CARC Lakeside Speedway 1972-Butch Wallace

[Mitch G.]

From a Lakeside Speedway, CARC program in 1972, Race meet#7, June 25, 1972. O.K. Bruce, Rick, and Chris (professor coupe), what's the story on this beauty? As I recall this was a pretty good looking coupe, blue as I remember, and this one is a 32' is it not? In the photo left to right are: Larry Martel, Arnold Wallace (owner), Butch Wallace (driver), Gary Rhoads, and Al Price. According to the program write up, Arnold and Butch worked for S&H Home Improvemnts,(the sponsor on the car) a custom patio and home improvement company where Arnold and Butch worked as salesmen, and installers. Coupe points at this meet, Blu Plemmons 1st (#4), Merle Burrow(#7) and Jack Graham(#19) tied for-2nd, Dan Day-3rd(#88), Roy Jackson-4th(#45), Terry Daniels-5th(#61), Pat Petrie-6th(#12), Bernie Sawin-7th(#55), Ed Mailo-8th(#40), Harry Stone-9th(#24),
Jim Billinger-10th(#71).
http://www.autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=25&pictureid=835

[lakeside #29]

Mitch, This was Butch's rookie car. From what Butch told me, He had been sitting in the grandstands and his dad decided when Butch was 18 he was going to drive. So that's exactly what happened. This was a very staight '32 Ford 5-window. In fact it had an original Deuce hood top section complete with the center hinge. It ran a punched out 223 6 cylinder. Butch showed his considerable talent and was named rookie of the year. If I remember correctly their nickname for the car was "Sundance". Gary Rhoades was one of Butch's long time buddies and later they became brothers-in-law. In '73 they bought a new Ford "Boss 302" in the crate and installed it. The "Boss" was rare at Lakeside and it lived up to the hype. The car was more than a match for the Chevy's and had a great sound. The car was retired when the Wallace's built a Ford Maverick bodied late model, which was built on a modified chassis and used the "Boss" in it. I think Don Threlkeld had the car for awhile, then Butch got it back, Rich and Skip Mikula, were somewhere in the mix and last owner I know of was Larry Davis.

Chris Ertler-"Professor Coupe"