MiRPA 2024 Yearbook

Midwest Racing Preservation Association Meadowdale P i ke s Pe a

2023

2024

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YOUR ONE-STOP SHOP From regular maintenance on your everyday vehicle to specialty care for your classic, we are ready to handle all of your automotive needs.

Welcome...

Greetings Friends of MiRPA! We have enjoyed another exciting year. A very successful car show! A number of special guests captivating our group at monthly Coffee & Cars! A doublethe-fun Winter Banquet! Amazing awesome events - all thanks to you, our membership, fans and friends.

The Meadowdale "ghost track" came back to life at the 15th Annual Meadowdale, Motorsports & Memories Car Show! Putting your suggestions to work improved the registration process and enhanced the enjoyment for all. Our fabulous cars and their interesting owners continue to make this a big draw for families and car buffs alike.

Racers Derrick Bell and his son Justin arrived from opposite coasts to be added to this year’s “Monza Wall” of Fame. Inductees Tony DeLorenzo, David Hobbs, and Lisa Unser representing Bobby, returned to welcome our 2024 Honorees. A trip to Chicago's Klairmont Kollection made for a non-stop weekend.

The first Saturday of each month brought a gathering of friends of MiRPA to Coffee & Cars. Presentations included an interesting array of topics. We kicked off the summer speaker series with "Full Circle," a fun story of MiRPA Board Member Tom Stephani's quest to be reunited with a favorite race car. In July, we celebrated Independence Day with our usual hot dogs on the grill and an All-American display of soap box racers. A unique estate in Lake Geneva was a lovely setting to display a group of MiRPA cars. The Chicago Region SCCA was host to a presentation on the history of Can-Am series. All in all, what a fabulous year!

Of course, no Coffee & Cars would be complete without our Meadowdale inspired slot car track to test your skill - bring your own car or use one of ours. We invite you to join our group of dedicated, fun-loving enthusiasts, meet new friends and share the passion of Motorsports. Watch a race movie, enjoy a donut, participate in some bench racing... All are welcome!

The historical significance of Meadowdale International Raceways and racing in the Midwest continues to be the focus of our activities. This year, the 60th anniversary of the 1964 USRRC race, we reflect on the unparalleled career of Bobby Unser who ran that race before going on to become a three-time Indy winner!

Motorsports’ rich legacy is safeguarded through our accumulation of historical documents, collateral, photographs, movies and memorabilia. Help us promote and preserve the history of racing in the Midwest.

We happily accept donations of materials relating to this subject.

Keep an eye on our calendar of events and participate in our activities - the Meadowdale Car Show, Coffee & Cars, and our Winter Banquet. On behalf of the Board of MiRPA, I invite you to join us in celebrating the people and places that built the Midwest racing community beyond the “Monza Wall” of Meadowdale.

We remain an all-volunteer organization funded through your generosity. I am deeply grateful to our Board Members, along with our volunteers, for their generous gift of time, treasure and talents. To our individual, corporate, community and government friends... I thank you for your financial contributions.

Please consider supporting this effort and ride along with this fun, energetic group! We could not do what we do without you!

Sharing the cars, the stories and the passion... in the spirit of the sport!

Linda

Linda L. Daro Founder/Chairman

On the cover: The Arciero Brothers Lotus raced from 1960 to 1964 mostly in the hands of Dan Gurney. Bobby Unser raced it at Meadowdale's USRRC race in 1964. Drivers Phil Hill, Jim Clark and AI Unser also had success with the Lotus.

Cover Art Designed by Lucy DeLap

MiRPA Once an all but forgotten “ghost track,” Meadowdale International Raceways, located within Raceway Woods, a Kane County Forest Preserve in the northwest corner of Carpentersville, Illinois, lives again.

The 50th Anniversary celebration in 2008 brought together the efforts of a hard working group of volunteers and applied a mix of “those that were there” with those that could only wish they were...

McKee Engineering, Black Dog Speed Shop, Fall-Line Motorsports, ECC Motorsports, The Mueller and The Lederer Collections. As a kick off to the Indy 500, a presentation by IMS Historian Donald Davidson, along with Paul Goldsmith, was held at Collector Car Garage. A special members-only event was held at the Autobahn “garage” of Indy winner Bobby Rahal.

MiRPA’s Annual Winter Banquet honors the vision and contributions to the sport of racing made by outstanding representatives of the Motorsports community. We welcome to our “Monza Wall of Fame” those who have shared an undeniable passion for speed and excellence.

The beginnings of the Meadowdale International Raceways Preservation Association (MIRPA) began to take shape that day!

Meadowdale was the grand dream of Leonard W. Besinger. A local developer of commercial and residential properties in the Carpentersville area, he envisioned the track as a destination for the national racing community and a way to bring people to the area.

September 14, 1958, marked the opening of the Raceway, a 3.27 mile road course featuring a steep 180 degree curve known as the “Monza Wall” which led onto the ¾ mile front straight. Estimates of the first race crowd were upwards of 100,000 people.

Automobile, motorcycle, go-kart and even snowmobile races were held at Meadowdale. The track was home to events held by sanctioning bodies including USRRC, USAC, ARCA, SCCA, Midwestern Council and AMA. Sterling Moss conducted a driving school there as well!

On September 9, 2023, we present our 15th annual Meadowdale, Motorsports & Memories car show. This is a great opportunity to visit with friends... old and new. Hundreds of race and street cars of all marques will line the front straight while Illinois NCRS takes its place in Corvette Corner.

Our mission is to promote and preserve Meadowdale and Midwest Motorsports Racing History. We are an all-volunteer organization. Your time, talent and treasure are the greatest gifts you can share with us.

Your tax deductible donations allow us to continue our efforts as we work to ensure the endurance of the motorsports legacy through our 501(c)(3) not-forprofit status.

Meadowdale was a great destination sixty years ago and still is today. The Raceway brought people to live, work, and play. Memories of its history will bring the track alive for generations to come. Enjoy what remains of the track — you can still hear the race cars roaring in the distance. Turn around quickly enough... you just might get a glimpse into the past!

A significant number of Midwest racing venues showcased the early years of many a car, driver and race team...

MiRPA hosts activities to keep the racing spirit alive year round. Events have been held at locations such as Heidts Automotive Group, Chicago Vintage Motor Carriage,

If they raced then, they raced here!

MiRPA Board of Directors Operational Directors

Linda Daro

Len Besinger

Don Devine

Bob McKee

Tom Stephani

Ronnie Kaplan

Dale Anderson

Jim Anderson

Lucy DeLap

Dave Gerber

Mike Jablo

Steve Merkle

Founder/Chairman

1926-2014

Meet the Board...

Linda Daro

Len Besinger

Linda always had an interest in cars.

Her first car was a convertible, and she has retained a top-down love for sunny days and summer nights ever since. From the Indy 500 to the local Saturday night dirt track, she enjoys watching racing in all its forms. Eventually she was able to merge her love of cars, racing and history. Having stumbled on a “ghost track” in her own backyard, she was amazed to learn that many of the racing greats she had watched as a child raced right here! Through her involvement with racers, restorers and great storytellers, she realized that there is a tremendous amount of history that could be lost in the blink of an eye. Therein lies her interest… the promotion and preservation of the motorsports, vehicles and people who are part of that history. She founded MiRPA to fuel that mission.

“There's a new audience to the history of the automobile and motorsports. Connecting with this group requires effort and dedication to ensure that the days of race weekends and Sunday drives are not lost.

In the future, this rich legacy must live on!”

Leonard W. Besinger III's love for racing developed long before he can even remember. His grandfather, Leonard Besinger Sr., built and owned the Meadowdale Raceway.

His father, Leonard Besinger Jr., researched tracks worldwide, then designed the layout.

Len was trackside before he could walk. He was hooked.

His father loved cars and Len followed in his footsteps collecting and piloting racing cars. He began racing in his 20s starting with vintage Porsches and then moved onto racing modern cars. He's raced Ducati motorcycles as well. Len follows most racing from Indy Car to F1 to Nascar to NHRA Drag Racing.

Besinger is proud to be a founding member of MiRPA. He's excited that there are people who share his passion in preserving the heritage and memories of these very important raceways and looks forward to keeping this organization going into the future.

Just the smell of the fuel and the sound of the engines brings back those childhood memories of the trackside excitement he grew up loving!

Founder/Chairman

Don Devine

Founding Director

Don did it all — successfully. He is a Silver Skates Derby Champion speed skater, an event that is now in its 107th year. He has raced bicycles, boats, motorcycles, go-karts, stock cars — anything that went fast.

Devine also raced sports cars, most notably in 1963 as a member of the incredibly successful Meister Bräuser Racing team along with drivers Augie Pabst, Bill Wuesthoff and driver/owner Harry Heuer. He continued racing a Lola T70 and a McLaren M12 in a number of races, including the Can-Am Series.

Don's business successes included land development, building and real estate investments in the Chicago area as well as Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. He lived in Jamaica for 14 years, developing a unique thatch-roofed cottage community on cliffs overlooking the sea. His business ventures allowed him to buy, restore, and sell race cars.

Don is involved with a motorsports project which builds continuation Scarabs for street and track, like the one he raced for Meister Bräu at Meadowdale.

Founding Director

Ronnie Kaplan (1926-2014) Founding Director

Ronnie Kaplan had not only a front row seat to racing history…

He was racing history!

Whether midgets, stock cars, sports cars or Indy cars, he was there as a driver, mechanic or crew chief.

After injuries ended his driving career, he put his extraordinary mechanical skills to use wrenching on Indy type championship cars in the shops of some of the best California Car builders.

Kaplan was recruited by Jim Rathmann for the winning crew of the 1960 Indy 500. Ronnie was Crew Chief for the highly successful Nickey Chevrolet Purple People Eater Corvettes and Nickey Nouse Scarab race team.

He then launched RKE (Ronnie Kaplan Engineering).

American Motors turned to RKE for preparation of their new Javelin for the 1968-69 Trans Am series.

Ronnie's Javelins finished every race that first year - a boast only they could make!

Ronnie's self-proclaimed expertise was as tweeker, thinker, and problem solver! He is greatly missed...

Meet the Board...

Bob McKee

Tom Stephani

You may not know his name but everyone on pit road sure did!

Bob McKee is a race innovator and engineering icon with 60 years of stunning output. An inventor, race car engineer, designer and car builder, he built Indy Cars, Can-Am Cars and Stock Cars. He was one of America's only road-race car designers and builders in the 1960s.

His first sports racers, called Chevettes, were built using mainly Chevelle and Corvette parts. Bob's Chevettes won many races in the 1960s. (See USRRC articles) In the early 1970s, McKee built what is considered the first practical electric car. He helped build a turbine race car powered by a jet engine. He is famed for the McKee trans-axle that drives high powered race cars.

Another innovative vehicle Bob worked to develop was the Tri-Hawk, which is an early three wheel "motorcycle" later sold to Harley Davidson.

Though rarely in the spotlight, Bob McKee is a genius who knows what makes the mechanical world tick!

Tom Stephani is the son of Jack Stephani who was part owner of Chicago's Nickey Chevrolet which was famous for its racing and high performance cars in the 1960s.

Stephani's addiction to racing began in 1958 when he attended several races where Nickey’s Purple People Eater Corvette competed… including the inaugural Meadowdale race in September 1958.

Since 1972, Tom has raced Formula Vees, Formula Fords, and a 1965 USRRC / Can-Am car which was sponsored by Nickey and owned by TV star Dan Blocker (Hoss from the Bonanza TV Show). Tom continues to race in Vintage events nationwide. He has recently re-acquired the Formula Vee that he raced to divisional Championships in 1972 and 1979.

Since 2014 he has raced his Formula Ford to over 40 race wins in Vintage races around the country including the SVRA National Championship at COTA (Circuit of the Americas) in 2017.

Indeed, Tom has speed in his blood!

Dale Anderson

Jim Anderson

Dale Anderson is a man of many interests. A lifelong fan, especially of the open wheel races, MiRPA presented an opportunity to share his interests. He has since become a treasured volunteer.

A retired endodontist, he and wife Kathy share their home with three Dobermans and their barn with three goats. Since retirement, Dale has been fortunate to work part time for a top vintage race car prep shop as well as at a local highly regarded auto restoration shop.

Anderson has also restored quite a number of vintage autos to gleaming perfection.

Dale has enjoyed a number of Formula 1 races firsthand, volunteering behind the scenes at F1 races in Indy.

Between meeting many MiRPA honorees and working trackside support for vintage racing, he has been able to spend time with many legendary race drivers and race car builders. Anderson notes that MiRPA draws people who share his love of the racing world. He's formed many a great friendship over the table while bench racing at Coffee & Cars.

Jim Anderson grew up in Elk Grove Village. As with most boys of the time, he developed an early enthusiasm for automobiles.

His interest in cars would eventually lead him to open a number of car dealerships located across northern Illinois.

Anderson is a director and a judge for NCRS (National Corvette Restorers Society) which makes him the perfect person to head up MiRPA's judging committee at Meadowdale, Motorsports & Memories.

Jim travels all over the country to NCRS judging meets as well as to local events such as our own Meadowdale Car Show; and MCACN (The Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals) which is held each November in Rosemont.

Anderson has put together his own collection of rare low mileage Corvettes, muscle cars and motorcycles.

At one time, Jim lived in a home whose backyard was Meadowdale. Little did he know that one day he would be on the Board of an Association whose mission it is to preserve the raceway’s history!

Founding Director

Operational Director

Founding Director

Operational Director

Meet the Board...

Lucy DeLap

Dave Gerber

The mechanical mystery of a driver climbing out from behind the wheel of their Isetta back in the '50s started the lifelong interest in automobiles that drew Lucy DeLap to MiRPA. Then one day, Linda Daro pops into the print shop where she worked, with a vintage program from Meadowdale Raceways to duplicate for an event at Raceway Woods, a forest preserve on her route to work. Though aware of its existence, seeing the evidence changed everything. Ever since that moment, Lucy has turned her graphic abilities, her time and her talents, to serve the organization's interest.

A number of years ago, after volunteering since its inception, DeLap took over managing and coordinating Motor Monday Cruise Nights. This show runs under the MiRPA banner for the Village of East Dundee. Lucy and her husband, Tim, drive their 1969 Austin Healey Sprite to cruise night, a car purchased new for Tim's mom to drive to work in Chicago year round!

Always enjoying the drive, Lucy is proud to say she has never owned an automatic transmission car in her life!

Dave Gerber spent his youth at Meadowdale Raceways — his father maintained the sound system for the track. He and his brother Bob served as Dad's unpaid labor force.

The Gerber family lived only a few miles from the track. The sound of local car builders was always in the air. Dave and Bob would stop by during the week to watch when builders were testing their cars. Occasionally luck was with them — they would get a ride and enjoy roaring around the track.

Gerber, along with his son Jake, discovered MiRPA. Dave found a group who knew the history and shared the interests of his youth. The Gerbers became a great asset for their technical knowledge and their ability to scout out Meadowdale Memorabilia.

Through his association with MIRPA, Dave has put names to many of the drivers he met as a youngster.

Retired and living in Florida, Dave journeys north to attend MiRPA's events, even the one in February! We're glad he makes the trip.

Mike Jablo

Steve Merkle

Mike has been an automotive and racing enthusiast most of his life. Since the mid-1960s, he has ventured to numerous locales for F1, IndyCar, and IMSA auto races as well as to local tracks in the Midwest. He has attended fifty-eight(!) consecutive Indianapolis 500s. Mike worked on USAC IndyCar pit crews for drivers in the 1970s, such as Karl Busson, Lee Brayton, Dick Simon and Sam Sessions.

Mike himself raced in SCCA from 1975 to 1989, driving Formula Vee, Formula Ford and Formula Atlantic cars.

He was the 1988 Central Division Region champion in Formula Atlantic. Jablo currently fulfills his “need for speed” with an occasional track day or Champ Car enduro event.

Mike joined the MiRPA Board in 2018. He brings a wealth of racing knowledge to MiRPA for which we are very grateful. He enjoys the opportunity to contribute his time to a great organization. Reuniting with old racing friends is very rewarding; connecting with new friends is a welcomed bonus!

When he was a young man, Steve Merkle was friends with the son of Ball Corporation's owner, sponsor of Dan Gurney and Roger Ward at the time. This led him to an early exposure to the world of racing.

A member of the Purdue Auto Club, he maintained an interest in vehicles through his college days. Later on, Steve raced successfully for eleven years with Midwest Council. Vehicles he raced included a Healey 100 and an Austin Healey Bug-Eye Sprite. Merkle also had his hand in go-kart engineering and building.

Steve continues to maintain a small fleet of autos, sells collectibles at the Volo Antique Mall, and helps MiRPA by taking on tasks wherever he is needed.

Merkle greatly enjoys attending races throughout the Midwest and beyond. For the last 12 years, he has attended the 24 Hours of Daytona along with the Indy races in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Whether it's vintage, sports car, IndyCar, or Formula 1 - all draw Steve to the hub of excitement that is racing!

Operational Director

Operational Director

Operational Director

Operational Director

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“Monza Wall” of fame To those who have shared an undeniable passion for speed and excellence...

We Salute You! 2024 Inductee

Derek R. Bell MBE

"Only 24 Hours to the Checker..."

MiRPA is privileged to honor those who have made extraordinary contributions to automotive and racing history.

Derek R. Bell MBE ...

began his racing career in 1964 driving a Lotus Seven, winning his first race at Goodwood that March. Over the next few years, he was frequently victorious in Formula Three. In 1967, Derek’s successes in Formula Two caught the eye of Enzo Ferrari, which led to his Formula One Grand Prix debut at Monza in 1968.

He tasted stardom when, while taking part in the making of the 1970 film, LeMans, he became good friends with Steve McQueen, sharing a house during the shoot.

Bell won the LeMans 24 hours race five times, (1975, 1981, 1982, 1986 and 1987), making him the most successful British driver in the race to date.

He earned the World Sportscar Championship title twice (1985 & 1986) and won the 24 Hours of Daytona three times (1986, 1987 & 1989). He has wins at Silverstone, Spa and Nürburgring as well.

His consistent teammate during this period was Jacky Ickx. They raced several iconic Porsches including the Porsche 936, Porsche 956 and Porsche 962. The Bell/ Ickx partnership is considered one of the most famous driver pairings in motorsport history.

Derek and his son raced together at the 1991 24 Hours of Daytona as well as in the 24 Hours of LeMans in 1992. He cites the third place podium, shared with son Justin, earned piloting the Harrods sponsored McLaren F1 GTR on Father's Day at LeMans in 1995, as his proudest moment.

In 2001, he was hired to consult for the Bentley Speed 8 programme, helping Bentley to win LeMans two years later. He now splits his time between the U.S. and his home near Chichester, UK.

He is a motorsport commentator and continues to race in historic events, along with serving as a global ambassador for Bentley.

A brand ambassador for Porsche and Bentley for many years, Derek Bell has been described by fellow racers as one of the most liked drivers of his generation, and is regarded as one of the greatest sports car and endurance racing drivers of his era.

Approachable, fun, down to earth... all while delivering victories, Derek is well-loved by racing fans worldwide.

The third place podium, shared with Justin, LeMans - Fathers Day 1995 which Derek cites as his proudest moment

“Monza Wall” of fame To those who have shared an undeniable passion for speed and excellence...

We Salute You! 2024 Inductee

Justin Derek Bell

"Just Another Day at the Office..."

MiRPA is privileged to honor those who have made extraordinary contributions to automotive and racing history.

Justin Derek Bell ...

grew up on his dad’s farm where he and his father spent many hours on motorbikes, leaving JB with fabulous memories of he and his dad “covered in mud grinning like mad-men to the sound track of 2-stroke engines!”

His interest soon led to amateur motocross weekends all over the South of England. He credits these great experiences for giving him a feel for traction in adverse conditions while developing his passion for speed and competitive racing early on. With natural talent and his dad’s encouragement, he quickly established himself as a winner in his own right.

Justin has many significant racing accomplishments to his name - the FIA GT2 Championship (1997), his win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans GT2 class (1998), secondplace finishes at Le Mans and 24 Hours of Daytona, and a pair of SCCA Trans-Am wins along with claiming Rookie of the Year title.

He raced for many major car manufacturers including BMW, Dodge, Porsche, Saab and General Motors where he drove for the factory Corvette Racing team.

After this successful career behind the wheel, JB transitioned into the media world as on-camera talent, establishing himself as one of the top U.S. based automotive content hosts. He has hosted or co-hosted many international motorsports television programs.

Justin frequently hosts live TV shows, including the American Le Mans Series, Barrett Jackson Auctions, the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, Grand American Racing, Test Drive, Shut up and Drive, and Drive to Wynn, a Formula 1 podcast from Las Vegas.

Justin co-founded Torque Media Group with Tommy Kendall (MiRPA 2023 inductee) and Jason Jacobson.

The trio created The Torque Show, a livestream show supporting Michelin in the IMSA Series. The lively chats JB and TK have with the highest profile people in the Sportscar world attract a huge audience.

Justin's extensive experience in live sports broadcasting led him to be chosen to host the livestream for the prestigious Pebble beach Concours d’Elegance in 2021 — a great honor, indeed!

Justin Bell - Racer. Lover of life. Entertainer. Host.

“Monza Wall” of Fame Inductees Tommy Kendall

2023

"TK" is an accomplished TransAm and IMSA racer with SCCA. He was one of the first NASCAR road course ringers.

He is now widely respected as a racing analyst for ABC Sports/ESPN, SPEED, and as host for a variety of programs related to racing and the auto industry.

Linda Vaughn

2022

Lyn St. James

2017

In 1992, Lyn was the first woman to win the coveted Indianapolis 500 “Rookie of the Year.” She competed in the IndyCar series. She also has two class victories at the 24-Hours of Daytona, and a GTO class victory at the 12-Hours of Sebring.

Al Unser

2016

“The First Lady of Motorsports,” Linda took the role of beauty queen and became an influential ambassador and promoter of motor racing for several decades, most notably as “Miss Hurst Golden Shifter.” Still going strong, she’s beloved by racers and fans alike.

Al Sr. won the Indy 500 four times (1970, 1971, 1978, 1987) - a feat accomplished by only three other drivers. He was the winner of the National Championship in 1970, 1983, and 1985. Al joined in the Unser family dominance of the Pikes Peak Hill Climb with wins in 1964 & 1965.

In 1964, Penske retired from driving though talented enough to be honored as “Sports Car Driver of the Year.” As team owner, his wins are countless. His developments are legendary. His teams continue to race in multiple series.

Penske now owns IMS & IndyCar.

Once is never enough for Al Jr. He’s not only a two-time Indy 500 winner, he’s also a two-time overall points champion.

He won the 24-Hours of Daytona twice and is a two-time IROC Champion. Wide World of Sports named him “Athlete of the Year” in 1994.

Roger Penske

Tony DeLorenzo

2021

2020

Tony’s SCCA and IMSA racing career spanned 17 years, several sponsors and partnerships, and included consistent top-ten finishes. He claimed 22 straight victories during the 1969/1970 seasons.

Corvette Hall of Fame Inductee - 2009.

Tom Sneva

2020

Al Unser Jr.

David Hobbs

2015

2014

David is one of the most popular figures in racing on both sides of the pond. In his thirty year career, he raced sports cars, IndyCars, IMSA, Can-Am & Formula One. David’s racing knowledge and upbeat, often hilarious personality earned him success as a longtime TV commentator.

Janet Guthrie

2013

Tom won the 1983 Indy 500. He was the first to qualify for the Indy 500 at over 200 miles per hour. Known for fast qualifying, exciting second-place finishes and near misses, Tom was one of IndyCar’s most entertaining drivers for nearly two decades.

Janet became the first woman to qualify and compete in the Indianapolis 500 and the Daytona 500, each a major feat which she remarkably accomplished in the same year, 1977. Once an aerospace engineer with hopes of becoming an astronaut, she triumphed rocketing around raceways.

Bobby became an owner/driver in 1992, his team producing four wins and his third CART championship, making him the last owner-driver to win the CART title (held until 2003). Bobby retired the cockpit to team with David Letterman forming Rahal Letterman Racing.

“Uncle Bobby” won the Indianapolis 500 three times (1968, 1975, 1981). Unser won the 1968 and 1974 USAC National Championships. Dominating at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, he won the overall title ten times plus three more class wins.

Bobby Rahal

Johnny Rutherford

2019

2018

“Lone Star JR” won the Indy 500 three times in 1974, 1976 and again in 1980.

Rutherford’s career spanned more than three decades. He scored 27 wins and 23 pole positions in 314 starts, and also won the CART Championship in 1980.

Bobby Unser

Bobby Rahal

2012

2011

Bobby won the Indianapolis 500 in 1986.

He was the first driver in Indy history to complete the 500 miles in less than three hours. Beginning his career in SCCA, he has a trio of National Championships, a victory at 24-Hours of Daytona and the 12-Hours of Sebring.

Friends of MiRPA

2012 Tony Adamowicz TransAm Champ

2017 Donald Davidson IMS Historian

2010 Tony DeLorenzo Corvette Racer

2015 & 2019 Don Devine Meister Bräuser

2015 Paul Goldsmith Motorcycle/Auto Legend

2009 Harry Heuer Meister Bräuser

2011 Jim Jeffords Nickey Race Team Driver

2021 Stan Kalwasinski Historian/Photographer

2010 Ronnie Kaplan Nickey/AMC Team

2012 Horst Kwech TransAm Champ

2011 Lindy Lindheimer Nickey Race Team Director

2011 & 2019 Bob McKee Design & Engineering

2013 John Morton Multi-Class Champ

2020 Ron Nelson Photographer

2023 Butch Patrick “Eddie Munster”

2017 Tom Schultz Road America Historian

2010 Tom Stephani Nickey Chevrolet

2015 John Weinberger SCCA Champion

Meadowdale Track Record 1968

2014 Meister Bräuser Racing Team (l to r) Don Devine, Bill Wuesthoff, Augie Pabst, Harry Heuer (Owner)

Since Last We Met…

Each year seems to be the best we've ever done. Last year was no exception.

Our 15th annual car show ran exceptionally well. The "ghost track" that was Meadowdale Raceways awakened to an appreciative audience. Drivers got to experience the thrill of their tires meeting the old pavement. Weather was great. Food was excellent. The variety of vendors interesting. We're finally getting the hang of this!

Appearing for the first time were automotive students from South Elgin High School who compete at Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Engine Challenge. These kids wowed the crowd with their timed engine breakdowns and rebuilds. Truly amazing to watch!

SCCA (Sports Car Club of America) members raced their cars to Meadowdale in search of the long-lost roars of the past. The NCRS (National Corvette Restorers Society) made a repeat appearance. Both groups displayed some of their finest examples of road art.

The hospitality tent showcased non-stop video presentations. Feature films highlighting the glories of two Meadowdale stars, Tony DeLorenzo: The Winningest Corvette Driver and Fred Lorenzen: NASCAR’s Golden Boy, were interspersed with footage of MiRPA activities and vintage Meadowdale racing.

Derek Bell mbe, a five-time winner at LeMans, was inducted into MiRPA’s "Monza Wall” of Fame at the Winter Banquet in February.

Today, Derek is a Brand Ambassador for Bentley, responsible for developing the Bentley that took overall honours at LeMans in 2003.

Our second inductee, racer Justin Bell, son of Derek, is a LeMans winner in his own right. Meadowdale was featured recently in his MotorTrend's “Drives Unexpected” program. Justin's extensive career in broadcasting includes “The Torque Show,” a livestream talk show he co-hosts with former racer and 2023 inductee Tommy Kendall.

We were very excited to honor this talented father and son in a shared induction ceremony, a MiRPA first!

David Hobbs (who had great fun heckling Derek) and Tony DeLorenzo, both past inductees, returned to welcome their fellow racers. We were pleased with the return of Lisa Unser, whose husband, Bobby, was inducted in 2012.

Saturday afternoon found our inductees and guests on a fascinating trip to the Klairmont Kollection in Chicago.

We ogled the oddities amongst their eclectic assemblage of vehicles, shared a lunch, conversation and good times.

The Friday night welcome dinner introduced the inductees to members of MiRPA's Board. During the cocktail reception, both Derek and Justin were each presented with original artwork commissioned to highlight their multifaceted careers. Limited edition prints, signed by the inductee and the artist, are available through MiRPA. The silent auction featured prizes such as an autographed model of Harrod's McLaren F1 GTR driven by both Derek and Justin at LeMans in 1995. Not to be outdone, David autographed a David Hobbscap model, his character from Cars 2, for bidding.

MiRPA’s gift box raffle awarded a lucky winner a fabulous weekend at Road America with a pair of four-day VIP tickets to the IndyCar race and a two night stay at the luxurious Blue Harbor Resort (and water park) in Sheboygan.

The Coffee & Cars Summer Speakers' Series wrapped up last fall with racer Jeff Schwartz discussing his exciting record setting career. This summer's presentations fired up in June with MiRPA's Tom Stephani's story of his quest to reacquire a former favored race car. In July we celebrated the holiday with hot dogs on the grill and an all-American Soap Box Derby race car display plus a presentation by MiRPA member Dave Harris, former Soap Box Derby racer.

A sell-out crowd attended when MiRPA and Streeterville Scramblers, a motorcycle club, joined forces to host a fundraiser to benefit MiRPA and the John & Kathy Young Automotive Award. "Forever Young," a memorial to John Young, a member of both organizations, was held at the Sanfilippo Estate. This impressive collection is well worth a visit. A scrumptious luncheon set amongst the highest quality vehicles, from luxury to vintage, at Illinois Motors kicked off this fabulous day.

MiRPA hosted a unique car show luncheon at a luxurious estate near Lake Geneva.

This provided an opportunity to connect with fans and friends across the border.

Excessive heat and the threat of storms held down the attendance at the first two Motor Mondays of 2024. Excellent weather brought a record crowd for the third Cruise Night. We've expanded to include a new display area in order to accommodate all the fabulous vehicles. Planned and executed in partnership with the Village of East Dundee, this summer monthly gathering has made this the coolest place to be on the third Monday, June through September.

Lisa Unser and I were honored to attend the "Baby Borg" Trophy presentation to (MiRPA inductee) Roger Penske and Josef Newgarden for their 2023 Indy 500 victory at The Henry Ford in Dearborn. July found us in Midland, Texas, to celebrate the launch and signing of George Levy's book, "Texas Legend Jim Hall and His Chaparrals," held during the "Party on the Patio" at the Permian Petroleum Museum.

MiRPA members were spotted at dinners and events with the Elkhart Lake Historic Race Circuit Preservation Association, races at Road America, Autobahn Country Club, Blackhawk Farms and Indy, just to name a few.

IndyCar, NASCAR, NHRA, IMSA and Vintage events along with Mecum Auctions and the Motorsports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremonies continue to fuel our motorsport passion. At the RRDC (Road Racing Drivers Club) dinner in Long Beach, I was honored to escort legendary Formula 1 racer Sir Jackie Stewart OBE to the stage!

Recently, I traveled to Albuquerque for a visit with Lisa. While there, we prepared the remainder of Bobby's race shop for final distribution. MiRPA was fortunate to become the caretaker of some wonderful treasures from Bobby's racing career.

Another unique acquisition this year, were several Soap Box Derby race cars along with an extensive collection of memorabilia, all donated by a MiRPA member!

Interested in some bench racing? Join us at Coffee & Cars the first Saturday of each month! Browse the collection of motorsports memorabilia, enjoy a snack, old race movies and show off your slot car skills. Bring a car (or not!).

Would you like to shake the hand and hear stories from legendary drivers? Or meet your heroes up close and personal? Don’t miss our annual Motorsports & Memories Winter Banquet held each year in February!

Save the Date!

MiRPA’s Winter Banquet is scheduled for Saturday, February 1, 2025

Race on over to the Motorsports & Memories Car Show each September and imagine the roar of Meadowdale Raceways before it became a “ghost track!”

MiRPA’s mission to promote and preserve the history of Midwest Motorsports is going strong. Our many volunteers share their time, talent and treasure enabling us to archive racing history and bring you these exciting events. This support and dedication is the reason we continue to exist and thrive.

We are very grateful... Thank You!

Linda

The Man, The Racer, The Legend... Bobby Unser

by Linda Daro

Bobby began racing in 1949 and would win his first championship in modified stock cars in 1950. He took a break from racing from 1953-1955 when he served in the Air Force. Upon his return, Unser and his brothers Jerry and Al pursued racing careers in the United States Auto Club (USAC) competition.

Bobby Unser raced successfully in USAC Sprint Car, Midget and Stock Car competition. He earned seven career USAC Sprint Car feature victories. He also won six USAC Stock Car races and three USAC Midget features. He is the only driver in USAC history to win feature events in five different decades!

Three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Bobby Unser was one of the greats. A colorful character, he spoke his mind, told fabulous stories and was one of the most popular drivers in the history of racing.

Calling Bobby Unser just another racer is like calling the “Race to the Clouds” just another hill climb. The Unser family has won the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb 26 times. Bobby won 13 of those races. He first raced Pike’s Peak in 1955 in the open wheel division finishing 5th behind his brothers Louis and Jerry. It was just a year later that Bobby won his first championship at Pikes Peak, then won six straight titles from 1958 to 1963. Bobby set a new track record eight times, and has 13 wins — 10 overall victories, plus two stock car class victories and a single sports car class win. Bobby set 13 records in 18 years and never failed to finish. Bobby was “King of the Mountain” – Unser Mountain, that is.

Bobby came from a family with a passion for racing.

Six members of the Unser family raced at the Indy 500 with nine wins among them. Bobby and Al are the only set of brothers to have won in the history of the race.

Born in Colorado Springs, Colorado, in 1934, Bobby was the third of four brothers. While a baby, the family moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico – a city now tied to the Unser family racing dynasty. After all, where else can you get directions that tell to you take the Unser Boulevard exit and turn in at the “Unserville” sign?

After his record was broken, Bobby was approached by Audi asking if he wanted to take the record back. In 1986, after a twelve-year absence, he won for the tenth time beating the previous record by 16 seconds. He finished the 12.42 mile, 156 turn race in an amazing 11:09.220 minutes! The win broke the tie with his Uncle Louis which had been nine overall victories each.

Unser’s career in Indy cars started at the end of the 1962 season. He spent three years driving Novi-engined cars for Andy Granatelli. He earned his first career top 10 finish at Indy by placing eighth in 1966 for Gordon van Liew’s team. In 1967, he moved to Bob Wilke’s Leader Card team for four-years, resulting in successes at Indy.

Bobby's response to ten pages of wins?

"Oh those are just the sanctioned wins!"

Unser earned his first Indianapolis 500 victory in 1968 in the No. 3 Rislone Eagle/Offy. He led 118 of the first 191 laps but was running second to Joe Leonard when Leonard’s fuel shaft broke on Lap 192. Unser powered past for his first “500” victory.

Later that year, Bobby won the first of his two USAC National Championships, ending the season with five victories and besting Mario Andretti. He earned his second National Championship in 1974.

Bobby won Indy a second time in 1975 driving the No. 48 Jorgensen Eagle for Gurney’s team. He won this third Indy 50 while driving for Roger Penske in 1981... The only driver to win the 500 in three different decades!

Following his driving career, Unser called upon his vast racing experience to become a popular broadcaster on both radio and television. Paired with Sam Posey,

they provided the most entertaining commentary in Indy Car television history. Bobby offered mostly contrasting views and often clashed with Sam. Their sparring became legendary.

Bobby was part of the ABC Sports broadcast team that won an Emmy Award for “Outstanding Live Sports Special” for its coverage of the 1989 Indianapolis 500.

Unser was a world-renowned driver, racing and winning at tracks around the world. He never forgot the inspiration of the generation that preceded him.

Bobby knew what he wanted and worked hard to get it. He had a competitive nature, but was also willing to share advice and encouragement to fellow competitors.

Always ready to sign an autograph or pose with a fan for a picture, “Uncle Bobby” was the very best ambassador for IMS, the Indianapolis 500 and racing in general. And did I mention that he was never, ever short on colorful stories... most of which were true! I am honored to have known him and his wife Lisa, as a fan and as a friend…

There will never be another one like him!

1964 USRRC Meadowdale Drivers Race

by Mike Martin

USRRC (The United States Road Racing Championship) was an amazing era that put an end to one epoch and played midwife to the next.

For six years, from 1963 to 1968, the then-revolutionary professional SCCA series provided excellent racing and wonderful memories.

USRRC's second season ran ten races from March 1 to September 13 of 1964.

The Meadowdale race took place August 8 - 9, 1964.

The entry for the Meadowdale Drivers race had twice as many over two-liter cars as the Greenwood race.

Jim Hall and Roger Penske were on hand with the Chaparrals. Ed Leslie was driving the Shelby CooperFord and Gary Wilson brought his Chaparral 1. Dr. Dick Thompson was debuting Bob McKee’s new Chevette (McKee Mk 1). George Wintersteen and Skip Hudson each had Cooper-Chevrolets and Roy Kumnick entered his Ford powered Cooper. Bobby Unser was entered in the Arciero Lotus 19, Don Skogmo in a Genie and a couple of Ford powered Maseratis. There were six Elva-Porsches in the under two-liter class, driven by Bill Wuesthoff, Charlie Hayes, Joe Buzzetta, Mike Hall, Bob Markley and Ralph Treischmann. Peter Goetz was entered in an Elva-Ford. Tom Terrell, Al Unser and Mike Goth were racing in Lotus 23s. Herb Swan was entered in a Porsche RS-61 and Doc Wyllie had his Lola Mk 1.

The highlight of qualifying was the duel between Jim Hall’s Chaparral and Ed Leslie in the Shelby Cooper-

Pace lap with Ed Leslie on the pole next to Jim Hall Bobby Unser and George Wintersteen make up row 2, followed by Al Unser and Charlie Hayes

Ford. Augie Pabst in a Scarab had set the previous lap record at 2:04.8. Hall and Leslie swapped the lap record many times before Leslie sealed the pole position with a time of 1:58.4. Hall’s time of 1:59.6 put him on the front row of the grid next to Leslie. Roger Penske started from the last row of the grid because he did not arrive until Sunday morning. Jim Hall had qualified Penske’s car with the third quickest qualifying time at 2:00.8, but it was not an allowed time for Penske. Also starting from the rear of the grid were Dick Thompson in the McKee Chevette, Skip Hudson in the Nickey Cooper-Chevrolet that had been rebuilt after the Pacific Raceways debacle and Ken Miles in the Cobra roadster he had used to win the earlier Manufacturers race.

Meadowdale was the race debut for Bob McKee's new Chevette. Dick Thompson drove it to second.

Ed Leslie grabbed the lead when the race started while Bobby Unser got second place, Jim Hall third and George Wintersteen was fourth in his Cooper. In the under two-liter class Joe Buzzetta took the lead when Charlie Hayes had his Elva-Porsche expire on the parade lap. From the back two rows, Penske, Hudson, Thompson and Miles all used the long main straight to pass at least ten cars before the first turn. Penske was in seventh place at the end of the first lap. After two laps, Penske was fourth, behind Leslie, Unser and Hall. Penske took the lead on the third lap. It took eight laps for Ed Leslie to retake the lead and for Hall to regain second place. Then, one lap later the suspension broke on Leslie’s King Cobra.

Joe Buzzetta was leading the under two-liter class ahead of Bob Markley. Markley held second place until lap forty-two. His car suffered a broken suspension, went up an embankment and into retirement. Tom Terrell inherited second place upon Markley’s demise,

but this lasted just a few laps before his engine expired.

Ralph Treischmann was next to hold second place in the under two-liter class ahead of Herb Swan. Bill Wuesthoff qualified close to Buzzetta, but suffered a bent wheel and had to pit early to have it changed. With the wheel fixed, Bill set out to tear through the field.

After Ed Leslie had retired, Jim Hall was leading the race from Penske, Unser, Wintersteen and Dick Thompson. On lap twenty-five Bobby Unser hit the guardrail on the Monza wall and almost collected George Wintersteen on his way down the banking.

George was able to avoid Unser and continued in third place. In the meantime, Thompson was edging up on Wintersteen.

The rest of the race was led by Hall, who won by forty-three seconds from teammate, Roger Penske.

Dick Thompson brought the McKee Chevette home in third place, ahead of Wintersteen and Ken Miles.

Joe Buzzetta won the under two-liter class with a sixth place finish. Bill Wuesthoff passed Ralph Treischmann a couple of laps before the finish to take seventh place.

On the third lap, Roger Penske had worked his way from the back of the pack to take the lead. Following are Bobby Unser, Jim Hall, Ed Leslie and George Wintersteen.

With this win, Jim Hall clinched the Drivers Championship. He had a total of 48 points. So the race was on for second place in the championship. Charlie Hayes was currently in second place with 27 points.

Dave MacDonald’s 24 points kept him in third place.

Roger Penske moved up to fourth place with 22 points and Bill Wuesthoff was fifth with 18 points.

Photos by John McCollister

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1964 USRRC Meadowdale Manufacturer's Race

by Mike Martin

The USRRC did not adhere to the earlier multi-class SCCA system. Instead, there was a Manufacturers Race and Championship for cars like the Cobra, Corvette and other GT cars over two liters, and a Drivers Race and Championship with two classes, again over and under two liters which consisted of out and out sports racers.

kept the pressure on Johnson. Near the end of the race Hansen fell back to fourth place, behind Payne. John Everly was the only retirement of the race, lasting just seventeen laps.

Trevor Taylor and Dave Clark in the Cortinas kept the crowd excited by making attempt after attempt trying to get by Stoddard. They would draw up beside him in the corners, but Stoddard was always able to power away from them coming out of the corners.

The race finished with Miles winning by a car length from Johnson. Tom Payne was third, Jerry Hansen was fourth and Ray Cuomo was fifth. Chuck Stoddard won the under two-liter class with a sixth place finish just ahead of Dave Clark. Trevor Taylor was eighth, a lap behind Stoddard and Clark. Pat Manning finished in ninth place eight laps behind the winner.

Ken Miles in the winning Shelby Cobra

There were ten entries for this race and seven of them were Cobras. Ken Miles and Bob Johnson were the Shelby team entries. Private entries consisted of Jerry Hansen, Tom Payne, John Everly, Ray Cuomo and Pat Manning. The under two-liter class included Chuck Stoddard in an Alfa Romeo TZ, plus Trevor Taylor and Dave Clark, in Team Lotus Cortinas.

Ken Miles was fastest in qualifying with a time of 2:05.2. When the race started, Miles took the lead with Johnson in second, Payne third and Hansen fourth.

Miles and Johnson looked like they were racing by taking turns with the lead during the first five laps.

Payne passed them both to lead the sixth lap. Jerry Hansen then passed all three of them to lead the next five laps. After that, Miles re-took the lead and held it.

Even though Johnson would pull even with Miles, he could not pull off a pass. For a while, Jerry Hansen also

Chuck Stoddard in the under two-liter class winning Alfa Romeo TZ

With the win at this race, the Shelby Cobra team clinched the Manufacturers championship with a maximum of 72 points. Porsche was in second place with 43 points. The Team Lotus Cortinas were third with 36 points and Alfa Romeo had 22 points, for fourth place in the championship.

Trevor Taylor in a Lotus Cortina leads class winner, Chuck Stoddard, in his Alfa TZ

Meadowdale articles reprinted with author's permission We thank Mike Martin for his contribution

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1 Only 24 Hours to the Checker... Derek Bell 2 Just Another Day at the Office... Justin Bell 3 No Regrets Tommy Kendall 4 The First Lady of Motorsports Linda Vaughn 5 The Captain Roger Penske 6 The Gas Man Tom Sneva 7 Winningest Corvette Racer Tony DeLorenzo 8 The Graceful Champion Bobby Rahal 9 Lone Star J.R. Johnny Rutherford 10 Passion to Win Lyn St. James 11 Once Is Never Enough Al Unser Jr. 12 Generations of Winning Al Unser & Al Unser Jr. 13 Fast Master David Hobbs 14 Full Throttle Janet Guthrie 15 A History of Winning Bobby Unser 16 Ronnie Ronnie Kaplan 17 Win on Sunday... Meadowdale’s 1968 TransAm: Tony

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Acknowledgments... We wish to thank the many friends of MiRPA who have contributed to our success. We gratefully acknowledge the individuals, companies and organizations who continue to honor us with their generous support... We could not do what we do without you!

Organizations... CAMBr • Chicagoland Sports Car Club • Chicago Region SCCA • Dundee Township • Dundee Township Park District • Elgin History Museum • Illinois Chapter NCRS • IOOF Century Lodge 492 • Kane County Forest Preserve • Midwest Council • Northern Kane County Chamber of Commerce • Sanfilippo Foundation • Streeterville Scramblers • Village of East Dundee Donors... Kay Alden-Nelson • Dale Anderson • Jim Anderson • Len Besinger • Larry Best • Blue Harbor Resort • Scott & Liz Bremner • Jay Busse • Linda Daro • Tim & Lucy DeLap • Tony DeLorenzo • Dave Gerber • Peter Gerling • Paul Holtz • Indianapolis Motor Speedway • Mike Jablo • Glen & Peggy Johnson • Lake Barrington Motorsports • Burt Levy • MCACN • Bob McKee • Mecum Auctions • Steve Merkle • Ron Nelson • Nickey Performance • Road America • Greg Rutzen • Tom Stephani • Superior Car Credit • Superior Self Storage • Lisa Unser • The Estate of Bobby Unser • Paul Van de Sand The Last Checker... Members in Memoriam Shawna Daro • Barbara Deja • Bob Deja • Jim Enger • Ross Fossbender • Dan Gurney • Frank Hartl • Harry Heuer • Ronnie Kaplan • Roy Kumnick • Vern Nelson • Ken Rochocki • Gretchen Stephani • Al Sutton • Al Unser • Bobby Unser • Gary Urbauer • John Weinberger • Gary Weis • John Young

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