Restored Continental Airlines Edmunds VW midget - Auto Racing Memories

webby · 07-27-2010, 03:43 PM

Saturday night at Colorado National Speedway they had representatives from the Colorado Motorsports Hall of Fame as well as the Colorado Vintage Oval Racers association. Sadly, there were only a few cars on display but one of them was one of my favorite midgets of all-time: the Continental Airlines Edmunds VW.

View image in gallery

The 66 midget has been beautifully restored and current owner Rod Rodriguez was nice enough to allow me to sit in it!

View image in gallery

It was great talking with Rod and it was very nostalgic for me to get to sit in the car. The last time I had seen the car was when Lealand McSpadden tore it in half in a monstrous crash at CNS back when CNS was dirt.

Olen McGuire · 07-27-2010, 05:48 PM

Hey Webby, that Continental Airlines Edmunds VW looks like it was built just for you. ~Olen

nitro4dave · 07-27-2010, 08:44 PM

was this the stan lee car?

Mitch G. · 07-28-2010, 08:47 AM

Nitro, you're right, as far as I know Stan Lee always owned the Continental Airlines car, as he was a Pilot for that airline. Lee had several cars, as far as I know they were all Edmunds chassis cars. I'm not sure which one this car is, I've seen pictures of this car being restored, it's beautiful and I believe it's the last one Lee had before he passed away, I'll do some research and see what I can come up with, Webby looks good behind the wheel, Hey Webby, isn't it amazing how comfortable the cockpit of an Edmund is??? Of all the midgets I drove, the Edmunds was the only real comfortable one to sit in. As to Webby's story about McSpadden, they called the flight for life before he quit flipping, and George Buttland ran down to the unconscious McSpadden, Doc Simpson was trying to revive him, Buttland leans over and slaps McSpadden in the face and yell's "Don't you die on me Leland". McSpadden comes to, they send the chopper away, but later in the pits, McSpadden is sitting on a trailer, and Simpson comes up to talk to him, Leland say's "Hey Doc good to see you, what are you doing here in Phoenix?" So off to the hospital went McSpadden for treatment for a concussion.

drpmidgetracer · 07-28-2010, 10:56 AM

Hello to all. I am the owner of the #66 Stan Lee car pictured. I have all the documentaion for the car and a complete photo album/history of all Stan Lee's cars. I was given the Turkey Night trophy it won in 1978 and all sorts of other memorbilia from the Lee family. If anyone would like more info just post in this thread or PM me.

Mitch G. · 07-28-2010, 05:08 PM

drpmidgetracer, give us more details!!!! Which car was this in the line of cars that Stan Lee owned?, was the one McSpadden wrecked at CNS destroyed, or repaired?? Was your restoration featured in "Vintage Oval Magazine"??? What a wonderful car you have, and great history, share more when you can!!! What does the Edmunds dash tag read?

07-27-2010, 03:43 PM	#1
webby Administrator Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Lakewood, Colorado Age: 45 Posts: 457	Restored Continental Airlines Edmunds VW midget Saturday night at Colorado National Speedway they had representatives from the Colorado Motorsports Hall of Fame as well as the Colorado Vintage Oval Racers association. Sadly, there were only a few cars on display but one of them was one of my favorite midgets of all-time: the Continental Airlines Edmunds VW. View image in gallery The 66 midget has been beautifully restored and current owner Rod Rodriguez was nice enough to allow me to sit in it! View image in gallery It was great talking with Rod and it was very nostalgic for me to get to sit in the car. The last time I had seen the car was when Lealand McSpadden tore it in half in a monstrous crash at CNS back when CNS was dirt. Auto Racing Memories on RaceSHOUT \| Follow ARM on Twitter \| Join ARM on Facebook

07-27-2010, 05:48 PM	#2
Olen McGuire Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Alabama Age: 76 Posts: 337	Re: Restored Continental Airlines Edmunds VW midget Hey Webby, that Continental Airlines Edmunds VW looks like it was built just for you. ~Olen

07-27-2010, 08:44 PM	#3
nitro4dave Rookie Join Date: May 2009 Age: 49 Posts: 19	Re: Restored Continental Airlines Edmunds VW midget was this the stan lee car?

07-28-2010, 08:47 AM	#4
Mitch G. Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Katy, Texas Age: 50 Posts: 440	Re: Restored Continental Airlines Edmunds VW midget Nitro, you're right, as far as I know Stan Lee always owned the Continental Airlines car, as he was a Pilot for that airline. Lee had several cars, as far as I know they were all Edmunds chassis cars. I'm not sure which one this car is, I've seen pictures of this car being restored, it's beautiful and I believe it's the last one Lee had before he passed away, I'll do some research and see what I can come up with, Webby looks good behind the wheel, Hey Webby, isn't it amazing how comfortable the cockpit of an Edmund is??? Of all the midgets I drove, the Edmunds was the only real comfortable one to sit in. As to Webby's story about McSpadden, they called the flight for life before he quit flipping, and George Buttland ran down to the unconscious McSpadden, Doc Simpson was trying to revive him, Buttland leans over and slaps McSpadden in the face and yell's "Don't you die on me Leland". McSpadden comes to, they send the chopper away, but later in the pits, McSpadden is sitting on a trailer, and Simpson comes up to talk to him, Leland say's "Hey Doc good to see you, what are you doing here in Phoenix?" So off to the hospital went McSpadden for treatment for a concussion.

07-28-2010, 10:56 AM	#5
drpmidgetracer One Post Wonder Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 1	Re: Restored Continental Airlines Edmunds VW midget Hello to all. I am the owner of the #66 Stan Lee car pictured. I have all the documentaion for the car and a complete photo album/history of all Stan Lee's cars. I was given the Turkey Night trophy it won in 1978 and all sorts of other memorbilia from the Lee family. If anyone would like more info just post in this thread or PM me.

07-28-2010, 05:08 PM	#6
Mitch G. Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Katy, Texas Age: 50 Posts: 440	Re: Restored Continental Airlines Edmunds VW midget drpmidgetracer, give us more details!!!! Which car was this in the line of cars that Stan Lee owned?, was the one McSpadden wrecked at CNS destroyed, or repaired?? Was your restoration featured in "Vintage Oval Magazine"??? What a wonderful car you have, and great history, share more when you can!!! What does the Edmunds dash tag read?