Before Karts: History and Quiz
Posted: Thu Jul 12, 2007 11:25 pm
http://s186.photobucket.com/albums/x103 ... Indy51.jpg
I'm kind of a Forrest Gump of karting. Above is a photo of the 1951 Viking Traiiler Special at Indy. My father was the manager of Viking Trailer Company and I would spend my weekends at the plant playing with the Indy car and Midgets the owner had. At the left is a photo of me and a future USAC Midget National Champion in the car built for us to drive around the factory. It was painted to match the Indy car. From this was made a single seat version of his Offy Midget. The owner "Doug Caruthers" then built a paved banked track for us to drive the quarter scale midgets. Others wanted copies and production began in 1953. From this the modern Quarter Midget Association was started. Others began making copies. A Mr. Ingles was assigned to make copies of the Viking 1/4 Midget and decided to make a stripped down version in 1956.
Questions:
1. The track was called the Jelly Bean Bowl, where was this located and what attraction was built on the property in 1956?
2. Bonus Question: Who is driving me around the factory?
PRIZE: Mint copy of "Karting: Fun on Four Wheels" published in 1967 with 32 full color pages of early karts.
[url]http://s186.photobucket.com/albums/x103 ... ingFun.jpg[/img]
I'm kind of a Forrest Gump of karting. Above is a photo of the 1951 Viking Traiiler Special at Indy. My father was the manager of Viking Trailer Company and I would spend my weekends at the plant playing with the Indy car and Midgets the owner had. At the left is a photo of me and a future USAC Midget National Champion in the car built for us to drive around the factory. It was painted to match the Indy car. From this was made a single seat version of his Offy Midget. The owner "Doug Caruthers" then built a paved banked track for us to drive the quarter scale midgets. Others wanted copies and production began in 1953. From this the modern Quarter Midget Association was started. Others began making copies. A Mr. Ingles was assigned to make copies of the Viking 1/4 Midget and decided to make a stripped down version in 1956.
Questions:
1. The track was called the Jelly Bean Bowl, where was this located and what attraction was built on the property in 1956?
2. Bonus Question: Who is driving me around the factory?
PRIZE: Mint copy of "Karting: Fun on Four Wheels" published in 1967 with 32 full color pages of early karts.
[url]http://s186.photobucket.com/albums/x103 ... ingFun.jpg[/img]