SCCA regional events in Texas etc. 1960s-70s through the lens of Jerry Melton

[Roger Dowding]

The First Corvette came out with a 6 cylinder engine in June 1953 and was not a success until Zora Arkus Duntov and Bill Mitchell found a bigger motor in 1955-56 [ 265 then 283 V8 ]. It also had small fins with the tail light at the peak.

As Ken H mentioned the C1 changed with later a rounded tail [ fins removed ], then, twin headlights, and finally a kicked up tail - that carried over to the '63 Stingray.

Variations of the V8 C1, photos from Ken H archives 1957 and 1958-actually a 61-62 and a recent photo by Nigel Watts -middle photo

1957 [ 1956 - 1957 ]

1958-60/61

1961-62

The Nigel Watts photo at the Te Aroha Cruise In recently - Rego MHP222 -
" Year: 1958
Make: CHEVROLET
Model: CORVETTE
Colour: GREY
Body Style: Convertible
VIN: 7AT02R05X19104277
Plate: MHP222
Engine No: COVERED
Chassis: J58S104277
Vehicle Type: Passenger Car/Van
Seats: 2
CC rating: 4,637cc "

Cheers Ken H and Nigel - hijacked the thread a bit !!

[khyndart in CA]

At Green Valley in 1966 was a driver from Kansas named Bobby Aylward. He was a wealthy man making a fortune from the oil industry and gun dealing.
He liked to drive older cars trying to beat newer models for fun. In 1966 he had a 1960 Maserati "Birdcage" Tipo 61 chassis # 2464.
The Maserati engine had been replaced by a 4.7 V-8 Ford engine and was raced in the US Southwest for several years.
The car was prepared by his mechanic, Ernie McCoy and after Bobby retired from racing he gave the Maserati to Mr. McCoy. ( Now that is a good boss to have !)

Bobby Aylward in his Maserati # 4. at Green Valley Raceway. 1966.
(Jerry Melton photos)

A little more of the history of this Maserati Tipo 61 at this site.

http://buildraceparty.com/1960-maserati-tipo-61-birdcage/

(Ken H..)

[khyndart in CA]

In February and June 1967 Bobby Aylward was back at Green Valley Raceway now driving a 1965 McLaren M1B # 4.

Bobby Aylward preparing to do battle with his rival, local driver Joe Starkey also in a McLaren M1B.

A nice photo of Aylward approaching the corner in his McLaren M1B.
(Bobby Aylward photos by Jerry Melton.)


(Ken H..)

[khyndart in CA]

For 1968 Bobby Aylward had a new McLaren M6B (Chassis # 50-05)which he drove with success in the SCCA series and won the 1968 SCCA Midwest Division National A Sports Racing and also the 1969 SCCA Midwest Division National A Sports Racing with this car.

(Photographer unknown..)

But things started to go badly for Bobby. Later in 1969 he wrecked the car during a race in Oklahoma when he hit a tree. He was seriously injured as was the car. Again what remained of his McLaren was given to his mechanic, Ernie McCoy.
As quoted in a McLaren chassis registry. " The remains, minus tub which had been damaged beyond repair, were purchased by Leonard Janke. In a partnership with Craig Pence the car was rebuilt and in 2007 it was sold to Lilo Beuzerion. He raced the car for a few years and sold it to someone in Belgium or France without the provenance or ownership trail. Beuzerion then built a very inaccurate M6 with no original parts and now claims this car has the provenance and is therefore the original car. He has been racing this car or several years as 50-05."

Bobby Aylward never did completely recover from his injuries but he continued his work in the oil industry but sadly in 1978 at the age of 43, Robby was murdered during a gun deal that must have gone terribly wrong.


(Ken H)

[Roger Dowding]

Ken H, great to see the McLaren photos, and a good story, Sad about Bobby though !

[khyndart in CA]

Roger,
You could almost write a movie script about Mr. Aylward.

Joe Starkey was a good driver and a good family man and this race in February 1967 was one of his last before retiring.

Joe Starkey in his McLaren M1B # 51

Joe Starkey on the right looks on while his crew try to figure out the suspension failure during practice. He was soon out again ready to race.

Starkey out ahead of Aylward during the "Big Bore" race.

A man at work.

(Note how little crowd protection there was as these Can-Am cars thunder by !)
(Jerry Melton..!967 photos..)

Ken H

[khyndart in CA]

In 1965, Joe Starkey drove a Chaparral Mk 1 (Chassis 003 ). .
It was the car that Jim Hall and Hap Sharp drove at Sebring in 1963 where it had to conform to ridiculous FIA-mandated side fences and high windshield and a new nose.

(Jim Hall in 1963 at Sebring.)

When Joe Starkey brought the same car to Green Valley Raceway in 1965, Jerry Melton was there with his camera to capture a very rare race car that is now worth a fortune.

Joe relaxing with a cigarette as the car is prepared to go racing.

(Getting out on the track.)

It was not long before Joe was well in the lead.
(jerry Melton photos..1966 )

[khyndart in CA]

Joe Starkey had one last drive at GVR in 1966 before moving on to his McLarens.

Jerry Melton 1966 photo.

I don't think this Chaparral was raced again and it was finally restored years later and is now a very valuable car.
Here is a link about Chaparral 1 chassis # 003.
https://www.hemmings.com/stories/2013/12/09/ex-jim-hall-chaparral-1-heads-to-auction.
(Now back to the original front nose panel.)

(Ken H...

[Ray Bell]

Are there any pics of the G-Modified Lotus 23 of Homer Rader, Ken?

[Roger Dowding]

Never seen a Chaparral in Red, only White - thanks Ken H

[khyndart in CA]

Are there any pics of the G-Modified Lotus 23 of Homer Rader, Ken?

Ray,
I found this unnamed Jerry Melton photo. Homer drove a blue Lotus 23 # 61 so I am sure this is him in action.
Did you know him ?
He seemed like a good humble man on reading his "Nostalgia Forum".

Jerry Melton photo at GVR in 1963.

Homer Rader at work with good help at his side.

(Ken H..

[khyndart in CA]

Are there any pics of the G-Modified Lotus 23 of Homer Rader, Ken?

Ray,
I found this unnamed Jerry Melton photo. Homer drove a blue Lotus 23 # 61 so I am sure this is him in action.
Did you know him ?
He seemed like a good humble man on reading his "Nostalgia Forum".
[ATTACH=CONFIG]67928[/ATTACH]
Jerry Melton photo at GVR in 1963.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]67929[/ATTACH]
Homer Rader at work with good help at his side.

(Ken H..

[khyndart in CA]

Roger,
Here are some Austin Healey photos from 1966 at GVR.

Austin Healey # 52, battling with an OSCA sports car # 23
( OSCA sports car
O.S.C.A. (Officine Specializzate Costruzione Automobili—Fratelli Maserati S.p.A.) was an Italian manufacturer of racing and sports cars established 1947 in San Lazzaro di Savena, Bologna, by the Maserati brothers, and closed down in 1967. Its name is usually abbreviated to OSCA or Osca.)
"Wikipedia"
(Jerry Melton photos..)


(Ken H..)

[Ray Bell]

Ken, that was great to find that...

No, I never met him, nor heard of him except reading that he owned this car, which came to Australia later.

I've decided to help Marc Schagen find pics of cars competing overseas before they came to Australia in case he ever gets to do another edition of this book:



It has photos - both static and action - of all the cars but frequently misses out on having overseas owners in them. And there's quite a lot of Lotus cars have been imported after starting racing elsewhere.

[Roger Dowding]

Ken H,
Thanks for the Austin Healey shots - more " borrowed " to the archive - which is getting rather large ..

[khyndart in CA]

Some of the Loti in 1966 at GVR

A Lotus 11.

Ed Hugus in his Ferrari powered Lotus 23. # 88

Mason O"Kieff in Lotus 23 # 17

Mason would come back later in the year driving a McLaren Elva M1B. # 98

(The space / race helmets were popular at this time before Bell helmets came along.





(Jerry Melton, 1966 photos..)


(Ken H )

[khyndart in CA]

More Loti in 1966 at GVR.

A Lotus 30 # 24.

# 24 going past two brave "flaggies"

Lotus 30 # 44

(Jerry Melton 1966 photos )


(Ken H)

[khyndart in CA]

Some Lotus Sevens in action.

Jimmy Johnson in his Austin Healey # 2 looks surprised as Jim Kaufman passes on the inside in his Lotus Super 7 # 21.

Jim Kaufman in his Lotus Super 7 # 21

A Lotus Seven # 47

Lotus Seven # 7

A 1966 tow job for Lotus 7 # 23

A Lotus Elan # 17


(Jerry Melton photos 1966.. )





(Ken H..)

[Ray Bell]

Maybe that's a 26R... a Lightweight Elan?

I was looking at the Sevens and there are those with wobbly webs and those with steel wheels. And the one behind the tow truck has both.

[Roger Dowding]

Enjoying the photo's Ken H .. and you keep finding Healey's for me, Thanks.

GVR appears to be a well used venue in the 1960's, and now I know where it is [ was ].