T.Q. Midget Race Car Pic's
(Plus Others)

Earl in his first T.Q. Midget (Three Quarter Midget) at a 4H Fair in DeWitt, Iowa. Has Crosley engine, Amal side draft carbs.  Car was a cross spring front and parallel rear suspension and was built from scratch at home by Earl in 1960. Nearly all cars of the time were built at home or various auto repair shops in the area. This is a "copy" of what was called a "Waterloo Car" and the original design was done by "Hook's Radiator Shop" located in Waterloo, Iowa in the late 50's. Several cars were built there in his shop.  This car was recently located and has been restored and is in the Minneapolis, MN area. 

Son Don warming up the car at Hawkeye Speedway, Blue Grass, IA.  Has Honda 750cb engine bored to 813cc built by Son Don.  Chassis is a BrandX  lightweight cross torsion bar suspension USAC full Midget built by Dave Ray, Davenport, IA in a shop in the garage behind his house in about 1978-79. The wing was added and the chasis was cut down in the engine compartment by 6-7 inches to make it T.Q. Legal in about 1982. This car is our 4th TQ and is still out in my garage sitting up on blocks. 


Earl resting on the trailer at Blugrass, IA track before track opening time.

This is the 3rd car built from scratch at home by Earl in 1968-69.  This picture was taken in 1969 right after it was finished.  It is a coil-over suspension with Honda Motorcycle coil-over shocks.  Engine is a Crosley with a side draft carb from a Fiat Spyder which never worked well.   This was a very good handling car on dry-slick dirt or asphalt tracks.  

Another shot of same car from left side.

Another shot of same car showing cockpit and engine compartment details.

Another shot of same car showing construction details.

Another shot of same car showing construction details.

Another shot of same car showing construction details.

Rear axle assembly showing construction details.

This is the 3rd TQ Midget again and this picture was taken in 1979 right after it was rebuilt and a Honda Motorcycle engine was installed.  Crosleys were obsolete by then.   Son Don is shown  waiting for warmups at a small track at a fair race in West Central IL in about 1980. 

On display at a "show" at the local Northpark Mall in about 1985 about 1/2 mile from the shop.

Lining up for a heat race on a 1/4 mile track at Rock Island County Fairgrounds. When we first started racing there back in 1960, it was a 1/5th mile asphalt.  

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