fun passing people than running away from them' so the two began playing a game of coming up with a reason to start at the back of the pack, so they could carve their way past everybody on their way to the win. O'Steen would usually strategically miss the last call to the grid which meant he had to roll off the grid behind everyone else. And Newman and his crew always had a car that would take their place at the head of the grid before the race, but the car mysteriously would never start when the call to fire the engine came out. The hood would go up and the guys would fumble around under the hood till everyone else started up and rolled out on the formation lap....and when the pack was about half way around the formation lap, the Datsun would suddenly come to life and Newman would storm out to catch up to the pack. He did this at a couple races in which we competed.
But the result was that as the checkered flag fell and we were accelerating and shifting through the box up to speed, Newman was roaring down on the pack, already up to full speed and he would blow through the starter's flag full bore...ripping through the accelerating pack like a jet fighter slicing through a pack of bombers heading towards a target. When you raced in the same race with Newman, you made darn sure to keep an eye on your mirrors when the green flag dropped because you knew darned well you were soon going to be eating his dust.
FYI - First two minutes or so are from the old IRP racetrack just outside of Indy.
The rest of the video appears to be MAR.
Thank you for this footage! I live near there. It is closed now, and they built houses on the grounds. Love that Corvette split window!
Fun! My dad is racing the green #1 Lotus 23! Good memories!
This is great! I lived in Wis. in the early to mid 60s, saw many races at RA, Lynndale & Milwaukee, never Mid america. You prominently showed one of my favorite cars from back then, Dick Durant's Chevy Spl. #46- what a great car. What were the other 2 cmod specials you showed, black #14, & the Devin bodied #36? #36 almost looked like Durant's previous special he built with the Pontiac engine.
Where was this?!
Very rare footage of roadracing at MAR! I recognize Turn 1 and the MAR tower and that long straight from other pictures. TransAm ran there in 1966.
Yes, the first track is Indianapolis Raceway Park (IRP). The second track shown I suspect is the long gone Greenwood Roadway in Iowa. Finally at 5:47 we have Mid-America Raceway. I sadly miss them all.
We used to sit across from the tower on the outside part of turn one. Great spot for passing at the end of the long straight (see 6m 14s). The back portion of the track was in a valley that could be viewed from a wooded hillside. It was very picturess (sp?).
The pits... What pits? They worked on their cars in the field/parking area right next to the main straight. Like it was yesterday, I still remember seeing Paul Newman's crew working on his 280ZX in the "pits." IIRC, Newman flew in on a helicopter.
MAR is now a housing subdivision. The track is long gone.
Was there footage of another track mixed in there or was it all MAR? Wish the track had survived the years.
There were several tracks put together. I put in a number of laps at these tracks. I believe there is footage from the old IRP...Indianapolis Raceway Park...Road America and finally MAR before the footage from Lambert
goo.gl/maps/ChL5td3vvi32
parts of the old track are still there....at least when this aerial was taken
Is this like "Where's Waldo?" heh I'm having a hard time picking it out.
Zoom in close to the creak, the track pretty much follows it. Straight north of the cul-de-sacs at the end of Huntleigh Pkwy & Woods Ct.
*****
Ah-hah! I see it now! Thanks!
Dig the music. What's it from? CD, album? Was the second piece Minnie the moocher?
gloobnord This video was converted to digital through a retail shop. They added the music. Can't help you with what the songs are.
wow. great video. My dad, Glen Shepard, is in this right at the 6:00 minute mark in his #93 HM Jabro. I went to this track many times as a kid. I just went back in July of 2015 not really expecting to find the track. After some serious driving around and looking around I found a portion of the racing surface...the back straight and final turn leading to the front straight up the hill is still there. It was getting dark, so I only walked around for a few minutes....very cool to see. I took some photos and they can be found at this link to my Flickr album flic.kr/s/aHskk1WUT7
It is no longer there? Where is/was this?