Midgets & Big Cars in the San Francisco Bay Area: 1945-1951

The chance gift of a small magazine archive to the Society of Automotive Historians (SAH) led Jon Summers to research midget and sprint car racing during the immediate postwar period around his adopted home of the San Francisco Bay Area. This grassroots history charts the rise of great names in racing, such as Kurtis and Vukovich, yet was over in under a decade. Less than a century later no trace of the tracks remain. Summers’ presentation offers a glimpse into this already-lost world.

This episode is part of our HISTORY OF MOTORSPORTS SERIES and is sponsored in part by: The International Motor Racing Research Center (IMRRC), The Society of Automotive Historians (SAH), The Watkins Glen Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Argetsinger Family - and was recorded in front of a live studio audience.

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00:00 Introduction and Sponsors

00:16 Overview of Midget and Big Car Racing

00:26 Jonathan Summers' Background

00:34 The Lapuchette Archive Discovery

01:13 Insights from the Archive

03:11 Evolution of Racing in the Bay Area

03:43 Key Figures and Literature

04:05 The Big Wheel and Cultural Impact

04:33 Museum Visit and Car Evolution

05:29 Racing Culture and Safety

05:56 The Rise and Fall of Midget Racing

06:59 The Changing Landscape of Racing

08:56 The Thrills and Spills of Racing

10:15 Detailed Documentation and Analysis

12:11 The Pyramid of Racing

13:09 Speed Magazine and Fan Engagement

15:27 Conclusion and Reflections

17:59 Q&A Session

19:22 Closing Remarks and Credits