Skeeter Wyman; Who in the heck is he?

I have a 1968 Mercury Cyclone short track stock car with a Galaxie front subframe and a bunch of Holman Moody suspension parts. It came from Chicago and was driven by a fellow named Skeeter Wyman. Marlin Heller (PA) bought the car from Wyman in the mid 1980s, but did not have any contact info for him. He did provide me with pictures that were given to him when he bought the car that show Wyman with the car at a midwestern track (possibly Rockford or another Chicago area track?). The car was raced first in bright green then dark blue (with #76) then later blue with #7 and possibly #54, I have posted photos in my album "Dave Rs Old Ford and Merc Stock Cars". Really would like to find more of the history on this old car and of Skeeter himself. A brief description is provided below each photo. I have somestill images taken from a TV documentary with some footage of a 62 Galaxie sliding out on an unknown dirt track with #42 and Skeeter Wyman as clear as day painted on the door.

I am still looking for more old photos and specific history of my ex Junie Donlavey/Sonny Hutchins/Al Tasnady 1964 Fairlane LMS car as well (#90). Pictures of that car are posted in the album too.

Thanks,

Dave.

updated by @dave-redman: 12/05/16 04:02:07PM

Dave, it almost sounds from the Galaxie front subframe that it was built in 1968 by Holman Moody for a major series such as Nascar, ARCA or USAC Stock Cars. Maybe from there it became a short track late model. What do you think?? Especially with all the H/M parts.Pete

Pete,Thanks for the reply. The way this car is built, it is definitely modeled after a HM car, but the fabrication work is a little too rough to be a HM car, and there are a few things left off that I would think all of the half frame HM cars had from the beginning (such as the interior cross brace across the floor from one rocker to the other). The car was reasonably well built, but it looks like whoever did it did not own a cutoff wheel or saw- this car was built with an arc welder, a gas welder and an oxyacetylene torch. This car was actually factory black GT 390 4 spd Cyclone GT street car that appears to have been wrecked while almost new (it still has the Ford VIN tag in the windshield). I have the remains of a Holman Moody 67 Fairlane converted to a 69 Cyclone (driven by Tiny Lund for a bit) that used a Galaxie front frame half, but it is a little different- It did not have some of the holes punched in that the Skeeter car has, and the upper A arm mount is fabricated, while the Skeeter car has the stock Galaxie slotted adjustment (both cars subframes are fFord stampings and do have front jacking screws). Both cars also have the front frame narrowed by cutting the center of the front crossmember (under the radiator). Interestingly enough, my #90 Donlavey 64 had the front frame narrowed by taking material off of each end of the crossmember then welding the frame horns back. The original welding in the HM car is much prettier- it was TIG'd (but some of the stuff done when it was converted from GN to sportsman was worse than the Skeeter car). Also, the Skeeter car had the lower A arms reinforced by welding plate to the sides of the arm, whereas the HM car has nice boxed arms. Hopefully, I will soon be able to post some detail shots of the Skeeter car so people car see how a lot of these cars were built back in the day. I will try to remember to notify you when I post them. I apologize for being so wordy. I like the technical end of these things as much as the historyThanks,Dave

Dave, you know someone who might be able to help is David Alford Bayer. He's a member of Racers Reunion and grew up in the Kenosha, Wisc area and might remember Skeeter Wyman. He has a really sharp memory and might know something since he attended races in the early 70's and later in that area. I'll send him a message tomorrow and have him get back with you. He still lives in the area.Do you have an idea when the car could have been built?If the car has a VIN that shoots my theory.LOL. I can send a message to Brian Norton who has a massive collection of pictures for midwest racers. He probably doesn't know, but I'll ask anyway.Cool car you have found!!Pete

Pete,I believe the car was built between 1969-74. Anyone who you think might have info/pictures, please forward my info to them. I appreciate your help very much.Thanks,Dave

Skeeter raced in the USAC Stock Car Division in the 1960's (check the web for USAC stock car results). He lived in Chicago but moved to Northwest Indiana in the early-mid 1960's. If my memory is correct, Skeeter purchased the Mercury in Pennsylvania, repainted it green and renumbered it #76. As far as I know, the only track he raced it at was Illiana Speedway (1/2 mile paved track). I probably have some photos (slides) of Illiana Speedway of Skeetz during a race. He retired to Florida many years ago. Do a people search...you should find his address and phone number.

For Chicago area / Illiana photos, Iwould contact Stan Kalwasinski. He is a vendor who has an extensive archive of pics including Illiana available. skalwasinski@yahoo.com or www.kalracing.com

I have more and better photos from Illiana than I ever saw on Stans web site especially in the pits, during and after the races etc.

Roger,

I am very interested in getting copies or JPEGs of your photos, and would like talk to you about Skeeter and the Merc. Shoot me an E-mail at Dave66gt350@gmail.com

Thanks,

Dave

Roger Jana said:

I have more and better photos from Illiana than I ever saw on Stans web site especially in the pits, during and after the races etc.

Warbird,

Thanks for the link. I'll check it out.

Dave

Warbird7 said:

For Chicago area / Illiana photos, Iwould contact Stan Kalwasinski. He is a vendor who has an extensive archive of pics including Illiana available. skalwasinski@yahoo.com or www.kalracing.com

As far as Stan goes, what he might have on the website it not necessarily reflective of what is available. I don't know Stan personally, but at the Chicago area racing memorabilia show in March, he typically has two or three 8 foot tables with full photo albums of Chicago area stuff on them.

Dave Redman said:

Warbird,

Thanks for the link. I'll check it out.

Dave

Warbird7 said:

For Chicago area / Illiana photos, Iwould contact Stan Kalwasinski. He is a vendor who has an extensive archive of pics including Illiana available. skalwasinski@yahoo.com or www.kalracing.com

Dave: FYI, his name is not Skeeter but rather Skeetz Wyman. Why do I know this? Because he drove the #42 Holman Moody Mercury for the owner and mechanic, my Uncle, Ron Kann! My 'cuz, who has one of the doors from the 42 car, told me he saw Skeetz where he lives somewhere in Tennessee and Skeetz gave him the door. Is it the Merc with the flying cocktail waitress paint job?