Kenz & Leslie vintage midgets, CVOR show

[Mitch G.]

On July 25th the Colorado Vintage Oval Racers (CVOR) put on a vintage race car display at Burt Chevrolet in south Denver. The newspaper ad read "2008 Midget Race Car Show" and "Shades of Lakeside Speedway" highlighted on the ad. All my connections and family back in Colorado missed the show, Sean Hillis was kind enough to forward a message of mine to Gary Huberix the pres of CVOR. Gary sent some photo's to me, looks like they had a great turn out of cars, but the two cars that caught my interest were the Kenz & Leslie midgets. The history of the #62 and #67 is lengthy, so I'll keep it short.
http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=118&pictureid=878
The Kenz & Leslie midgets on display with the CVOR 07/25/09
http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=118&pictureid=879
On the double deck trailer, man is that beauty on display or what?

http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=118&pictureid=877
The "Continental Airlines" #62 Kurtis Kraft with Offy power, and the story of this car. The original Kurtis purchased by Kenz & Leslie in 1947 and went on to win the RMMRA title that year with Johnny Tolan at the wheel.
http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=118&pictureid=876
Here's Tolan at Lakeside Speedway in 1947
http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=118&pictureid=873
Roy Leslie with the two original KK midgets, Denver 1947, the #67 is powered by a Ford V8-60 the #62 is the Offy.
http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=118&pictureid=875
Sonny Coleman, and Bill Kenz with the V8-60 in 1948 at Lakeside Speedway. Coleman won the 1950 RMMRA title in this, probably the best V8-60 in Dever. Joe Giba also drove the #67 to many main event wins.
http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=118&pictureid=874
K&L sold the #67 to midwest midget owner Frank Pavese, here Danny Kladis is seated in the former K&L Kurtis V8-60. Supposedly the #67 V8-60 is in Detroit and has been restored, but no details are available
http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=118&pictureid=871
Joe Giba bought the #62 in 1948, (here he is in 1951 in Indiana) he ran the car for years and put a Johnson Outboard V4 in the car in 1961. Giba sold the car to Jack Skellinger in southern California, who sold it to Ray Jimenez who put a pinto engine in it and raced it up until 1982. Sadly Max Sweeney was killed in the car at Ascot Park in 1982. Last known owner was Lou Loucart still in southern California. Ron Leslie purchased the ex Joe Virag Offy from the eastern U.S.and restored it as the #62 Continental Airlines car, pictured at the CVOR show posted above. Ron and Ross Leslie get the much deserved credit for restoring, and bringing these Denver midget legends back to life.
http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=118&pictureid=872
Rex Records in Joe Virag's Offy in the 1950's, this is now the Continental Airlines #62.
Using Bill Montgomery's "Kurtis Kraft Midget A Genealogy of Speed, and the follow up "Companion Edition", and Bill Hills "Decades of Daring, I've put this brief history together. Volumes could be written on the Kenz&Leslie midgets, I thinks it's fantastic that the K&L cars are represented for midget fans young and old to enjoy.

[webby]

Wow, this is great stuff. I hope they bring those midgets out to CNS on August 29th (http://coloradospeedway.com/cns/schedule/details/27-race%20event).

[Thomas E]

I knew Johnny and Corney Tolan from not only racing but also from Tolan Plumbing on Broadway between 3rd Avenue and Bayaud Street. Corney raced midgets for a short time.

Johnny Tolan - 1947 RMMRA Chapion

One picture is worth a thousand words.

:)

Johnny Tolan, K & L #62, Continental Airlines Special - Lakeside Speedway, Denver, Colorado

[Jerry Lee]

I can't say enough on how cool these cars are! I've got to see them up close before and it's great that these cars are still around for us to enjoy.:D

[webby]

On July 25th the Colorado Vintage Oval Racers (CVOR) put on a vintage race car display at Burt Chevrolet in south Denver. The newspaper ad read "2008 Midget Race Car Show"Mitch isn't kidding, the ad actually says.... "2008 Midget Race Car Show".

"2008 Midget Race Car Show"??? Isn't it 2009?

I guess the club is so dedicated to being "vintage" they even ran a vintage advertisement. :D

[Mitch G.]

Glad I'm not in charge of important documentation, I didn't even notice the 2008 mistake!! I left a hole in the story I posted, I didn't mention the origin of the current #67 V8-60 car. I couldn't find any info on the donor car, or it's history I saw this car on display at Pikes Peak International the 2nd year the track was open, and was told the Leslie's found a donor Kurtis for the #67 restoration, recreation, who cares the thing is just plain awesome!
http://www.autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=118&pictureid=882
The CVOR guys are a tremendous bunch of people, one of the finer vintage clubs in the U.S. Who ever put the ad together must have had a better year in 2008, and doesn't want the year to be over!

[Olen McGuire]

Maybe they figured 2009 isn't over yet, so they will have the 2009 show in 2010......I don't know ,it's too confusing for an old man.~Olen

[ghubrex]

Well, I need to apologize for at least some of the confusion. CVOR was asked to display cars at Burt Chevrolet, and there was an assumption that they would do the promotion. I think they simply didn't proofread the copy, because the ad does say 2008. They ran the same ad last year, and neglected to change the date. They shouldn't be faulted too much, because Burt Chevrolet has been VERY supportive of the club and generously provides the space and advertising (which can't be cheap) for the show. In spite of the short advertising notice, we had 24 cars and several hundred people stop in--it was a great time. If Burt is so good as to offer us a third annual show, I will make sure it is advertised on this site and BWR--I won't let you down next time! The Ron Leslie-owned midgets are nothing short of racing treasures! I hope he will bring them out to CNS for the Hall of Fame night on the 29th, an/or the Racer's Reunion on the 30th.

[JRKracer]

WOW!!! Those midgets are perfect!!!! I would really like to bring ours out and gather as many of the old cars we could for a display. Old Leroy has a few himself.
Joe

[Mitch G.]

Joe, it would be mind blowing to see "Kouba's Offy" ("baby"), next to "Ol Betsy" (Lloyd Axel Offy), in line with the Kenz & Leslie midgets, and oh yeah, the Bob Lively #2. Not to mention all the other wonderful midgets from the "golden" Lakeside Speedway era, pre roll cage (sorry roll cage guys). Contact Gary with the CVOR, get your cars down to Denver for the August 29th vintage event at Colorado National Speedway!!

[Thomas E]

Joe, it would be mind blowing to see "Kouba's Offy" ("baby"), next to "Ol Betsy" (Lloyd Axel Offy), in line with the Kenz & Leslie midgets, and oh yeah, the Bob Lively #2. Not to mention all the other wonderful midgets from the "golden" Lakeside Speedway era, pre roll cage (sorry roll cage guys). Contact Gary with the CVOR, get your cars down to Denver for the August 29th vintage event at Colorado National Speedway!!

:)

62, 5, 55, 67 - four Offys and a Fordies

or

62, 5, 55, 2 - four Offies

Order wouldn't matter.

It would that make a great pre-staged trophy dash photo.

[ghubrex]

If you have an old midget, or ANY old race car--restored or "survivor" status, please consider bringing it out to CNS for the Racer's Reunion on Sunday, August 30th, at Colorado National Speedway from 11 to 4. There will be race cars, street rods, muslce cars and who knows what on display. Free admission, food will be available; bench racing and memory sharing will be the rule of the day. There will be many photo ops as well. Come meet old and current drivers, crew members, and race fans for a great afternoon. It's the "Johnny Witthar Racer's Reunion, brought to you by the Coolorado Vintage Oval Racers" at CNS. We will have cars on display for the Race of Champions/Hall of Fame night on the 29th as well, and would be happy to have any car of Colorado Racing interest on display as a guest of CVOR. It will be a big weekend!

[JRKracer]

I would love to come on the 29th but as always we are racing the two 410's at Rice lake , WI with the Bumber to Bumper IRA Srint car series that day. I will promise that if something could be arranged for next year with some of these historic old cars, I would be there. I really mean this, if you can arrange this I would have them there. Part of the reason for restoration is for all the old and young fans to enjoy. Joseph and Jerry [Richert] could get along without me for one nite if it was arranged early enough

[webby]

If you have an old midget, or ANY old race car--restored or "survivor" status, please consider bringing it out to CNS for the Racer's Reunion on Sunday, August 30th, at Colorado National Speedway from 11 to 4. There will be race cars, street rods, muslce cars and who knows what on display. Free admission, food will be available; bench racing and memory sharing will be the rule of the day. There will be many photo ops as well. Come meet old and current drivers, crew members, and race fans for a great afternoon. It's the "Johnny Witthar Racer's Reunion, brought to you by the Coolorado Vintage Oval Racers" at CNS. We will have cars on display for the Race of Champions/Hall of Fame night on the 29th as well, and would be happy to have any car of Colorado Racing interest on display as a guest of CVOR. It will be a big weekend!This year I work for CNS in the tower so I will be there.

Coincidentally August 29th is also BigWestRacing.com hospitality night at CNS (http://www.bigwestracing.com/forums/showthread.php?t=23340) so it should be a blast all the way around!!! 3 of my favorite things all converging on the same night. :D

[VintageBuzz]

From the Lou Wendzel collection circa 1940s:
This #67 K&L midget race car decal is one of many decals that Wynn's Oil used to promote their products and to support the racing community. My Dad, Lou Wendzel, initially met Bill Kenz in Denver at the midget car races. With Bill's mentoring, Lou learned how to build Mercury Flathead engines to their full potential. In the late 1940s and early 1950s, both Bill and Lou raced together at the Bonneville Salt Flats, but in totally different classes. ~VB

[tb7118]

very nice