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Vallejo Hardtops

Ken Gandy

A little collection of photos I have gathered over the years.  Ken was my brother's brother-in-law, but I was too young to get to know Ken well, but I do remember some about him.

Bob

Ken loved racing and did well.  He was never a points champion, but he was a champion in many eyes, especially his loving wife and kids.  Unfortunately he lost his wife and one of his teen daughters to cancer within the same year.  He continued his racing, but after the 1967 season I don't know much since I left the racing scene for the military.  I did attend an indoor midget race Ken ran, I believe in the very early '70s.  I also heard he was hurt bad one time when another midget flipped and landed in Ken's lap breaking many ribs, collar bone and maybe an arm or both.  Didn't stop him, just put him on idle for awhile.
I remember riding with Ken one time in his 1959 Chevrolet Impala, you know, the ones with the big fins.  He must have thought it was an F15 fighter jet or something as we broke three track records and won two main events when just going to the store or wherever we went.  We were basically out of control but under complete control, sort of like being at Vallejo Speedway.  Oh, I'm exaggerating a little as he was a good driver both on the road as well as at the track.  Those fins were huge tho!
I also remember building and painting a model of Ken's #72 car in the driveway along side of Ken and my brother Bill as they painted the real car.  I used the same paint they used on the hardtop, thus, the 1953 Studebaker Lavender mini model pictured here.
His love for racing landed him a ride in an Indy car just months before his passing.  He got to ride in a two-seater a few laps around Indy.  I guess he was in seventh heaven even though they didn't go fast enough for him.  He also got to walk a lap around the famed Eldora Speedway. Near the end of the walk, he hit his fist on the wall, took off running and when his daughter asked what did he do that for, he said "now I can go home and tell everyone I ran Eldora and hit the wall!"


1960, #94, Ken's first year. I believe the car was blue. #11 is Gil Richardson and 74 Chet Strock.
Ken with his 1961 or 1962 #72.
1962, #72
1962, Ken's first Studebaker Lavender color scheme.
Mini of Ken's 1961, 62 car #72.
1964, #10 Ted Gratriex, #19 Gandy, #2 Dave Logan, a workmate of Ken's at PG&E.
Ken poses with his nephew, Bill Manzer's son, Terry.
One mean muddin machine.
1964, I remember this as either a trophy dash or "grudge" race with Julian Castro
1964, Ken leading Rich Govan, but both trying to avoid a spinning car.
1965, "fliptop" Ken Gandy punishing that three window coupe again. Looks like a beat up Rich Govan and Gil Richardson trying to avoid. Larry Damitz wasn't so lucky.
Ken up and over again. So much so, he gained the nickname "fliptop". Here he clears Jack Thompson.
Used up three window in 1965
The new body in late 1965. That's Lear Minehart on the right..
1966
Ken on the pole with Jim Perry on the outside, Leroy Geving third and Steve Mentch.
1966
1966
1966 Ken was sponsored by his brother-in-law.
1967 Ken behind Fred Turner #40, awaiting qualifications
Ken lined up in front of Jim Kaiser awaiting to qualify.
Ken qualifying in the fast #7. The 7 car was coincidentally the seventh year Ken painted his car the Studebaker Lavender.
1967 with Gil Richardson in the #12
1967, Gandy drove a super for somebody a few times. That's him in front of #43
1968, Ken in front of Lear Minehart
Gandy's 1968 ride, a car Phil Pedlar drove to the points championship the year before.
A well used, but fast ex Phil Pedlar ride. Ken drove it to another 4th place finish in the points.
This appears to be 1969. If so, the 38 driver is Lonnie Kaiser. #20 is Roland Lokmor and that's Ken in the 4.
Ken Gandy...Anthony Mccown pic
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