Almost Nascar (Maybe better!)

[Slim Louis]

This was a lot of fun to build, I've wanted to build and letter this car since the first time I saw it race in 62, took me a long time playing with my Print Shop to get these decals to turn out close to the real thing, but I'm pleased with the results. From the AMT Don Nicholson kit.

She's real fine, my 409!

Link to the build:

http://public.fotki.com/slimlouis/dark-sid...y-gerkens-62-b/

Edited September 7, 2008 by Slim Louis

[lizardlust]

Beautiful replica, Louis!!! The only troubling thing is thinking of taking a new or nearly-new bubbletop 62 and putting it into battle on the bullrings as he did - OUCH!!!

[LUKE'57]

That one's got "the Look" and as Ralph Moody would say, "it even sets right".

[Slim Louis]

The Chicago Area liked to race those big full size cars on the small bull rings, so they didn't stay clean real long, they kept them up a little for the USAC races in Milwaukee on the "big" track, though!

Here's the same car two years later:

check this link out:

http://public.fotki.com/slimlouis/chicagoland-auto-racing/

[ricky12]

ANOTHER GREAT LOOKING BUILD AND AGREAT LINK TO SOME GREAT RACE CARS

[Willy Survive]

Great USAC ride Slim. Perfect stance and I love seeing an old Chevy in one of these classic builds. -Will

[Nick F40]

I love those USAC cars, the real one is cool.

See, now THESE I like and you all know the reason!

Wait, is that an engine I could ACTUALLY buy in that car in 62???????

[LUKE'57]

WAY COOL '62. Now the real question is which of the nightmares were the worst? The ones that Curtis Turner had because he was kicked out of Nascar and had to run USAC or the ones the USAC guys had because Curtis was kicked out of Nascar and had to run USAC?

And yes, you could pretty much buy that engine in '62 with only minor differences........like the fabricated aircleaner housing and about two grand worth of "fine tuning" on the engine. LOL

Edited September 9, 2008 by LUKE'57

[Willy Survive]

Hey Luke, when they kicked Turner out of NASCAR isn't it true that he said something along the lines of "I don't give a @#%& USAC purses are bigger anyways". BTW I've never heard actually why he was kicked out of the series. Also I believe last year sometime CMT aired a special that was bankrolled by NASCAR paying tribute to their 50 greatest drivers of all time. Curtis was definitely in that 50 with no mention of his expulsion from the series. Just a little FYI. Thanks. -Will

[Roadkill2525]

I believe Turner was kicked out because he tried starting a drivers union.

[Slim Louis]

Yes, he needed to borrow about $800.000 to finish building Charlotte so he approached Jimmy Hoffa and the Teamsters for a loan. The condition was to unionize the drivers. Him and Tim Flock took the fall and were banned for life! That lasted untill 1965 or so. He came up to Milwaukee in 62,63, and 64 and raced with the USAC guys. I was there, what a thrill!