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Vallejo Hardtops

Lear Minehart

Born March 19, 1941 in, of all places, Vallejo California. For a period of three years lived in Pleasant Hill and attended Oak Park Elementary and Pleasant Hill Intermediate schools, but was basically raised in Oakland & graduated Oakland High (Raiders fan). Came through the ranks with the hardtops and eventually did some super modified racing. A short but memorial career.

Featured Drivers
All Roads Lead To Vallejo
 
My efforts at a race track started in 1962.  An A. M. A. Sportsman class flat track rider in Richmond, California.
In 1963 I connected with Ken Gandy and Dave Logan.  The three of us worked for the same employer.  I started pitting for Gandy in 1964 and became hooked.  In 1964/65, Dave Logan, Ken Gandy, Jerry Gandy and myself ran two Destruction Derby’s.  The first year we could only field three cars, so a wrecker in Concord actually rented us a “51” Olds for $15.00.  The next day we had to return it!!
Pitting for Gandy was pivotal in my abilities at both car building and driving.
In 1968 I fielded my own car, #74, which I progressively improved over the next two years of 1969 & 1970.  Engine, carburetion, Championship rear end, etc. The car was totally independent of the body. The shot you have is missing the firewall. The firewall was made of sheet metal, pop riveted to a framework that was welded to the roll cage. The floorboards were also sheet metal, tack welded to the chassis "x" member.
The body was a totally gutted, doors and trunk lid all welded together. 4 guys and 6 bolts later the body was lifted up and walked backwards onto the chassis.
I was scheduled to show case the car @ intermission, (less) the body the week we struck the track. We didn't make it to intermission!
Lear Minehart, unknown pit man & Ken Gandy with Gandys car, 1965
Ken Gandy, Jerry Gandy, Dave Logan and Lear Minehart team two destruction derbys at Vallejo, 1966
1968 Bare bones ala Manzer
1968 Bare bones ala Manzer
1968 before 1st race
Minehart's 1st qualifying lap.
1st heat race 1968
Fresh from paint booth, 1968
1st race painted
Minehart and unknown racer, 1968
Minehart, Merlin Kentopp, & unknown outside
...and back to shop.
1969 & 1970 Lear car
12 barrel shooter, six twos!
Forgive and forget, but first get even
Minehart, backshoot, 1970
Areta Ellis, Powder Puff Champ 1970
Post Powder Puff, 1970 Minehart, Geving, Areta & Earl Ellis
Stevens & Minehart, 1970
Stevens, Quinn & Minehart, 1970
In 1969, Areta Ellis, wife of the owner/driver Earl Ellis, drove my car in that year’s Powder Puff.  She won, hands down, by almost a lap!
In 1971, I brought out the #50 car.  It was way ahead of the curve and took a couple of weeks to dial in, but it was worth this effort.  The rule committee wasn't sure that all of the changes were legal.  We passed.
In 1971, with SF 49ers Alvin Randolf driving, we won the Raiders/49ers race off and became the over all champ in the #50 car.
I contract drove for Steven Nuss in 1971, in a Perry built car.  Several weeks later, I went back to my #50 car and promptly lost the engine.
Ken Gandy, was now driving the Mahoney Sprinter in place of the late Dave Logan.  Ken owned the Florke built #4 car.  He let me drive it for about 3 weeks so I could stay in the points hunt while I rebuilt my engine.

1971 first point show.
1971, #50, an updated version and a whole lot faster.
Cunningham & Minehart, 1971
Champion Gene Dudley has his way with Lear.
Kenny Travels, 1971, maybe Lear scooting underneath.
Lear after door stuffing.
Left to Right, Minehart, Dudley, Dave Ellis, Lonny Kaiser 1971
Minehart & O'gara, 1971
Minehart & Quinn, racing for the win, 1971
Minehart, heat race winner, 1971, car 2, John Viel, 37 chevy 4 springer
Florke car, owned by Ken Gandy, driven by Lear 4 times while his #50 had blown engine.
Oh, CRAP! Minehart, Omo, Cunningham
Article about the SF/Oakland football teams race-off.
Raiders & 49ers race competitors 3rd from right, Alvin Randolf, Champion car 50, 2nd from right owner Minehart
Omo & Minehart 1971
Turn 2, Minehart & McCallum 1971
Lear running clean, last race 1971
Late in the 71 season, I was part of the group that boycotted the track, I.e. George Acree.  That was the end of my Vallejo career.
Shortly after I changed employers and moved to S. Lake Tahoe, CA.
In 1973/74 I connected with an owner at Carson City Nevada Asphalt, a ¼ mile speedway.  I drove for him for 2 years in a super modified with limited carburetor  requirements.  We also campaigned the car at Hangtown Speedway, Placerville, California ¼ mile dirt. We were never in the points hunt, but, did moderately well financially.
At the end of the 1974 season the owner sold the car.  I lost the ride.
Of all of the tracks I've been to or on, as a pitman or driver, nothing comes close to Vallejo Speedway.
The Vallejo group is a finite group of B.A.R.A members, fans and officials . I consider myself to be very fortunate to belong.
I was in the North Bay in 1983 and I had to go look.  I was stunned.  The track was still there, it was in a state of disrepair and littered with debris.  I actually drove the track, dodging “stuff”.  I was driving a 1982 Toyota.  A Toyota did’t belong there, race cars only!  I had a good run, Thanks Vallejo!
 
Always Sideways,
Lear Minehart
 
P.S. Muffled cars suck!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks Lear, great stuff!
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