More Lakeside Coupes – “Who Are These Guys” (PART 2)

[Jerry Lee]

Here’s another round of great photos from the long lost C.A.R.C. archives. I don’t know much about these great snapshots from the past so let the discussion begin!



http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=287&pictureid=2486
(CARC Archives) Larry Balderson’s ZIP FOOD STORES #57 that some have said later
became the Joe Ellis TACO BELL coupe with the same number.




http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=287&pictureid=2485
(CARC Archives) Looks like the parking lot is filling up fast for the races this night. Ever
hear of those “Money Maker” tires?




http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=287&pictureid=2484
(CARC Archives/Duncan Photographers)




http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=287&pictureid=2483
(CARC Archives)




http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=287&pictureid=2482
(CARC Archives) Rocco Blasi. Could this be the purple #101 that Parrot once remembered?




http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=287&pictureid=2481
(CARC Archives) I think I was once told that it was Ronnie Lee lying in the middle of this
mess. Note the driver’s hand above the engine.




http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=287&pictureid=2480
(CARC Archives) Looks like this could be Ronnie Lee being helped from another bad accident.




http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=287&pictureid=2479
(CARC Archives)




http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=287&pictureid=2478
(CARC Archives/Duncan Photographers) This big ol’ sedan seems like it sits pretty low.




http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=287&pictureid=2477
(CARC Archives)




http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=287&pictureid=2476
(CARC Archives) Is that Velmar St. Peter second from the left? The man on the far left
holds one of those old tin Pepsi cans with the pull top! Another excellent Rick Losh
lettering job perhaps??

[lakeside #29]

Jerry Lee, You've got some real goodies here.
#57 was Jean and Larry Balderston's car. Master body man Jimmy Billen was on their pit crew and kept the car looking sharp.
#27 was Doug Jackson's car. Doug was Moose Jackson's son. That's Jerry on the left and Art on the right. Doug later ran late models. Sadly Doug lost his life in a off track auto accident. Picture is from 1971.
#20 was Rex Snell. The car was owned by Bob Stone. Picture is from 1963. This car later went to Bob Land and after that to Jim "Luchmeat" Moore. In the upper left corner of the photo you can just see Wayne Stallswotrh''s #52 and Doug Plue's 40.
#84 was future CARC champion Jack Graham. Picture is from 1963.
#101 was Rocco Blasi. The photo is from 1963.
#25 was Ronnie Lee. I believe Ronnie suffered a broken pelvis as a result of this wreck. Picture is from 1960.
#89 was Gene Corley from Cheyenne. He looks like he not feeling too well in this photo.
#38 was Don and Sheriann Thurman's car. Sheri was a very talented driver.
#71 was Dave Davis. This photo is from 1963.
#95 was Rich Carpenter. This photo is from 1963. Rich raced at Lakeside for many years. In 1971 he had a throttle hang up and had a really hard hit into the north turn wall. Fortunately he walked away unhurt.
#6 was Walt Stoel. That's Charlie on the left with the Pepsi can, Velmar St. Peter, the man himself, and Walt. I don't know the identity of the man on the right. Picture is from 1972. And I'm sure that the lettering is Superstroke's (Rick Losh's) work.

[rapid30]

If the 57 of Larry & Jean Balderson's is the same as the #57 of Joe Ellis in the earlier pics, then they changed it some as the white #57 shown above has what appears to be a Jeep or Ford truck right front hub and it looks like Joe's black #57 has a wide 5 bolt pattern. Also Chris I believe that Gene Corley lived in Ft. Collins but also raced at Cheyenne. Also it looks as though the Ford wrecker shown over the hood of Rocco's #101 is an early 70's Ford so I do not think that it can be from 1963.
Bruce

[lakeside #29]

Bruce,
You are correct about Gene Corley residing in Fort Collins, I was associating him with racing in Cheyenne.

As far as the Balderston car, I have a photo from the May 24, 1964 weekly program that shows Larry's car with a right rear floater and a wide 5 non floater on the right front, perhaps the color picture was from a year earlier or later. In the color shot the right front has either a Ford F-100 drum and hub or the same from a '40-'48 Ford. In later years maybe Larry converted to a right front floater. Also the rollcage seems to be the same or very similar and the way the engine is mounted, high in the front, appears the same.

Now as for Rocco Blasi, that photo ran in the June 2, 1963 weekly program, I'd be glad to show it to you. I think the wrecker in the background was one of Bob Hinson's fleet. It is a "61-'63 Ford. It's easier to see in an 8" x 10" photo.
Thanks for keeping me on my toes.

[Jerry Lee]

Here's another great action shot from Lakeside I ran across. It's a sure bet that the Professor or one of you guys can clue us into the year and who's involved here!

http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=287&pictureid=4261
(Duncan Photographers/J.L. McGuire collection)

[Quick Time]

Hey Jerry,

Great shots & thanks for sharing and of course Professor Coupe your amazing. I know you must have loads of past info but I think your memory is pretty darn good. Glad to have you guys bringing the history alive.

Chuck

[parrot]

Wow! Jerry Lee, you made my day. Love finding old Lakeside Speedway photos that I hadn't seen before. Unfortunately, #89 is the only car I recognize, and that from a another photo that Mitch G. sent me a while back. Anyway, that should be Don Hewitt and would be from either 1958 or 1959. Can't quite see enough of the two behind him to I.D., and the #71 with the nice lettering job isn't listed in any of my programs from the late fifties. Trying to read the sponsors on it and the car to the rear to get some clues, but not having much luck. There was another #71 from 1958, a black and red '33 Ford 3 window that only raced one night at Lakeside before being parked, so know it isn't that one. What other cool old photos have you run across?

[Jerry Lee]

Wow! Jerry Lee, you made my day. Love finding old Lakeside Speedway photos that I hadn't seen before. Unfortunately, #89 is the only car I recognize, and that from a another photo that Mitch G. sent me a while back. Anyway, that should be Don Hewitt and would be from either 1958 or 1959. Can't quite see enough of the two behind him to I.D., and the #71 with the nice lettering job isn't listed in any of my programs from the late fifties. Trying to read the sponsors on it and the car to the rear to get some clues, but not having much luck. There was another #71 from 1958, a black and red '33 Ford 3 window that only raced one night at Lakeside before being parked, so know it isn't that one. What other cool old photos have you run across?

Gosh Bill, seems like everytime I open a box in storage lately I run across a pile of pics and programs I forgot I had! I'm sure there are more buried somewhere that I've yet to find.

I enlarged the photo to find that the sponsorship on the #71 is Harry Groussman Ford in Englewood. One of the coupes in the background has Potter Auto Sales, 3636 Brighton Blvd. painted on it if that helps any.

Thanks!

[Jerry Lee]

Well, here we go again! Look what I uncovered in another storage box that had some old Lakeside programs in it. I only know a couple of names here, but I know you guys can fill in the blanks..........

http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=287&pictureid=4444
(J.L. McGuire collection) Ronnie Lee and crew from 1975. I always loved these pics
with the race car parked in front of the sponsor's place of business.



http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=287&pictureid=4443
(J.L. McGuire collection) Looks like Doug Plue didn't have a very good night.



http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=287&pictureid=4442
(J.L. McGuire collection) 1963 action.



http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=287&pictureid=4441
(J.L. McGuire collection)



http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=287&pictureid=4440
(J.L. McGuire collection) More 1963 action. I recognize Joe Garone #120 and possibly
Sammy Sauer #42.



http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=287&pictureid=4439
(J.L. McGuire collection) Could be Gus Thomas in #44.



http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=287&pictureid=4438
(J.L. McGuire collection) From 1959. Nice numbering job on the #75. The guy must have
borrowed the car for the evening or just bought it. Shame his evening ended this way.

[Thomas E]

Well, here we go again! Look what I uncovered in another storage box that had some old Lakeside programs in it. I only know a couple of names here, but I know you guys can fill in the blanks..........

http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=287&pictureid=4440
(J.L. McGuire collection) More 1963 action. I recognize Joe Garone #120 and possibly
Sammy Sauer #42.


Yes, #120 Joe Garonne…

Behind #120 looks like a Plymouth, possibly Harry McCool,
#5 is Elmer Sauer, Whimpy Bateman also owned the #5 car after Elmer,
#30 was owned by Mike Wahl, the driver Bob Robinson,
#28 Ed Mailo (’32 Ford Coupe) Top’s Coffee Shop car, yes Elmer Sauer also drove the #28 car,
#28 - Kenny Heffner drove a #28 (‘30-‘31 Ford Model A body), it may have been the car that Sam Sauer drove after Sam moved onto #42 with Loren Embree; I think Kenny Heffner was on the pit crew of Bill Black's #28 when Sam was driving it,
#42 Sam Sauer,
Can’t tell who is between the #78 of Don Palmer and the #68 of Tedo Spano,
#19 Don Wilson, can’t tell who is on the outside of Don,
#87 is Billy Vaughn…

That’s what I see...anyone see something else?

[rapid30]

Thanks Thomas great info on the days of yesteryear.
rapid30

[lakeside #29]

Thomas you did a really great job identifying all the drivers in that photo.
I think I can add to a couple of other photos.

In the 1963 shot with the wreck of #47, #41, and #37, that's Cliff Davis about to go over in #47. The #41 was driven by several guys, Rex Snell owned the car and drove some of the time. He also drove the #20 that year. Gary Caliil and Harold Ray also drove the car in '63. The #37 was driven by Ken Kruetzer.

In the 1959 photo the wreck of #55 and #75, Dick Piscatella drove the #55 for Bob Fuschino. The car was a model A Victoria and was painted a dark metallic maroon or dark metallic brown, my memory is a little hazy on that. Mr. Piscatella drove many laps at Lakeside and up in Cheyenne. I got to meet him a few years ago, what a great guy. The #75 is a bit of a mystery. #65 was owned by Frank Parker. Ed Mailo drove a #75 in '59, so maybe that's him. I suspect it is. The #75 was also a Modal A Vic. Ed years later drove my first #29. He died too young and I think of him all the time, my current #29 was built as a tribute to Ed.

Bob Fuschino served on the CARC board of directors and was pit steward a number of years. He was pit steward when I started racing and he ran a tight show. If you messed around and missed the first call for your race, you were told you were on the clock and had 3 minutes to get it together. If you hit the pit gate when time was up you were turned away. He was the best pit steward I ever raced with.

Mr. Fuschino was always dressed really sharp. His white officials shirt with the red collar was pressed as were his white pants. You could shave on the creases.

Man, those were the days.

[Thomas E]

A side note to Don Palmer and #78 a '32 Hudson sedan.

Don Palmer inherited the '32 Hudson sedan when his brother John Palmer passed away, at the time Don was driving their '32 Hudson coupe #78. Then there was a number switch between the two cars, and I think that Gene Palmer took over the #68 '32 Hudson coupe and ran it for a while.

As Don began working with the '32 Hudson sedan #78, Don managed to get into a few trophy dashes and lots of main events.

I recall the perfect CARC attendance Don was managing to keep during one season, after his brother passed away; #78 was not running good at all, it sort of grunted and snorted around Lakeside during hot laps, and in order to have perfect attendance you had to time in. So even as badly as Don's #78 was running the CARC officials let Don time in, Don came on to the track, again as bad as #78 was running Don took one warm up lap and then the green flag and he was on the clock ... It was about 40 seconds later that Don and #78 took the checker, and Don's perfect attendance was would be intact. Yes the next week was different, #78 roared back to life with a vengeance.

You know those were fun times at Lakeside Speedway, the 60's and 70's with the CARC stock cars / modifieds, and the RMMRA midgets.

Anybody else remember the Jet-Coupe modified that Don Palmer had, it was was powered by a Hudson 6 that laid on it's side, somebody should remember that; and what about Barnes brothers, Floyd and Lloyd, and their #21 Plymouth, it was '29 Plymouth Opera Coupe body set on a '32 Plymouth frame.

[MissPeggy52]

Thomas, that jet coupe of Don Palmer was wicked fast and super loud. When he got off the throttle entering the corner that thing would sound like a cannon going off. As I recall the car looked similar to a '70's Malloy super modified. He was really ahead of his time.

The Barnes brother car was a neat car, #21 Brown with white around the window opening. I remember one night in '60, probably around Memorial day, there was a grudge race or match race between Floyd and Cowboy Jackson. I think they ran 5 laps or so. It was a hoot. Cowboy's car was a gray primered '35 Chevy 3-window coupe #39 and pretty beat up. When they started the race and Cowboys catch can fell of and he dragged it the whole time. I'm sure Floyd's Mopar won. Like I said it was really funny. The Barnes brothers also started using floaters on the rear pretty early on too.

Sorry Thomas, It isn't me.
Chris forgot to sign in and I forgot to sign out

[Thomas E]

Thomas, that jet coupe of Don Palmer was wicked fast and super loud. When he got off the throttle entering the corner that thing would sound like a cannon going off. As I recall the car looked similar to a '70's Malloy super modified. He was really ahead of his time.

The Barnes brother car was a neat car, #21 Brown with white around the window opening. I remember one night in '60, probably around Memorial day, there was a grudge race or match race between Floyd and Cowboy Jackson. I think they ran 5 laps or so. It was a hoot. Cowboy's car was a gray primered '35 Chevy 3-window coupe #39 and pretty beat up. When they started the race and Cowboys catch can fell of and he dragged it the whole time. I'm sure Floyd's Mopar won. Like I said it was really funny. The Barnes brothers also started using floaters on the rear pretty early on too.

Sorry Thomas, It isn't me.
Chris forgot to sign in and I forgot to sign out

I always loved the fresh innovative stuff, the Palmer Jet Coupe quite a car. That's the Barnes boys, the brown and white #21, I thought it was sharp car.

Sign in, sign out, it's all good, this is a lot fun doing...Remember When?