Sousa March

There is a lot going on in this photo, taken at New Egypt Speedway in 1974.

First, the gentleman smiling for the camera is Phil Sousa, whose full name was John Philip Sousa, same as the world-famous composer whose marches are icons of American music. If you attended the TQ races at Pine Brook in the years 1962-64, Sousa marches were what played on the P.A. system prior to the start of each racing program.  Yet today, thanks to the Sousa's Liberty Bell march being used as the theme music, most people think of Monty Python's Flying Circus when they hear a Sousa march.

Second, the yellow #93 is the Jim Barclay machine, prior to its purchase by Jack Becker. The car was only recently acquired by Bobby Barclay, Jim’s son, who plans to restore it to the configuration in which it appears here. And yes, that is Jim Barclay strolling out of the shot at left.

Next, in the background is the Ford Econoline van in which Wilfred and John Wehrle transported the distinctive #02 that was driven with so much success by Tony Romit. That’s Wif Wehrle at the door of the van with his back to the camera, and that’s Tony Romit’s helmet on the table seen between Jim Barclay and the #93.

The Wehrle #02 is today a staple of Vintage Club events.

Finally, just past the Wehrle van is a maroon Buick, which is the car with which John Little towed the trailer carrying his #73. This Buick towed both the conventional upright TQ that John campaigned prior to the construction of the unique roadster with which he and driver Jack Bertling won the 1973 championship, and that championship-winning car as well. That car is the subject of the post below this one.

Back Home Agaaaaaain...

The 1973 ATQMRA championship winning car, which by coincidence was numbered 73, was located earlier this year in Arizona, and it has has been purchased by Pine Brook TQ veteran and current TSRS Sprint competitor Bruce Kindberg, owner of Bruce’s Speed Shop on Route 46 in Rockaway, New Jersey.

In Arizona, the historic car had been acquired by a church whose members had no idea what it was but thought that they could make it into a kart-like "fun car" for their youngsters. Fortunately this didn't happen and the car appears to be fairly complete and ready for restoration.

Original owner John Little and original driver Jack Bertling will assist in the restoration and the hope is to have the car ready for the annual "Motorsports" show in Pennsylvania this winter – exactly 40 years after the car made its debut and raced to the season-long championship.

The August Festival

In Macungie, Pennsylvania, each August there is an immense three-day antique and classic car show called Das Awkscht Fescht, which draws many hundreds of cars over the weekend and many thousands of visitors. This year’s event was the 49th annual edition.

Each year, Das Awkscht Fescht has a "feature car," and this year that car was the Crosley. The Crosley Automobile Club assembled a great display of various Crosley vehicles (and other Crosley products such as refrigerators and radios), and the Vintage Club participated alongside them.

Just a small portion of the Crosleys on display at Das Awkscht Fescht

The vintage TQ display was impressive and garnered much attention. The cars of Bill Force Sr., Gary Mondschein, Jay Young, and Sonny Hull were on display. Vice President Tom Berry worked the booth throughout the weekend, and many club members stopped by including Tom Hindley, Jim Hempfill, Wayne Laucius, Robert Noll, Bob Marlow and more.

The vintage TQs mngle with the vintage Crosleys at Das Awkscht Fescht

"Your TQs attracted an amazing amount of interest" Crosley club representative Duane Gorrell told us. Our thanks go to the Crosley club for welcoming us into their display.

Payne to be Honored

Joe Payne Sr will be the guest of honor of the Vintage Club at the Oswego Classic weekend on Saturday, September 1^st, 2012.

Joe's career in racing spans more than five decades as a winning car owner and builder in both the TQs and the Midgets, with drivers such as Joe Kidd, Johnny Coy Sr and Jr, Joey Coy, Kim Cesare, Dolf Battle and his sons Joey and Johnny Payne. The great Johnny Coy Sr won the final race of his career running the Payne family #67 at Wall Stadium.

"I've been surrounded by many special people through the years," stated Joe "TQ racing has
always been in my heart."

At Oswego the Vintage Club will be running a 15-lap slow-speed exhibition during intermission. Pit gates open at 11:00 AM, stands at 2:00 PM.

In the photo above, Joe Payne Sr is at the right with driver Joe Kidd in the car, circa 1971.