#35, Alvin "Cotton" Farmer. Tough as nails racer, a Bronco bustin', bull rider as a young man. Raced till about 1967 .... injured at a Pikes Peak Hill Climb. Later, became a promoter at Devils bowl speedway, Mesquite Texas.
I was lucky enough to have the famous Black Deuce of Hector Honore come for our Fair many summers from the mid 50's to early 60's. The first year I remember Bobby Grimm was the driver, then the famous Pete Folse. Just an incredible team and the car made me a motor sports guy for life. Great, great memories with my dad.
i can not help but get teary eyed when i watch this. It is a very fine tribute to all those guys. My dad died in a sprint car Oct. 1 , 1960. The late Jim " Ace" Packard. Thanks for the video
Dirtzoo International my dad died racing sprint cars and my uncle... I know how you feel. Jan Opperman was my father and Jay Opperman my uncle.. both of these brothers died due to racing. My mother {Elizabeth Jones} probably saved my life, she was hell-bent on keeping me out of a Sprint car & off of a motorcycle! I told her.. "Okay, don't worry Mom".... I had to do that for her peace of mind. Anyway I just had to do other dangerous things of course like becoming a Union Ironworker,we build Skyscrapers & Bridges..NO Mom did not like that either but I had to do that!
Yes that was Sweikert in the yellow car flying out of Salem. His car was extremely horrible that day. the footage of Sweikert's crash was taken by Jimmy Reece.
If you don't have the full DVD of the Fabulous 50's, I highly suggest you get it. Jimmy Bryan was my dad's hero and where I got my name. I love this classic stuff and pretty much know all the drivers...even though I was born in the 70's. Thanks for posting.
The #3 is the KEY car at 1:15 and Sterling Plumbing at 1:36 right after a very young Bobby Unser. Both cars owned by my mom Sandy Young and Jack Colvin my dad Don Shepherd (Sprint car hall of fame inductee) was mechanic. Bobby Unser was the driver he won USAC championship in KEY Car. Wow! I have been looking for footage thank you!!! I cried when watching. Jack Colvin and Don Shepherd have passed away and sadly Bobby just passed away.
@btnhsn My Father was Shorty Templeman and he was a friend and admired your grandfather. He is also in this video twice. Short guy with the mole on his chin. This brings back alot of memories. Great video.
I knew your grand dad when I was a kid. I think he drove for us. The #3 is the K.E.Y Special car at 1:15 and Sterling Plumbing at 1:36 right after a very young Bobby Unser. Both cars owned by my mom Sandy Young and Jack Colvin my dad Don Shepherd (Sprint car hall of fame inductee) was mechanic. Bobby Unser was the driver he won USAC championship in KEY Car. Wow! I cried when watching. Jack Colvin and Don Shepherd have passed away and sadly Bobby just passed away.
Great video, great tune for it! My great uncle was John Pfrommer. 0:42 Jud Larson in the Dunseth Chevy, 1:17 Rodger McClusky #51, Bobby Unser #3. @1:33 remember the face not the name. @1:43 Greg Weld? @2:26 Eddie Sachs? @2:36 Bobby Marshman in the Hopkins #17? @3:23 Larson, @3:29 Rodger Ward and Bobby Marshman? i think Jimmy Bryan drove the Vargo car. Jim McElearth driving for my uncle. All great men. thank you for posting this video!
When I was in high school I had a photo on my wall of A.J. at the Hoosier Hundred with the car in full lock, left front in the air, big red bandana and haulin' ass. Wish I could find that photo again. ...and to think how strange it looked the first time I saw a car with a roll cage!
How did we get old? The memoried flood back, Frank Hauzar,Ron & Dana Ray, Hoggle, Allen heath. It brings tears to my eyes. I miss it so much. Only thing I get to race now is toys, Models. They look real and make me happy.
Just so different than today's racing. I'm so glad I got to see this era up close and personal...the dirt, sweat...minimalism with speeds not much less than today (wingless sprinters of course)
0:48 So sad. R.I.P. Bob Sweikert. Thank you for making such an appropriate video that truly shows the passion that each racer that has passed had for the sport he loved. R.I.P.
@1:27 This shot of "Pappy" Don Branson is painfully sad to me as he was one of my childhood heroes. However, God had other plans for Don. He and young and up coming driver Dick Atkins in the latest J.C. Agajanian sprinter #98 (of course) both tangled going into turn one at ASCOT Park. And, as the great Sid Collins would say "they left this earth in a race car."
At 3:52 I'm almost certain that's Salem's stands. look how open it is, you can see the people sittin behing nothing but chain link fence. In 1960 I say an axle come out of the left rear of a stock car, it and the tire got knocked towards the grandstand, then it hit a pole and bounced into the pits, The tire didn't hit anyone, but there was a huge pile up, it was the second lap and everyone still bunched. Debris got some spectators and minor injuries occured. Saftey has always been skimpy there.
My father was Johnny Wills (Nash.,TN )and I know he had something to do with the car that Sweikert won indy in 55 and the car he got killed in in 56. My dad pretty much left racing after that. I am still not clear what his relationship was to the cars. AJ Foyt also was one of the drivers he was with at one time. He worked on the Hoover Motor Express cars. I would love any info anyone has about him. I remember being in the endfield at indy probably in 53-54.Can anyone help?
@superdaves49 Shorty is a legand, so is Tony posted below, it's great to know you guys are seeing and enjoying it as much as us "civilians" are. The closest I got to greatness was working for Bill Cheesburg out in Tucson, he was a man you didn't mess with, a man's man, quite and dangerious feeling. He ran INdy also, damn near got killed at Salem and gave up driving sprinters. He was still kickin butt on the dirt latemodels into his sixtys at the late Manzanita speedway.
@onyx0523 I wondered if that was Bob in the yellow car, what a shame. He had just won the Indy 500 the year before, or early that same year I'm not sure. I read somewhere that a top of a tree blew down and they found an old Hilebrand wheel and tire, legend has it that they never found all of Sweikerts car and they think it may belong to it. There were a lot of familiar heros in that video, I wish I could go back in time and do it over again. Think I'll run salem's new little track next year.
This was when these men including my dad were real race drivers. Cromwell helmets no roll cage or power steering mostly a lap belt no fire suits .rip to most of them still racing in valahalla forever
Yeh, very well put together...........except for the two scenes of those guys most likely dying!! I could have gone without seeing that while I ate my breakfast, thanks a lot.
#35, Alvin "Cotton" Farmer. Tough as nails racer, a Bronco bustin', bull rider as a young man. Raced till about 1967 .... injured at a Pikes Peak Hill Climb. Later, became a promoter at Devils bowl speedway, Mesquite Texas.
Not only the best drivers but they had the most class. I hope time will not forget them.
I was lucky enough to have the famous Black Deuce of Hector Honore come for our Fair many summers from the mid 50's to early 60's. The first year I remember Bobby Grimm was the driver, then the famous Pete Folse. Just an incredible team and the car made me a motor sports guy for life. Great, great memories with my dad.
Thank you for this, fantastic tribute. Heroes of mine. May they all travel faster still, through the heavens.
i can not help but get teary eyed when i watch this. It is a very fine tribute to all those guys. My dad died in a sprint car Oct. 1 , 1960. The late Jim " Ace" Packard. Thanks for the video
Dirtzoo International my dad died racing sprint cars and my uncle... I know how you feel. Jan Opperman was my father and Jay Opperman my uncle.. both of these brothers died due to racing. My mother {Elizabeth Jones} probably saved my life, she was hell-bent on keeping me out of a Sprint car & off of a motorcycle! I told her.. "Okay, don't worry Mom".... I had to do that for her peace of mind. Anyway I just had to do other dangerous things of course like becoming a Union Ironworker,we build Skyscrapers & Bridges..NO Mom did not like that either but I had to do that!
Thank you Jonny3wheel
Yes that was Sweikert in the yellow car flying out of Salem. His car was extremely horrible that day. the footage of Sweikert's crash was taken by Jimmy Reece.
As far as I'm concerned, this is THE auto racing video. It is beautiful, poignant and moving. A bit of a tear-jerker. It is perfect.
Could be my favorite video..... A tribute to the post WW ll bad ass drivers....... RIP most of them.....
I watch a lot of racing vids on TH-cam- this is the coolest one I've seen all year- thanks to Dick Wallen and Johnny3wheel!
If you don't have the full DVD of the Fabulous 50's, I highly suggest you get it. Jimmy Bryan was my dad's hero and where I got my name. I love this classic stuff and pretty much know all the drivers...even though I was born in the 70's. Thanks for posting.
The #3 is the KEY car at 1:15 and Sterling Plumbing at 1:36 right after a very young Bobby Unser. Both cars owned by my mom Sandy Young and Jack Colvin my dad Don Shepherd (Sprint car hall of fame inductee) was mechanic. Bobby Unser was the driver he won USAC championship in KEY Car. Wow! I have been looking for footage thank you!!! I cried when watching. Jack Colvin and Don Shepherd have passed away and sadly Bobby just passed away.
Also wanted to say it is a great video. Knew most of the guys in it but was too young to appreciate it back then.
Thanks for the memories.
@btnhsn My Father was Shorty Templeman and he was a friend and admired your grandfather. He is also in this video twice. Short guy with the mole on his chin. This brings back alot of memories. Great video.
This is very cool- my Grandpa is Tony Bettenhausen Sr. with the big grin at 1:50 in the video. Thanks!
I knew your grand dad when I was a kid. I think he drove for us. The #3 is the K.E.Y Special car at 1:15 and Sterling Plumbing at 1:36 right after a very young Bobby Unser. Both cars owned by my mom Sandy Young and Jack Colvin my dad Don Shepherd (Sprint car hall of fame inductee) was mechanic. Bobby Unser was the driver he won USAC championship in KEY Car. Wow! I cried when watching. Jack Colvin and Don Shepherd have passed away and sadly Bobby just passed away.
Great video, great tune for it! My great uncle was John Pfrommer. 0:42 Jud Larson in the Dunseth Chevy, 1:17 Rodger McClusky #51, Bobby Unser #3. @1:33 remember the face not the name. @1:43 Greg Weld? @2:26 Eddie Sachs? @2:36 Bobby Marshman in the Hopkins #17? @3:23 Larson, @3:29 Rodger Ward and Bobby Marshman? i think Jimmy Bryan drove the Vargo car. Jim McElearth driving for my uncle. All great men. thank you for posting this video!
When I was in high school I had a photo on my wall of A.J. at the Hoosier Hundred with the car in full lock, left front in the air, big red bandana and haulin' ass. Wish I could find that photo again. ...and to think how strange it looked the first time I saw a car with a roll cage!
TexanFiveThree
How did we get old? The memoried flood back, Frank Hauzar,Ron & Dana Ray, Hoggle, Allen heath. It brings tears to my eyes. I miss it so much. Only thing I get to race now is toys, Models. They look real and make me happy.
I'm a gigantic PJ fan, and I feel like this video does his memory proud. Good work mate, damn good work.
Just so different than today's racing. I'm so glad I got to see this era up close and personal...the dirt, sweat...minimalism with speeds not much less than today (wingless sprinters of course)
tom krayg
Thank you for putting this back up! What a great video!
0:48 So sad. R.I.P. Bob Sweikert.
Thank you for making such an appropriate video that truly shows the passion that each racer that has passed had for the sport he loved. R.I.P.
R.I.P
@1:27 This shot of "Pappy" Don Branson is painfully sad to me as he was one of my childhood heroes. However, God had other plans for Don. He and young and up coming driver Dick Atkins in the latest J.C. Agajanian sprinter #98 (of course) both tangled going into turn one at ASCOT Park. And, as the great Sid Collins would say "they left this earth in a race car."
This video is a work of art. Thank you for posting.
At 3:52 I'm almost certain that's Salem's stands. look how open it is, you can see the people sittin behing nothing but chain link fence. In 1960 I say an axle come out of the left rear of a stock car, it and the tire got knocked towards the grandstand, then it hit a pole and bounced into the pits, The tire didn't hit anyone, but there was a huge pile up, it was the second lap and everyone still bunched. Debris got some spectators and minor injuries occured. Saftey has always been skimpy there.
My father was Johnny Wills (Nash.,TN )and I know he had something to do with the car that Sweikert won indy in 55 and the car he got killed in in 56. My dad pretty much left racing after that. I am still not clear what his relationship was to the cars. AJ Foyt also was one of the drivers he was with at one time. He worked on the Hoover Motor Express cars. I would love any info anyone has about him. I remember being in the endfield at indy probably in 53-54.Can anyone help?
@superdaves49 Shorty is a legand, so is Tony posted below, it's great to know you guys are seeing and enjoying it as much as us "civilians" are. The closest I got to greatness was working for Bill Cheesburg out in Tucson, he was a man you didn't mess with, a man's man, quite and dangerious feeling. He ran INdy also, damn near got killed at Salem and gave up driving sprinters. He was still kickin butt on the dirt latemodels into his sixtys at the late Manzanita speedway.
Simply amazing
Truly amazing footage. thanks for posting
@onyx0523 I wondered if that was Bob in the yellow car, what a shame. He had just won the Indy 500 the year before, or early that same year I'm not sure. I read somewhere that a top of a tree blew down and they found an old Hilebrand wheel and tire, legend has it that they never found all of Sweikerts car and they think it may belong to it. There were a lot of familiar heros in that video, I wish I could go back in time and do it over again. Think I'll run salem's new little track next year.
This was when these men including my dad were real race drivers. Cromwell helmets no roll cage or power steering mostly a lap belt no fire suits .rip to most of them still racing in valahalla forever
Outstanding Video sir. TY.
Excellent!
The last clip made me shout when I figured out what it was!
Wow......incredible video. Thanks!
That's my Aunt in her sun glasses and scarf! ha,
So badass
Yeh, very well put together...........except for the two scenes of those guys most likely dying!! I could have gone without seeing that while I ate my breakfast, thanks a lot.
Only the yellow car on the paved track was a fatality. The big crash on the dirt track the guy amazingly crawled out basically OK.
The 5th car in the line enters @ 3:17 My uncle Bob King #36 in Stahl Bros. Farm Equipment car Winchester goes on into history @ 3:20
EPIC
Anyone know where the Don Branson footage came from? Thanks!
Back when we had an AMERICAN open wheel championship, pre-Penske.
1:14 to 1:23 is EPIC!!!!
I'm amazed that the driver in the #35 survived.
Me too, thanks to God.
what is the story behind Yellow car No. 35? was he ok?
That was Bob Sweikert, winner of the 1955 Indy 500. And no, he wasn't OK. Died in an ambulance on the way to the hospital.
A.J. and Jimmy Bryan @ 0:27
Sugma