Coupes to Late Models - Who Advanced?

[Marty Little]

For those of you old enough to remember racing in Florida in the 50s and early 60s all of the cars were coupes or sedans until about 1963 or so when they began to fade and the late models were the top class at most tracks.
Not everyone elected to make the move to the late models but many did. Here's a list of some of those who made the transition. Feel free to add others that I've forgotten.

Central Florida - Bill Enters, Dumont Smith, Jim McGuirk, Ernie Bass, Phil Orr, Dick Crowe, Dick Darlington, Gene Johnson, Stan Parker, Dick Joslin, Henry Pullen, Harry Pullen and Bob Luscomb.

Tampa area - Gordon Lee, Kip Pierce, Frank Riddle, Buzzie Reutimann, Wyane Reutimann, Jack Arnold, Will Cagle, Dick Pratt and Dave Scarborough.

Miami area - Bobby Brack, Bobby Allen, Jackie Evans, Shorty Mills, Bill Hess, Roy Clanton, Red Farmer, Bobby Allison, Donnie Allison, Randy Tissot, Hank Pollard, Bill Flingos, R.H. Ellis, Billy Myers, Mel Payne, Herb Tillman, Ted LaFleur, Marty Handshaw, Paul Parker, Bill Tuten, Jimmy Carson, Gene Winn and Hardy Maddox.

[Jim Fenton]

More from Tampa Bay area –

Billy Gill –

Sedans - Sunshine Speedway – Circa early 60’s

[Jim Fenton]

More from Tampa Bay area –

Jim Alvis –

Coupes - Sunshine Speedway – Circa early 60’s

Here is Alvis in the Bryan Tire Special out of Largo Florida

[Jim Fenton]

More from Tampa Bay area –

Kevin Crooks –

Sedans - Sunshine Speedway – Circa early 60’s





Short Bio from 1971 Sunshine Speedway Yearbook



OUCH!



Sunshine Speedway – May 1974 – Leading the pack
through 3 & 4 turn including the #87 Bud Stanhoff,
#12 Ray Bontrager, #02 Jim Gray with your’s truly
on the outside of the #87.

[Jim Fenton]

More from Tampa Bay area –

Cush Revette –

Coupes & Sedans - Sunshine Speedway – Circa early 60’s
(He seems to favor that sideways thing doesn’t he?)




Sedans – Plant Field, Tampa – Circa early 60’s

Here he loses his RR wheel after splitting a driveshaft
then turns sideways in front of Al Ackerman in the
1961 Dodge as well as Gordon Lee in the #123.



Here is the 81 year old veteran this year back in
March at the Blast II after winning his event.

For those that didn’t see it, he ran away with the race.

That’s why his response to my question; “so how does
it feel to be back in the winner’s circle” made me laugh
when I interviewed him later.

He said; “You know I haven’t driven this thing but a
few laps in the last several years. I think if I got some
more seat time I could knock another second or two
off my lap times.”




BTW: That’s another fantastic re-creation by
ModelCarMan (Ricky Smallwood) sitting on the
hood of Cush’s Late Model.

Here’s a better shot of it. WTG Ricky!!

[ModelCarMan]

Thanks Jim, but I didn't build Cush's model, my friend Randy Henderson did. I built Gordon Lee's model. Here's a pic of it. Randy wasn't able to stay the whole day to give it to Cush so I did it for him.

[ModelCarMan]

By the way, I never knew Billy Gill race a coupe, I thought he started racing after they stop racing the coupes.

I learn something new today YEE-HAA

[Jim Fenton]

Thanks Jim, but I didn't build Cush's model, my friend Randy Henderson did. I built Gordon Lee's model. Here's a pic of it. Randy wasn't able to stay the whole day to give it to Cush so I did it for him.

OOPS, my bad and my apologies to Mr. Henderson.

I remember I was supposed to get down there in
time to get a photo of you giving it to Cush and
was too late; you had already been there and gone.

At any rate, both you guys do incredible work and
I for one am privileged to be the recipient of one.

BTW, if you ever get to the point of needing another
challenge, I have one I’d like to commission you to do
for me. I’ll shoot you an email about it if that’s OK.

By the way, I never knew Billy Gill race a coupe, I thought he started racing after they stop racing the coupes.

I learn something new today YEE-HAA

Yeah, same here.

I knew he spent some time in a sprint car after
the ‘Coupes & Sedans’ went by the wayside but
I had no idea he had driven these until I ran across
these photos some time back.

[egspeedway]

MIAMI aREA tHE aLABAMA GANG. rED fARMER STILL RACES CRATE LATES AT tALLADEGA SHORT TRACK.

For those of you old enough to remember racing in Florida in the 50s and early 60s all of the cars were coupes or sedans until about 1963 or so when they began to fade and the late models were the top class at most tracks.
Not everyone elected to make the move to the late models but many did. Here's a list of some of those who made the transition. Feel free to add others that I've forgotten.

Central Florida - Bill Enters, Dumont Smith, Jim McGuirk, Ernie Bass, Phil Orr, Dick Crowe, Dick Darlington, Gene Johnson, Stan Parker, Dick Joslin, Henry Pullen, Harry Pullen and Bob Luscomb.

Tampa area - Gordon Lee, Kip Pierce, Frank Riddle, Buzzie Reutimann, Wyane Reutimann, Jack Arnold, Will Cagle, Dick Pratt and Dave Scarborough.

Miami area - Bobby Brack, Bobby Allen, Jackie Evans, Shorty Mills, Bill Hess, Roy Clanton, Red Farmer, Bobby Allison, Donnie Allison, Randy Tissot, Hank Pollard, Bill Flingos, R.H. Ellis, Billy Myers, Mel Payne, Herb Tillman, Ted LaFleur, Marty Handshaw, Paul Parker, Bill Tuten, Jimmy Carson, Gene Winn and Hardy Maddox.

[clincher47]

In North Florida, most of the coupe and sedan drivers switched to the late models. David Ezell, Rod Eulenfeld, Jimmy Capps, Herb Spivey, Larry Flynn, Ken Powell, Harvey Jones, Willie Carter, Butch Hubbard, Eldon and LeeRoy Yarbrough, Jack Etheridge, J.B. LaByer, Yankee Smith, Jimmy Murphy, Bo Glisson, Bobby Broach, Sputter Reagan. Georgia drivers Eddie McDonald, Aubrey Hollly, Frank Brantley and Marlin Huffmaster all ran in Florida on a regular basis. I have forgotten many more that should be included.