05.24.03_707_TAS_UNK_0060_1.jpg (61959 bytes)

Photo ID # 05.24.03_707_TAS_UNK_0060_1
Car #: #707
Driver (s) : Al Tasnady
Location: Flemington, NJ  (Thanks Russ)
Date: 1963  (Thanks Russ)
Photographer: Ace Lane   www.acelanephotography.com
Photo provided by: Tom Eppolite
Comments: Al's career was winding down as I began going to the square in the early 70's.  I remember him driving the Ruberti #97 (copper color) and the Schloder #k46 Valiant, but Al won a lot of races in the 60's in such cars as the #707, #44 and the #39.  All you have to do is talk to those that were around back then to know how good Al was....
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05.25.03 Russ Dodge Joe, The year was 1963. I believe Flemington and Ace Lane would be pretty good guesses.
05.26.03 Jim Murrow Yes, Al Tasnady was, indeed, one of the very best! Besides being one of the best drivers, "Tas" was also very, (to use today's term), "Fan Friendly". He loved the attention. He, more than any other driver I can think of during that time, really enjoyed his "Celebrity" status. He was always happy to talk to his fans, and sign autographs, not just at the speedway, after the races, (when it was difficult to load up the car because of the mob around him), but his table at the diner on the way home looked like a book signing by Stephen King at the local B. Dalton's !

The 707 is also a "celebrity" car. No matter who was driving it, this car generated hoots and hollers when it arrived at any speedway.

Besides Tas, and Stan Ploski, who is pictured elsewhere in the vault with this car, Jackie McLaughlin drove it for a while, and so did Georgie Sleight.

If memory serves me correctly, the first 707 was a '37 Plymouth Coupe, with a Lincoln engine. I can't remember if it was a 430 cu in, or a 460, but either way it was Super Potent ! The car didn't handle well at all, however, and was, to say the least, a real handfull to drive with all that power. Thanks for the great picture.

05/30/03 Jim Brewer  

This photo is in the Ace Lane book so I think it is his work.  The beauty of it is that it shows the fuel injected Lincoln engine.  It was a 430.  Earlier versions of the Lincoln were 368 or less and had to really be messed with to be competitive.  The 460 didn't come into production until much later.

As for the drivers of this car - - the photo is of the '37 Plymouth version which lasted from about 1960 until 1965.  At least those are the years that I saw the Plymouth run.  It may have  existed prior to 1960 but I have no knowledge of that.

In 1960 it had Jim Hendrickson, Jackie McLaughlin, Dave Kelly, Elton Hildreth, Budd Olsen, and Georgie Sleight running it.  Georgie landed the seat permanently in late 1960 and he ran it till near the end of 1962.  Sleight won some with the car but Toby Tobias also ran it during that time.  In late 1962 Al Tasnady began driving it and saw all of that success  (37 wins in 1963) until the end of the 1964 season when Al began driving the Walt Donald car #327 (and eventually the Dave Piscopo #39 Polecat). 

For 1965 the coupe was cut down some and Sammy Beavers drove it for a while.  I think they built a new car in 1966 with a three window coupe (maybe a '36 Chevy) that was run by Bob Pickell, Bill Wimble, Kenny Shoemaker, and eventually in late 1967 by Gerry Chamberlain.  That car was the first of the DOHC Ford big blocks when they replaced the old Lincoln. 

The next car was the DOHC Ford powered '37 Chevy that Gerald ran.  It was eventually driven by Stan Ploski who was also great in it. 

I'm sure that there are others among the Vault regulars who can recount the history of Paul Deasey's cars much better than I can.

05/31/03 Ned Stites III My father sponsored this car and "the Gypsy" in 1963. Tas gave me one of his trophys that he won with this car when I was nine years old. I remember a particular race at Nazareth with Tas and Frankie Schneider in his beautiful sedan battling side by side for many laps with Tas winning a hard fought race. The fans went wild. I can't put into words how exciting watching Al Tasnady race through the pack was, but I know I haven't seen anyone come close to his seemingly effortless moves on the track. Keep up the good work. I'm enjoying the great pictures and comments.
12/14/03 Yolanda I just found this website thanks to my son Barry.  I remember all of your photos of Al. I  probable have all photos in my collection of Al.  I remember 1967 because I was going to be married and we had to wait til the end of the racing season.   Al was going to give me away,   I asked him because my father could not make it.   Al is my cousin. My mothers maiden name is Tasnady.  Al gave everyone a thrill on the track.   Weather you liked him or not you came to see him.   Al's driving style has been an influence on any driver that I root for.  Thanks for the opportunity to say this.
01/10/05 LexG34 Glenn Sullivan, my dad flagged many race tracks and my uncle Bob Sall worked in the beginning years of Nascar along with being one of the greatest sprint car drivers of all time.  These two always said the overall package Tas was the best period and he was born 30 years to early.

They also always said Frankie Schneider and Richie Evans were in the same class.  I lived with Richie and learned a great deal, but watching Tas at Flemington was just unbelievable to this day and also the nicest person I ever met.

 01.24.09  Joe Paschall I remember this car which my brother was on the crew and as a little brother he took me to the shop every night and to all the races.  My brother is Sam Worthington and I am jr.

One time I painted the numbers on the doors Paul had me do, those special front and back bumpers ware made so we could life the front and back at the same time using two over head cranes which were in the shop of Koller and Sons in Hatboro, PA.

My brother and I can tell you a lot of stories of this car and others, and Al,  George Sleight, "Fuss" (one of the crewguys) and many more.

Joe Paschall
03.16.09 Burr Head Well, I too could go on for hours & hours. My father is Charles Wolfe, the other half that owned the 707s. The trailer, the truck and Wolfes Welding and Fabrication in Plymouth Meeting.

My name is Clarence and I was born in 50. I remember going to the races 4 nights a week. Thursday up to Harmony, Reading on Friday night, Flemington on Sat. and any one they could get to on Sunday. Naz. Ran, Reading ran double headers Friday and Sun. Sometime up to Middletown, down to Jersey, that's when Racing was RACING. You had to find a junk yard to run. Coopers
in Allentown had some race stuff but most was made from what you could build
up from the yard.

My father was a silent partner in the beginning so he didn't have to spill the beans to my MOM! Than one Friday night at Vineland I was sitting in the stands when Sleighty sat in front of us on the track and the rubber running boards caught fire from the stove pipe exhaust. Mom thought it was neat till she read Wolfe Welding and Fab. On the trunk.

It was a surprise cause she thought it was all over after the fatheads at Hatfield. 03,3,circle three. Jim Heller, Tony Voltz, and Eddy Berganty.

I drove a Midget at Phoenixville in 62 when Tas started for my Pop and Deasy. I was called Burr-head, nick named that by the bald one, Fuzzy.Ed and George also took orders in the pits.

The car didn't handle due to an invention by Deasy called quarter ecliptics suspension. Tas didn't care , he drove. He also came to Phoenixville and helped me out. Roy Smith built my midget, which couldn't be beat.

As I said, It would take hours to pick this brain but if anyone would like it just let me know. I drove the 707 Chamberlin ran, My brother and I bought it from Deasy in 68. Yes I went around Reading with Gerhart Sr. with that 350 chevy engine that screamed.

I ate a many Chicken clubs at the diner at the circle close to Flemington.  How about the black dirt in turn 4 at Flemington. How about the roar under the roof at Allentown fairgrounds and watching the crazy Indian, Tex Enright run across in front of the field.

How about the Trees in the second turn at that time at Naz. That you could sit in to watch the race.

How about the round rocks at harmony that would just about make you fall walking to the car.

How about watching the cars come across the forth turn track gate and hear the roars and the Boos. I don't think Snieder got the credit due to him. He was Awesome. Jackie McLaughlin, who was killed at Naz.  Malzahn, Less Farley, Zorro, ( Stew Engler ),Just so many great ones. What ever Happened to racing?

The reason my father packed it in was beause Deasy fired Tas. Deasy was a bit of a hot head. When Tas left, my father turned it all over. He had a winning combo, that's a good thing. I have Memories of Racing my fathers 62 olds around Trenton with Tas next to me and Fuzzy and Eddie in t6he back seat. That's what kids and raceing is about and most of the old timers loved to see us kids run in the pits after the race to get our autographs. If anyone know the poem that was read at Flemington over the pa to Tas, The stock car is my idol. Psalms 23. I would like to hear it again.

Well I better cut it. My phone is 843-251-2370. Burr Head
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

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