Al Blixt Auto Racing History

Winchester Speedway - Then and Now Part 1: 1936-38

This is the first of three posts covering 70 years of history at the Winchester Speedway. The Winchester half-mile is the oldest continuously operating auto race track in the United States other than the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The track was already 20 years old when my dad came to cover the "big cars" there in 1936. For a look at what we now call sprint cars running on July 5, 1936 and the story of legendary promoter Frank Funk read on. (Photo by Al (Ace) Blixt)

Frank Lockhart - "The greatest of them all."

Frank Lockhart, the most famous race driver of his time, died eighty years ago today, April 25, 1928, on the sands of Daytona Beach trying to set a new land speed record.  For my dad and his generation, Lockhart was the greatest driver of all time.  Race fans know the story of his victory as a rookie at the Indianapolis 500 and his short but phenomenal reign as the most feared driver on the big car circuit during the Roaring 20's.  Most have seen the photo of the sleek Stutz Black Hawk that  took his life. What most people don't know is Lockhart's Michigan connection and the story of how my father came to admire him so much.  To hear that story, read on. (vintage official Indy photo from the Al Blixt Collection)

Duke Nalon - Racing Legend

Most race fans remember Duke Nalon from his many Indianapolis races.  They remember how he tamed the powerful and legendary Novi's. They remember the track records he set, the 500-mile races he nearly won and the fiery crash that he miraculously survived.  But to race fans in 1940, the Duke was already a legend.  While he raced midgets and big cars coast to coast, Duke spent a lot of time at Detroit's Motor City Speedway.  He was a friend to my father and to many who were part of the racing scene before and after WWII.  For more about the Duke's early years, read on.

Vern "Flip" Fritch: One of Kind

The date was October 9, 1949. The place was Owosso, Michigan.  In this photo, driver Vern Fritch was about two minutes away from being paralyzed for life when his sprint car flipped over.  For most drivers, this would have been the end of the story.  For "Flip" Fritch it was the beginning of a new chapter in a racing career that transformed him from an average driver to a unique figure in the history of racing.  To hear the rest of the story, read on.

Remembering A Champion: Wally Zale

Wally Zale was a great driver who set records for wins all over the Mid-west in the 1930's and early 40's.  He was part of the "Chicago Gang" that included Tony Bettenhausen, Paul Russo, Jimmy Snyder, Cowboy O'Rourke and Emil Andres.  Pictured here are Wally and Harry Hart at Detroit's Motor City Speedway in 1937. To learn about his short but brilliant career, read on.

Fearless Jimmy Brock

Jimmy Brock was a crowd favorite at midget races in the Detroit area in the 1930's and early 1940's.  He was said at the time that he was "absolutely without fear and drives with reckless abandon as fast as the little car will go."  Although he did not often win, Jimmy was a real competitor.  Read on for more from the time about this fascinating guy.

Howard Dauphin - Forgotten Champion

Howard Dauphin is apparently not as well remembered as some of the other driving champions of the 1930's and that's a shame.  He captured many midget and big car championships in Michigan and Ohio in the 1930's.  He was killed tragically in August, 1941 after an accident at Cleveland, Ohio.  Read on to find out more about this colorful and well-liked driver.  This feature includes the memories of Howard from his older son, Howard, Jr. who is now 79 but was 14 when his father died.

The notation on this print, written by my father, reads, "Howard Dauphin Killed at Cleveland Aug. 17-41.  My Friend - Ace."

The One and Only Curly Mills

  "The One and Only Curly Mills" is the caption written by my father on this photo.  Curly was a very popular driver on the West Coast and a real pioneer in midget racing.  He raced in Detroit beginning in 1935. For a photo of Curly in action and information about his life and death, read on.

Checkerboard Offy and Flash Photography

Johnny Ritter takes the legendary "checkerboard" Offy through the turn at Detroit's Motor City Speedway in 1937.  This rare photo is connected to three stories.  Read on to find out about the car, the driver and how the photo was made.

Art Hartsfeld

Art Hartsfeld was a champion midget driver in the Detroit area and the midwest in the post-war years and a good friend of my father.  This photo offers a dramatic and unique perspective on car and driver.

I am still gathering biographical information on Art but read on to see what I have uncovered so far about him along with additional photos of this handsome and well-liked driver.