This picture provided by Bill Pohnan, Streamwood, Illinois. This is a postcard he found during research on a book he is writing about Meadowdale. The purple Scarab #10 was driven by Jim Jeffords, who won the race.
The purple Nickey Chevrolet sponsored Scarab is actually the same car which won the race in 1958! Beyond that, this same car was later sold to Harry Heuer, to become one of the twin Meister Brauser Scarabs that continued to dominate Meadowdale for years.
The picture series below is courtesy of Tom Stephani, whose father, John F. "Jack" Stephani, was a partner in Nickey Chevrolet, Chicago. Nickey bought a Scarab from Lance
Reventlow and, with Jim Jeffords up, dominated area road racing with it in 1959. This car raced in both SCCA amateur and USAC pro racing events.
The grid for the main race, 7-5-59
In one of the covered pit stalls
The Nickey crew in the pit lane
At the top of The Uphill
Doane's Corner
On the Monza Wall
May 30-31, 1959 Grand Prix of Meadowdale
Race report from the July race program.
Click on any image for an enlarged view.
Tom Stephani is collecting material for a website on Nickey Chevrolet, Chicago, and the factory hot rods, sports cars and specialty cars they sold and sponsored. If you have any photos or stories to share, contact him at builder@mc.net
Race report from a later Meadowdale race program. Courtesy of Tom Stephani
September 5, 1959 Meadowdale Formula Libre Races
3.27 Mile Long Course
Dr. Dick Thompson Rolls Stingray Prototype and Drives On!
This spectacular photo sequence is courtesy of Edward T. Stoessel, Houston TX. In his notes accompanying the images, he said:
".... It was taken 9/5/59. The Stingray and the Scarab were battling for first, and the Stingray had come into the lead. My sixth sense told me to snap a picture the moment the Stingray came into view."
There was a sharp, downhill and to the left curve after the end of the long straight. As the Stingray came over the hill and began the down and left curve, he lost traction and came at me sideways, kicking up dust. He flipped over a couple of times and landed upside down. Some fans went over the wire fence and righted the car and he was back on his way -- though he retiredfrom the race."
For a Road & Track article on the Stingray and Dr. Dick Thompson, in which he very casually mentions this rollover, click here.
Copyright 2001 Edward T. Stoessel
Copyright 2001 Edward T. Stoessel
Copyright 2001 Edward T. Stoessel
Copyright 2001 Edward T. Stoessel
Thank you to Edward T. Stoessel, Houston TX, for this photo series. http://www.stoessel.com
Copyright 2001 Edward T. Stoessel
Copyright 2001 Edward T. Stoessel
Copyright 2001 Edward T. Stoessel
We posted this photo earlier, inquiring about any info on its circumstances. Mrs. John Reimer responded that her husband took out that barrier when the engine locked up on a Healy-Chev he was driving. The car did not go over the bank. Johnnie Reimer was a well-known and successful stock car racer. He was uninjured except for a cut thumb, reports Mrs. Reimer.
Click on any picture for an enlarged view.
1. Jim Place, Ferrari, on the straight
2. Ricardo Rodrigues rolled his Porsche RSK. Harry Heuer exits his Bocar to assist.
3. Loyal Katskee, Ferrari, after the Little Monza
4. Art Bunker, Porsche RSK, on the front straight
5. Wayne Neiler (sp?), Jim Place, Ferrari, Harry Heuer, Bocar XP6
If you have any old photos or publications you could share with our viewers they would be most appreciated. I would scan them with great care and return them quickly. Contact me for mailing info. If you have large files to send, please drop me a note beforehand. My country phone line transmits 26.4 kbps on its best days. I may have you send the files to another address.
The photos below are by and courtesy of Don Shaw of Denver, CO.
The photos below are by and courtesy of Don Shaw of Denver, CO.
1. Lloyd Ruby, Maserati, on Steffens Straight
2. Jim Rathman, Lister Corvette on Steffens Straight
3. Dr. Dick Thompson, Stingray
4. Loyal Katskee, Ferrari
5. Bruce Boyle, D-Jaguar
6. Augie Pabst, Meister Brauser Scarab
7. Don Skogmo, D-Jaguar
8. Zora Arkus-Duntov, Maserati, in Doanes Corner
9. Lloyd Ruby, Maserati, Augie Pabst, Meister Brauser Scarab, Roger Ward, Leader Card Special
These photos courtesy of Jack Martin, South Elgin, Illinois
Winner Augie Pabst collects the laurals
Zora Arkus-Duntov drove this Maserati
Paul O'Shea drove this Sadler, built in Canada
Lloyd Ruby escaped a terrific fire here and drove another car to second overall in the main race
Once this big gas tank caught fire, Ruby's car was toast
Roger Ward got plenty of PR mileage out of a new go-kart consultant role
Roger Ward, Jim Jeffords, Lloyd Ruby on the Monza Wall
These photos courtesy of Jack Martin, South Elgin, Illinois
For an enlarged view, click on any picture
STAR (Short Track Auto Racers) Stock Car Race
October 4, 1959
Drivers attempted to practice and race in the rain, but eventually the event was declared a rain-out. It was re-scheduled for the following week.
Photos courtesy of Jack Martin, South Elgin, IL
1959 PHOTOS: Meadowdale International Raceway
If you have any old photos or publications you could share with our viewers they would be most appreciated. I would scan them with great care and return them quickly. Contact me for mailing info. If you have large files to send, please drop me a note beforehand. My country phone line transmits 26.4 kbps on its best days. I may have you send the files to another address.
Walt McCarty provided the photos below, along with the information that Zora Arkus-Duntov (of Corvette fame) in the Maserati 250F and Loyale Katzke in the Ferrari Monza had a shunt near the top of the Uphill. Arkus-Duntov is in the white suit.
The photos below are courtesy of Walt McCarty
Pedro Redrequez, 17, Porsche RSK
Lloyd Ruby, Maserari 450S
Paul O'Shea, Mercedes 300SL
The photos below are courtesy of Matt Nolan, McHenry, IL
Meister Brauser Scarab, Augie Pabst up, in Doane's Corner
