Comment:

Joel Naprstek

Sonny Strupp's #24 on the trailer entering the Nazareth 1/2 mile.  This era, the early sixties, 1961-64 were the best years as far as I'm concerned with regard to the cars.  To me they were still close to some form of stock visually, with the trimmed, full fenders and motors in a reasonably stock position in most cars.  Sonny Strupp's cars were always really classic and he was one of the last to run a Y-Block Ford motor.  The one I most remember was either before or after this coupe ... it was nearly a twin except that it was a flatback '37 sedan. Bright red with white trim and the sharp, classic #24 on the doors and trunk.  Of course 1964 was a bad year for fatalities and it was the end of the era of classic full-fendered cars.  By 1965 the more radically cut cars were pre-dominant with minimum fenders and motors moving further back ... bringing in the next evolution of cars.  The mid-sixties-1970-71 era cars and stars were great but the early sixties were the best in my book. 

My first visit to Victory Speedway in Middletown, was, I believe, in 1964. The winner of the ARDC Midget feature that evening was Tony Bonadies. The winner of the Modified feature was Sonny Strupp. I think this was the car Sonny drove that night.