RPM Magazine

[Mitch G.]

I kept every one of these that were handed out during the 1978 season, I've got 8 different issues, there may have been more. It was a pretty good publication, good race coverage, covered many tracks in Colorado. Here's a cover, and a couple pages from various issues.

[Mitch G.]

One for the Professor, what's the story on this neat looking coupe?, how bout' the one behind it? What was the diff between a 'A' class and 'B' class coupe in 1978?
http://www.autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=25&pictureid=1460
The 2nd to last sprint car in this photo, is a Edmunds chassis, either Dion Brockett's car or Chuck Mauro's car. Frank Marcello ended up with one of those Edmunds cars. One of them is still in Denver, Derek Lewin has Brockett's old Edmunds. Who's coupe is in this photo?
http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=25&pictureid=1461

[indybigjohn]

Great, Mitch. I collect .jpgs of old program and magazine covers. Needless to say, I've gotten a lot from this site.

[rapid30]

Mitch the #92 is owned by Jr Denning and driven by Mike Kitterman, I believe that this is the former Brian Stevens/Linus Drieling #5, I think that Mike was related to the Dennings, behind him is the Grand old man of Modifieds Ronnie Lee.
Bruce

[lakeside #29]

Mitch, I agree with Bruce. The #92 was Mike Kitterman's car. I know that Mike and Frankie Denning were good friends, I don't know if they were related. Their team consisted of Frankie in #90, Keith Law in #91, and Mike in #92 and all ran purple cars. The Model A body had formerlly been on Linus Dreiling's and later Brian Steven's car. Mike's car eventually was sold to Mike McIntyre who ran the car for several season's with a pretty hot Velmar St. Peter built smallblock Chevy engine.
The #8 behind Mike is CARC ironman Ronnie Lee. Ronnie started racing in 1952 and didn't hang up the helmet until a few years ago, when he was well into his 70's.
The "B" class at that time was a subdivision of the modified class and were awarded their own points. I don't think the rules were different. Larry Mclaughlin was "B" champion in 1977.
The modified out with the sprinters looks like #2. If it is, that was Joe Henry. He ran Lakeside for quite a few years and went on to run sprint cars. I believe it was Joe who was involved in a tragic accident in the pits that resulted in the death of one of his pit crew. That was probably at Erie.

[Mitch G.]

Thanks prof! Bruce your close to becoming a tenured professor yourself!
Seems to me Henry was coming off the track after a sprint car heat, he was either coasting, or ideling (maybe still running with the car in gear?) back to his pit, and one of his crewman tried to jump on the side kickoff, of the still moving sprint car. He missed and got tangled up in the car, rear tire, whatever, and died of his injuries, but I can't remember what year that was.

[rapid30]

I think that you are right Chris, it looks like Joe's #2 which was sold to one of Joe's crew guys, I believe. John Kenville drove it at Lakeside and retained the #2. John was later electrocuted, but survived and he was burned pretty badly and lost his hand.
Bruce

[Fastway]

You are correct Chris about the points system, Where you qualified is where you ran fast A slow A fast B and so on. The rules were the same for all modifieds.
I remember Dad running a few slow A's with the old 6. But cleaned up on the B's and the semi's. Man did that 6 haul the mail. If I recall the motor was a champion F-8 motor from Terry Boyle that he went to Islip Long Island with the car.
It amazing how much I recall about the races while hawking peanuts and soda at the track back then.

[indybigjohn]

Fastway...izzat you, James?

[Fastway]

Indybigjohn,

You must be speaking of James Bancroft, Fastway from the east. This is Greg McLaughlin. Fastway from the west.

[nitro4dave]

B mods couldn't run wings for sure, not sure but don't think they were allowed to have quick-change either. depending on car counts ran seperate show or on low car count nights they were combined, the judges LOVED those nights! re:the coupe with sprinters i can't make out the number, but also only see single exhaust on left side of car. also possibly ronnie lee?

[nitro4dave]

also ronnie was the last person to win an "a" mod main event with a 6 cyl. at lakeside. the reason i say the other pict is also ronnie @ cns compare those two pics as far as drivers side mirror and helmet out the roof. that and the fact even though i have great for ronnie and his accomplishments in his career, he was/is just uhh...:kookoo: to run a 6 cyl with the sprinters!

[Fastway]

The rules for no wings and no quick changes for the B class came later on in th 80's. Dads old car had a quick change back in '77.

[indybigjohn]

Right you are, Greg. I've already told him about this site. He'll be along.

[thpracing]

well-I had to go to Prof. Coupe on this one----memory getting foggy after 25-30 years----(and alot of cars)-----but both Moose's car in 83-84 and my car--85-86---had no qc's, no wings, no coilover shocks---and no chance of catching Prof;s car with Butch Wallace in it---also no chance against the big boys in the winged class--but if I remember correctly--we ran against them once or twice with their wings of????---kt

[Fastway]

Right you are, Greg. I've already told him about this site. He'll be along.

Sweet, James will be a welcome addition to the site.:applaud:

[FOGO]

That was Brian Stevens old ride I was working in the infield when Kitterman went on his head down the back shoot, rung his bell pritty good too TIM