Daily Archives: 21 October 2016

Bob Swanson & the Offenhauser

wetteroth-offenhauser

Fountainhead’s Wetteroth-Offenhauser Midget Racer, was once raced by Robert “Bob” Swanson. Swanson, born in Minneapolis in 1912, was inducted into the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame.

From Bob Swanson’s Wikipedia page:
Swanson won the first Turkey Night Grand Prix midget-car race in 1934. At the 1939 Indianapolis 500, he was involved in the accident that killed defending champion Floyd Roberts. Thrown out of his car when Roberts hit him, Swanson lay unconscious on the track as the car overturned and caught fire. His lucky escape proved to be only a temporary reprieve, as Swanson was killed a year later while attempting to qualify for a midget car race.

In an 2006 interview, motorsports reporter Chris Economaki called him ‘the best racing driver he ever saw’.

bob-swanson
Bob Swanson

The Wetteroth-Offenhauser Midget Racer can be seen at the Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum.

offenhauser-fountainhead

Photos and Swanson bio come courtesy of the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Museum


Throwback Weekend

University of Alaska Seal

They are promoting this weekend at UAF: “Throwback Weekend”, as the University of Alaska Fairbanks takes on Minnesota State University at the Patty Ice Center on campus.

Patty Ice Center

It’s been three years since Alaska has played a D-1 game at the Patty Center. This year with MSU having a conflict with their Verizon Center and the Carlson Center here in Fairbanks being booked with the Alaska Federation of Natives Conference, the hockey games have been moved to the campus rink, the original home of the NCAA Nanooks.

Center Ice

This year begins the celebration of the University of Alaska’s 100th Anniversary, and the University is starting that kickoff with the hockey team returning to campus to play the #9 ranked Mavericks of Mankato.

The puck drops at 7:07 both Friday and Saturday evening. Tickets are extremely limited.