Mitch G.
05-29-2009, 01:35 PM
Harry Conklin buys a brand new Don Edmunds built auto-craft (VW) powered midget for Eddie Jackson, in 1979 or 80 I'm not sure about this. Anyway, this car started out black with a silver #5, and Eddie Jackson at the wheel. In 1981, or 82, again I'm not sure, Eddie Jackson welds "down bars" from the back of the roll cage hoop, down to the rear torsion tubes on the frame. This car also comes from Edmunds with "Sissy bars" on the sides of the roll cage, to help keep wheels from joining you in the cockpit.
http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=9&pictureid=455
In this 1981 photo, Eddie is in the Conklin VW, outside of Lonnie Smith in his own Chevy II at Lakeside Speedway.
Rick Salem was driving for Harry Conklin in 1982, both his midget, and sprint car, so Salem had the seat in the Edmunds that year. I Don't really remember who had the seat in 1983, the race program for the Belleville midget nationals in 1983 shows Randy Roberts in the 5D as a write in.
http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=9&pictureid=446
This picture of Randy Roberts is at Belleville, 1984, the old flat fuel tank and fiberglass tail piece have been replaced by a tail tank.
In 1984 several drivers were in the Conklin 5 car, Johnny Parsons Jr. drove it a couple times, and I think he won a main event in the car, and I remember Dave Manes out of Tuscon, AZ winning a feature in the car at Colorado National Speedway, the car was black. In 1985 they paint the car red, gold #5, Randy Roberts finishes 2nd to Johnny Parsons Jr. in a Cosworth at the 1 mile paved oval at Phoenix International Raceway, the "Copper World Classic"
http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=9&pictureid=447
Here's Roberts at Phoenix International in 1985. I think in late 1984 Harry Conklin bought a Rick Stewart chassis with a 200 cubic Inch Arias Chevy for Roberts, this became his main car, and I think that's how other drivers were in the old Edmunds VW. Now I don't know who or when bought the Edmunds from Harry Conklin, but I remember in 1986 or 87, I don't have the programs or records to refer to, but Hans and Lars Lein out of Wisconsin put a white #5 Edmunds in the big Saturday night A main at Belleville, the last VW to ever make the Belleville nationals. The announcer at the time said that the car was the "winner of the first Belleville midget nationals", this is wrong as we know Bill Morton had that car in California in 1984, and 1985.
http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=9&pictureid=445
This maybe Lars or Hans Lein, I'm not sure as I'm not familiar with Wisconsin midget history. You can see the rear down bars that Eddie Jackson welded to the cage, the lower nose piece is gone, as are the stock Edmunds side kick offs, and front nerf. I don't know where this car is now either, but it's interesting how Harry Conklin owned the first midget to win the Belleville Midget Nationals, and a ex Conklin car was the last VW to make the Belleville nationals race, and both were Don Edmunds built VW powered cars.
http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=9&pictureid=455
In this 1981 photo, Eddie is in the Conklin VW, outside of Lonnie Smith in his own Chevy II at Lakeside Speedway.
Rick Salem was driving for Harry Conklin in 1982, both his midget, and sprint car, so Salem had the seat in the Edmunds that year. I Don't really remember who had the seat in 1983, the race program for the Belleville midget nationals in 1983 shows Randy Roberts in the 5D as a write in.
http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=9&pictureid=446
This picture of Randy Roberts is at Belleville, 1984, the old flat fuel tank and fiberglass tail piece have been replaced by a tail tank.
In 1984 several drivers were in the Conklin 5 car, Johnny Parsons Jr. drove it a couple times, and I think he won a main event in the car, and I remember Dave Manes out of Tuscon, AZ winning a feature in the car at Colorado National Speedway, the car was black. In 1985 they paint the car red, gold #5, Randy Roberts finishes 2nd to Johnny Parsons Jr. in a Cosworth at the 1 mile paved oval at Phoenix International Raceway, the "Copper World Classic"
http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=9&pictureid=447
Here's Roberts at Phoenix International in 1985. I think in late 1984 Harry Conklin bought a Rick Stewart chassis with a 200 cubic Inch Arias Chevy for Roberts, this became his main car, and I think that's how other drivers were in the old Edmunds VW. Now I don't know who or when bought the Edmunds from Harry Conklin, but I remember in 1986 or 87, I don't have the programs or records to refer to, but Hans and Lars Lein out of Wisconsin put a white #5 Edmunds in the big Saturday night A main at Belleville, the last VW to ever make the Belleville nationals. The announcer at the time said that the car was the "winner of the first Belleville midget nationals", this is wrong as we know Bill Morton had that car in California in 1984, and 1985.
http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=9&pictureid=445
This maybe Lars or Hans Lein, I'm not sure as I'm not familiar with Wisconsin midget history. You can see the rear down bars that Eddie Jackson welded to the cage, the lower nose piece is gone, as are the stock Edmunds side kick offs, and front nerf. I don't know where this car is now either, but it's interesting how Harry Conklin owned the first midget to win the Belleville Midget Nationals, and a ex Conklin car was the last VW to make the Belleville nationals race, and both were Don Edmunds built VW powered cars.