11 July there was a special event that took place at Shadybowl Speedway. We had a number teams from the Vintage American Race Cars Club (VARC) came and put on an exhibition for the fans. Some of these cars date back to the 1950 and 1960. Most of them were open wheel cars.
This club was started by Jack Latten in 1978 to keep the memories and history of American race cars alive. The cars are mainly short track cars that raced on dirt and asphalt. The cars have to be authentic and only permitted a few changes for safety or where parts cannot be found. Many of the drivers restore their cars.
Gene Steele from Crystal Lake Ohio had a 34 Ford with a 283 engine and the frame is a 1968 Oldsmobile. He started his racing career like most in go karts in 1959. He enjoyed racing then and still gets loves driving one of his vintage cars.
Butch Evens brought his midget built in the seventies. It had an Alfa-Romero engine. He is from Circleville Ohio and appreciates the ability to race and meet many racers and show his race car.
Johnny Lawhorn has been a member Vintage American Race Car Club since 2000. He was driving a 1960-1970 Champ car. John goes to about 30 racing events a year. He will be at Eldora for the 4 Crown in Sept. with other club members and expect over 30 cars.
The most interesting car to me was a 1970 -1980 Super Modified built by Dick Slagle. I knew it was a super modified because of the shape of the body and how the engine was set in the car. Dick has been racing super modifieds and modified for 50 years. He stopped racing modified because it became too expensive. He still enjoys every minute of being at the track and sharing his love for the Super Modified with friends and fans.
Mike Mason was there with a midget. Mike is from Willmington Ohio. He raced midgets from 87-90 and one of the many tracks he raced at was Shadybowl Speedway. He was with Mel Kenyon in the first midget race I ever saw. His car was 1979 built by Don Kenyon and engine was built by Mel Kenyon. Mike is a young 73 years of age.
It was interesting to see these vintage cars on the track and get a close up look at them in the pits. All of these classes of cars have come a long way since these cars were racing at local tracks.
This club was started by Jack Latten in 1978 to keep the memories and history of American race cars alive. The cars are mainly short track cars that raced on dirt and asphalt. The cars have to be authentic and only permitted a few changes for safety or where parts cannot be found. Many of the drivers restore their cars.
Gene Steele from Crystal Lake Ohio had a 34 Ford with a 283 engine and the frame is a 1968 Oldsmobile. He started his racing career like most in go karts in 1959. He enjoyed racing then and still gets loves driving one of his vintage cars.
Butch Evens brought his midget built in the seventies. It had an Alfa-Romero engine. He is from Circleville Ohio and appreciates the ability to race and meet many racers and show his race car.
Johnny Lawhorn has been a member Vintage American Race Car Club since 2000. He was driving a 1960-1970 Champ car. John goes to about 30 racing events a year. He will be at Eldora for the 4 Crown in Sept. with other club members and expect over 30 cars.
The most interesting car to me was a 1970 -1980 Super Modified built by Dick Slagle. I knew it was a super modified because of the shape of the body and how the engine was set in the car. Dick has been racing super modifieds and modified for 50 years. He stopped racing modified because it became too expensive. He still enjoys every minute of being at the track and sharing his love for the Super Modified with friends and fans.
Mike Mason was there with a midget. Mike is from Willmington Ohio. He raced midgets from 87-90 and one of the many tracks he raced at was Shadybowl Speedway. He was with Mel Kenyon in the first midget race I ever saw. His car was 1979 built by Don Kenyon and engine was built by Mel Kenyon. Mike is a young 73 years of age.
It was interesting to see these vintage cars on the track and get a close up look at them in the pits. All of these classes of cars have come a long way since these cars were racing at local tracks.