This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page. Please help improve this article by introducing citations to additional sources.(October 2014)
Midget cars, also speedcars in Australia, is a class of racing cars. The cars are very small with a very high power-to-weight ratio and typically use four cylinder engines. They originated in the United States in the 1930s and are raced on most continents. There is a worldwide tour and national midget tours in the United States, Australia, and New Zealand.
Board track racing was a type of motorsport popular in the United States during the 1910s and 1920s. Competition was conducted on circular or oval race courses with surfaces composed of wooden planks. This type of track was first used for motorcycle competition, wherein they were called motordromes, before being adapted for use by various different types of racing cars. The majority of the American national championship races were contested at such venues during the 1920s.
A velodrome is an arena for track cycling. Modern velodromes feature steeply banked oval tracks, consisting of two 180-degree circular bends connected by two straights. The straights transition to the circular turn through a moderate easement curve.
Nutley is a township in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township's population was 28,370, reflecting an increase of 1,008 (+3.7%) from the 27,362 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 263 (+1.0%) from the 27,099 counted in the 1990 Census.
At Castle Hill Speedway in the Bronx in 1940, Ritter won the 150-lap race from last place,[1] an "unprecedented" performance for an outboard midget.[1] He claimed the national flat track racing title that year, also, and the Heiserman championship in 1940 and 1941.[1]
Ritter often won against opponents in larger and more powerful cars.[1]
He was killed in October 1948 while changing a tire at trackside, when he was hit by another competitor.[2]
The Michigan Motorsports Hall of Fame is a non-profit hall of fame for Michigan auto racers.
The National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame is a Hall of Fame and museum for midget cars. The Hall of Fame is located at Angell Park Speedway in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, and can be accessed during weekly Sunday races during the summer. Inductees are often honored with their award in January at the Chili Bowl at Tulsa.
↑ "Johnny Ritter". Michigan Motor Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
Related Research Articles
Rodger M. Ward was a WWII P-38 aviator in the United States Air Force, and an American race driver with 26 victories in top echelon open-wheel racing in North America, two Indianapolis 500 victories, and two USAC National Championships, who conceived the classic tri-oval design and layout of Pocono International Raceway, modeled after his three favorite signature turns, at Trenton, Indianapolis and Milwaukee.
Levon "Fred" Agabashian was an American racer of midget cars and Indy cars.
Duane Carter was an American racecar driver. He raced midget cars, sprint cars, and IndyCars. Carter was born in Fresno, California, and he died in Indianapolis, Indiana. His son Pancho raced in Indy cars, along with Johnny Parsons.
Paul Russo was an American racecar driver.
Mike Nazaruk was an American racecar driver. He raced midget cars, sprint cars, and IndyCars. He was nicknamed "Iron Mike."
Bill Schindler was an American racecar driver.
William John Vukovich Sr. was an American automobile racing driver. He won the 1953 and 1954 Indianapolis 500 plus two more American Automobile Association National Championship races. Several drivers of his generation have referred to Vukovich as the greatest ever in American motorsport.
Carl Scarborough was an American racecar driver. He died from heat exhaustion during the 1953 Indianapolis 500, a race in which several drivers experienced heat-related illness. The race was Scarborough's second entry in the Indianapolis 500. He had also been the national champion in both big car and midget car racing. After he died, race officials announced plans to inspect Indy 500 vehicles for suitable ventilation.
Henry Banks was an American midget car and "big car" driver.
"Married Roseanne Eisamann, two children, John Allen Banks, and Kathryn Roseanne Banks, three grandchildren Allen Edwin Banks, Jeffrey Henry Banks and Gavin Working "
Sam Hanks was an American racecar driver who won the 1957 Indianapolis 500. He was a barnstormer, and raced midget and Championship cars.
Richard Frank Vogler was a champion sprint car and midget car driver. He was nicknamed "Rapid Rich". He competed in the Indianapolis 500 five times, and his best finish was eighth in 1989.
Gary Bettenhausen was an American auto racing driver. He was born in Blue Island, Illinois, raised in Tinley Park, Illinois, graduated in the class of 1962 from Bremen High School in Midlothian, Illinois and at the time of his death resided in Monrovia, Indiana.
Duane C. Carter Jr., nicknamed "Pancho", is a retired American race car driver. He is most famous for his participation in CART races. He won the pole position for the 1985 Indianapolis 500, and won the 1981 Michigan 500.
Christopher "Chris" Constantine Economaki was an American motorsports commentator, pit road reporter, and journalist. Economaki was given the title "The Dean of American Motorsports Journalism." Microsoft chose Economaki to author the auto racing history portion of its Encarta Encyclopedia.
George J. Viola, better known by his racing name George Rice, was a midget race car driver from Milford, Connecticut.
The Coney Island Velodrome was a mid-sized sports arena in the Coney Island section of Brooklyn in New York City, USA. Designed as a bicycle racing venue, the drome featured a 1/8-mile wooden oval track with 45° banked corners and seating for 10,000. It also hosted outboard midgets into 1939. Located next to the BMT rail terminal at Neptune Avenue & West 12th Street, the venue played host to sports ranging from motorcycle races to boxing and football.
Harry McQuinn was an American racecar driver active in the 1930s and 1940s.
Mel Hansen was an American racecar driver. Hansen was nicknamed the "Firecracker Kid" because he loved to throw the explosive devices under chairs and behind people who were gathered in groups. He originated in Hayti, South Dakota.
Alan "Dutch" Schaefer was also the name of Arnold Schwarzenegger's character in the original Predator movie
Bill Zaring was an American racecar driver who raced midget cars in Southern California. A native of Southern California, he was born in North Hollywood.
