We lost Phil Orr around a year ago… one of the top guys here in Central FL for a buncha years… His daughter Marilyn was here last week with loads of old photos and clippings… Will share a few…
This photo taken at either Orlando Raceway or Sunbrock Speedway in 1956 (L-R) Emil Reutimann, Phil Orr, Bunny Joslin, George “Crash” Tidd, Dave McInnis and Bobby Dawson… Of the five drivers, only Dawson is still alive but not doing too well from what Marilyn says…
Phil with the Gary’s Duck Inn Special at Orlando… Probably 1957-58…
Phil with a Sportsman win at Sunbrock in June of 1956…
Phil with the LM he drove around 1964… One of his worst moments took place with this car… The throttle stuck going into turn one at Eau Gallie and he flew into the pit area and hit a trailer several people were standing on… I was there that night… I think 2 or 3 of them had to go to the hospital and the whole thing shook Phil up pretty bad…
One of only 3 drivers that I’ve seen race, that also raced on the beach at Daytona. Dutch Hoag and Frankie Schneider are the others. Also met Bill Wimble and Jack Choquette, who also ran the beach, but never seen them race.
PS - Dave… any way of finding complete finishing orders from the Modified-Sportsman beach races? My book has a few years worth, but missing several years I believe.
Thanks for the tip Dave. After just a little browsing, I was able to add some cool names to who I have seen race: Wendell Scott, Buck Baker, Hooker Hood, Freddie Fryar, Whip Mulligan, and Herbie Tillman. Also saw famous LM car owner, Marty Handshaw in there with his trademark 237.
Late 60s at Orlando in the Brevard Machine Special
Mid-Late 50s at Orlando in the King Motors car
Phil raced this car from around 1965-67[/QUOTE]
Appreciate you giving this board some life. While you are looking through the archives you might look for a picture of Stan Kross from the 1954 beach race he finished 10th. There is an old wire service photo showing the back of his car exiting the north turn back on to A1A. I wonder how many federal highways have served as part of a racetrack . Big Bill had pull from early on.
