Something I Stumbled Upon While Riding My Bicycle The Other Day...

[Frank Capua]

Roger Ward's ride in 1966 a Lola Supercharged-Offy



1973 #60 STP Gurney/Eagle driven by Graham McRae and sister car to Gordon's winning #20 and Swede's #40



Bobby Johns' Lotus powered by Ford #83 from 1965



Almost wet myself when I saw this... and yes the rest of it was in the shop under a blanket.



I'm always telling folks I'm able to notice more when I ride my bike `round town. I'm told that this garage that I spotted while riding atop the White River Parkway Trail might be the garage that Wilbur Shaw use to own and built and cared for all of his race cars in. So I still have some researching to do.

Or does somebody here already know about the treasure I stumbled upon?

[ndcrs]

i think shaw also built a car on the second floor of a building around 14th & penn - then drove it out to the ground. i've looked for that building a couple times and not sure i've found it. that's a great collection. did you just walk in and ask if you could look around?

[Frank Capua]

i think shaw also built a car on the second floor of a building around 14th & penn - then drove it out to the ground. i've looked for that building a couple times and not sure i've found it. that's a great collection. did you just walk in and ask if you could look around?

As I rode by and spotted the guy working on the Gurney-Eagle in front of an opened garage door I rode down and stood quietly by as the gentleman finished running a wire. After he looked up I spoke up and told him I couldn't resist checking out what I saw from the bike trail and asked him if I could take a few pictures. He was very accommodating and I took care to not get in the way or touch anything. When I spotted the the nosecone of Donohue's Lola I asked him if they had the rest of the car and he pointed to a car that was covered by a blanket... as much as I wanted to I resisted asking if we could uncover it. I'd like to be welcomed back if the opportunity ever comes up.

I spoke briefly with the gentleman before thanking him for his kindness and left.

BTW there was a second floor loft that could have easily accommodated the construction of a couple race cars but was on 15th West of the old Victory Field as it blended into Waterway blvd.

[carl s]

Paging John and Brad:

#26 is supposed to be out here next week for The Historic Champ/Indycar Event at Auto Club Speedway June 22-24

Here's some photos of both cars on track:
http://s1011.photobucket.com/albums/...-10/?start=all
Here's a photo of 'Ricky' Ward in his Dad's car about to lap me 9for the 5 th time) at Phoenix.

[Neshaminy]

....all I ever stumble over when I bike are squirrels....

[Frank Capua]

....all I ever stumble over when I bike are squirrels....

I'm told that I have better than usual luck.

Here's another shot from inside the garage... you can see the nose of the Lotus as well as the one for Roger's car...



Okay Carl... give it up, tell me what I stumbled upon.

The Gentleman I spoke to said he just worked part time for the guy who owned the collection and that the guy who did own all this stuff was up in the loft... But I tried to not be a nuisance.

[Buckeye Bullitt 93]

Holy crap.

[carl s]

Not my story to tell but contact TF Poster Brad (Firstturnpro).

I'm told that I have better than usual luck.

Here's another shot from inside the garage... you can see the nose of the Lotus as well as the one for Roger's car...



Okay Carl... give it up, tell me what I stumbled upon.

The Gentleman I spoke to said he just worked part time for the guy who owned the collection and that the guy who did own all this stuff was up in the loft... But I tried to not be a nuisance.

[Dadburgess]

You were at the former Gene White Firestone/Vel's Parnelli shop. There is a lot of nice stuff in there - suprised me when I was there several years ago!

[1969FIRST500]

Like finding the Holy Grail!

Awesome pics and story.

[pdas1996]

You were at the former Gene White Firestone/Vel's Parnelli shop. There is a lot of nice stuff in there - suprised me when I was there several years ago!

We're trying to find it on Google Maps. What's the location?

[Frank Capua]

You were at the former Gene White Firestone/Vel's Parnelli shop. There is a lot of nice stuff in there - suprised me when I was there several years ago!

Thanks... that's as cool for me as if it had been Wilbur's old place. My Dad would have felt more special if it had but for me nobody was ever any better or any braver than Parnelli Jones. He was my favorite Indy driver during my wonder years 1961 (10) - (17) 1967. And the Penske Lola? Mark is my favorite driver of all time so this was a special experience for me from the moment I thought I saw an old STP Wildcat being worked on from up on the Trail. When I got there I discovered it was a Gurney Eagle from `73 and it kept getting better as my eyes continued to adjust coming out of the mid-day sun. That nose from the `65 Lotus was the first to give me a quiver before the nose to Mark's Lola almost brought me to my knees.

And something I didn't expect, as I made my way back to my bicycle I passed by Roger's installed Supercharged-Offy and I thought about turning back to the Gentleman working on McRae's Eagle and asking him if I was in Heaven?

[carl s]

see post #4
http://www.trackforum.com/forums/sho...-June-22-23-24.

[Dadburgess]

Thanks... that's as cool for me as if it had been Wilbur's old place. My Dad would have felt more special if it had but for me nobody was ever any better or any braver than Parnelli Jones. He was my favorite Indy driver during my wonder years 1961 (10) - (17) 1967. And the Penske Lola? Mark is my favorite driver of all time so this was a special experience for me from the moment I thought I saw an old STP Wildcat being worked on from up on the Trail. When I got there I discovered it was a Gurney Eagle from `73 and it kept getting better as my eyes continued to adjust coming out of the mid-day sun. That nose from the `65 Lotus was the first to give me a quiver before the nose to Mark's Lola almost brought me to my knees.

And something I didn't expect, as I made my way back to my bicycle I passed by Roger's installed Offy Turbo and I thought about turning back to the Gentleman working on McRae's Eagle and asking him if I was in Heaven?

When I was there there was more than the Lotus nose - it was attached to the car, so it is there someplace. There were all kinds of cars midgets/sprint/dirt champ & Indy.

[uh_clem]

Roger Ward's ride in 1966 a Lola Offy Turbo

Is that a supercharger with Hilborn fuel injection hanging on the side of the engine?

[rjbh20]

Is that a supercharger with Hilborn fuel injection hanging on the side of the engine?

Yep

[Frank Capua]

Is that a supercharger with Hilborn fuel injection hanging on the side of the engine?

Doh!

Thanks... This is why I come here. While nobody loves this stuff more than me lots of folks `round here know more than I do.

[Eaglenindy]

The place you found is Walter Godwin's shop.

[carl s]

The place you found is Walter Godwin's shop.

"Race Car Restorations "

and hopefully #26 will be unloading at our Fontana event next Thursday

[Frank Capua]

Reason #1,352 to ride a bicycle...

[Firstturnpro]

"Race Car Restorations "

and hopefully #26 will be unloading at our Fontana event next Thursday

I hope so too, or I will be out of a ride. I think it left yesterday. If not it will leave today