So Ugly Yet Pretty...

Lew Mood sits in a 1957 version of his "Flying Zero" after a consi win at Alcyon Speedway. The car number matches the driver well since Lew's nickname was "The Flying Farmer" The handle appropriately given him because of his driving skills displayed at South Jersey speedways and his agrarian background from the family owned orchards.

It was my intent to write mainly about this car but as my Senior Moment took form I ended up with many remembrances of Mood's career and will reflect on them momentarily.

Lew drove his own cars most of his career. From 1957 until he retired driving in the early 1960's, his cars were the nothing short of "gorgeous" to look at. He had a good friend who helped crew for him named Augie Weil, a talented auto body repair man and painter. Lew's 1937 Ford Coupes and sedans were white with the fenders and side window surrounding panels painted a contrasting color. Metallic blue, metallic maroon and yellow were used on three of his cars that I recall. Augie, to shake things up a little, as a joke, painted the car pictured metallic gray and the fenders and trim coral! These were 1955 Chevy colors for those of you who go back that far. To dress up the number, the "flying wing" on the side was fluorescent green! At first glance it looked as strange as it sounds but on the track and after a little time it actually looked very sharp!

Lew was a very nice gentleman who focused his life on his love of fishing, hunting and racing! I have to add that opinionated would also help in his description, at least as a motor man...FORD WAS IT!! If you don't believe me ask old timers who remember the Maul Missile 111's. Lew was the chief mechanic.

Lew's stock car career was jumped started by an open wheel driving career which began in 1947. He was actually, as a point of trivia, the very first ever feature event winner in URC sprint competition. That was on May 2, 1948 at the Rochester Fairgrounds in Lockport, New York. The 1950's brought his attention to stock car racing, particularly at Alcyon Speedway which was close to his home.

Things I Remember Lew saying...
In response to a compliment on how well his engines ran... "You know why don't you? My motors were built by Joe Wolfe in Reading. I had a deal with Joe. If he would build my motors, I would teach him the trick of setting up a carburetors, which I could do." (Joe Wolfe was a premier engine builder who cars won the beach race with Tim Flock driving)

"The Maul brothers came to me and asked me if I would chief mechanic their 111 car. Jackie was doing well but they never knew where the car was sometimes and they wanted it home during the week I told them that I would do it on one condition, that Budd Olsen be the driver" That's how the transition from McLaughlin to Olsen took place. History shows that Budd never achieved the success that Jackie did with the car, but Lew was happier because of Budd's driving style which was very much like his own!

Augie Weil mentioned before painted the Maul 111's also. Augie also built and drove his own limited sportsman car. A white 1937 coupe, white with maroon trim numbered 1. The car won feature on asphalt with Carl Grinar driving.

Lew's last modified ride came in the Maul 111 coupe at Nazareth. Budd was not there for some reason I believe. Lew took the car out himself. I remember being in the grandstand wondering what he was doing. The car ended up being destroyed, ending Mood's modified driving career.
Walt Taitt's last 1937 Ford coupe 07 was the last Maul 111 coupe. The body was used and reappeared at Bridgeport painted, "The Hill Billy Express" after that, I was told.

The color photo of Lew and Augie was taken at Lew's garage on Rt.77 in Mullica Hill. What a treat it was to drive by during the week and see the cars sitting there or pulled "nose first" into the garage, being worked on!

This moment has a little "rambling" to it but that's what Senior Moments do sometimes!
Senior Moment by Russ Dodge

Comment: