 |
|
|
    
|
|
|
|
|
National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame
Earl Gilmore
Inducted into
the Hall of fame in 1989
 |
Earl Gilmore, was inducted into the Midget Hall of Fame in
1989. He is considered “The Father of Midget Auto Racing” by
many, and all agree that he was the Tony Hulman of the sport.
The builder of Gilmore Stadium owned the Gilmore Oil
Company and sponsored race cars. He saw the potential for
advertising his company’s products through midget auto racing.
|
|
The company’s
colors were red and cream and its mascot was a lion.
Gilmore Stadium presented midget auto racing in Los
Angeles from 1934 to 1950 and featured the “Turkey Night Grand
Prix,” a tradition which remains to this day.
When the stadium was sold to CBS and dismantled, many
thought the event had died with it, but after a four-year
absence, another Midget Hall of Fame member, J.C. Agajanian,
revived the nation’s oldest midget racing event.
It was with Gilmore’s backing that Fred Offenhauser
developed the 97-cubic inch version of his famous racing
engine and placed it in a chassis built by Indy 500 builder,
Louis “Curly” Wetteroth. The engine dominated midget racing
for 40 years.
Earl Gilmore died on Feb. 26, 1964.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Copyright © 2003 | The National Midget
Auto Racing Hall of Fame | All Rights Reserved |
 |
|
|
|