Let's talk FRITZ!

[carc7]

I thought we should get a new thread started about one of the best ever local track drivers - Fred C. "Fritz" Wilson. Let's get our hands around the history of a local legend - called so for damn good reason!

I'll start. It was 1962 and the CARC was racing at Lakeside. We were coming off of a rain delay, and the Club had called for the race cars to come out and finish drying the track - some of the street cars and trailers were still out, but just a few. Fritz jumped at the opportunity! I can still recall, like it was yesterday, Fritz' black #6 Vickie coming out of the north turn, and Fritz romped on the gas pedal and cranked the steering wheel to the right. Between feathering the gas and working the wheel, he proceeded to run down the front straight completely sideways, until he reached the south turn, straightened her out, and headed into the turn. I really appreciated the term "car control" that night. Never had seen anything like it. Fritz had - - "IT"!
And Fritz at CNS when it was dirt, driving the #71 brown and gold Camaro? He might as well have had his left arm leaning on the window sill, radio on and A/C running, he was that smooth!
My picture is of Fritz after winning at Englewood with the CARC in 1951.:bow::bow:

C'mon guys, send in some rememberances of one of Colorado's best!

[Quick Time]

Some of you must remember this better than I....... It was about 1960, 61 and the end of the season open comp. Fritz liked the Thunderbird engines, blew a motor in his vickey during hot laps and took the one out of his personal pickup. Word had it he lost that engine so they pulled his wifes car into the pits and put that engine in his car.

Not sure but that one might have not lasted the night. Sure admired that man.

Any of you have more details on that night?

Chuck

[Thomas E]

Some of you must remember this better than I....... It was about 1960, 61 and the end of the season open comp. Fritz liked the Thunderbird engines, blew a motor in his vickey during hot laps and took the one out of his personal pickup. Word had it he lost that engine so they pulled his wifes car into the pits and put that engine in his car.

Not sure but that one might have not lasted the night. Sure admired that man.

Any of you have more details on that night?

Chuck

Not really, but I know he took a '59 T-Bird and brought it up to NASCAR specs and went racing with it.

[Thomas E]

"Fritz" Wilson - Part one

"The Grand Old Man of Stock Car Racing" . . . That’s what Ted Douglass (1942-1998) called Fritz Wilson in the glorious days when Fritz was a part of Colorado National Speedways mud slinging and dirt ball throwing.

When people heard the name "Fritz," there was no mistake as to who they were speaking of, it was none other than "Fritz Wilson," one of the more recognized names in auto racing in the Rocky Mountain area. Those of us who watched Fritz race will remember his smooth, get after it driving style on the track; he was a good friend and a true humanitarian off of it, my kids will testify to that. Fritz and Pat Frazier would take our kids on some of their out town racing road trips as well.

What do I remember about Fritz Wilson? It has been a lot laps and checkered flags between the first time I saw Fritz and the day Fritz passed away. I remember that Fritz would be sidelined for part of the 1963 CARC Lakeside season, it was a respiratory problem, Fritz was treated at National Jewish Hospital in Denver. When I was working For Barnum News, I wrote an article about Fritz being hospitalized in the Herald-Dispatch that same year.

Remember the change Fritz made to his #6 ’32 Ford Victoria sponsored by L & M Garage, it went from black to Chinese Carnival red with gold numbers and lettering.

So really, where to begin? Motorcycles, fat fender cars, open wheelers?

Fritz began racing motorcycles when he was a teenager and graduated to stock cars in 1947. He won the first stock car race he entered that season.

Whoa, hold it, hey, wait a minute . . .

How about the main event at Lakeside Speedway that Fritz ran on three wheels, during which he ignored several black flags. That one I remember, Pat Frazier and I were there sitting in the main grandstand near the start/finish line. It was 50 lap main event, I do not recall what lap it was when the left front wheel came off Fritz' Chinese Carnival Red #6 '32 Ford Victoria, and the spectacular spectacle that followed . . .

The race is under way, Fritz is rounding the south turn in front of the pits, has starts into the back stretch, the left front wheel of the #6 car comes off and rolls to the infield, Fritz is still headed down the back stretch as the left spindle touches down and showering sparks out like the Fourth of July on through the north turn. From that point on Fritz ignored several black flags holding on to first place and then the checkered flag comes out. Then Fritz headed his red modified ‘32 Ford Victoria stocker for the infield.

What a performance, forget the black flags, what a show, the crowd went crazy, it was like thunder with the cheers and hollers that rang out from the grandstands all the way around Lakeside Speedway. If I remember right, CARC official’s denied Fritz the win, the trophy and the points. I’m sure if Fritz the received the prize money, if he didn’t, he should have for best of show. The three wheel extravaganza may have unwise and unsafe, but Fritz the race car chauffer was known for his daring moves and exemplary car control.

The reason the steering was not effected during the aforementioned main event is that Fritz' '32 Ford Victoria used a '36-'37 cross-over steering, which uses a left side pitman arm to the drag link to the steering arm to the right side, so all the turning was dependent on a still working right front wheel and spindle assembly.

[Thomas E]

"Fritz" Wilson - Part two

Fritz Wilson’s . . .

Championships -
Lakeside Speedway 1956 and 1957 CARC Track Championship.
Englewood Speedway 1967 and 1975 Late Model Track Championship.
Colorado National Speedway 1977 and 1983 Late Model Track Champion.

Other accomplishments -
Fritz won the Sahara Late Model Open in 1975 in Las Vegas
International Pikes Peak Hill Climb, 1965, second place in the Open Wheel Division.
Fritz was also known for “Sweeping the field” on several occasions at CNS, Lakeside, by setting quick-time, winning the trophy dash, the heat race, and the main event.
Fritz retired in the late 80’s a Colorado racing legend.

Honors -
Lifetime member of Colorado Auto Racing Club.
Inductee to the Colorado Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2004.
Member of the Road Knights Car Club in Loveland.

Other rides I remember, just a few of many -
#36 a purple and cream colored ‘37 Ford 5-window coupe.
An almost worn out H-M 1956 Ford two-door NASCAR Sportsman at CNS In the 60's.
#7 Lakeside National Bank modified stock car.
Bob McDowell's blue #14 Lakeside modified stock car.
Frank Caputto’s #59 Jet-X '55 Chevrolet.

[Thomas E]

"Fritz" Wilson - Part three

Fritz and Daytona . . .

Fritz raced in the Daytona 500 in 1959, the first year of the new speedway, he took part in the NASCAR Grand National Series (was NASCAR Winston Cup, now NASCAR Nextel Sprint Series) for three seasons, 1959-60-65. Though he never won a race in the series, he earned three top-five and four top-10 finishes.

Fritz is remembered for quite a feat in the 1959 Daytona 500. Fritz qualified third position, and was the first driver to lead in the inaugural race. The Daytona 500, the 3 of 44 on the series that year, wasn't successful for Fritz, he was forced to retire on the 15th lap engine failure, finishing 56th in the 59-car field. His earnings $100. The eventual winner, Lee Petty, collected $19,050. The 1959 Ford Thunderbird that Fritz drove was placed in the Daytona 500 Museum. Fritz is also credited as one of the drivers who helped pioneer the art of drafting in stock car racing.

Sadly it was in 2007 that Fritz Wilson passed away, leaving the racing lineup one car short, and our memories richer and sweeter of a man who loved auto racing, loved his family, and cared about his friends.

"Fritz was one of the best drivers to come out of Colorado"
Quote by Jerry Van Dyke, Colorado Motorsports Hall of Fame.


Fred "Fritz" C. Wilson
1929 - 2007

[Olen McGuire]

I found this in the Daytona 500 Archives.~Olen



http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=181&pictureid=1091
This car was campaigned in the first Daytona 500 race in 1959. The #64 Holman-Moody Thunderbird was the car driven by Fritz Wilson who finished in 56th place with a blown piston. He actually only made 15 laps before leaving the race.

[VintageBuzz]

I found this in the Daytona 500 Archives.~Olen
http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=181&pictureid=1091
This car was campaigned in the first Daytona 500 race in 1959. The #64 Holman-Moody Thunderbird was the car driven by Fritz Wilson who finished in 56th place with a blown piston. He actually only made 15 laps before leaving the race.

Hey Olen! Great photo! Back in 1958 & 1959, Fritz & his wife used to drive up to Intermountain Speedway in Cheyenne, WY in a factory-pink Thunderbird. As a young kid back then, I could see his wife's pink-bird coming north on US 85 toward the track. So, I'd race all the other kids down the stands and out into the parking lot so that I might be the lucky one who would carry his helmet to the pit-gate. Fritz used to love seeing all us kids come racing to his wife's car so that we could walk side-by-side with him to the pit-gate. I'll never forget this great legend of our sport! R.I.P. Fritz ~VB
Click here for: More Fritz references (http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/showthread.php?t=55)

[parrot]

Paul, thanks for starting this post. Fritz was my all time favorite driver at Lakeside speedway. That photo of the #57 you posted was the Fabrizio owned car I was telling you about. (They looked a little ragged in those days when the fenders and running boards were left on.) Lots of photos of Fritz' cars I'd like to have, but are still missing.

However, here are a couple of them that I do have. The Velmar St. Peter owned #11 was driven by Fritz during the '53 season. Photo courtesy of Steven St. Peter, car appears to be white and sort of disappears against the white background of the stands. Second from left is Mr. St. Peter, and second from right is Fritz. You mentioned the good looking black vickie from 1962. Not a fan of black, but with those gold numbers trimmed in red was one of my favorite cars at Lakeside. Even made a model of it. For '63, Fritz re-painted it red with gold numbers trimmed in black and orange. Still a good looking car. Here it is outside the pit entrance.

Fritz drove a yellow '32 five window for a couple of years during the late fifties, and only so-so photos of that car were on the old CRM site. Like to have a better photo of that car plus these: The Harry Conklin owned #6 from 1954, the Bob Jump #53 from 1956, and the #48 Vickie from 1960.

[BJR54]

I believe Fritz along with a few local drivers built a car for the 1960 Daytona 500. It was a 1960 Ford Starliner. If I remember my grandfathers story correctly they piad $900 dollars for the car brand new off the showroom floor. They did not make the race that year due to motor issues in one of the qualifiers.

[carc7]

Paul, thanks for starting this post. Fritz was my all time favorite driver at Lakeside speedway. That photo of the #57 you posted was the Fabrizio owned car I was telling you about. (They looked a little ragged in those days when the fenders and running boards were left on.) Lots of photos of Fritz' cars I'd like to have, but are still missing.

However, here are a couple of them that I do have. The Velmar St. Peter owned #11 was driven by Fritz during the '53 season. Photo courtesy of Steven St. Peter, car appears to be white and sort of disappears against the white background of the stands. Second from left is Mr. St. Peter, and second from right is Fritz. You mentioned the good looking black vickie from 1962. Not a fan of black, but with those gold numbers trimmed in red was one of my favorite cars at Lakeside. Even made a model of it. For '63, Fritz re-painted it red with gold numbers trimmed in black and orange. Still a good looking car. Here it is outside the pit entrance.

Fritz drove a yellow '32 five window for a couple of years during the late fifties, and only so-so photos of that car were on the old CRM site. Like to have a better photo of that car plus these: The Harry Conklin owned #6 from 1954, the Bob Jump #53 from 1956, and the #48 Vickie from 1960.

Bill: I love that shot you got of the red #6. Notice the tow bar for flat-towing it to the track! Fritz was track champ at Lakeside in 1956 and 1957. Do you know whose cars he drove those years? Any pics thereof? Paul

[parrot]

First a little clarification on the years that Fritz was CARC champion. Two different reports have occurred in print over the years. In a 1966 Program touting the 20th anniversary of the CARC, it lists Bill Starks as track champ in '55 & '56, while Fritz was listed as champ in '57 & '58. I'm going with that version. By the Mid Season Championship race (usually the first half of August) Fritz is shown in a 1956 program as fifth in points, 96 points behind Bill Starks who was in first. With roughly seven, (eight tops) races left in the season, it's not likely he caught Starks. Fritz would had to have finished each event therafter five to six spots ahead of Bill to pull it off. With the points awarded only one point difference for each position, I'm not sure that happened. Anyway, that's my logic and I'm stickin' to it!

With that in mind, the car that Fritz probably drove to the '57 championship was the #114 shown here in a '57 photo along with brother Don's #141. (These are photos of photocopies so not that good of resolution, but will have to do until an original shows up) Fritz's car was dark blue, Don's light blue. The #6 is another photo I took from a CARC scrapbook during the 2003 old timers reunion out on west 44th and Indiana and is probably the 1958 car. Fritz would sometimes change cars during the season and is shown/listed in more cars than there are racing seasons during this era so sometimes hard to pinpoint years. Another version of this car was shown on the old CRM site with a little different lettering. Both were yellow, and, hard to see, but I think this is the one that had the number outlined in several colors. Tried to model it and was just to small to get all those outlines on. Liked the other version better anyway.

[TPF]

Parrot, That 141 car that Don drove ended up being the #50 Cunninghams car my dad bought from Don in 1959. TIM

[parrot]

Parrot, That 141 car that Don drove ended up being the #50 Cunninghams car my dad bought from Don in 1959. TIM

Tim, you told me what happened to that #50 when your dad had it. Wonder if that car ran under another number before Don Wilson drove it as #141? Or maybe he built it new. Fun to find out car lineage, but tough to do unless you find the people who remember. That was a long time ago.

[TPF]

Parrot, I think Donny and Fritz built them both. I cant be forsure on that , but let me do some diggin and I will get back to you on that subject. TIM

[TPF]

Parrot, Just found out a thing or two on the 141 car. Just to let you know Don did build the 141 car with a gentleman we all know as Harry McCool. Fritz ,Don, and Harry built both cars the 114 and the 141. When my dad bought the 141 from Don he had trouble with getting the title becouse of there were different parts from different cars.
When my dad finally got the car he stripped out the roll bars becouse the bars in it were nothing but welded gas pipe. I dont think this was the last car my dad did the roll bars in I know there was the 75 car that he drove in 1960 that he did his own roll bars. A guy by the name of Ted Speck owned that car.
I think the design on my dads roll bars worked pretty darn good considering he is still around to laugh abought it . He laughed and said those things were there to protect your head , not that we had to many brains back then. TIM

[schafer1]

http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=188&pictureid=1146&thumb=1 ('http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=188&pictureid=1146')

[schafer1]

http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=188&pictureid=1146&thumb=1 ('http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=188&pictureid=1146')

The picture says it all!!! Fritz drove the wheels off this one literally what a race and what a race car driver, see his autograph?

[parrot]

Parrot, I think Donny and Fritz built them both. I cant be forsure on that , but let me do some diggin and I will get back to you on that subject. TIM

Tim, thanks for following up on that history. Interesting to learn. Lot of '32 3 window coupes going on there. Harry McCool also had one in 1957, the #18. After that, he switched to Chryslers. I do know where Fritz got his #114 though, he acquired it from the Webbers, either Chris and/or Jack, both were listed as owners depending on the year, 1955 & 1956. Fritz took over sometime in '56 and I think he may have finished that season in it. Back in the 1990's, I acquired the body of that car, still in pretty good shape. Also picked up a fairly rough '32 frame, but getting it restored just wasn't in the cards, so sold it. Went through a couple of guys, then heard that it ended up in Scottsbluff, Nebraska.

[Thomas E]

:think:

Did you notice where the left front tire is laying?

[schafer1]

:think:

Did you notice where the left front tire is laying?

I do now, i should have known but didn't i could not remember, as I was there was quite a while ago I guess?

[schafer1]

http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=188&pictureid=1142&thumb=1 ('http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=188&pictureid=1142') remember this hot dodge fritz could make it around lakeside in a hurry in this monster, it would really bark coming out of the turns sideways, Schafer1