@OswegoSpeedway • OSWEGO, NY – At least two restored Watson Indy Roadsters, which competed at Oswego Speedway as Supermodifieds, are scheduled to appear at the ‘Steel Palace’ during Budweiser International Classic Weekend August 29-31.
The creations, owned by Bob McConnell and restored by Steve Miller, are scheduled to be displayed through all of Budweiser International Classic Weekend with Speedway track time currently being scheduled into the day’s activities on Sunday, August 31 prior to the running of the 58th annual International Classic 200.
One of the roadsters scheduled to appear is the Watson/Leader Card 500 Roadster driven by Len Sutton to a second place finish in the 1962 Indianapolis 500. The No. 7 Watson roadster was built in 1961 and driven by Johnny Boyd in the ’61 500.
In ’62, Sutton broke the one and four lap Indianapolis track record set by Jim Hurtubise in 1960 with an average of 149.328 mph and a final lap of 149.900 mph. Sutton started the 500 from inside the second row and led the event from laps 161-169 when he made his final pit stop. At the end of 500 miles, Sutton finished eleven seconds behind race winner Rodger Ward.
The No. 7 Leader Card 500 Roadster eventually ended up in the hands of Oswego Speedway track champion Kempton Dates, who campaigned the car at Oswego as a Supermodified from 1970-1972.
Dates is scheduled to appear at the Speedway during Classic Weekend to drive the car one more time on the ‘Steel Palace’ oval.
The other restored roadster scheduled to appear during Classic Weekend is the Watson/Kaiser Aluminum No. 1 roadster driven by Ward to a fourth place finish in the 1963 Indianapolis 500. After winning the 1962 national championship, this new roadster built for Ward in ’63 was re-numbered as the No. 1.
Following the ’63 500, the machine was casted down as a back-up mount in ’64, and was finally put out of commission in ’65 when the car was sold to Supermodified veteran Jack Conley. Conley turned around and sold the roadster again, ending up in the hands of Jack Greedy as the No. 01 Supermodified at Oswego.
Veteran Speedway fans’ best memory of this roadster at Oswego is likely its horrendous ride over the Speedway’s third run wall in a wild 1969 accident with Purdy Deuce driver Bentley Warren.
There is the potential of two more restored Indy Roadsters coming to Oswego for Classic Weekend, but for now plan on seeing these two beautifully restored machines at the Speedway August 29-31.
Individual seating is available for all three days of Budweiser International Classic Weekend, with three day ticket packages also available. Three day general admission seating is $105, with three day reserved seating set at $115, and three day pit passes for $125.
Kids 5 and under are free throughout all of Budweiser International Classic Weekend with three day child admission for kids 6-16 available for only $35.
Budweiser International Classic Weekend will kick-off on Friday, August 29 with Corr/Pak Merchandising ‘Fast Friday’ featuring Budweiser International Classic ‘Fast 14’ Novelis Supermodified time trials, Bud Light SBS Classic ‘Super 6’ Pathfinder Bank Small Block Super time trials, and the RoC Modified 100.
A full day of practice begins on Friday at 11:30 a.m. with Small Block Super ‘Super 6’ time trials hitting the Speedway at 6 p.m. followed immediately by Supermodified ‘Fast 14’ time trials at 6:30 p.m.
Classic Weekend’s Bud Light ‘Super Saturday’ will feature the final round of the ‘Steel Palace’ ISMA Super Series with the Bud Light ISMA Super Nationals, as well as the Bud Light SBS Classic 75, and the ATQMRA TQ Midget Classic.
Grandstands open at 3 p.m. on Saturday with qualifying getting underway at 5 p.m. Budweiser International ‘Classic Sunday’ will see grandstand gates open at 9:30 a.m. and second round Supermodified time trials take to the Speedway at noon. The 58th annual Budweiser International Classic 200 is expected to take the green flag at 3 p.m.
To purchase tickets for Budweiser International Classic Weekend and the 58th annual Budweiser International Classic 200, call the Speedway’s box office today at (315) 342-0646. The Speedway’s box office will be open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. each week day leading up to Classic Weekend for ticket sales.
For more information on Oswego Speedway visit online at www.oswegospeedway.com or LIKE on Facebook at www.facebook.com/OswegoSpeedway or FOLLOW on Twitter @OswegoSpeedway. Those interested in Speedway video programming online can subscribe to the Speedway’s YouTube Channel, ‘OswegoSpeedwayOnline’.
From Dan Kapuscinski / Oswego Speedway
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