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Photo ID # I06.15.12_055_ROU_UNK_0055_1
Car #: #55
Driver (s) : Mike Rouke
Location: Delaware
Date: 1958
Photographer: Mike Rouke
Photo provided by: Mike Rouke
Comments: Comment from Mike:  The above photo is from 1958 and I believe I may have taken the picture as I was preparing to take it to the track to drive it for the first time, since we had just finished building it.   I raced in the late 50's mostly at Georgetown Speedway in Delaware, also ran Delmar and Harrington, DE.   The engine was built by Paul Walker and George Smith who were both some of the best drivers at Georgetown and other speedways in the east.

Thanks for all the good memories The Vault has brought back to me and others!  I remember the excitement, when the likes of Budd Olsen, Conrad, Hildreth, Schneider, Tasnady and others occasionally showed up and started to unload at Georgetown Speedway on Friday nights!  They had too much for most of us, but what a thrill to compete with them.
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Comment:

06.17.12 3-Wide Thanks for visiting our site Mike and for your addition to "The Vault."  We've got a good group of site visitors that prefer their action "south of the border"... and in this case I mean south of NJ, so I'm sure they'll be happy to see the picture of the #55 and to read your comments.  Thanks again Mike.
06.17.12 Stew Stratton I would like to have mike contact me jas251227407@yahoo.com   stew
06.19.12 Larry Jendras Jr. Mike Rouke’s great photo got me to do some digging. I found an article from the Denton Journal covering the races at Georgetown on Friday July 25, 1958. That night Mike and the #55 finished 2nd in his heat race. In the feature he got into a tangle with Ben Cordrey’s #J-24 and both rolled in the third turn. However, Mike’s engine builder, George Smith won the feature that night. Track owner Charlie Herbert had the Interstate Stock Car Club sanctioning the races there in 1958. The track closed early in September due to storm damage.

Thanks for sending in the great color photo.
06.24.12 Mike Rouke

Larry, Thanks for your detective work, I was amazed you found the newspaper clipping. Just for the record the picture shown was not the race car I drove that night, I was driving a coupe, which I have attached a picture. 

We had not finished the sedan at that time, The incident hurried us along. I believe you can see the roof damage along with all the other damage on the old #55.
07.15.12 Emory West Jr.

Mike, Glad to see you well. I remember when you drove for my dad in the 44 at g-town in 59 or 60 and working on the 55 at his Flying a Station.. Those were the days. Do you still come to Broadkill any time?  Emory West Jr.

07.20.12 Mike Rouke

Emory,  I also remember racing your dad’s # 44 in “59”.  I don’t know how old you were, but you have a good memory. Your dad did me a real favor letting me work on the #55 at his garage, I’m sure I used many of his tools also.  I did stop at Broadkill about 4 or 5 years ago, much busier than I remembered. Thanks for contributing!

09.16.12 Emory

Mike would you please contact me @ emory26 @yahoo.com. Thanks Emory

10.13.12

Gary LaFetra

That 55 Chevy tow vehicle would be worth some money today.

     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

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