The
featured Ford Riley Sprint Car was originally built by
Johnny Osbourne of Far Mills New Jersey in 1933. The car
was painted Blue and was car # 9.
It had a Miller-Schofield head on a Model "B" Block. Osbourne
ran the car for the first time with Syd Pershouse of Pluckemin
of New Jersey during the tail end of the 1933 season.
In 1934 Joe Osworth owned the car with Al Lattanzio hired
on as the driver. During a race at Woodbridge, NJ on September
30 the car broke a fuel line and caught fire. Lattanzio
was badly burned about the arms and legs and the car had
extensive damage.
Following
this incident, Joe Osworth did a complete rebuild, replacing
the Schofield with a Winfield Flathead. In 1934 Lattanzio
finished runner-up to Johnny Matera for the Garden State
Auto Racing Championship. Lattanzio
had 183 points while Matera had 201 points.
In 1935 the car again saw a new owner, Joe Barzda. Joe
assigned the car #32, and painted it Orange and Blue.
This time, drivers consisted of Johnny Matera, Walt Adler,
Mark
Light, and again Al Lattanzio.
June
30, 1935, Lebanon Fairgrounds, Mark Light. Earliest Photo
in our Archives. If you should have any photos of this
car prior to 1935, please E-mail
us.
In 1936 the #32 was now powered by a Four-Port Riley head
on a Ford "B" Block.
Also that year, driver Walt Adler won the Garden State
Auto Racing Association's Championship with 336 points.
Walt
Adler after winning 1936 Championship
The
following photographs were donated on Aug. 18, 2001 by
Paul Barzda Sr., brother of former owner Joe Barzda.
Please
click to enlarge.
Paul
Barzda in 2001 at the Latimore
Valley Convention.
In 1939 the car again changed hands, this time to Guy
Hastings of Essington, PA.
1940, A.A.A., Hastings Riley
In
1941 car #32 was painted Black.
In 1946 #32 was painted Silver and had a head rest for
the first time.
1946, Williams Grove, PA, Scotty Arrell
In 1947 the car was red in color and bore the #39.
1947, Reading, PA
On
July 4, 1949 at Alcyon Park, Pitman, NJ, with Pete McKeon
driving, #39 flipped on the back stretch and while the
car was upside down rammed into the guardrail. The top
rail (2 inches x 6 inches x 12 feet) was pushed through
the entire length of the car. It passed just underneath
Pete and in the melee was only slightly injured.
That
same year, on September 16, also at Alcyon Park, Pete
McKeon
ran through
the guardrail, down an embankment, through a cyclone fence,
then proceeded
to climb up a tree with the fence still covering the car.
Pete was again uninjured.
In
1950 #39 was Creme and Red colored as well as Dark Red.
In 1951 #39 changed back to blue.
In 1952 #39 was again red with Charlie Mussleman Driving.
1952, Delmar, Delaware, Charlie Musselman
(First race of 1952)
August
4, 1952, Indiana PA, Charlie Musselman driving with
Charles Jennings following.
Charles
Jennings
sent the above photo into us March 2007. Below is an excerpt
from his note:
"I drove NARA in 1952 with your Charlie Musselman.
I still have a picture of Charlie. I was just showing
my helmet in the dust behind Charlie, I think this was
in Indiana PA. 8/4/52. My last race in 1952 was in Marlington,
WVA. I was drafted the next week and ended in Pusan Korea.
I drove one race Aug. 1954 in Vineland NJ.
In
1953 Bob Brown (Williams) drove the car to second in points
(567) & Rookie of the Year honors in NARA. Bob Brown
was runner up to his brother Bill Brown (Williams) with
597 points for the championship.
November
21, 1953, Fourteenth Annual NARA Banquet, Bob Brown receiving
1 of 2 awards for Rookie of the Year. 1 trophy & 1
plaque.
July
5, 1953 Bob Brown, Guy Hastings Riley
Actual
plaque awarded to Bob Brown, (click to enlarge)
Note:
Mr. Bob Brown has generously donated the plaque he received
for Rookie of the Year in 1953 to Mr. Bill Watson, (restorer
& present owner of the car). This plague along with
additional photos donated by Mr. Brown will forever reside
with the car.
1953
National Auto Racing Association's
Thirteenth Annual Banquet program
Click
HERE
To View Page 1
Click HERE
To View Page 2
Click HERE
To View Page 3
Click HERE
To View Page 4
The
entire Watson family thanks Mr. Brown and countless others
who have contributed vast amounts of historical documents
& photos that have made this thorough presentation
possible.
Membership
card of Bob Brown (Williams) for the 1953 season for NARA
September
25, 1954, Gratz PA, Bob Brown (Williams)
October
2000, Hershey PA, AACA Car Show - from left to
right: Bill Watson, David Watson, Bob Brown, Brian Watson
In
1955 Ray Dowell drove the Red and Yellow #39.
Authentic 1955 National Auto Racing Association - Membership
Card
Actual 1955 National Auto Racing Association
registration for car # 39 - Owner: Guy Hastings, click
to enlarge
Authentic 1955 National Auto Racing Association - Pit
Pass
Sixteenth Annual Banquet, NARA, January 14, 1956
Authentic National Auto Racing Association - Decal
July 7, 1956, Lehighton, PA, Ira Robbins
1962,
Flemmington, NJ, Seated: Don Barron,
Left to Right: Unknown, Guy Hastings, Joe Ferrell
The
1933 Ford Riley Race Car was raced from 1933 to an amazing
1963, when it was finally retired.
|
Major
Tracks Visited:
|
|
Alcyon
Park, NJ
Allentown,
PA
Bedford,
PA
Crossbay,
L.I.
Flemmington,
NJ
Gratz,
PA
Hagerstown,
MD
Kutztown, PA
Langhorne,
PA
Lancaster, PA
|
Latimore
Valley, PA
Lebanon,
PA
Lehighton,
PA
Lincoln,
PA
Marlington, West VA
Manassis, VA
Sellings
Grove, PA
Troy
Mills, NJ
Williams
Grove, PA
Woodbridge,
NJ |
The car changed hands for the last time in 1970 when Bill
Watson became owner and the restoration began.
#32
1933 Ford Riley Sprint Car as it arrived for the first
time at the garage of Bill Watson.
This
very same trailer can be seen in this PHOTO
from 1940 and in our VIDEO
section cira 1961 pulling into Flemmington Speedway.
NOTE:
We are always looking for additional PHOTOS, MOVIES, STORIES
and GENERAL INFORMATION concerning this car. If you should
have any of the above, or know anyone who may, please
contact Brian Watson at brianwatson@watsonracingteam.com.
In particular, we are looking for any photos from the
car's first year, 1933.
Thank
You
Over
the years, many people have contributed vast amounts of
historical documents, photos and information to our family
that have made this thorough presentation possible. I
would like to take a moment and sincerely thank them for
all their help, with out them, this would not be possible.
Thank you!
