Miles "The Mouse" Melius

[vintagemodman]

949

Miles "The Mouse" Melius Next to a Cadillac powered Henry J like he drove to many wins in 1957. The Mouse is still acive in the local racing, attending races every week and many Vintage events throughout the summer.:checker:

[carc7]

A CADDY POWERED HENRY J??? HOW COOL IS THAT!!??!!??:banana:

[ghubrex]

"The Mouse" was popular and very successful in Eastern Wisconsin modified racing--equivalent in that part of the country to Fritz Wilson, Rick Carelli, and Wayne Stallsworth in Denver area.

[Thomas E]

Neat car, a Caddy and a Henry J, I like it. It is different.

What type frame does it have?

I have a Henry J model car body, I can add that to my builds.

[Slim Louis]

Thanks for sharing the picture, John, I grew up watching the Mouse, first recollections were around 61-62, I think.

Thanks for letting me wax nostalgically!

Slim

[Slim Louis]

Well I am certified to post pictures, now, so here ia a shot of the first "Mouse" car that I can remember. My friends and brothers called it the forty ford, because it looked like a cut down sedan, not sure what it really was, though! Anyway, first memories!

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e386/slimlouis/Wisconsin%20Vintage%20Mods%20and%20Super-Mods/255061cd8646b99bfe60c96a03c921-vi.jpg

This is why every young kid (and adults) loved the mouse! His three-wheelin' style was awesome!

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e386/slimlouis/Wisconsin%20Vintage%20Mods%20and%20Super-Mods/289e6c5b02e09b001f433359a95fbc-vi.jpg

Pace lap State Fair Park Feature. Don't get any better then this!

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e386/slimlouis/Wisconsin%20Vintage%20Mods%20and%20Super-Mods/B801-vi.jpg

Thanks for letting me hijack the thread, John!

[vintagemodman]

Slim, this actually was a 40 Ford sedan body cut down. They called it a coach. This is the car that the Mouse got hurt in. He hit the wall head on during qualifying going an estimated 85mph. He flew completely over a road grader parked outside the wall. He had a broken jaw, wrist and had cuts and bruises. Went to the hospital and came back to the track the same night and was signing autographs. How tough is that? I was there that night and will never forget it. If I could figure out how to post pictures I would. Do you still live in Wisconsin?

[Slim Louis]

I was there that night, too, John, tore me up watching that wreck! Then he shows back up! That is tough! I have lived in Memphis now for the last 15 years, retired from the restaurant business in 97 (Did my chef's apprenticeship at the Pfister Hotel) and now play music , full time, for a living. Such as it is! lol Lots of memories of the MSC era of racing. My older brother raced a 53/4 Chevy sportsman he bought from Roger Regath, Paul Feldner used to come around the house, Roger Plautz and Tim Lipski and myself all built models together as kids, before I turned to rock'n'roll and they started racing! I tried to be a sign painter, Artie Dexter was my hero, lettered a few sportsmen and a modified before I realized I wasn't that good!

[vintagemodman]

Wow, Small world Slim. I have Paul Feldner's modified (Champion Chicken) from 1965. Also have a Frank Smith 57 Ford tribute car. I am currently working on a replica of Mouse's car from 1961. We put out a bi-monthly newsletter about the short tracks in Southeastern Wisconsin. We also have a Hall of Fame in Hartford WI. now too.
Lots going on around here. I see Mouse all the time. Probably will have breakfast with him this weekend!

John

[vintagemodman]

956

[Slim Louis]

Your restoration pictorial of Paul's "Airflo" modified was one of the first pictures of the "old days" that I found after I bought my computer in '05. I was as excited as a kid in a candy store! Here ya go:
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e386/slimlouis/Wisconsin%20Vintage%20Mods%20and%20Super-Mods/wisc5.jpg
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e386/slimlouis/Wisconsin%20Vintage%20Mods%20and%20Super-Mods/wisc3.jpg
<img src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e386/slimlouis/Wisconsin%20Vintage%20Mods%20and%20Super-Mods/wisc01.jpg">

and finally, the way I remeber it!

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e386/slimlouis/Wisconsin%20Vintage%20Mods%20and%20Super-Mods/9abbea3cb141714514844925a5a7c1-vi.jpg
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e386/slimlouis/Wisconsin%20Vintage%20Mods%20and%20Super-Mods/9eb4e43107eceb5fd9de86dfa5d33b-vi.jpg
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e386/slimlouis/Wisconsin%20Vintage%20Mods%20and%20Super-Mods/chickenandstars-vi.jpg
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e386/slimlouis/Wisconsin%20Vintage%20Mods%20and%20Super-Mods/PFF640vi-vi.jpg

So tell me John, what was really that body from? Airflo or a Studebaker truck cab?

[Slim Louis]

Here's a link to the restoration, I lost some photos this summer when my computer crashed, and the web site no longer allows "right clicking"

http://www.lasheefs.com/Pages/JSurges/JSurges1.html

[Slim Louis]

956

I just now noticed the thumbnail photo! Great resto of Frank Smiths car! Is tha Johnny Reimers A3 next to it?

[dirtman]

Hey slim. Allow me to introduce myself to you. I raced a lot with Tim and Roger Plautz. Got some real good stories too, probably too long to post here. I started in '66 and that's when I met them. We all got better thank god. Ran pretty much junk in those days. LOL If I can learn how to post pics I'll try to send one of my '64 Ford. Your "in progress" of Charlies car looks exactly like mine at that point. I went with "beer bottle brown" on top. I raced with Charlie a couple of times. Nice guy!! I'll see what pics I can dig up. Rett Rundell

[Slim Louis]

You have me on the edge of my seat waiting for your pictures, Rett, I'm sure they will fill the gap on my hazy memories! I was a Charlie Weddle fan as a kid, however that Galaxy I built was strictly a fictional build, with Charlies name on it it! (I make my own decals for my model cars when I can!). Just having fun with it! So, here I sit, waiting with baited breath! lol

[Quick Time]

Hey Slim,

Thanks for sharing the #8 restoration pictures. A very nice modified indeed. Great job on the work to restore.

Chuck

[vintagemodman]

Slim; The body was actually an English Anglia! This was prohibited by the MSC rules. The guys snuk the body back from a junkyard and cut it up before anyone saw what it really was. They said it resembled an Anglia so that's what they said it was. They were all sworn to secrecy so the car wouldn't be banned.

John

[dirtman]

John, Slim, what track did Mouse go over the wall at? I remember a car going over the fence at Hales Corners but I'm not sure it was him. I remember the track at State Fair Park, raced there twice in '66. Wrecked twice too. That was my first year and couldn't get out of my own way anyhow!

[vintagemodman]

Mouse's crash occured at State Fair Park in 1962. I'll never forget it!1102

[dirtman]

I was in Europe in '62, so I guess I missed that one! I think the one at Hales Corners landed on a truck, no sure. Hard to believe how hard it must have hit to bend that frame that way!