When racing legend Johnny Rutherford was about 10 years old, he greatly admired a bright yellow 1946 midget race car that was zipping around the racetrack in Tulsa, Okla. Today, that midget race car - which won many a race on tracks throughout the Southwest - sits in his shop.
How did the car get there? Well, it all started with the friendship of Rutherford's father with the owner and driver of the midget race car, Clarence Merritt of Tulsa. Merritt, one of the top racers in the '30s, '40s and '50s, gave it to Rutherford about 1975 or 1976.
Rutherford was on his way back to Fort Worth, Texas, when he stopped by Merritt's home in Tulsa. Merritt, whose health was failing at the time, asked Rutherford if he had a trailer hitch on his truck. Rutherford told him he did so Merritt took him to where the midget race car was. Although it had once been taken apart for storage, the little race car had been put back together for an auto show in Tulsa. When Rutherford saw it again, it was sitting on a trailer. "It's yours," Merritt told him. "I don't know of anyone I'd rather see have it."
One of the "hot cars of its time," back in the days when midget car racing was "really big," it's basically a Kurtis Kraft No. 7 Junior. It was built in Albuquerque, N.M., by Bill Stroud, one of the leading midget race car builders at that time. It has a Ford flat-head V-8, 60-cubic-inch engine, and its bright yellow paint is called "Coca-Cola yellow." It's called that because it was the same yellow that was used on Coca-Cola trucks in that era.
The little race car Rutherford admired so much as a youngster was missing its fuel tank and radiator when it was given to him. Somehow, when it was taken apart and stored, those parts were lost. It's still missing those parts, but it's kept spic and span, and Rutherford plans to restore it to running condition "one of these days" when he has time.
Although it was big in its day, the little car wouldn't be competitive today. "It's just a vintage car now," Rutherford said. But obviously, it still holds a fascination for Rutherford and a sentimental place in his heart.
Rutherford, one of America's most successful drivers, is a three-time Indy 500 winner.
In addition to his three Indianapolis wins in 1974, 1976 and 1980, are 27 total Indy car wins, placing him seventh on the all-time victory list. He won his first Indy car race in 1965, the Atlanta 250. In 1986, Rutherford made his final trip to the winner's circle when he became the oldest 500 mile race winner at 48, taking the Michigan 500.
Rutherford has retired from race car driving. Today, he makes speaking appearances, is special events director for the new Indy Racing League, and works as racing consultant for Pennzoil in Houston.
And like he said, when he gets time he's going to restore that midget race car he admired so much half a century ago.
The Texas Motor Speedway serves as the backdrop for our cover car. This "Coca-Cola yellow" Kurtis Kraft No. 7 Junior is owned by race legend Johnny Rutherford of Fort Worth, Texas. Rutherford is a three-time Indy 500 winner.
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AutoInc. Magazine ® Vol. XLVI, November 1998 (http://www.asashop.org)