Walt "The Count" Von Tillius

[Mitch G.]

For one of our newest members, here are some photo's I've found.
http://www.autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=118&pictureid=1035
The Frank Hingley racing team, Goose Merrit is in the #9, Hingley is behind the cars, and "The Count" Walt Von Tillius in the beautiful #90 Kurtis Kraft, sponsored by Denver Oxygen Co. 1947 or 48?
http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=118&pictureid=1034
Here Walt Von Tillius with Jay Booth at a Oklahoma City indoor midget show in the late 1940's, looks like they would rather be racing than watching, nice dud's though eh?
http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=118&pictureid=1033
1963, Von Tillius is working on Bill LoSasso's midget, a Ferguson powered car with Marv Slusser Sr. in the cockpit.
http://www.autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=118&pictureid=1036
Walt Von Tillius at Lakeside Speedway in the Morris Musick Kurtis Offy #15. According to Bill Hill's great book, "Decades of Daring", Walt drove this car in 1948, but won a main event in a Kenz&Leslie car at Scottsbluff, Nebraska. He was 7th in RMMRA points in 1948, and the next year raced in Texas and Oklahoma in the Frank Hingley Offy.
So Terry, fill us in if you can on anymore details!

[Terry Von Tilius]

Wow,

I don't know what to say. I have the picture, at the bottom, here at home.
I saw the one in OK City in the "Decades Of Daring" book.

I love the one of him bent over working on the engine... I have never seen that one before. That brought a tear to my eye. Is there any way I can get a copy of that one? (e-mail attachment etc)

I sure miss him. I'm sure he would have loved to help tinker with my Go Kart.

[parrot]

Wow,

I don't know what to say. I have the picture, at the bottom, here at home.
I saw the one in OK City in the "Decades Of Daring" book.

I love the one of him bent over working on the engine... I have never seen that one before. That brought a tear to my eye. Is there any way I can get a copy of that one? (e-mail attachment etc)

I sure miss him. I'm sure he would have loved to help tinker with my Go Kart.

That is a cool photo. Also, in same photo, noticed the Hover Motors tow truck in the background. Hover Ford was fixture on the southwest corner of Speer and Federal Blvd. during those historical racing days, and contributed to area racing incuding car sponsorship.

[Terry Von Tilius]

I'm going over to see my Mom today. I'll get the details of the "Hooligan" story and post it.
Dad's other nickname was "Von Holligan". Funny story, but I want to get the details before I post it.

[lakeside #29]

Terry, I had the privilege of meeting your father in the early 1970's when I worked at Gene Plue's motorcycle salvage yard. He used to come in and have coffee in the morning. If I remember right he rode a Yamaha street bike. He had some great stories. I worked there with Rick Cook, who was a star motorcycle racer at the time and I was racing modifieds at Lakeside. Rick was interested in learning about Offy's. At the time my knowledge of Offy's wouldn't fill a thimble but your dad gave us a crash course. One morning he blew both of us away by bringing in the head and cylinder assembly from the Bob Olds Offy for us to examine. It was the only time I ever got to see the inner workings of an Offy. I only knew your dad casually and he stopped coming in shortly after bringing in the parts. At the time many veterans didn't want to talk to kids. Walt would explain things and treat us like his peers. It was none of that "Go away boy, you bother me." kind of stuff. I appreciated men like your dad and when I talk to young guys today I take his approach when speaking with them. Thank you.

Chris Ertler-"professor coupe" and CARC Lifetime member

[Terry Von Tilius]

You probably saw me and my little brother, Mark too. He would take us with him on Saturday mornings, every once in a while, to Gene's.
Yes he had a orange and white Yamaha at the time.
He was a great teacher, when it came to engines... all types. He taught my older brother, John, so well that he is still one of the best in the business.
He passed away before he had a chance to teach me very much. I had to learn, what I know, on my own by going to Red Rocks College. Where I took their autmotive classes.
Thanks for the kind words.

Anyway... the "Hooligan" story.
This took place, before I was born. It was at Lakeside. He had quit race driving. But was still active with working on friends cars etc. My Mom had convinced him to stop racing. She could not take it any more and he had my two sisters to care for.
He went to the races that night with my Mom. She went to the grand stands to sit with some racing friends' wives. He told her he was going to the pits to "help out".
Hot laps, then qualifying. Then when the heat races started Mom noticed this "new" driver, buy the name of "Hooligan", looked pretty familar. She did not recognize the helmet or the suit. But that guy sits in the car just like Walt! She got a closer look. Even though he was wearing goggles and a helmet, she knew she had been had.
Well needless to say when she got down to the pits, he got busted. Right in front of all his racing buddies, no less.
There after, guys like Bob Olds, Roy Bowe, Brad Bradford and "Ozzie" all called him "Hooligan" or "Von Holligan". He never lived it down.
A few weeks ago, at the Burt midget show. I showed Bob Olds the picture of Dad in the #15 car (pictured above). The first words out of Bob's mouth were "Von Holligan".
He still can't live that night down.

[JimmyK]

Here's an autographed photo from our family collection. Taken in 1947.

[Terry Von Tilius]

I had that picture... My ex-wife put somewhere and lost it.
Now, thanks you you, I have it again!

[JRKracer]

It is great to be able to share these pictures, our mother loved to collect pictures. I'll bet we have thousands. Jimmy has all of them because he is the computer expert. He also has the knowledge of how to reproduce them. I am glad he posted this for you to enjoy.
Joe

[Mitch G.]

Joe, have you and Jimmy ever considered having a book printed about your family? You should think about it, the history about your father, and the memorabilia your mom has collected, just your family's story would make a wonderful book, I'd buy it! Not to mention you and your brother's own racing careers, and I guess your son's racing too?

[JRKracer]

Mitch G, it is an honor to our fathers memory that you think that a book wood be good. There were so many great racers , like Terry's Dad , that work on there own stuff and won alot. We too had great careers, Jimmy and Joseph's are still going strong . Although my driving career is over mine too is continuing as I have said with great drivers driving my cars. Jerry Richert Jr., and even last week the Great Brooke Tatnell drove my car and won the Jerry Richert Sr. memorial Race. at Cedar lake, WI. But I beleive, as so many sons do, that my father was the best I simply got to shadow him. I am very proud to have the heritige I have. and the memories--- maybe some day Jimmy and I will write them all down, maybe we won't get the chance but in the mean time we'll share with all of you as much as we can. Thanks to guys like Terry and all that visit this board we can keep the Mighty Midgets alive for those who want to remember.