JALOPY RACES (46 MPH laps!), Phillips, Wisc., circa 1960

[basketballcoachmike]

great old film, thanks for sharing.

[kcajnala]

I am pretty sure the car # 75 shown at the 0.02 second mark was the one my father drove for Elmer Calhoun. It was 75 with a Pegasus painted on the side. Anyone know who any of the people on here are?

Does anyone know of any other footage from Riverside in Phillips Wisconsin. My dad raced there in the 60s, 70s, and 80s.

[zuzulo56]

@kcajnala Quite the coincidence that my G-Pa picked your pop's car to stand next to. Maybe he knew him, &/or the Calhoun chap..."his name was Andrew Lastovich.

[zuzulo56]

I recall "me G-Pa" (the dapper farmer gent standing amongst the sleds @ 0:02) saying that it was an especially tearful occasion for a driver to have his windshield busted-out as they were quite helpful to racing in the dust...and quite impossible to replace. Sometimes, after a particularly bitter race, one driver would grab a crowbar (standard race tool) , waltz over to the offending pilots hooptie, and smash it out. Great fun!

[JRTCAPONE]

Those racing pioneers had big ones! No seat belts, no rollcages. I race but I can't imagine doing it without modern day safety equipement. Thanks for posting such a great video.

[zuzulo56]

@JRTCAPONE Helmets (the old "Brain Bucket" type), T-shirts and Balls (2 in most cases...occasionally 3).

[JRTCAPONE]

I like it!

[zuzulo56]

@JRTCAPONE Yes, it DOES "come off" better than a Nascar race. And the drivers who ranged in age from 13-83 yrs. of age added a special something!