That was awesome. I remember in 76 that JP had Finley's car going real well during the race. Johnny was flying in that eagle hybrid. Then somebody on pit crew forgot to lock one of the wheels on a pit stop and off it came on the track. Somehow or someway Parsons fought back to a 12th but recall that race only went 102 laps.
Robin Miller you should do one about tough guy Rick Ferkel. Former Marine who knew nothing about racing but wanted to give it a try. Legend has it, he built his first sprint car from a old swing set in his back yard. Took it to Eldora where the whole frontend basically fell off. Fixed it, came back out and finished the race. He went on to have a great career.
Thanks for the vid on Finley. Qualifying a garage built car in 1974 was a big deal, plenty of deep pockets had shown up to the brickyard by then. I would like to hear more about some of the mechanics and their talents. Many got swept under the rug while the drivers collect the glory.
Great story Robin - Not sure if my last name rings a bell for you or not but my parents are Hoyt and Della Brewer. I remember when I was a little boy my dad taking me to Finley's garage in Speedway and I would watch them work on the cars.. Mostly sprint cars from my memory. I also remember a fella named Jerry Cox. He and my parents lived next door to each other. Well, Finley, Jerry and my dad Hoyt would wrench on a spint car at Jerry's house near mars hill. Once they thought they had it right they would push it out into the street. My dad (Hoyt) and I would get in the old pick up and we would push start the sprint car down Foltz for a "hot lap" per say.. Every time we would hit the sprint car to start it I would crack my head on the rear class of that old pickup.. #memories..
So I looked up was ed Finley IndyCar, and this video turned up. Ed finley was my grand father. He raced indy and sprint. I am told he stopped racing in indy in 1980. I am looking information about my grand father so I don't see him very much and my father has told me some about when Ed brought him to the races. Idk who Bill Finley is.
