Lloyd Ruby= dirt tracking an Indycar

[alwaysindy]

Gentlemen:
For your enjoyment…



#1659 - It seems kinda surprising that he tried that. “Hard Luck Lloyd” Ruby was fourth in 1968 National Championship points going into the September 2 race at Du Quoin. He showed up with the rear-engined Mongoose-Drake Gene White car. He had won both of the Milwaukee races in the car, but it just didn’t cut it on the dirt. He probably didn’t feel too badly, though. Other non-qualifiers included Bud Tingelstad, Larry Dickson, Rollie Beale, Wally Dallenbach, Greg Weld, and Bobby Grim. From THAT MAGIC MILE: The National Championship at Du Quoin 1948-1970, by Thomas Nasti (Southern Illinoisan Photo)

Tim

[indycals]

When I worked at Artemis Images we had possession of a private archive and there were some incredible hi-res shots of this. Unfortunately that archive fell into private hands and is not being utilized.

[oldphotos]

Lloyd may have a trick up his sleeve. If he had Qualitied. he might have been the surprise of the race. As I have been going to Du Quoin since 1949 (as a Young child ) Du Quoin almost always get very hard and slick almost like Pavement and he may have done pretty well in the race. I all the year I have been there was only one race that they could ride the High cushion all race. The Track was keep in shape more for the trotting horses that the Race cars.
When the cars got the track. it was the Midgets for 100 miles or Sprint cars, Sun. was a 100 mile USAC Stock Cars. and Mon. Labor Day was 100 mile race for the Champ Cars' so you can see why the track was always slick during the Champ Car race. But I Loved
it!
There was another rear engine car tried once and a couple of Roadsters.

Great Photo

Walt
Oldphotos

[SteveG]

Very cool photo. Maybe some knobby tires would have helped.