06.27.03_UNK_STU_ALC_0056_1.jpg (42555 bytes)

Photo ID # 06.27.03_UNK_STU_ALC_0056_1
Car #: #2
Driver (s) : Don Stumpf
Location: Alcyon Speedway
Date: 1970's
Photographer: Bob Farlee
Photo provided by:

Russ Dodge

Comments: Comments provided by Russ Dodge: Once again Bob Farlee captured for us a unique priceless photo. This time he did it on Labor Day, September 3, 1956, at Alcyon Speedway. Using his Polaroid camera for this shot, we see the inside of Don Stumpf's # 2 Sportsman. The picture sort of speaks for itself, but I have to note the roll cage and side bars or lack there of! Stumpy was one of the drivers in his era that was talented on dirt and asphalt. Thank you Bob. Russ Dodge
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09/15/06 Kevin Mc Yes that looks safe....

Like Rusty Wallace once said about an Indy Car...  "I wouldn't get out of an electric chair to sit in that !"
09/15/06 3-Wide I've kind of wavered with the wind on being a Rusty fan, but I have to tell you, that's a good line.
 03.02.13  fltlnjok

Russ has this photo dated in the 70’s and compared with Russ, what I know about this sport is merely a dot in this whole website.

Given that there is only one very small diagonal brace and a small piece of pipe inside the driver side door and there is windshield GLASS, I almost think the photo was from the 50’s or 60’s. Also, look at the condition of the inside sheet metal, looks like the door framework is still there. I think you have a picture of Don’s #2 sedan in a much earlier section of 3 wide.

We need to remember that the sport was originally called STOCK CAR RACING. Doors strapped or chained shut, street tires in most cases, windshields in but the rest of the glass removed, fenders trimmed only for clearance, (probably to save what little tires were available).  I’m sure that there were some guys that DROVE their cars to the tracks in the 40’s. 

Again, I never drove, never owned a car, but I had friends who owned and/or built cars from the late 40’s to the early 60’s and I spent a LOT of time helping.

In the late 50’s the cars seemed to become  more dedicated with serious roll cages, removal of inner door structure, seriously bobbed fenders, safer seats, (the aircraft buckets were lighter but not very strong). Then, almost everything in the cars was hand built.  Some of the fellows I worked for made their own wheels.

Conduit for roll bars/cages was frowned on but better and stronger than the square tubing and capable of being bent to reduce the number of welds.

Does anyone make / fabricate anything today?

     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

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