Editor’s Note: Like many readers, the recent 75th anniversary of midget racing brought back many memories for former driver and promoter Jack Calabrase. Jack shares his memories here.
PENTWATER, Mich.  — When I was a kid growing up on the south side of Chicago, my pop would take me to watch the midgets run in the Chicago area. I’m sure my father didn’t know at the time he was creating a love affair for the little nippers that would live with me all my life.
I started running midgets in the 1960s and met a lot of people, some were quite colorful, to say the least and some were not so colorful. One thing they all had in common was they loved the midgets and contributed to midget auto-racing’s history.
Here, I offer a few words about some of the people I’ve met along the way. Surely, I won’t remember all of them and maybe some of you might want to add a few of your own favorites that were racing in the 1960s.
Back then, Bob Stroud was The Man. He had a handful of regulars, plus many came in and out from regional locations from time to time to fill the field. They were the best in their region. Yet, the “points chasers” a.k.a. as, “regulars” were the best of the best. In comparison, NAMARS in the 1980s had about 10 or 12 regulars that traveled to 25 or 30 shows a season.
In the ’60s, at any given USAC race drivers like Mike McGreevy, Chuck Arnold, Tommy Copp, Dave Strickland, Don Meacham, Bob Mclean, Bobby Grim and Gene Force would be at the pit gate signing in. Add Mel Kenyon, Bob Wente and Bob Tattersall, throw in Ray Elliot, Don Vogler, Gary Byer, Rodger West, a Billy Renshaw or two, then a Jigger Sirois and WOW, what a line up.
Sort of made you feel a little queasy. Those guys could do it all  — and do it well. Making a main event with that bunch glaring at you wasn’t easy. Missing the main was par for the course.
My first car owner, O. B. Granger, owned a Ford V-8 60. Our first race was indoors at the Fort Wayne (Ind.) Coliseum. I started on the pole of the hooligan and finished fifth. Man, we thought we won the Indy 500. Later on, O.B. bought a Falcon engine and we hit the road, racing as many fair dates and regional tracks as time allowed.
Here are a few names from the past when I started that helped midget auto racing along the way:
• Rib Hare, an indoor specialist in Cliff Cornell’s black eight ball.
• George Kladis, Danny’s son, just like his dad, only not as good. But good.
• Dick Pole, damn good fabricator and driver.
• Bobby Lithgow, smoooooth. He loved hard slick tracks. His father was a nice guy.
• John Batts, excellent driver, good friend, but never let him drive without his glasses.
• Henry Pens, pavement specialist extraordinaire. Pens could thread the needle, but got eliminated by the ‘Hit Lady.’ (another story).
• Warren Schiebe, remember him? Pretty darn good driver. He could do it, too. Had funny looking glasses.
Some of the car owners I’ve driven for through the years have been great, and some have given me hemorrhoids. I’m sure I’ve given them a few right back.
We all loved midget auto racing and that’s all that counted.
Calabrase has “Left The Building.”