Tag Archives: racing

The King of Gold King


Don Robertson

From all accounts, Don Robertson was the heart and soul of the Gold King Mine in Jerome, AZ. Robertson, along with his wife Terry, spent 30 years building the mine to the collection that exists today.

One of the highlights of the collection, is the 1928 Studebaker Indy race car, built by Robertson himself. Don raced the car in vintage races around the west.

My Kiwi friend visited the Gold King Mine a few years ago, and Don started up the old Studebaker for him.

“He was a big-hearted soul with a side of orneriness,” said Jerome Police Chief Alan Muma. “He had this Indian motorcycle with a really loud motor. To stay out of trouble, he’d ask me, ‘Get your sound meter out and check me’ and as long as he kept his hand off the throttle, he would stay out of trouble.”

Don Robertson passed away in October of 2016. He was 73.


30th La Carrera Panamericana

The 30th run of La Carrera Panamericana starts on Friday the 13th. It’s a 7-day, 3000 km, high speed, stage rally in vintage cars. The race runs between Queretero and Durango, over some challenging backroads.

There are some interesting cars running the race as usual: Several Porsches, quite a few Studebakers, Mustangs, a couple of Beetles and at least one Chevy Bel Air, to name a few.


57th Knoxville Nationals


Donny Schatz in victory lane. Photo credit: Paul Arch/Oskaloosa News

Donny Schatz won his 10th Knoxville Nationals title on Saturday. That makes ten victories in the past twelve years, and the eighth driving Tony Stewart Racing #15.

Kyle Larson, who made a strong move at the end, came up short in the third turn on the final lap, to take second.


Kyle Larson


Minneapolis Auto Show


1948 Chevrolet Official Indianapolis 500 Pace Car

Spent some time with A Sponsor and two of his low level employees at the Auto Show that is taking place in downtown Minneapolis.

It should come as no surprise to anyone, that the classic car section was my favorite part of the show. Not counting the mini-donuts.


VW Double Cab Transporter


A wonderful Diamond T


Brit’s Pub, an Auto Show Tradition


45th Iditarod Wrap


Mitch Seavey, with lead dogs Pilot & Crisp in Nome. Photo credit:AP

Mitch Seavey, of Seward, Alaska, won his third Iditarod. Not only did Seavey beat his own record on being the oldest to win the Iditarod at age 57, but he also won the race in record time: 8 days, 3 hours, 40 minutes and 13 seconds.

The elder Seavey already won “The Last Great Race” in 2013 at the age of 53.

Dallas Seavey took second place, with Nicolas Petit coming into Nome five minutes later for third.


Iditarod Update #2


Race map credit: Alaska Dispatch News

As of 09:46am Monday, two time Iditarod winner, Mitch Seavey, was the only musher out of Koyuk. Nicolas Petit had arrived at Koyuk, approximately 45 minutes after Seavey had left. Defending champion, Dallas Seavey, Mitch’s son, was out of Shaktoolik, and running in third.

When asked about Mitch’s performance, Dallas had this to say about his dad: “He’s beating the crap out of us and everybody else in this race. I’m not upset, I’m impressed and kudos to him”. Dallas Seavey is looking for his fifth Iditarod title.

There is 171 miles of trail between the village of Koyuk and the burled arch in Nome.


Iditarod Update


Race map credit: Alaska Dispatch News

As of Friday evening, 12 mushers had reached the village of Huslia, and another two had already left for Koyukuk. Wade Marrs and Dallas Seavey were in the lead.


A great photo of a dog team cruising down the Yukon River between Tanana & Ruby. Photo credit: Bob Hallinen/ADN


2017 Iditarod


Race map credit: Alaska Dispatch News

The 2017 Iditarod sled dog race officially started on Monday. The race was once again moved up to Fairbanks for the start, due to sketchy snow conditions on the southern route in the Alaska Range.

The temperature was -38F along the Chena River, as the first mushers and their teams took off for Nome. One thing about March weather in the Interior, is that 30 degree plus temperature swings are common in a day, now that the sun has a little power to it, and the days have become as long as those in the Lower 48.

As of Wednesday morning, the majority of teams had reached the Tanana checkpoint, and are now traveling down the Yukon River to Ruby.


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


Mercer

Mercer