Charlie Swartz Mid Engine Wedge

[Crash 4]

https://www.racingjunk.com/Vintage/1...0&np_offset=10

Still on RacingJunk

[EvelB7]

As it said earlier, they ran the car in a couple of 'Big 10' races in Concord, that is where the pic was taken. Paved tri-oval now that hardly runs anymore.

[gorj]

As it said earlier, they ran the car in a couple of 'Big 10' races in Concord, that is where the pic was taken. Paved tri-oval now that hardly runs anymore.

These wedge cars were awesome. I saw Charlies's mid-engine car run at Henry Furr's
Concord Motor Speedway. He passed away 2 years ago. The Big Ten races were great.

[Clayton_Wetter]

Thanks for setting the record straight, Clay. I humbly stand corrected. I'm working on memory now but I recently read that Charlie won 2 races in the wedge and I mistakenly took it for granted that the DTWC at Pennsboro was one of them. I know that Charlie and Ray Callahan collaborated on the design and construction of the car and IIRC they built it to win the DTWC. The way the legend goes is that Ray and Charlie built the original wedge in Charlie's shop under very tight security. There was too much activity at Ray's shop in Springfield, Illinois to allow for much secrecy.

For those that don't follow the midgets, or more specifically, Keith Kunz and his older brother Rusty, they both learned the basics of race car design and construction from Ray Callahan. I believe KKM produced midget chassis known as Bullet Chassis somewhat in honor of Ray who's DLM chassis were known as Bullit.

He also ran that car at the Springfield mile. NTR also.

[intel8]

I do believe this car has been restored and is owned by I 94 Speedway promoter in Minnesota. This was posted a while back on Facebook, I will try and find the info.

[CIRF]

He also ran that car at the Springfield mile. NTR also.

Yep, I mentioned that in post #13.

[Raceready]

I remember the stock make of the production car that it was supposed to represent was a Pontiac Feiro since it was a mid engine design.

[wallis127]

Here it is...

[Raceready]

Charlie liked driving it because he said he felt like he was able to dive in a little deeper and get a little bit closer on the car in front of him.

[Southern Ohio Racer]

I got to talk with Charlie about the mid-engine car, back when he was trying to run it. He said it was super fast on a wet, heavy track. When the track dried out it would start to push really bad.
It was called a Pontiac Fiero, due to the mid-engine design.
Charlie always pushed the envelope with his cars, so him trying the idea fitted right in.

[RRRKKK]

I remember him saying that it took some time to get used to the steering. He sat so far forward the geometry
was different.

[MasterSbilt_Racer]

I got to talk with Charlie about the mid-engine car, back when he was trying to run it. He said it was super fast on a wet, heavy track. When the track dried out it would start to push really bad.
It was called a Pontiac Fiero, due to the mid-engine design.
Charlie always pushed the envelope with his cars, so him trying the idea fitted right in.

The Fiero debuted in 1983.

[Crashmagnet]

As a child, I remember Charlie telling my Dad that the car was always awesome,...... til the driveshaft flew out. Memory serves that was its Achilles heel while it and the other one that Loy Allen drove. (Which I think JW had originally bought for Jimmy (Hunt)) was allowed to run.

[Clayton_Wetter]

Speaking of Charlie and drive shaft trouble. I saw Charlie stand a car on it's nose when the driveshaft dropped from the front and dug in at Paragon Speedway in Indiana back around 1980. It was really a wild ride he took. Believe it might have been the first Ronnie Johnson Rayburn car, a red number 5.