Hey, Web Page Updated First Two Chapters Of The Novi Story

[Dick Ralstin]

I hope it's worthwhile. Everything I saw, hear or read about the Novis, I hope you like it.

I don't know how many more chapters, my fingers (two) are getting tired of typing.

[irlricefan13]

Great stories and great photos. Thank you Dick!

[Jamski]

Looking at your page, I saw the visit to the Unser Museum, and I see Big Al has one of Carl Hungness's bronze DePalmas...I always wondered if he'd sold many of those...

Carl was right, you know. If you think you can, you probably can.

[Niseguy]

Thanks again ol' maestro of the Sandia Mountains for a terrific tail of racing lore. It made my ears ring again, like the beast was in the room with me.

jn

[Ringleader]

Great stuff Dick, Can't wait for chapter three. My Dad was a Novi auto air and Vespa dealer in the 50's and remember the 55 and 56 races very well. He and LW were friends. Duke and Paul, who Dad knew from Midgets, were around the shop often. I remember that beautiful red Kurtis sitting on the showroom floor.
I'd like to know what happened to that car.
I always look foward to your posts and your updates on the site--Thanks.

[Indyot]

Great stuff Dick, Can't wait for chapter three. My Dad was a Novi auto air and Vespa dealer in the 50's and remember the 55 and 56 races very well. He and LW were friends. Duke and Paul, who Dad knew from Midgets, were around the shop often. I remember that beautiful red Kurtis sitting on the showroom floor.
I'd like to know what happened to that car.
I always look foward to your posts and your updates on the site--Thanks.

Ringleader,

if the red Kurtis you refer to was the 1956 #29 as driven by Russo that year, that car is nowadays in the Talladega collection. Painted number 7 but otherwise looking much like how Art Malone drovbe it in 1963 but then numbered #75.
(Source Peters&Greuter, Novi Vol2)


Indyot

[tcsparky]

Very cool! Did the Novi's venture out beyond Indy hitting the AAA/USAC Championship Trail.

[Niseguy]

From the millers at the mile in the historians section oh "thevintageracer.com"

[ZOOOM]

Although I have been a Bentenhausen fan for life, the Russo car was the first Novi I ever saw. I STILL love seeing it. I saw Ruso hit the wall after leading for many many laps. The right rear tire exploded as I recall. For some reason I recall that the reason the tire exploded was that they had filled the tires with air that year instead of nitrogen. It was very hot and (the story went) that the tires over pressured and blew up. There were several cars that coasted back to the pits on three tires that year.

Maybe Dick Ralsten could shed some light on this...
ZOOOM

[Niseguy]

one more time

[Ringleader]

Thanks niceguy, takes me back. Do you know when and where those pictures were taken?

Indyot, Thanks for the reply.

[Niseguy]

ring,
Mike Winslow took those in July 2004 at the Millers at Milwaukee. Go to
thevintageracer.com and look at his other pictures.

[Don Capps]

Anyone notice the tires on the No. 29?

[Indyot]

Thanks niceguy, takes me back. Do you know when and where those pictures were taken?

Indyot, Thanks for the reply.

My pleasure,

Be aware of the fact that the red 29 in this thread is a fresh built replica!
I am no expert in stockblocks but the engine in this car is Detroitware. A genuine Novi hat a wide spacing between the exhaust pipes 2 and 3 instead of between 1 and t2 & 3 and 4 as you can see on this car. That's something I've seen on Detroit hardware and I'm sure that there will be members who can identify the real engine on this sight alone. Furthermore, the tailpiece is a bit too round at the ending.
I've heard about a company at Indy building then on request, at least one of them was built fitted with a Maserati V8 engine.

Indyot

[Indyot]

Very cool! Did the Novi's venture out beyond Indy hitting the AAA/USAC Championship Trail.

1947: speed records at the Utah salt flats with Ab Jenkins driving.

1957 Monzanapolis is all they ever did on a race track that wasn't 100% AAA\USAC and even in Italy USAC was heavily involved with that, if not actually sanctioning it.
Only other outside Indy appearance: 1965 Atlanta (Hurtibise finishing 4th) and they tried to qualify a car at Atlanta in 1966 too but never made it.



Indyot