| Photo ID # | c12.01.06_SSS_079_LAN_0059_1 |
| Car #: | #SSS & #79 |
| Driver (s) : | Bob Malzahn and Bill Lewis |
| Location: | Langhorne |
| Date: | 1959 |
| Photographer: | Bruce Craig |
| Photo provided by: | Russ Dodge |
| Comments: | Comment
from Russ: While checking out the 50's page I saw the 79 car being towed and
the comments by John Shipley about his father's car. While it ran at Alcyon and the local
tracks, they did run the car at Langhorne Speedway in the 1959 race. This photo, which I acquired from Bruce Craig, shows Bill Lewis at the wheel with Bob Malzahn on the outside. Owners and drivers like the Shipleys and Bill Lewis may not have won any features and maybe only a heat or two, but they were a significant part of history of stock car racing. Bill "Pop Corn" Lewis, named because he and his wife ran the Pop Corn concessions at Alcyon, was also a representative of Wynn's friction proofing. He would often present the famous "Wynn's Friction Proofing Winner's Shirt" to feature winners at Alcyon and other speedways. If you look closely at the photo you can see Bill wearing one of these yellow/printed shirts as he races this day. I feel privileged and honored that I have this shirt and Bill's own Wynns jackets in my memorabilia collection. He was a gentleman. This version of the 79 car was gray in color with orange numbers, if I recall correctly. Thank you, Russ Dodge |
| Visitor's Comments | To add your comments about THIS PHOTO - Click Here | |
| Date: | Visitor's Name: | Comment: |
| 12/03/06 | John | Russ, thank you for posting this picture of Bill Lewis driving Dad's car
at Langhorne. The color of the car was blue with orange numbers and rims. They got the colors by mixing whatever was left of a few cans of leftover paint out in the garage. From what I remember at first they let anyone who needed a ride that night get into the car to try to get some seasonal and Nascar points at Alcyon (which they lost when they ran Langhorne). Later Bill Lewis and Dad hooked up for year or two until Alcyon closed down. They also ran a few times at the Atco track and ventured to Flemington once or twice but always got into a wreck and Dad later refused to take the car all the way to Flemington to only have to fix it before Alcyon ran the next Friday. Last time I saw Bill, he was a builder and realtor outside Malaga on Route 40. Funny, he still was bigger than life to me when I was a young adult. Thanks again, John |
| 07/20/07 | Jim Murrow | " Back Runners", " Field fillers" etc. I HATE those
terms. I've run a number of companies in my time, and I've always said that in every
single business there are a few "Stars", a few ner do wells, and the bulk of the
staff are the average workers who show up every day, do their job pretty well, and go
home. I've always said, I don't need the "stars", they won't keep any
organization afloat. I need the middle ground people, the bulk of the staff, they are the
heart and sole of any business. How exciting would it be to go to a speedway and watch just the "stars" run? What, 3 cars in a heat? and 6 cars in a feature? That doesn't toot my horn. How about a NEXTEL CUP race with 12 cars instead of 43 ??? turn you on? Didn't think so. It's the "Popcorn Lewis's and others that make our sport exciting and fun. If you want to eliminate anybody, you really don't need the stars, someone else will soon take over the "Star" spot. - Jim Murrow |
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