My man Rick Ferkel, showin' 'em all how it's done in '75, on a tricky, sandy rarely used fairgrounds track - watch him execute perfect, seemingly effortless drifts from the bottom groove to inches from the wall. If you think this is easy, look at the guys behind him fight and struggle - and they were the elite sprint car drivers of the day!
Jan Opperman (Speedway Motors 4x), from the same race in '74 (apologies for vid. quality - there was a cleaner version around)
It's amazing any of the guys that raced back in the early 1900s lived. 100 mph, no brakes to speak of, no seat belts, no structure around you at all. I'd probably be dead multiple times in a car like that.
IIRC
Posted: Sun Feb 24, 2013 12:58 am
by Mopar 151w2
The life expectancy of a professional driver in the '30's was something like 7 seasons. There was a book about early racing called "Damm Few Died in Bed."
More Opperman
Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2013 11:44 pm
by Mopar 151w2
A very nice tiibute vid.
Early in the vid, there is a pic of a crude old sprinter with a huge 6 cyl. engine. That is a "Ranger" aircraft engine - a DOHC, air cooled 6. Jan won his first race in it.
Re: Old School Cool
Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2013 11:50 pm
by sachilles
http://vimeo.com/60842675
For the Ken Squire fans. You haven't lived until you've listened to music to go to the dump by, Saturday mornings at 9 am on WDEV(streamed online now as well).
Lowbuck icon Bobby Lagana, sr. has passed away after a recent illness. From CompetitionPlus.com:
Caring Husband, Loving Father, Devoted Son, Honorable Friend, Dedicated Automotive Mechanic, and last but not least, a Hardcore Drag Racer – All attributes of the late Bobby Lagana Sr.
Bobby Lagana Sr.'s world revolved around his kids, and for him it meant bringing them up at the racetrack. Bobby Sr. was all about keeping his word, and teaching his kids the value of family and true friendship. Bobby Sr. would never refuse anyone in need and would drop anything to help even a stranger.
Bobby Sr. lost his first daughter, Dinah, at 10 years old; he then had four more kids with wife Marie and raised them in Dinah’s honor. Bobby and Marie made sure their kids wanted for nothing and lived for everything. Marie passed away in 2000 after a short battle with Cancer. Through all the good times and bad times, Bobby enjoyed life to the fullest and has four great kids to live in his honor.
The Champ passes
Posted: Thu Oct 03, 2013 2:40 pm
by Mopar 151w2
•Sad News - Rene Charland: Rene M. Charland, 84, legendary stockcar driver who blazed numerous tracks from Canada to Florida passed away peacefully on Monday Sept 30 at the Wilkinson Residential Care Facility in Amsterdam, NY where he had resided for the past several years. Charland was a 4-time NASCAR National Sportsman Champion from 1962 thru 1965. He was one of the original Eastern Bandits that enjoyed tickling the skills of the drivers in the South. He was also a member of the AllStar League for many years. He was inducted into many Hall of Fames thru-out his life span; the NewEnglandAntiqueRacers(NEAR), Dirt Motorsports, Riverside Park, Fonda Speedway, Utica-Rome and Albany-Saratogas as well as many more. He was named as one of NASCARs Top 50 Drivers at Stafford Motor Speedway as well. His career wins exceeded 800, his track championships were numerous and covered many states in the country to achieve his records. Charland made nine starts in the Sprint Cup Series from 1964-1971 with a best finish of 3rd at Fonda Speedway. Funeral Services for Mr Charland will be private. Expressions of sympathy may be made in Mr Charlands memory to Victory Junction.(Gloversville Funeral Services)(10-2-2013)
Ernie Bodreau's last coupe was a former Charland car - The rollcage was one of the first "Shelby" tubing cages around, and Ernie kept it when he built the IFS chassis for the car circa '73, as it was still as nice as any. It had an original "Firestone" fuel cell. And the metalwork on the body was 1st class - it was trimmed/lightened well past NASCAR rules, but it was nicely finished enough that nobody ever caught on.
