Letters
Ralph Mulford
From: Fred H. Stout
Sent: 5/7/2011
When I read Ted West's article on the Marmon Wasp (VM 11.3 May/June, pg. 30) and he mentioned Ralph Mulford, I thought that he had overlooked an interesting bit about Mulford's finish in that race. Oops, I was wrong, it was the 1912 version of the Indy 500 that I was thinking of.
in 1912, Mulford was driving a Knox that had had some severe mechanical problems. Mulford reentered the race after a half hour pitstop, very far in arrears. However, 500 miles of racing in those days was a very great distance and a very difficult feat. At the end, only 10 cars were running, Mulford being the last. He pulled off the track and asked if he was going to get the 10th place award monies.
No, he had to complete all 200 laps. Okay, says he and immediately softened the shock absorbers and reduced tire pressure, then resumed the event at a quite leasurely pace of 40 miles per hour. A bit later, he returned to his pit and had a chicken dinner. After driving around a bit more, he returned and had a drink. Finally, to the exasperation of the officials, he crossed the line in the late evening to collect his $1200 reward.
The rule was changed for all subsequent years.
Remembering Tony Roth
From: Greg Prehodka
Sent: 4/1/2011
With Tony (David Anthony) Roth's passing in October 2010, in addition to a great person, we also lost a part of MG vintage racing history. To some degree what MG vintage racing is today - both on the track and in spirit - was influenced by him.
Tony was Mr. MG in so many ways. He was about having fun, enjoying MGs and making it fun for everyone. His MG spirit was unmatched, and back then it helped me set my own MG course for the future, including the founding of the MG Vintage Racers Newsletter in 1981, which Tony helped me start.
I believe he was a founding member of the Southeast Vintage Racing Association (Later to become Sportscar Vintage Racing Association). Ford Heacock (who ran SVRA back then) assigned Tony as the MG race chairman for SVRAs all MG Safety Fast Championship race at Road Atlanta, Georgia, which began in 1981, and repeated for several more years. In his letter to potential MG entrants for that first MG race, he wrote, The main interest will be to participate and have fun, regardless if you have a Special MG Racer or just want to have fun in your street machine. And that's the way he made it for the 20 MGs which showed up.
Never one to pass up on a fun opportunity, his well-known No. 48 TD had an Old Milwaukee Beer sticker on it for awhile. Why? Because Old Milwaukee gave him free beer, which he shared with his MG buddies! Not only did he make MG racing fun, but he was also very active in the Classic MG Club of Florida with their activities, and he was the editor of the newsletter, The Octagon. His nick-name was The Mouth of the South.
Making activities fun for others - not winning trophies - was winning in his eyes!
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