A. J. Watson

[jdincau]

     One of my hero's A. J. Watson passed away Monday.

[Dynoroom]

Quite the man...

God Speed

[Seldom Seen Slim]

The old "dinosaurs" were quite the cars to watch racing.  Thanks to A J for building 'em so I could enjoy them.  May he rest in a noisy pit at the races.

[manta22]

A.J. Watson was a giant in Indy car fabrication. RIP.

Neil

[Dynoroom]

I found this, thought it would go well here.

[jdincau]

Wow! could I get a copy of that?

[Freud]

He was of the era that allowed imagination. It isn't there to day.

If you paid $100,000 now you could probably get a car from a Cracker Box.

Of course it would be the same as the one you could get if you paid the same for a Folgers Coffee car.

Regulations stifle imaginations and inovation.

Corporations regulations kill free thinking. CEO's don't think like racers.

FREUD

[Milwaukee Midget]

I had the privilege of meeting Bob Wilke's grandson, Mark, last Friday.  The company is now called Leader Paper (rather than Leader Card, who sponsored Watson's Indy cars).  Mark is a customer of mine.

They're still in business, about 6 blocks from where I work, and I have been invited over to check out some of the memorabilia that remains at the shop, including a number of pictures of the Wilke Ferraris, some midget racing stuff (non-MG), and Indy trophys. 

I've been told that they have film from every Indy race they competed in.  A LOT of film.

It will be a few weeks before I can make the time, but I'm looking forward to it.

[Milwaukee Midget]

http://www.wilkepakmotorsports.com/about/

Not a great shot of A.J., but he is in the winner's circle.

Looks like Rodger Ward could use a glass of milk.

[manta22]

Chris, Is there any way you could scan the Ferrari photos? I'd be very interested in seeing them.

Regarding the films-- they should be transferred to DVD so they can be preserved.

Regards, Neil  Tucson, AZ

[SPARKY]

Can someone explain to me the  X  torsion bar frt. suspension  in that roadster picture---thanks

[Peter Jack]

Go out to your local dirt sprint car track and look at just about every sprint car. I know they closed Manzanita, one of the very best. What a shame. That's the standard suspension on most sprint cars and is really self explanitory.

Pete

[SPARKY]

so do the arms handle the side loads also?  or did I just not pick up the transverse?

[Peter Jack]

so do the arms handle the side loads also?  or did I just not pick up the transverse?

No, they use a panhard bar for the side loads.

Pete

[doug odom]

Dyno, You have to love that picture of A.J.  A real race car in a real race car shop!
Thanks for posting.

Doug