Reiff #74 Midget in action at El Cajon

[lakeside #29]

Here is a video of Les Stark hot lapping his #74 Reiff Offy at El Cajon Speedway in California. As midgets are not my area of expertise I will defer to our very knowledgeable Midget Professors to hopefully provide us with information about this car and possibly others that were with it on the track.


YouTube- Reiff Offy #74

[Mitch G.]

This may be the WRA, Western Racing Assoc. vintage club in California. Or it could be the vintage division of the Bay Cities Racing Assoc. (BCRA). Les Stark runs with both, the BCRA is based out of northern CA. Walt Reiff was a long time race car owner in northern CA., what little I know about the #74 car is that it's a mid 1960's George Benson chassis, with the Offy engine. Must be a couple years old, as Cajon Speedway, just outside San Diego, is now closed. Neat video, remember the midgets hiking the left front at Lakeside and Englewood?

[Stryker's Custom]

A few more facts on this Video . The Reiff #74 Is in fact a car that Walt Reife built it was one of the early space frame designs of the early 60's The car has been re-bodied with a Benson nose and hood.
It is powered by a Offy .
Les Stark and his son Donovan have been involved in Midget racing as far back as I can remember. They have been very active in WRA and also travel to some of the BCRA vintage events.
The Red #1 Car is one of the former Edelbrock #27 Cars. It went to the Northwest and was owned by Homer and Jeanie Norman . Homer put a Offy in it in about 1954 and it won the WMRA Championship in 1955 with Len Sutton Driving.
The Car was restored by my father. Harry Stryker and was purchased by Bob Ware another WRA member.
Keep in mind both of the drivers in the Video are in there Late 70's I guess you are only as old as you feel !

[Mitch G.]

Cool! thanks for the hands on insight, I love when people actually involved with these cars can comment on them. Didn't you and your dad run a LTC with an Offy in it? with the BCRA, #5 I believe? Any pictures and Info on that LTC car would be great!

[Stryker's Custom]

Mitch G, Thanks !
Yes I defiantly had hands on both of those cars. I rebuild the engines for the Starks .
Homer Norman was my mentor when I drove in WMRA in the late 80's .
You are also spot on about the LTC OFFY . That was the last car we ran with BCRA in the mid 70's My brother drove for my dad back then I was the wrench . That car was so cool only weighed 850 or so race ready. Here it is at Old San Jose Speedway Usac Opener about 1975.

[Mitch G.]

Best photo's of the month so far! That's when midget racing was cool, I'd still own one if they looked like that, hope to buy one soon just to have. That first photo is amazing, the "El Toro Garage Spl." was always one of my favorites, loved the paint scheme, looks like Larry Patton is up in that photo. I got to see that car in 1977 at Colorado National Speedway for a 2 day sprint/midget show.
A 19 year old from Memphis, TN was in town driving Bobby Davis Sr. sprinter, and had his first ride in a midget, ever, the first night, and he won the main event against legends like Sam Sauer, Dave Strickland Sr., Mike Gregg, Eddie Jackson and others. That young guy was Sammy Swindell, that midget went to Australia in the Joe McPherson auction. That LTC Offy is one fantastic midget, does it still exist?

[Stryker's Custom]

Mitch
That is one of my favorite Photos. Also in the picture is Chuck Gurney in the Maxwell #80 and Mike Ryan in the Shanoian #17
Its kind of ironic that Patton was in that Pic. He drove the car for us one night when my Bro. was out of town. Larry was so Fast in that car. Unfortunately he was passing around the outside of turn three and a car moved up on him. This was the result!!
Yes the car does still exist with the same engine . It is in a private collection.