Looking for Info on a Couple Cars that ran in the Mountain West

[Arch]

Good evening.

I recently came across this site and I feel compelled to join....really struck by the number of posts of specific personal interest. I've collected a few sprints, midgets and hot rods and related parts over the years mostly because I appreciate the craft in them and how they came to be.

Some of the stuff I have has ties to the Mountain West which this site seems to have alot of. In particular Wallace 3 GMC that ran with the UMCA and BCRA in the 50's resides with me; always interested in hearing about Wib Wallace (owner & builder) and Paul Pearson (driver). Got a couple of newer single tube spring front cars with indeterminant history....looking for similarities with other cars for clues. Couple of midgets, one that belonged to Harry Conklin in the 50's on its way back East and an Edmunds Sesco once owned by Sherm Pickrell and driven by Larry Patton.

Oddball engine stuff also ends up with me. Most oddball may be the 1/2 a Marmon midget engine from the mid 30's. I think that was a N Cal deal...according to Fox there were a few around, this thing has cast pieces so someone was planning on a few. Prolly seemed like a real good idea until the first v860 showed up.

Due to work-related realities alot of this isn't worked on or used like it should be but with a little bit of stability who knows........

Also raced midgets on and off (also my driving style) in the 80's and 90's where I learned the cage is my friend

Saludos!

Arch

[Mitch G.]

Welcome aboard Arch! sounds to me like you have some pretty neat stuff, I'll bet we can find some history on a couple of those cars. There are some pretty sharp historians on this site. Give some more details on the Conklin midget, the Kouba's (Jimmy and Joe) are a great Denver midget source. Pickrell owned a couple Edmunds, seems to me that when Stan Fox won his 1st Belleville Nats, he was in a Sherm Pickrell Edmunds with VW power.

[webby]

Arch, welcome to ARM. I certified your membership so you can post images and stuff if you want to.

We can't wait to hear some of your auto racing memories!

[Arch]

I appreciate the interest.

One of the cars with a Denver connection is the #52 car seen in Mighty Midgets with Noel Carpenter up. The photo is attibuted to Leroy Byers BUT Leroy was in the army at the time (~'52) and bought the picture. He didn't take it and does not recall actually seeing the car. Leroy understood that Harry Conklin owned the car but I'm told that HC didn't remember it either. I gather midgets were nearly dead at that point so it may have not seen much use.

The timeline more or less squares with the info I got on either side of its stay in Denver.

Car came out of California and was built in '45/'46 by Pete Smiley (the S in P&S) and Roy Richter. Shows up in the Richter book. Smiley worked for Richter and it was built at Bell alongside the last rail frame cars RR built. Pete did not remember who but he remembered selling the car in the early 50's with a P&S Drake (their own cases, built 3 of them, Walton and French/Cantrell had one). Originally had a Fergy and chain drive that didn't work too well. Smiley really was into bikes more and left the midgets behind except for the P&S connection (partner was Vince Podrugeil (sp?) ) who ran midgets longer, I believe. Pete never heard of the car again until I tracked him down. Neat guy who's gone to his reward, I understand. His idea of fun was restoring board track Indians.

On the other side of the Denver period it is sketchy. Generally it went downhill quick. One story was it went to KC where the engine was swapped for some tires and wheels wth the engine then lost. Supposedly got a Triumph engine and went to St Louis area. As it is today it has a Volvo with a mag and 110 offy injectors, a Manning (W Allis Wisc) QC i/o box and A Model centersection. Doesn't look like any of the CA, CO driveline survived. It does have a roll bar so it prolly ran up into the early 60's.

Rough as a stucco bathtub but there is some very nice craft under the arc welds. I'd really like to hear anything anyone knows about the car while it was in Denver. I gather there weren't too many shows.

More than you ever wanted to know? I'll appreciate anything you can pass on.

Thanks

Arch

[Mitch G.]

Hey Arch, try posting on this site also, lots of midget experts.
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=337192&page=33
Here's the photo Arch is talking about.
http://www.autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=118&pictureid=1475
From Jack C. Fox's book "The Mighty Midgets".