60's late model and convertible action around Chicago - Auto Racing Memories

Slim Louis · 12-23-2009, 07:55 PM

60's late model and convertible action around Chicago, mainly from O'Hare, Soldier Field, and others as noted.

Bill Lutz

Erick Johnson

Bob Chapman #44, Harry Simonson #TS-1

Bill Lutz

Johnson and Sennaker at Illiana

Roy Martinelli in Johnson's car at O'Hare He was the car owner

Bob Dotter-O'Hare

Dave Hirschfield-Ohare

Eddie Jast-O'Hare

lakeside #29 · 12-23-2009, 11:44 PM

Hi Slim, These are great photos! Bill Lutz had good looking cars and those guys took the idea of a late model seriouslly. By that I mean current year cars. They also took their racing pretty seriously too. Soldier Field was a fun place to go to watch the races, but you had to go through some pretty bad neighborhoods to get there. That is if you had to rely on a CTA bus. O'hare was a pretty neat track, I wish I could have gone there more.

In the third photo the #44 Chevy ll is Bob Chapman, I don't know who's in TS1.
Bob Chapman and Sal Tovella both raced early Chevy ll's. I guess they weren't early in those days. Bob's car I want to say was yellow and spotless, Sal's was pale blue and beat all to hell. Some of the best races I ever saw was between those two guys. I think Sal won a chamhpionship with that car at Soldier Field. I loved watching him, he was really intense. I was only a teen ager at the time and would be in Chicago for part of the summer to keep me away from some of my buddies here in Denver that seemed to have a knack for finding trouble. I don't know too much more about Chicago racing, but I sure enjoyed what I saw there.
Thank you for posting these photos, they're great.

Slim Louis · 12-24-2009, 06:29 AM

Harry Simomson is in the TS-1, I went back and looked it up!

webby · 12-24-2009, 11:50 AM

Oh man... I love that vintage of stock car.

I wish I still had my 65 Fury.

lakeside #29 · 12-26-2009, 03:13 PM

Hi Slim, Something that really stands out on these cars is sign art on them. Not only are they new cars or practicalyy new, but the signs are really beatufully done. There were some outstanding artists in Illinois and Wisconsin in those days. It's great to look at their work. Thank you for sharing these photos.

Slim Louis · 12-26-2009, 03:42 PM

I'm glad you noticed, Chris, most of the graphics were done by Art Dexter.
Dex was and still is my hero! As a kid at O'Hare Stadium in the sixties, that was the first thing I noticed! He had "Signs by Dexter" big enough on the fender, you could read it from the stands!

Check out this link:
http://public.fotki.com/slimlouis/re...ing-a-late-mo/

12-23-2009, 07:55 PM	#1
Slim Louis Slim Louis Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: St. Louis Age: 73 Posts: 40	60's late model and convertible action around Chicago 60's late model and convertible action around Chicago, mainly from O'Hare, Soldier Field, and others as noted. Bill Lutz Erick Johnson Bob Chapman #44, Harry Simonson #TS-1 Bill Lutz Johnson and Sennaker at Illiana Roy Martinelli in Johnson's car at O'Hare He was the car owner Bob Dotter-O'Hare Dave Hirschfield-Ohare Eddie Jast-O'Hare Last edited by Slim Louis; 12-24-2009 at 06:52 AM.

12-24-2009, 06:29 AM	#3
Slim Louis Slim Louis Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: St. Louis Age: 73 Posts: 40	Re: 60's late model and convertible action around Chicago Harry Simomson is in the TS-1, I went back and looked it up!

12-26-2009, 03:13 PM	#5
lakeside #29 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Wheat Ridge, Colo Age: 72 Posts: 445	Re: 60's late model and convertible action around Chicago Hi Slim, Something that really stands out on these cars is sign art on them. Not only are they new cars or practicalyy new, but the signs are really beatufully done. There were some outstanding artists in Illinois and Wisconsin in those days. It's great to look at their work. Thank you for sharing these photos. Chris Ertler - "professor coupe"

12-26-2009, 03:42 PM	#6
Slim Louis Slim Louis Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: St. Louis Age: 73 Posts: 40	Re: 60's late model and convertible action around Chicago I'm glad you noticed, Chris, most of the graphics were done by Art Dexter. Dex was and still is my hero! As a kid at O'Hare Stadium in the sixties, that was the first thing I noticed! He had "Signs by Dexter" big enough on the fender, you could read it from the stands! Check out this link: http://public.fotki.com/slimlouis/re...ing-a-late-mo/

12-23-2009, 11:44 PM	#2
lakeside #29 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Wheat Ridge, Colo Age: 72 Posts: 445	Re: 60's late model and convertible action around Chicago Hi Slim, These are great photos! Bill Lutz had good looking cars and those guys took the idea of a late model seriouslly. By that I mean current year cars. They also took their racing pretty seriously too. Soldier Field was a fun place to go to watch the races, but you had to go through some pretty bad neighborhoods to get there. That is if you had to rely on a CTA bus. O'hare was a pretty neat track, I wish I could have gone there more. In the third photo the #44 Chevy ll is Bob Chapman, I don't know who's in TS1. Bob Chapman and Sal Tovella both raced early Chevy ll's. I guess they weren't early in those days. Bob's car I want to say was yellow and spotless, Sal's was pale blue and beat all to hell. Some of the best races I ever saw was between those two guys. I think Sal won a chamhpionship with that car at Soldier Field. I loved watching him, he was really intense. I was only a teen ager at the time and would be in Chicago for part of the summer to keep me away from some of my buddies here in Denver that seemed to have a knack for finding trouble. I don't know too much more about Chicago racing, but I sure enjoyed what I saw there. Thank you for posting these photos, they're great. Chris Ertler - "professor coupe" Last edited by lakeside #29; 12-23-2009 at 11:50 PM.

12-24-2009, 11:50 AM	#4
webby Administrator Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Lakewood, Colorado Age: 55 Posts: 1,063	Re: 60's late model and convertible action around Chicago Oh man... I love that vintage of stock car. I wish I still had my 65 Fury. Follow ARM on Twitter \| Like ARM on Facebook Rat Rods, Old school Muscle cars. Advertising on Auto Racing Memories