Wally Kindt by Linda Kindt

     Wally was born in Bordon, Saskatchewan, Canada in 1942.  He came to California in 1963 and met Dick Patrangelo.  He and Dick started building a hardtop race car.  Dick introduced Wally to Linda who became, as he would always say, his lovely wife. After finishing the hardtop, they entered the Vallejo Raceway and Wally began to race so well that he was one of the top ten racers. Ken Gandy was one of Wally's racing buddies and gave him the name of Wally "Gator", which has stuck with him all these years.  Wally and Linda had two children, Cara and Wendy and three grand-children, Erica, Marrisa and Kristin. Wally passed away in 2010 and is missed by all that knew him.

Thanks go out to Linda and her two daughters, Cara and Wendy for helping put this together. 
Also thanks to Mike Haney for his help gathering, sorting and scanning photos and info.
We hope all who sees Wally's page appreciates their efforts and thoroughly enjoys it all.

1964, first year out in the 38. 16 Ray Kelsay

There is always a learning curve and not just the two turns on the speedway, but mechanical as well.

Wally and the 29 Bill Pearson

38 Wally, 31 Ken Cooper. 23 Jerry Stockton, 36 Don Scott

Wally with the Dick Pertrangelo car their second year, 1965.

With 17 Jim Kaiser. Keep an eye on this 17 car. Nelson Snow bought and drove it in 1966.

46 is Ray Kelsay and Don Scott in the 31

88 is Jack Thompson and 31 is Don Scott.

Wally makes friends on the track too. Here he meets Steve Mentch.

Mentch sends Wally tumbling.

....and his bodyman will be busy.

Repaired and ready for battle.

Here Wally chases down Fred Turner or Cal Thacker who shared this car evidentially.

There is Thacker or Turner in the 40 and Larry Damitz trying to steer two cars at once.

Wally leading 30 Mick MacGregor and 87 Del Quinn, 21 Paul Granamen

Wally out dueling the defending champion car, ex Leroy Geving's ride, driven this year by Rich Govan.

Wally leading John Riley in the 5 and Pee Wee Waybright in the 11.

1966 saw Wally in the 18 and there is Gil Richardson in the 25.

Here we have Larry Damitz trying to steer two cars again. He is the defending champion and in the 80 car is Jim Perry and Paull Proctor in the 2.

Wally with crew members on his right or possibly his car owner Dick Pertrangelo or sponsor Jerry Fox.

1967 with 6 Larry Damitz who seems to be involved with alot of spinning with Wally now in the 77. Gene Dudley in the 19

Wally leading the 5 with possibly Ted Gratriex or Rod Zanolini.

Now Wally tries steering two cars.

Wally with possibly Pat Weindel his sponsor.

1967, Manzer pic

1968 Wally in the D&S Garage #8 drifting around defending champ Phil Pedlar.

1968, Manzer pic

1969 in the 17 car.

1970, Manzer pic

A few miscellaneous articles featuring Wally.

Wally's pay check from his first two nights at Vallejo.

Checks from 1965 and 1966

Wally "Gator" Kindt in 2009 still involved with what he loved, hardtop racing. Here he is helping build a hardtop for possibly a vintage group.