Building one for the Driver

[Deleted]

Okay....I saw a post about some one building for Helio..

Has any one else, been lucky enough to build a model for a winning driver? I have and it's great! The first one was for Jim Rathmann...I build it, packed it up safely...I thought, and shipped it to him. I didn't hear anything for weeks. Then I got the box back in the mail and it was thrashed!!! I opened it up and saw the 1960 Ken-Paul Special in pieces...with a note....Gee Russ....I never crashed that badly...Jim Rathmann I laughed, rebuilt it and this time packed it better and sent it to Mr. Rathmann next day...FRAGILE. He sent me some nice pictures of him the day after the race. Rathmann has been very nice to me.

Also.....as a favor for Chris Etzel...I did one of his kits for Rodger Ward. When I gave it to him, he was very emotional....This was way before the Die-Cast Watson from Carousel. I was always glad I built that car for Rodger. The next one I did for me and he signed the bottom of it.

I have been lucky to build and restore models for Parnelli Jones....another really great guy! If you ever get the chance to build a model for a driver...DO IT!!!!!

Best to you

Russ

[racerbrown]

well i'm not lucky enough to do as russ did but i did build a few models for my dad before he passed away in 1998. he raced in the '50's and '60's as both norman brown (not the indy driver) and he also used the alias of johnny roscoe.
duane

[Deleted]

Duane~
Thanks for the pics of your dad's car. My late uncle drove cars much like your build during the late 40's - early 50's in northern Indiana. Whenever our family would visit, his race car was always in his garage, being repaired or torn down. His family car sat in his driveway, rain or shine!! Your post brought back a lot of great memories for me....Thanks
Tom T.

[lazierfan]

Russ,

I have found drivers really enjoy seeing models of the cars they drive. Plus it is a great way to get to know them as they usually like to talk about the models when they see them. Being a Huge Lazier fan and having him see the different ones I have built over the years we are now on a first name basis.
I have done a couple for Buddy . One of his 96 winner .One of the the IROC car he won in at Joliet and 1/18 conversions of his 500 Cars from this year and last. Also one for Sam Schmidt as well.
It is definately a great feeling. If you ever get a chance ...DO IT !!!

[indycals]

Haven't built one for any winners but I've done decal projects for others building for winners, including a couple of projects for the Captain himself.

[professor]

I try to have most of my models signed by the drivers, but I keep them. I did the Leyton House Tamiya and took it to the speedway to have Gueglemin sign it. One of the mechanics took it back in the garage and didn't return for 1/2 hour. I could see Mo holding it, turing it upside down, pointing to stuff etc.
When the mechanic brought it back he said that Guglemin was explaining details of the car to the other Indy mechanics. It is now in my display case signed on the bottom with a silver paint pen.

[herk56]

Never done one for an open wheel driver but I did build one for 1960 NASCAR Champ Rex White. I'm also doing one currently for the son of his late crew chief/partner.

Brian

[Deleted]

This is a 20 year old photo...This is what I meant....The 1960 Winner is now owned by Jim Ruthann, he was the first I built anything for. The Dean Van Lines roadster now sits on my fathers desk. I was going to part it out or rebuild it as another car and my Dad said he wanted it, so I gave it to him.

Both of these roadsters are build using the parts now available from DrDave......and yes, I had A.J. Watson sign the picture...HE started it all and I built one for him too. "The Head" is a great guy!!!

Best to you all!

Russ

[herk56]

Thanks, Ziggy! I had a lot of fun with it but I really hated to give it up! I'm especially proud of the interior, it really helps to be able to talk to someone that remembers all the details.







Now that's state-of-the-art safety (for 1958)!

Brian

[indy]

Wow, guys - these are some excellent models. It is great to be around such skill! ;D

Jordan

[Deleted]

Hey Herk56



Looks great! Love the safety features from 1958...Reminds me of the time at Indy I saw Parnelli standing by a Watson Roadster.....He smiled, shook his head and looked at me and said, "Makes me wonder what the hell we were doing back then."I asked him to take a spin in it..and he walked away saying...."No way!"

Best to you

Russ

[racerbrown]

great stories and great models! i remember brian's wip on randy's board of the rex white car. that's one to really be proud of!
my wife reminded me of another one that i had built for a car owner that my dad had raced with in the 50's named wilbur collins. it was a great feeling when i presented it to him & you could tell he was really happy to have it. he took it to a legends event in jacksonville, fl where he had it in a plastic display case on a table where he was signing autographs. well a black and yellow car in the plastic case under a full summer sun didn't work out to well and the thing really melted badly! when he told my dad about it he was practicly in tears! of course i was happy to replace it for him and after that it never left the house!
duane

[sandysixtysfan]

Russ, Brian, and Duane,
Great looking cars! The stock cars are really cool.
Sandy

[Stu Benford]

I haven't built any cars for a driver that he received anyway. I converted two Carousel 1 Watson Roadster's into Johnny Rutherford's 1963 Rookie car. One was supposed to be for Johnny Rutherford and the other for Bob Sowle his Cheif Mechanic. Bob received his and loves it very much. I have a picture of him holding the car and if I could figure out how to post pictures I would let you guys see it. Will work on that. Johnny Rutherford himself I was told was not the least bit interested in the replica. I guess he thought my contact was trying to sell him something? Anyway it was a misunstanding. I have built other replica's for team members though.

[mrindy77]

I have not built one for any Indy 500 winners but I have built 2 cars for Dan Gurney (McLaren M8D and a Maserati Birdcage).
He co drove the bidrcage with Stirling Moss...who I also built one for.