- Oct 30, 2013
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This picture was supposedly taken in Montreal. Wonder if the kids has any "issues" these days?
Posts that don't fit anywhere else
- Thread starter Rruuff Day
- Start date
- Aug 30, 2014
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- Thread starter
- #22
Quite the deck mom and dad built for him.... Scary....
- Oct 30, 2013
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NHRA Driver Clay Millican Top Fuel Test Run. Millican one of the genuine good guys out there. This is a brand new car that the Rick Ware race team put together over the winter. It is QUCIK.
- Aug 30, 2014
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- Thread starter
- #24
Wow. Came off the line just like a C7.... 
- Oct 30, 2013
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NHRA Gainsville qualifying Millican goes 3.72 for fourth only beat by a C7 and two C5's. 
NHRA Gainsville qualifying Millican goes 3.72 for fourth only beat by a C7 and two C5's.
And no Rruuff, He was 4th...not the winner
- Aug 30, 2014
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- Thread starter
- #27
errrrr.... ok... I've changed my reaction accordingly....And no Rruuff, He was 4th...not the winner
- Aug 30, 2014
- 15,653
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- Thread starter
- #29
Obviously Habs fans...
I think one of the guys is from that window perch picture above Rruuff (Post 21)Obviously Habs fans...
- Nov 20, 2012
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Dont worry, the kid is ok now, he became a politician
- Oct 30, 2013
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And if you look at the current Buicks, some of them still carry a horizontal bar with either a waterfall or honeycomb grill reminisent of the '55 and '57 grills. I guess what goes around comes around.
- Oct 30, 2013
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There is a show on the History Channel called “Salvage Kings’. For 2023 it looks like the format for the show has changed. In the past it was about Priestly Construction (deconstruction really). There was a segment of the show that had one guy looking through buildings for anything of value prior to the teardown, that is current host Ted Finch. Now Priestly seems to be out but Finch has taken over with emphasis on things of value and antiques. Oftentimes those antiques are someone else’s memories, the first show of the season in March 2023 triggered a lifetime of memories for one family.
The Salvage crew had gone to a site in London, Ontario to help clean it up before local authorities did. One garage was opened to find several old race cars loaded on a trailer. They were “pavement modifieds” from long ago, one car was taken off the old trailer it sat on but there was also another race car that for some reason they did not take. Continued searching of the property found another garage with the door firmly nailed shut. They got in to find a race car that had not seen the light of day for over 50 years. The Jimmy Howard # 38 Supermodified in all its dusty glory. At this point in time there is some uncertainty how it got to its hibernation spot. The car was subsequently sold and apparently will be restored. The 38 along with 28 and 19 were team cars owned by Burlington, Ontario’s Jimmy Howard.
Jimmy Howard lived on Beach Boulevard in Burlington. Anyone living in Southern Ontario has probably driven over his house many times. Until the building of the Burlington Skyway if you wanted to come or go from the Niagara Region you took Beach Boulevard and prayed that no lake freighter came out of Hamilton harbour. The dreaded lift bridge, which is still there, would stop all traffic, sometimes for a long time. It is an interesting community under that bridge.
Howard was one of those unique individuals who could envision how things worked, build them make them better. He was a master at building race cars. He raced all over Ontario winning and gathering up track championships wherever he raced. Howard drove the 38, Bob McGillvery the 28 and the up and comer from Kitchener in the 19, Gary Witter. We are blessed to have some of those mechanically inspired people on this forum.
Howard's Original Garage restored by its new owner
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Racing was a big deal in the 1950’s perhaps right up until the 70’s. The major Toronto Newspapers actually had Motorsport writers. Lots of great tracks in Ontario at the time. However if you wanted to make a name for yourself with the Supers there was really only one place you wanted to be and that was New York’s Oswego Speedway. The “Big O” the “Steel Palace” names still used today for the facility. Built in the early 1950’s by the Caruso Family it is a 5/8 mile track that is still home to the Supermodifieds although they do run other classes for specials. The Caruso family also owned a company called Northern Steel and the speedway is essentially built from steel, thus the "Steel Place" name. The outside walls are steel, there is an inside hub rail about three feet high made from steel as well. Safety has been improved with the addition of foam blocks on the outside walls but any trip into that area is to be avoided. The track itself has not been paved for many years, having old pavement keeps the speeds somewhat under control, the place is still blindingly fast. London, Ontario’s Mike Lichty hold the current lap record of 14.730 seconds.
Howard built the first rear engine car to win at Oswego Speedway. It is believed to have been sold to "Downtown" Andy Brown, the last goalie in the NHL not to wear a mask.
The 60’s and 70’s were a time that if you wanted to make it to the big leagues, read Indy and the United States Auto Club, well you showcased your talents at places like Oswego Speedway. Lots of drivers did in fact make it to the bigs and lots who had already made it came to Oswego for the annual Labour Day Classic. 200 laps with some of the toughest drivers and cars out there. Supermodifieds are not self starting, they have to be pushed so pit stops are to be avoided at all costs. Howard and Witter made the weekly trip to Oswego for years including the Classic. The team was essentially self funded and even back then was extremely expensive. At some point in time Howard sold the race cars and expanded his business to work that actually paid him something in return. Witter continued on driving for others and doing very well.
Memories? Well Mike Witter, Gary’s son just happened to see the preview of the first show of Salvage Kings and taped it. He watched in awe of them getting the 38 out of it garage, it was a car that he and his brother played “racers” in when they were kids in Howard’s shop. A couple of phone calls to family members to invite them over as Mike had wanted to show them something he knew would be important to all. His mother DeAnn could not believe that she was looking at a race car that had meant so much to her, her family and of course father and husband Gary but had not been seen in decades. After watching the show they had more questions than answers and they are now searching for the new owner of the car with hopes of being able to hear more of the story and just perhaps sit in it once again.
Gary Witter truly was a talent, the very first Oswego Speedway Rookie of the Year in 1967. May 5, 1971 the Oswego Classic got off to a late start which often happens at the Classic. On lap ten Gary got tangled up with another race car in turn 3 and 4, his car hit the outside wall with some force, enough to render Gary unconscious. The throttle in the Al Webster owned machine stuck wide open the car rocketed down the front straight with Gary slumped over the wheel hitting the inside hub rail, another stopped race car then right through the steel wall. Gary was gone. His family in the stands horrified at what just happened. It was perhaps the worst wreck ever to occur at Oswego.
Memories some good some most assuredly bad but you never know what can trigger them.
Jimmy and Gary...Rest in Peace
Photo Credit to J Webb for some incredible pictures
The Salvage crew had gone to a site in London, Ontario to help clean it up before local authorities did. One garage was opened to find several old race cars loaded on a trailer. They were “pavement modifieds” from long ago, one car was taken off the old trailer it sat on but there was also another race car that for some reason they did not take. Continued searching of the property found another garage with the door firmly nailed shut. They got in to find a race car that had not seen the light of day for over 50 years. The Jimmy Howard # 38 Supermodified in all its dusty glory. At this point in time there is some uncertainty how it got to its hibernation spot. The car was subsequently sold and apparently will be restored. The 38 along with 28 and 19 were team cars owned by Burlington, Ontario’s Jimmy Howard.
Jimmy Howard lived on Beach Boulevard in Burlington. Anyone living in Southern Ontario has probably driven over his house many times. Until the building of the Burlington Skyway if you wanted to come or go from the Niagara Region you took Beach Boulevard and prayed that no lake freighter came out of Hamilton harbour. The dreaded lift bridge, which is still there, would stop all traffic, sometimes for a long time. It is an interesting community under that bridge.
Howard was one of those unique individuals who could envision how things worked, build them make them better. He was a master at building race cars. He raced all over Ontario winning and gathering up track championships wherever he raced. Howard drove the 38, Bob McGillvery the 28 and the up and comer from Kitchener in the 19, Gary Witter. We are blessed to have some of those mechanically inspired people on this forum.
Howard's Original Garage restored by its new owner
Racing was a big deal in the 1950’s perhaps right up until the 70’s. The major Toronto Newspapers actually had Motorsport writers. Lots of great tracks in Ontario at the time. However if you wanted to make a name for yourself with the Supers there was really only one place you wanted to be and that was New York’s Oswego Speedway. The “Big O” the “Steel Palace” names still used today for the facility. Built in the early 1950’s by the Caruso Family it is a 5/8 mile track that is still home to the Supermodifieds although they do run other classes for specials. The Caruso family also owned a company called Northern Steel and the speedway is essentially built from steel, thus the "Steel Place" name. The outside walls are steel, there is an inside hub rail about three feet high made from steel as well. Safety has been improved with the addition of foam blocks on the outside walls but any trip into that area is to be avoided. The track itself has not been paved for many years, having old pavement keeps the speeds somewhat under control, the place is still blindingly fast. London, Ontario’s Mike Lichty hold the current lap record of 14.730 seconds.
Howard built the first rear engine car to win at Oswego Speedway. It is believed to have been sold to "Downtown" Andy Brown, the last goalie in the NHL not to wear a mask.
The 60’s and 70’s were a time that if you wanted to make it to the big leagues, read Indy and the United States Auto Club, well you showcased your talents at places like Oswego Speedway. Lots of drivers did in fact make it to the bigs and lots who had already made it came to Oswego for the annual Labour Day Classic. 200 laps with some of the toughest drivers and cars out there. Supermodifieds are not self starting, they have to be pushed so pit stops are to be avoided at all costs. Howard and Witter made the weekly trip to Oswego for years including the Classic. The team was essentially self funded and even back then was extremely expensive. At some point in time Howard sold the race cars and expanded his business to work that actually paid him something in return. Witter continued on driving for others and doing very well.
Memories? Well Mike Witter, Gary’s son just happened to see the preview of the first show of Salvage Kings and taped it. He watched in awe of them getting the 38 out of it garage, it was a car that he and his brother played “racers” in when they were kids in Howard’s shop. A couple of phone calls to family members to invite them over as Mike had wanted to show them something he knew would be important to all. His mother DeAnn could not believe that she was looking at a race car that had meant so much to her, her family and of course father and husband Gary but had not been seen in decades. After watching the show they had more questions than answers and they are now searching for the new owner of the car with hopes of being able to hear more of the story and just perhaps sit in it once again.
Gary Witter truly was a talent, the very first Oswego Speedway Rookie of the Year in 1967. May 5, 1971 the Oswego Classic got off to a late start which often happens at the Classic. On lap ten Gary got tangled up with another race car in turn 3 and 4, his car hit the outside wall with some force, enough to render Gary unconscious. The throttle in the Al Webster owned machine stuck wide open the car rocketed down the front straight with Gary slumped over the wheel hitting the inside hub rail, another stopped race car then right through the steel wall. Gary was gone. His family in the stands horrified at what just happened. It was perhaps the worst wreck ever to occur at Oswego.
Memories some good some most assuredly bad but you never know what can trigger them.
Jimmy and Gary...Rest in Peace
Photo Credit to J Webb for some incredible pictures
WOW! GREAT STORY! Thanks Murray for the memories and the posthumous recognitions of Gary Witter #19 and Jimmy Howard #38.. As you know I was a small part of those races where Gary, Jimmy and many others blasted around the southern Ontario short tracks before going to Oswego. I started racing supers at the CNE (Toronto) with Jim Milson and then Flamboro (Hamilton), Bridgeport (Kitchener) and Nilestown (London) with Joe Hlywka. Unfortunately all have passed. Maybe you should have mentioned another great from that era and that was “Terrible Ted” Hogan who died in a plane crash in 1960 before Flamboro was built in 1962. But he would have given everybody a run for their money in his Doug Duncan built supers.
I have an anecdote to the guys who thought they were so fast back then, including the likes of Harvey Lennox and his "Tammy Ten". One day at Flamboro Speedway this American from Hastings, Michigan came up in what looked like a red, beat up jalopy, but he went out and and ran laps a half a second faster than any of the locals. Needless to say he won everything that day. later Gordon Johncock went on to win the Indy 500 twice - what a driver!
Not to dilute your story but here are some pictures to go with the above for those outside southern Ontario in the 1960's.
As the supers evolved - Canadian National Exhibition stadium 1961
Ted Hogan and a Duncan built car.
Joe Hlywka
Harvey Lennox
- Oct 30, 2013
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Peter, a side note about Ted Hogan and Jimmy Howard. Hogan was a pilot as well as a race car driver. He was off to the Oshawa area to show a plane I believe he was trying to sell. Hogan had invited Howard along, he could not make it and that decision saved his life as Hogan crashed into Lake Ontario and perished.
Great pics and story Peter. Appreciate your input.
Great pics and story Peter. Appreciate your input.
- Oct 30, 2013
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The Oswego Speedway rear engine era took off very quickly. Ultimately they were banned, unthinkable at the time for a class of race cars that essentially had no rules. The draw of Oswego was incredible with teams towing in from the West Coast of the United States and British Columbia and the prairie provinces. There was a Mid/Midwest group called the Canadian American Modified Racing Association that represented their ideas on Supermodified racing at Oswego.
Perhaps the ultimate in the rear engine cars was the one of multi time track and classic winner Jimmy Shampine. His rear engine offset car was stunning and I offer some pics of it here along with his more traditional offset roadster. Sadly Shampine lost his life at Oswego. He was a legend and a truly nice man.
The Howard rear engine car again for comparison....
The Shampine Offset Rear Engine Supermodified...
Burlington, Ontario's Warren Coniam about to put the 8 Ball to test...
Shampine's Offset Traditional Roadster...
Perhaps the ultimate in the rear engine cars was the one of multi time track and classic winner Jimmy Shampine. His rear engine offset car was stunning and I offer some pics of it here along with his more traditional offset roadster. Sadly Shampine lost his life at Oswego. He was a legend and a truly nice man.
The Howard rear engine car again for comparison....
The Shampine Offset Rear Engine Supermodified...
Burlington, Ontario's Warren Coniam about to put the 8 Ball to test...
Shampine's Offset Traditional Roadster...
- Oct 22, 2019
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I would like to add a piece regarding my dear friend and racing buddy Joe Hlywka who I wrenched with in the early sixties all around southern Ontario. When I started Drag Dimensions company I did not have time to help Joe when he moved on to race super-modifieds at Oswego, New York. Murray is an expert on Oswego but here is my little bit about Joe as he moved along with the development of "supers", all the way from the "uprights" to the start of the "offsets" at Oswego. It is interesting to note the names mentioned in the program flyer seen below "....Joe.....came up through the super modified ranks along with Mackereth, Witter, Howard, Lennox and all the rest" RIP Joe.
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