Midget pics

[TPF]

My dad found these pics abought ten years ago when my grandfather passed on. I have no idea what track or who is who. The guy with his back to the camera I think is my grandfather but I cant be sure. Mitch could probley help us out on these pictures thanks TIM462

463

464

465

[Mitch G.]

Well Tim, this is a fun project. Identifying the track is tough, could be Danbury, CT., or Raceway Park in Chaicago, IL. I'd guess the year is 1947, 48 or 49. Lots of Kurtis Kraft Offies there. The first shot I can't get an Id on either car, the 2nd shot the #4 car on the pole is Lindsay Hopkins car, usually always white with blue scallops, and the trademark "Thurston" the rabbit and top hat on the hood of the car, driver may be Henry Banks. The #11 was easy, that's a custom Kurtis, by that I mean it was set up with different radius rod pads on the frame, the front had rare individual radius rods, not wishbone's like the rear. Note on this photo they are adjusting the chassis, as the upper front radius rod is unhooked. This is the famous Cal Niday Offy, the car had a body built by sheet metal wizard Wayne "Fat Boy" Ewing of Watson roadster fame, with help from Bob Pankratz. This car was blue and yellow, and Niday sold it (in the 1950's) to Howard Linne, and ended up with a collector named Don Webber in the 1980's.
http://www.autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=9&pictureid=782
Here is Cal Niday in his beautiful midget, late 40's probably. This info came from Bill Montgomery's "Kurtis Kraft Midget Genealogy - Companion Edition"
The last shot is a Kurtis, but has a custom hood and cowel, not a stock Kurtis hood, looks like it's not painted.
Great photo's, I'll keep digging to see, maybe some other midget experts can chime in on these great shots, thanks for posting those Tim.

[webby]

Man... that second pic with all those old midgets coming around the corner is really awesome!