1933 Indy 500 car on promo tour in 1934 (photos)

[Studebaker Wheel]

[63t-cab]

Back in the Day Studebaker History, fun to imagine what these events were really like.

[rockne10]

Appears to be quite a siren on the front of that '34. Suppose it would lead in to town with siren wailing to attract attention to the racer that followed?

[70Avanti2]

Looked at Midway Taverns homepage. Noticed that its called Martha's Midway Tavern. It shows a picture of a young and a old Martha. The young lady in Mr. Quinns second photo could be Martha.

[Studebaker Wheel]

Wonder of wonders. While looking other things up I came across the captions to those photos. The group photo caption read as follows:"Ludo Van Stavoren, Ruth Webb, Luther Johnson (race driver) and Jesse Greene. South of Augusta, Georgia January 1934." Did a search but did not find out anything about them. Probably locally notable.

[ivorydan]

Midway, Ga

[Sdude]

Finishing up my Studebaker history presentation. It looks like I've got it wrong. I have Studebaker in 1930,1931,1932 races only.

1930 - #22 started 7 and finished 8.
1931 - #4 started pole position and finished 4 - #37 s-19,f-18 - #57 s-12,f-20
1932 - #? started 10 finished 3, #37 S,38(?), f-6 #25 s-20,f-13 - #18 s-17,f15 - #46 s-11, f-16

I thought that was the only appearance. Is what I have correct and what am I lacking? I'm missing the number of the #3 finisher in 1932 and is #37s start at 38 correct? I thought there were only 33. Were there more back then?

Please let me know so I can correct my narrative.

[Gary1953]

This web site had a pretty complete listing of how each racer placed in all the races.

http://racing-reference.info/indy500.htm

[Studebaker Wheel]

Yes, 1933 was Studebaker's best year at Indy with nine cars having Studebaker straight Eight engines of which 5 were factory cars. Seven finished the race including all of the factory cars. I wrote two extensive heavily illustrated articles on these endeavors for the Antique Studebaker Review. Back issues are available. Incidentally Studebaker Eights were still being used in Indy racers through 1937. Of the 5 original Studebaker entries in 1932-33 there are five survivors and more in progress!

[Sdude]

Thanks Gary... From what I saw on this website, Studebaker only sponsered cars in 1932 and 1933. I found studebaker powered cars from 1930 to 1939. I'm still a little confused as the #22 car shows up in 1930 finishing 8th, and the #4 car shows up in 1931 as the winner of the pole position finishing 4th.

Can anyone tell me which ones were built by Studebaker as opposed to the ones just powered by a Studebaker engine?

[rockne10]

Many entries beginning in the mid twenties ran Studebaker produced engines but only five were ever identified as Studebaker entries.

#37 was the Hunt special, built by Studebaker engineers without corporate Studebaker sponsorship in 1931. I believe it was running in first place at the 1931 500 when Tony Gulotto flew it over the wall. It was repaired and won the Pikes Peak Hill Climb that year. It's accomplishment induced the Studebaker Board to authorize four identical models with corporate support, creating the five car entries in the 1932 500. All five were re-bodied for the 1933 500. No others were built or sponsored by Studebaker, though Studebaker engines continued to compete in other entries.
The original 1931 #37 was restored to 1931 spec by Stan Smith, Sr and Jr in Centre Hall, Pa and made its premiere at the 1981 Atlantic Zone Meet in Boalsburg, Pa. Stan,Jr sold it to Bob Valpey.
These photos from Boalsburg in 1981.


I believe it is still owned by Bob valpey.

http://www.laconiadailysun.com/newsx/local-news/86271-bb-valpey-s-1931-studebaker-briefly-led-indy-500-that-year-718-w-cuts-slugged-valpey

[jnormanh]

Studebaker flathead powered cars at Indianapolis, without regard to entrant:

Year Driver Car# Start position Finish position

1930 Snowberger 22 7 8
McDonald 35 13 18

1931 Snowberger 4 1 5
Gulotta 37 19 18

1932 Bergere 22 10 3
Meyer 37 38 6
Gulotta 25 20 13
Fox 57 32 20
MacKenzie 42 39 28

1933 Evans 38 38 6
Gulotta 34 12 7
Snowberger 4 17 8
Meyer 9 16 9
Johnson 46 20 10
Bergere 6 9 11
Corum 47 18 12
McKenzie 51 39 18
Fox 57 30 28


1934 Snowberger 10 9 8
Gulotta 8 7 17
McKenzie 72 20 29
Bailey 58 16 32

1935 Insinger 62 31 14
Brisco 41 24 2
Synder 39 30 22

1936 Meyer 53 32 9

1937 Tomei 53 16 10

1938 Hall 37 27 30

1939 Hall 37 18 24


Studebaker is listed as entrant for 5 cars in 1933.

No Studebaker powered cars started at Indy prior to 1930

[jnormanh]

Many entries beginning in the mid twenties ran Studebaker produced engines but only five were ever identified as Studebaker entries.

#37 was the Hunt special, built by Studebaker engineers without corporate Studebaker sponsorship in 1931. I believe it was running in first place at the 1931 500 when Tony Gulotto flew it over the wall. It was repaired and won the Pikes Peak Hill Climb that year. It's accomplishment induced the Studebaker Board to authorize four identical models with corporate support, creating the five car entries in the 1932 500. All five were re-bodied for the 1933 500. No others were built or sponsored by Studebaker, though Studebaker engines continued to compete in other entries.
The original 1931 #37 was restored to 1931 spec by Stan Smith, Sr and Jr in Centre Hall, Pa and made its premiere at the 1981 Atlantic Zone Meet in Boalsburg, Pa. Stan,Jr sold it to Bob Valpey.
These photos from Boalsburg in 1981.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]50222[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]50223[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]50224[/ATTACH]

I believe it is still owned by Bob valpey.

http://www.laconiadailysun.com/newsx...slugged-valpey

Tony G led 0 laps in 1931. He did hit the wall, but did not go over the wall. He and his riding mechanic were not seriously injured.

[tjanowia]

That doesn't look like the Midway at all but Martha's daughter Albertina is still running the place in her eighties. I'm sure she could verify things. Place has quite a history and was a hangout of Al Capones during prohibition.

[Studebaker Wheel]

That doesn't look like the Midway at all but Martha's daughter Albertina is still running the place in her eighties. I'm sure she could verify things. Place has quite a history and was a hangout of Al Capones during prohibition.

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