DO NOT PRINT, POST OR PUBLISH IMAGES APPEARING IN THE VAULT WITHOUT PERMISSION FROM PHOTOGRAPHER/PHOTOGRAPHER'S FAMILY OR PROVIDER
 
Photo ID # H03.06.11_003_COU_BEL_0066S_1
Car #: #3 & 66
Driver (s) : #3 Bobby Courtwright & #66 Enie McCoy
Location: Beltsville Speedway (Beltsville, Md.)
Date: Aug. 6, 1966
Photographer: Bob Williams
Photo provided by: Larry Jendras Jr:
Comments: Senior Moment From Larry Jendras Jr:

URC on Asphalt

Years ago the URC sprints cars had a mix of asphalt and dirt tracks on their schedule. In 1966, the first full year for the newly opened Beltsville Speedway, URC brought their beautiful open cockpit sprinters to race on blacktop along with the Atlantic United Midget Racing Club on this night. Pictured here is the famous Highway Auto Body #3 driven by Bobby Courtwright taking a heat win before a large crowd.

The fans at the new speedway got a nice mix of racing in 1966 with Modifieds, Late Models, Sprint Cars, Midgets and NASCAR Grand Nationals on the schedule.

The second photo shows #66 Ernie McCoy pulling the left front off turn 4 heading to the feature win that night. Ernie brought a lot of experience to URC having raced with AAA & USAC and having 2 starts and an 8th place finish in the Indy 500.

Other URC winners at Beltsville over the years were Tommy McAndrews also in 1966, Earl Halaquist in 1967, Jigg Peters in 1968, Harry Benjamin twice in 1972 and Leroy Felty in 1973.


Senior Moment From Larry Jendras Jr:
Visitor's Comments To add your comments about THIS PHOTO - Click Here
Date: Visitor's  Name:

Comment:
03.06.11 Gary LaFetra I've always been amazed that in those days the highest part of the car is/was the driver's head. I don't think the little bar behind his head was very much protection. Just my opinion.
03.06.11 3Wide I don't know what the thinking of the day was... I have been told that the main purpose of the bar was to protect the car and I'm not making that up.   We can all look back now and say, "What were they thinking", but prior to this there was no bar... prior to that there was no shoulder belts... prior to that there was no lap belt... prior to that there was barely a helmet...  

The real question is, 40 years from now, what will people be looking back on cars of 2011 and saying, "what were they thinking?"
03.07.11 Ed Duncan Now thats real race cars.
03.07.11 Mark Yaple Russ and Larry, Thanks so much for the great photos and the stories to go along with them.
03.08.11 Russ Dodge Mike Magill always told the story about the owner of a midget he drove. It was in the pre-roll bar period. He said " Mike, I like having you in my car. If it flips or rolls, my tail tank won't be ruined. You sit so high up in my car!" Mike said,"What about my head?" To which the guy responded,"That will heal!! Thanks, Russ
03.12.11 George Pavlisko Need to tell Bobby Courtwright Jr about this picture of his dad. Bobby Courtwright is now in Georgia and drives my #Z8 vintage modified. He is enjoying that plus his birds.  Saw Bobby C Sr. run many times with URC. This is a great shot for sure
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

Back