Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Albert Massaro and his "Popcorn Special".....1962

Here is Albert Massaro in his famed "Popcorn Special" with his pit crew standing on the sissy bar behind(no sissy here)....Malcolm MacAuley standing on the left built this car for Albert, and Albert of course is one of the Massaro brothers talked about many times in this blog.  These photos were taken in 1962....slowly edging towards the end of racing at the CLE track.  
By this time many of the Stock Car Jockeys were making cut up vehicles called modifieds and later more sophisticated cars called super modifieds, and then eventually sprint cars.  The "Popcorn Special" was no exception, as it kind of resembled a popcorn box.
Below is Albert himself in his little modified....they used to call him "Little Al".  He was little but sure packed a punch at the old CLE racetrack.


The coloured picture from a fan's view inside the grandstand shows Albert in his little Popcorn Special along with an American Driver, Dick Wilhelm, #10, Don Marsh, and Norm Hogan bringing up the rear...the other two photos here are of the same car taken during the 1962 racing summer.  Another post about the Massaro brothers can be seen on this blog at this link....click to read the story then come back. http://hotrodsandjalopies.blogspot.com/2010/04/massaro-brothersmasters-of-mischief-and.html  ....also be sure to click on all photos to enlarge them.


The last two pictures here are taken during the winter following the  above ones at the 1963 Fort William Winter Carnival.  The #63 on the car depicts the year of the winter carnival, not the famed 88 that Al drove for many years.  The CLE(Canadian Lakehead Exhibition) sign can be seen in the last photo above Albert's car.
Sorry for not posting in the last while.....I'm not in town and have to access these photos from home on my laptop....quite a tedious thing....will be home soon and will get back at it.....Many more photos to come.
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Thanks for the anonymous donation of these photos.