THE COLVIN YEARS AT TULSA
|
| These cars are not lined up for the "A" feature. They are models built by local race fans |
|
| The above photos give you the impression that the Tulsa track came to a point at the finish line....................Not true.
The pictures were made while the clay track was being packed and that is why the cars are going to the right.
The second photo was made by Danley as his friend, Lewis Jarrett, piloted the aircraft over area tracks with Oklahoma City track next on their flight plan. As you may have noticed in the photo, the skys were getting dark in the southwest and the idea of flying to OKC was not a good idea so they were content with Tulsa, Mushogee and Dewey, Oklahoma
This picture of the Tulsa track was made in 1965 for the Danley Clow Pictorial. This was Dick Colvin's fourth year as promoter of the Tulsa Fairgrounds track.
|
The photo on the left is an interior shot of Dick Colvin's office on the Tulsa Fairgrounds. This became the office of Ervin Wolfe when Ervin bought the track from Colvin.
This building was orginally placed on the fairgroungs by Hughes Tool and was used during the IPE show. Better known to Tulsans as the "Oil Show"
Danley's desk was just inside the front door. On the courter behind Danley's desk was many things which were important to Dick Colvin, one of which was the knife his dad used to carve the train used in "The Greatest Show on Earth"
Colvin was purchaseing agent for a large oil company at their research center located at 41st and Yale, in Tulsa.
|
Upper left photo is of the exterior of the Tulsa Speedway office on the fairgrounds during the 60's.
On the right is Dick Colvin preparing to perform with the clowns at a Circus which he brought to town. A little known fact was that Colvin had another corporation which he had setup to bring artists and other attractions into Tulsa. When he signed up to bring a circus into town the clowns learned that he had left school at a young age to join the circus. They invited Colvin to join them for their act one night. He showed up early to put on the makeup and was followed by Danley who covered the nights activities as if he was a member of the group. The real show is in the ring as the clowns are pulling tricks on each other that is not part of the show. You have to be in the ring to see what they are pulling on one another. The act was for the clowns to build a house. Boards were flying every way and the paint was soap water with cake coloring. Colvin said, "You can hardly see with all that soap in your eyes"
Danley had a 11X14 photo colored to give to Dick so he could remember the great time he had going back to the circus days.
Dick had gone to night school and then he got his degree taking college classes at night.
|
|
|
