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Leader Card Racers

Photo Gallery

Vintage

1939 Harry McQuinn in the Leader Cards #4 Midget
1959 U.S. Grand Prix Leader Card Midget. L-R Ralph Wilke, Gus Wesell, Rodger Ward, Bob Wilke & Ronnie Kaplen. Ralph Wilke installed a two speed gear box with a clutch in the #1 Midget so Rodger Ward could shift in the turns  
1993 Kevin Olson in the Hooters Wilke Ellis Chassis
Bob Wilke Inducted into the Midget Hall of fame in 2003
Circa 1939 Ray Richards in the Leader Card Special Midget
Leader Card 500 Roadster Special Quarter Midget
Indianapolis 1970 Mike Mosley Started 12 Finished 21. Bob Wilke & A.J. Watson pose with the Leader Card Racers GC Murphy crew.
Circa 1940 Leader Card Racers #4 & #5 Midgets.
1961  Kokomo, IN. Parnelli Jones at the wheel of the #4 Leader Card Racers 110 Offy Midget. L-R Ralph Wilke, Bud Grimm, Gus Wesell & Billy (Wiz) Wisnewski.
1961 Milwaukee Mile. Jim Hurtubise wheeles the #5 Leader Card Midget to a second place finish while team mate Len Sutton finishes third in the #4 Leader Card Entry, some guy named Jones won the race.  
Spring 1959 Ralph Wilkes first midget #16. This midget eventually became the #4 Leader Card 110 Offy. Pictured here is Ralphs wife Marilyn (Skeeter) with 3 of their sons Mark being held, while L-R Greg and Scott sitting in the cockpit. Check out the matching lettered station wagon in the back ground. How Cool!
Johnny Rutherford, far right, was the lead driver for the Leader Card Team in 1966, however he broke both arms in a sprint car crash at the Eldora Speedway earlier in the year. Chuck Hulse replaced Rutherford in the #12 Wynns Special. Sadly driver Chuck Rodee #92 died on May 14th while attempting to qualify for the 1966 Indianapolis 500.
1982 Owner/Driver Mark Wilke poses for Milwaukee Journal Photographer William Meyer.
1959 Rodger Ward in the #5 Leader Card Duo Special. Duo meant both dirt & asphalt.
1964 Fairbury, Il. Driver Bobby Marshman in the Leader Card Racers #4 110 Offy.
Circa 1945, East coast drivers Johnny Bernardi and Joe Sostilio sit in their Leader Card Sostilio Offy Midgets. Car owner Bob Wilke stands between his two cars.
July 9th 2006 Sun Prairie, WI. Michael Pickens in the Ralph Wilke #5 recovers from this bad push and wins that nights 25-lap Badger Midget Series feature. Jeff Arns Photo
1970 Indianapolis 500, Driver Bobby Unser qualified 7th and finished 11th in his #3 Leader Card Racers, Wagner Lockheed, 1967 Eagle Ford. Car Owner Bob Wilke, in baseball cap, and Chief Mechanic Jud Phillips, standing at the rear of the car.
July 28, 1974 Elkhart Lake WI, Road America. Driver Mike Mosley poses with his Leader Card, Loadstar Formula 5000 Lola.
February 1967, Driver Pedro Rodríguez getting fitted into his #90 Leader Card Racers, Watson Ford. From L-R are Chief Mechanic AJ Watson, Car Owner Bob Wilke and Leader Card Crew Member Willie Davis.
DuQuoin, IL 1966, Driver Chuck Hulse with Leader Card chief A.J. Watson.
1960 Indianapolis 500. Driver Chuch Stevenson sits in his #65 Leader Card 500 Roadster. Chuck started 9th and finish 15th, this is the same car that Rodger Ward won the 500 in the year before. Sadly its the same car that Tony Bettenhausen was killed in on May 12,1961 while testing the car for friend Paul Russo.   
August 22 1965 Milwaukee Mile Driver Bobby Grim in the #95 Wynns, Leader Card Racers Watson Roadster chats with car owner Ralph Wilke. Bobby started 9th finish 8th. This car was the #7 Leader Card 500 Roadster that Len Sutton failed to qualify for the 1963 Indianapolis 500, it is also the #95 Diet Rite Cola Special.
June 9, 1957 Milwaukee Mile. Jimmy Bryan receives the Leader Card Trophy from Bob Wilke for fast time. For years Bob / Leader Cards would sponsor the trophies at the Milwaukee Mile races for big cars, stock cars and midgets.
1984 Milwaukee Mile. Driver Stan Fox waves to the camera during a Pabst media day to introduce the New Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer, Leader Card Racers #24 Indy Car Team. The car was a year old 1983 March from the Jim Truman Truesports Team with driver Bobby Rahal
June 2, 1990 CalExpo State Fair Grounds. Wilke Racers Team Celebrates that nights USAC Midget feature win. L-R Mark Wilke, Driver Rich Vogler, Greg Wilke, Jeff Richlen & Gene Kevi family friend & sponsor from Caesars Palace. After the race Rich gave this unique trophy to Ralph Wilke because Ralph convinced Greg and Mark to bring the midget to CA. with their Silver Crown Car. Rich drove the Silver Crown car to a tenth place finish the next day. Sadly this would be the last midget feature win for
This is the front cover from the November 28th 1969 USAC Newspaper. Back then USAC had a weekly newspaper covering that weeks events, the newspaper 15 x 11 in size with 12 pages had a classified section and ads. This issue has an article on Leader Card Racers from 1939 - 1969. The cover shows the Leader Card Midget with trailer from 1939 along with the famous Leader Card Racers Tortoise and Hare logo.
Indianapolis 1961 Rodger Ward sits in his #2 Del Webb Sun City Leader Card 500 Offy Watson Roadster. Ward finished third in the 500 behind race winner AJ Foyt and second place Eddie Sachs. Ward collected $26,500 while AJ took home $117,975. Thanks to Bob Parks for the photo.
Indianapolis 1974 Leader Card Racers cocktail party at the Speedway Hotel. J.C. Aggie Agajanian sponsor of the Leader Card Lodestar #98 Indy Car (left).  along with Car Owner Ralph Wilke (right) & Ralphs wife Marilyn Skeeter.
1968 Bill Engelhart sits in his #7 Willman Offy. This was the famous #4 Leader Card 110 Offy, Ralph Wilke sold the car that year to car owner Gene Willman. Gene went on to win the 1968 BMARA Car Owners Championship with this car. Bill Engelhart finished second to Billy Wood in the drivers Championship. Gene Willman is the son of  legendary driver Tony Willman who was killed October 12 1941 in a midget at the Thompson Speedway in Thompson, Connecticut.
1962 Leader Card Racers driver Len Sutton finished second to team mate Rodger Ward at Indianapolis, driving the #7 Autolite Special. This photo shows Len before a National Championship dirt event.
1970 Ontario, CA. Steve Krisiloff of Parsippany, New Jersey stands by his Leader Card Wagner Lockheed Eagle Offy. Steve started 19th and only ran 8 laps before having magneto problems he finished 29th.
Circa 1964 Indianapolis, IN. L-R Car Owner Bob Wilke with friend Sid Collins. Collins was an American broadcaster best known as the radio voice of the Indianapolis 500 on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network from 1952-1976. He made famous the term the greatest spectacle in racing. Saddly in April 1977 he was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis ALS, on May 2nd, Collins took his own life, he was scheduled to announce the 1977 Indianapolis 500. Collins was awarded nine American
September 1, 1984 Tri-City Speedway in Granite City, IL. L-R Greg Wilke, Mark Wilke, Troy Richards & Driver Ricky Hood. Hood who ran the bottom of the track dominating the main event until being passed with a few laps remaining by Tom Bigelow who found that the track started taking rubber in the middle grove, Hood ran second in his Wilke Racers Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer, Autocraft VW. This was the second time Hood ran a midget, the first time was the night before at Little Springfield where Hood fo
1946 Car Owner Bob Wilke stands beside his #1 Leader Card Offy with driver Mike OHalloran. This chassis was builted by Fred Tomshe of Milwaukee.
Leader Card Racers – A Dynasty Of Speed - Leader Card Racers is the remarkable story of one family’s four-generation passion for auto racing. Beginning with a team of midgets before WW II, successful paper manufacturer Bob Wilke, his son Ralph, and now his Grandsons have owned and sponsored winning racing cars on the Championship trail, on dirt track, and currently with a successful return to midgets. With legendary mechanics A. J. Watson and Jud Phillips, the Wilke Family won the Indy “500” 3
August 19 1984 Springfield, IL. Illinois State Fair Grounds Driver Rich Vogler at speed in the Wilke Racers - Pabst Blue Ribbon - AutoCraft VW.
1980 Slinger Super Speedway. Slinger, WI Driver Don Boorse in the Wilke Racers - Harry Turner chassis Chevy II engine.
1959 Daytona International Speedway. Driver Jerry Unser in the #52 Leader Card Duo. This is the first race ever for LCR. Just a few months later on May 2nd, 1959, the second day of qualifying for the 1959 Indianapolis 500, Unser driving the H.H. Johnson, 1954 Kurtis Offenhauser lost control of his car coming out of turn 4 on a practice lap. The car hit the wall after spinning, then went end over end, leaving behind a trail of parts. The car burst into flames. Unser died from his injuries .
2005 USAC Awards Banquet Wilke Pak Motorsports picking up their first place Championship Rings from USACs Bill Carey. L-R Crew members, Randy Luedtke, Kevin Toth, Chris Wilke, Bill Carey and Greg Wilke.
Circa 1939. Driver Ray Richards Left with car owner Bob Wilke.
July 19 1981 Sun Prairie, WI. Angell Park Speedway Driver Ken Schrader with car owners Greg and Mark Wilke. Schrader was in Milwaukee for a USAC stock car race and drove the one hour west to Sun Prairie to see if he could get a ride for that nights midget race. Mark Wilke gave up his driving chores that night to give Ken the wheel of his Miller High Life , Don Edmunds coil over, AutoCraft VW.
Driver Dean  Erfurth. Driving the Wilke Racers #9 Miller High Life, Don Edmunds Coil Car with an Autocraft VW.
1991 Angell Park Speedway - Sun Prairie, WI           Victory Lane, Back Row L-R - Jeff Richlen, Dan Leibhauser, Gary Grahn, Cailyn Wilke, Mark Wilke, Shannon Wilke, Greg Wilke, Chris Wilke, Lisa Leibhauser. Front Row - Melissa Reeves, Stevie Reeves, Nikki Wilke
August 31 1984 Little Springfield Speedway - Springfield, IL   L-R Mark Wilke, Troy Richards, Kevin Olson, Driver Ricky Hood & Greg Wilke. Ricky subs for regular driver Kevin Olson who broke his neck earlier in the year at Hales Corners Speedway in Wisconsin. This was Rickys first time in a midget, he won the feature.
1992 Indianapolis, IN Driver Page Jones with the Wilke Racers, Ellis pavement car,smiles with the Hooters girls for a promotional photo.
December 1959 Sebring, FL. US Grand Prix. If you look at the end of the starting field you will see driver Rodger Ward at the wheel of the Leader Card Midget on the Sebring road course. Owner Ralph Wilke installed a two speed gear box with a clutch so Ward could shift in the turns. In 1959, the track hosted the U.S. first Formula One race (the successor to historic European Grand Prix motor racing), held as that years installment of the historic United States Grand Prix competition.
July 23 1983 Sun Prairie, WI. Angell Park Speedway. Wilke Racer teammates Kevin Olson and Dan Fredenberg battle for position in their Pabst Blue Ribbon coil over Greg Wilke designed midget with AutoCraft VW. KO won the event.
Circa 1939 Driver Pete Neilson   in the Leader Card #5A
1959 The newly established Leader Card Racers Team. AJ Watson and driver Rodger Ward stand by the Leader Card Duo car.
2007 Belleville, Ks. Wilke Pak Motorsports enjoys its Friday night feature win, the following night the Wilke Pak team scored its first Belleville Nationals victory. L-R Car Owner Greg Wilke, Trophy Girl, Driver Jerry Coons Jr.,Nikki Wilke (Now Mrs. Klepper), Chris Wilke & Kevin Toth.
Circa 1960 L-R Jimmy Bryan, Rodger Ward (in car) & Sam Hanks, attending a trade show for the Raybestos Company.
1967 Rislone Newspaper Ad & Poster. When Wilke buys it, the word gets around pretty Fast This poster made in 1967 was of the Leader Card Racers #6 driven by Bobby Unser, the following year 1968 Bobby Unser would win his first Indy 500 in the #3 Leader Card Racers Rislone Special. This is the same car used in the Hollywood blockbuster movie Winning starring Paul Newman, Joanne Woodward, Richard Thomas & Robert Wagner. The race car was painted the same; however Rislone was replaced by Crawfor
2006 Milwaukee Mile. Jerry Coons Jr. at speed in his Wilke Pak Motorsports #11. Great Shot from the eye of Jeff Arns.
1971 Indianapolis State Fair Grounds. Driver George Snider in the #4 Leader Card Racers G.C. Murphy Offy. George Snider and Leader Card won the USAC dirt championship, this was the first year that USAC had separate points. Now called Silver Crown.
Great shot of 1962 Indianapolis 500 winner Rodger Ward in victory lane.
Circa 1939 Ray Richards in the #5 Leader Card Special Midget
Sept 16, 1956 Bob Wilke hands driver Jimmy Bryan the Leader Card Trophy for winning the Milwaukee Mile USAC 250 Mile Stock Car Race.
August 24 1957 Milwaukee Mile. L-R Car Owner Lindsey Hopkins, Chief Mechanic Jack Beckley & Winning Driver Jim Rathmann with the Leader Card Trophy
May 30, 1959 Indy 500 Winner Rodger Ward & Wife Jo in the Leader Card Garage after the race.
1959 Leader Card Racres Garage in Glendale,CA (Los Angeles) Check out the teams maching Ford Edsel tow vehicles! Bob Wilke had all the cool stuff!!
June 10, 1962 Milwaukee Mile. Winning Driver AJ Foyt & Chief Mechanic George Bignotti With The Leader Card Trophy.
1959 New Breman Speedway - L - R car owners Ralph Wilke and Gus Wesell. The driver is Frank Buraney, they had engine wows that day and finished back in the pack. The team wins their first feature event on June 19, 1959 with driver Chuck Weyant. Weyant would win 1 more time in 59 while Rodger Ward recorded 2 more frature wins for the #16 Leader Card Midget. The #16 eventually gets a face lift and the #4 replaces the #16. Rodger Ward recorded 2 more frature wins fo
September 1, 1966 Minnesota State Fair Grounds - St Paul, MN. #4 Leader Card Racers driver Mel Cornett celebrates with car owners Ralph Wilke (L) and Gus Wesell(R). This was an IMCA midget event, the race was 150 laps and paid $900 to win.
August 12, 1961 Milwaukee Mile Driver Jim Hurtubise sits in the Leader Card Racers #5 Midget. Jim finished second while team mate Len Sutton finishes third in the #4 Leader Card Entry, some guy named Jones won the race.
Jess McDermott from Jackson, WI sent us this picture of him at this years Indy 500, check out the awesome vintage Leader Card Roadster T-shirt. You Go Jess!!
1960 Road America, WI L-R Ralph Wilke, Driver Buzz Hahn and car owner Bob Wilke. Leader Card Racers entered the road racing business for a short time in the early 60s. This is a Porsche 550RS Spyder it was also driven by Rodger Ward.
A great pen & ink drawing of our good friend Rich Vogler sitting in the Wilke Racers #11 midget. We still miss you buddy!
December 1959 Sebring, FL. US Grand Prix Driver Rodger Ward on the road course in the Ralph Wilke #1 Leader Card Midget. Ralph installed a two speed gear box with a clutch so Ward could shift in the turns.
1960 Milwaukee Journal Newspaper. Baumgartner Motors in Milwaukee had the Leader Card Roadster on display.
September 6th 1975 Indiana State Fairgrounds. Hoosier Hundred Victory Lane. L-R Car Owner Ralph Wilke, June Cochran, Driver Tom Bigelow, Chief A.J. Watson & Linda Vaughn. Great photo of earlier times.
Not sure who, but OUCH!
Dayton, OH. September 1967. Mike Mosley in a little trouble driving the #2 Leader Card Sprinter.
Don Branson at the wheel of the Leader Card 110 Offy.
Speed Sport News, June 3, 1959.
1988 Putnamville IN. Rich Vogler driving the Wilke Racers Cosworth to another Hut 100 win.
1981 Sun Prairie, WI L-R crew member Pat Moran, Driver Dean Erfurth & Car Owner Mark Wilke enjoying the sponsors product after winning the feature event. Its Miller Time!!
1961 Leader Card Special Duo Check out the matching Edsel station wagon tow vehicle.
2015 SVRA Event Indianapolis Motor Speedway 1968 AAR Eagle 1972 #98 Vivitar - Leader Card Racers – JC Agajanian Special. Mike Mosley was leading the 1972 Indianapolis 500 when the right front hub broke, crashed turn 4. Started 16th Finished 26th Leader Card Racers long time Chief Mechanic AJ Watson restored the car to the 1972 livery colors as it is today.
1959 Mobile Oil Newspaper advertisement. Only .39 cents with any purchase of gas. You can still find these on Ebay.
2008 Jerry Coons Jr. on the GAS at the Prairie. Cool Shot! Jeff Arns photo
Mark Wilke with house guest pal Kato Kaelin
4 Generations of the Wilke family Racing L-R Greg, Chris, Bob (pictured), Ralph & Mark
In the 1960s, Bob Wilke owner of Leader Card Racers would make up what we now call hero cards and send them to customer and fans of Leader Cards. Here is a shot of Rodger Ward driving the Leader Card Sportor Porsche 550RS at Pikes Peak. Check out Rodgers face, even back then they would doctor up photos. To this day you can find these photos on Ebay.
2008 Jerry Coons Jr. with Team Wilke in victory lane at the Prairie. L-R Chris, Ralph, Jerry & Greg.
2009 Chili Bowl, Tim McCreadie gases up the Wilke Pak Toyota.
September 6, 1959 Meadowdale, IL. Driver Rodger Ward talks with Ralph Wilke. Ward, wheeling his Leader Card 110 Offy, midget #16 in background, set a track record during time trials, getting around the Meadowdale Road course with an average speed of 92.271 miles per hour. Also in the background is Larry Shinoda noted American automotive designer who was best known for his work on the Corvette and Ford Mustang. Larry a longtime crew member and family friend, also designed cars with AJ Watson.
May 26th 1980. Slinger Super Speedway. #84 Driver Mark Wilke, this midget was built by Harry Turner it was Harrys Tube design. This car is in the Wilke Collection.
July 31 1990. Lincoln, NE.Eagle Raceway. Jeff Gordon shows off his first place Eagle trophy. Team Wilke celebrates with Jeff.
1983 Gardena CA. Ascot Park Thanksgiving Night Grand Prix Victory Lane Winner Kevin Olson in the Wilke Racers #1 Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer Auto Craft VW. L-R Mark Wilke, Trophy girl, KO & Greg Wilke.
May 1984 Indiana Fairgrounds. Kenny Schrader smokes the competition on the Indy mile in the WR PBR midget. L-R Mark Wilke, Pat Moran, Todd Richards, Ann Schrader, Kenny & Greg Wilke
1988 Phoenix, AZ. Copper World Classic Rich Vogler wheeled the Wilke Cosworth to victory lane. this would be the first of three wins at the Copper World Classic for the Wilke Team. L-R Rich Vogler, Greg Wilke & Mark Wilke
1984 Terre Haute Action Track Hut Hundred Ricky Hood in the Wilke Racers PBR midget, Ricky finished second.
Rodger Ward 1959 winner of the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race accepts the check from Tony Hulman
August 1,1965 Atlanta Motor Speedway. Johnny Rutherford in the Leader Card Moog Special. Johnny would go on to win the race, his first Indy car win
1941 Driver Paul Russo in the Marchese Brothers car sponsored by Leader Cards.
Wilke Family Leader Card Racers Marble Bench outside the High Banks Hall of Fame & National Midget Auto Racing Museum in Belleville, KS
June 19, 1960 Langhorne Speedway, Langhorne, PA 100 laps on 1 mile dirt oval. This would be Jimmy Bryan last race. Jimmy pictured here in the outside front row in the Leader Card Racers Duo Champ Car. Bryan flipped wildly on the first lap, turn one and succumbed to his injuries.
1990 Rich Vogler in the Wilke Silver Crown car at the Sacramento mile.
June 11, 1961 Terre Haute, Indiana Wayne Weiler gets nasty in the Leader Card Sprint Car. Weiler suffered serious head injury following this severe crash. He remained active as an owner and manager in auto racing up until his death. Weiler died at age 70 from a heart attack.
1966 Bob Wilke on the phone making sure the envelope machines at Leader Cards are running full speed so he can buy more racing stuff. Loooks to be crew member Wayne Ewing working in the background.
May 1960 Indianapolis, Rodger Ward and Sir Jack Brabham
1983 Ron Shuman relaxes on the right rear tire of the Pabst Blue Ribbon, Wilke Racer’s winning car as Kevin Olson is interviewed following the November 25 Gardena, CA. Classic. Olson Lead the final 14 laps for his first Turkey Night Trophy.
November 11, 1967 Ascot Speedway. A.J. Foyt in the Leader Card Sprinter. A.J. would go on to win the feature that night.
1979 Sun Prairie, WI. Driver Mark Wilke in his Harry Turner, Monocoque Tub Designed Midget.
1959 Daytona International Speedway. This is the first race ever for the Leader Card team in USAC Indy Car competition. The team brought a Watson Roadster #5 for Rodger Ward and Jerry Unser drover this Watson dirt car #52.
June 7, 1959 Milwaukee Mile. Bob Wilke presents Johnny Thomson with the Leader Card Trophy after winning the big car race. Thomson took the lead from Leader Card ace Rodger Ward with two laps to go when Ward fell out of the race.
Hoosier Auto Racing Fans, 1959 Driver Of The Year, Rodger Ward.
1967 Artist Rendering of the Leader Card Racers Watson Indy car.
August 1, 2015 L-R Greg Wilke, Don McColley & Mark Wilke. The Wilke Bros, bought this 1948 Kurtis Kraft Midget Chassis Number F-207-48 complete with Offenhauser Engine Serial Number 282. from Don & Sharon McColley who lives in Crown Point, IN. The car sat in their barn for more then 50 years untouched. If anyone has information on this car please contact us.
September 2013. L-R Ralph Wilke, Linda Vaughn, Frank Giuffre & Mark Wilke. Frank and his brother Dominic are Celebrating 50 years in the crane business and invited many of their friends and customers to their gala. You might remember the Giuffre brothers promoted the Milwaukee Mile for many years.
November 26th 1967. Riverside International Speedway. Bob Wilke hired road racing specialist Chuck Parsons for a one off deal. Chuck started 17 and finished 15th in his Watson designed indy car. Chuck is conversing with Leader Card crew member Grant King.
1964 Indianapolis Fairgrounds. Leader Card dirt cars. #1 Rodger Ward and teammate #4 Don Branson
March 20, 1966 Phoenix International Speedway. Leader Card Chief Mechanic A.J.Watson & Driver Johnny Rutherford before the USAC Indy event. Johnny would start 15th and finished 18th after dropping out with engine problems.
October 22, 23 1960. Monterey, CA. Laguna Seca Raceway. Leader Card Owner Bob Wilke chats with Driver Rodger Ward. Ward would finish 10th and 23rd in the two day event. Ward was driving the Leader Card Sportor Porsche 550RS. Check out the cool Ford Edsel tow vehicle.
October 1960. $20,000 Pacific Grand Prix Monterey, CA. Laguna Seca Road Course. Entry Form booklet. First place paid $2,000 and $50.00 to everyone finishing 7 and lower, for this two day event.
2007 Chili Bowl, T-Shirt Art Illustration. Wilke powerhouse driver line up included. Jerry Coons Jr.(*2), Dave Darland (*2), Josh Wise (*1) & Kasey Kahne (*1). *6 USAC National Midget Championship between these 4 drivers.
1968 Indianapolis 500 Victory Lap. Bobby Unser and wife Norma seated in the pace car with family. Car Owner Bob Wilke (foreground) waits his turn.
1939 Car Owner Bob Wilke with his stable of midgets. Drivers L-R Myron Fohr, Ray Richards, Pete Neilsen & Gus Klingbiel.
October 17, 1965 Eldora Speedway. Leader Card Crew Members L to R Jud Phillips, Tom Herman, Don Branson & Howard Kepler. Don went on to win the sprint car feature that day. Thanks to Ron Kepler, Howard Keplers grandson for providing the photo.
May 1967 Indianapolis. Bobby Unser qualified 8th and finished 9th in the Leader Card Racers 1967 AAR Eagle Ford. The 9th place prize money was $15,773. This 1967 Eagle is now owned by Scott Borchetta owner of Big Machine Records.
May 1974 Indianapolis. Mike Mosley with car owner Ralph Wilke. This would be the last Indy 500 Mike would run for Leader Card Racers. At the end of the 1974 season they separated. Mike ran more than 120 races for Leader Card, from Sprint cars, Dirt Champ, F5000 and Indy cars from 1967 - 1974
Milwaukee Mile August 18th 1968. Bobby Unser races with Mario Andretti. Mario finished second, Bobby fourth.
August 24th 1975 Du Quoin, IL Tom Bigelow in the Leader Card Silver Crown Watson dirt car. Bigelow would lead all 100 laps on his way to victory.
Hales Corners Speedway 1968 Driver Mel Cornet sets in the Leader Card Midget. L-R Gus Wesell, Ralph Wilke & Harvy Konkel.
1968 Indianapolis 500 Victory Lane. Victory Lane L-R Norma Unser Bobbys wife, Car Owner Bob Wilke, Bobby Unser, 500 festival queen and Actor James Garner.
1968 Mike Mosley in the Leader Card Sprinter
1973 Milwaukee Mile Driver Mike Mosley with car owner Ralph Wilke.
1959 Hoosier Hundred Rodger Ward behind the wheel of the #5 Leader Card Special.
1959 Indianapolis 500 AJ. Watson race day morning, by the end of the day the Leader Card Team would win its first Indianapolis 500.
1994 Leader Card Racers Financial World Lola T93/00 Indy Car. Driver Buddy Lazier (Randy Owens Art Car)
1958 500 Miglia di Monza - First Place Leader Card Monza Special - Driver Jim Ratmann. This car is on display at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum.
1968 Leader Card 110 Offy - Driver Mel Cornett Oklahoma City, OK.
Parnelli Jones in the Leader Card Sprint car.
September 6, 1959. Meadowdale International Raceway. Jim Jeffords (10) in the Leader Card Scarab Sportor, Lloyd Ruby (45), Augie Pabst (50) and Rodger Ward in his Leader Card Midget (far right) battling for position. Ward set a track record during qualifying in the #16 Leader Card Midget. During the race Jim Rathmann flipped his Corvette an estimated 12 times, but escaped serious injury and went on to win the Indianapolis 500 eight months later.
1978 Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Rookie driver Tom Bagley qualified his Leader Card, Kent Oil Special to a 14th starting spot. He finish 27th with an overheating issue.
Indy 1971 Driver George Snider looks happy after qualifying his G.C. Murphy Special. Snider was teammates with Mike Mosley for the Leader Card stable.
Still miss this guy! Rich Vogler with the always stout Hoffman Sprint Car.
Just received from Wilke family friend Quint Mayer. 1957 Rex Mays Classic Official Program. Check out the rare autographs. 1957 Indianapolis 500 Winner Pat OConnor 1958 Indianapolis 500 Winner Jimmy Bryan & two time Indy starter Billy Garrett. Thanks Quint!!
November 11, 1967. Ascot Speedway, Gardena, CA Victory Lane. L-R A.J. Watson, track promoter J. C. Agajanian & A.J. Foyt. Foyt smoked the field in the Leader Card Sprint car.
Circa 1940 Eddy Kracek in the Leader Card special
1986 Copper World Classic Phoenix, AZ. Phoenix Mile. Driver Nick Fonoro Jr. with the Wilke Racers crew. L-R Andy Waldron, Greg Wilke, Bill Abel, Mark Wilke, Pat Moran & Jim Chadwick.
From The Lens Of Bob Wilke. Sunday June 7,1953. Milwaukee Mile. Driver Andy Linden in the Sid Street Special, Pankratz Offy. Linden started 15th finished 7th and took home $824 big ones!
From The Lens Of Bob Wilke. Sunday June 7,1953. Milwaukee Mile. Driver Paul Russo relaxing before the 100 lap AAA Champ Car Series Race. Russo started 13th in his Miracle Power Lesovsky Offy and came home 4th. This is when the Milwaukee Mile was still dirt.
From The Lens Of Bob Wilke. June 7th 1953 Milwaukee Mile. Bobs photo shows the start of the 100 lap AAA Big Car Event. Driver Manny Ayulo starts form the pole with Rodger Ward outside front row. Fourth place starter Jack McGrath goes on to win and collects $5150.00 for his effort.
From The Lens Of Bob Wilke. 1953 Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Driver Joe Sostillo missed qualifying for the 500, he sits in his #17 Belanger Motors Special, Kurtis Chrysler.
From The Lens of Bob Wilke. Italy 1954 Bob Wilke was in Italy picking up his Ferrari 375 America Coupe, Vignale Chassis No. 0327AL from the Ferrari factory. Bob stopped by to watch a Ferrari test session and took some photos of Formula 1 Driver Emilio Giuseppe Nino Farina the 1950 Formula One World Drivers Champion.
From The Lens Of Bob Wilke. 1953 Italy Bob takes a great shot of the 2 time formula 1 World Driving Champion Alberto Ascari.
From The Lens Of Bob Wilke. Bob photo shows F1 British Racing Driver Mike Hawthorn United Kingdoms first Formula One World Champion driver in 1958. Hawthorn also won the 1955 24 Hours of Le Mans, but was haunted by his involvement in the disastrous crash that marred the race. Hawthorn died in a road accident six months after retiring in 1958.
From The Lens Of Bob Wilke. Great shot of the front straightaway and grandstands of the Monza Italy race track. Coming at you is the 1957 overall winner Jimmy Bryan in his #1 Sailh Offy. Jimmy finished 2nd overall to winner Jim Rathmann.
Monza is a historic race track located near the city of Monza, north of Milan, in Italy. built in 1922. In addition to Formula One, Monza also featured the unique Race of Two Worlds events, which attempted to run Formula One and USAC National Championship cars against each other. This event lasted only 2 years, 1957, winner Jimmy Bryan and 1958, winner Jim Rathmann. The high speed oval track with steep bankings which has been unused for many decades and is now decaying as shown in this picture.
This picture was given to Bob Wilke in 1968 by Alice Caracciola. Alice was the wife of Rudolf Caracciola race car driver from Remagen, Germany. He won the European Drivers Championship, the pre-1950 equivalent of the modern Formula One World Championship, an unsurpassed three times. His trophy collection in the picture was donated to the Indianapolis Hall of Fame Museum, and he was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1998. Rudolf died in 1959.
From The Lens of Bob Wilke. 1958 Monza Italy. This was the start of the Leader Card Racers dynasty. The Leader Card/Zink Special with driver Jim Rathmann would win all three stages of the Race Of Two Worlds. AJ Watson and Jack Zink pictured with striped shirts. You got to love those Leader Card flat top hats!
From The Lens Of Bob Wilke. 1958 Monza Italy. Driver Ray Crawfords #49 Kurtis Kraft Offy. Ray finish 7 in the first heat race 4th in the second heat race and a DNF in the final heat race.
1961 Milwaukee Mile. Len Sutton in the #4 Leader Card 110 Offy (outside) battles with Parnelli Jones in the #89 Chucks Motor Service Offy. Jim Hurtubise in a second Leader Card midget lead most of the 100 laps before giving way to Jones with just eight laps left. Hurtubise Offy had spark plug problems and was running on three cylinders finishing second. Jones won the 100 miler and Sutton finished third.
August 29, 1959 Milwaukee Mile. Victory Lane. Driver Rodger Ward led 80 laps to win the 100 mile USAC midget race. He took home a check for $1056.00 for his effort. L-R Bob Wilke, Ward, Co Owner Ralph Wilke, Billy Wisnewski & Co Owner Gus Wesell.
1992 Hall of Fame Oldtimers Banquet. Left to right....Len Sutton, Rodger Ward, A.J. Watson and Ralph Wilke.
September 14, 1985. Indiana State Fairgrounds. Hoosier 100. Driver Kevin Olson?? Not so fast. This is George Snider in the Wilke Racers, A.J. Watson Silver Crown Car. George started 4th ran 80 laps and finished 14th fuel pickup was listed as the issue.
August 17, 1975 Milwaukee Mile. Mike Mosley and Ralph Wilke before the race. Mike would go on to win for his new car owner Jerry OConnell. Ralphs driver Steve Krisiloff would end up fifth. That looks to be our buddy Roy Caruthers in the background most likely helping out the Alex Morales Team with driver Jimmy Caruthers who would finish sixth on the day.
From The Lens Of Bob Wilke. August 24, 1958 Milwaukee Mile, West Allis, WI. Driver Chuck Weyant in the Harry Dunn Offenhauser. Chuck started the race and was relieved by Pat Flaherty who finished 16th.
From The Lens Of Bob Wilke. June 7, 1959 Milwaukee Mile. Leader Card driver Al Keller starts 13th and finishes 5th in his 1959 Watson D 3/Offenhauser.
From The Lens Of Bob Wilke (selfie). 1958 Indianapolis. Leader Card sponsored Lindsey Hopkins effort with Jim Rathman as driver the team would finish 5th in the 500. Jim was driving a 1957 Epperly 1/Offenhauser.
June 5, 1960. Milwaukee Mile, West Allis, WI. Leader Card driver Chuck Stevenson starts 6th spun on lap 51 and finished 20th. Chuck was driving the #65, 1959 Watson Roadster, this was the car that won the 1959 Indianapolis 500 with Leader Card driver Rodger Ward.
1991 Winchester Speedway. Driver Stevie Reeves in the Wilke Racers Greg Wilke design midget with a Gearte Chevy. Stevie would go on to win 9 features in this car in 1991 including the Copper World Classic, Hut Hundred and the Pepsi Nationals just to name a few.
July 4th 1941 Milwaukee Mile. Driver Ray Richards in the Leader Card midget with car owner Bob Wilke.
September 9, 1972 Indiana State Fairgrounds. Hoosier Hundred. Driver Mike Mosley in the Leader Card Watson Coil Over Ford, Vivitar Special. Mike started 14th ran 57 laps before retiring 18th with fuel pick up issues.
August 30, 1959 Milwaukee Mile. Victory Lane. Driver Rodger Ward receives the Leader Card Trophy from Leader Card car owner Bob Wilke and the guy that makes it happen AJ Watson on the right. Ward started 19th and lead 52 laps. Ward also won the 100 lap midget race the day before in the Ralph Wilke midget.
From The Lens Of Bob Wilke. 1958 Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Chief Mechanic Jack Beckley tunes the Leader Card 500 Roadster Sponsored, Lindsey Hopkins owned 1957 Epperly Offenhauser #2. Driver Jim Rathmann qualified 20th and finished 5th, taking home $11,399.00.
From The Lens Of Bob Wilke. August 24, 1958. Milwaukee Mile. The start of the 200 Mile Big Car Race. Jim Rathmann on the pole in the John Zink Special, outside front row Bob Veith in the George Bignotti 1957 Kurtis 500G2 Offenhause. AJ Foyt and Ed Elisian round out the top 4. Rodger Ward won the race in the Roger Wolcott #8 1957 Lesovsky Offenhauser. Ward collect $8,950.
December 12,1959 The First Grand Prix of the United States. Driver Rodger Ward wheels the Ralph Wilke owned Leader Card 110 Offy midget. Ralph installed a two speed gear box with a clutch in the #1 midget so Rodger could shift in the turns. Ward started 19th and finished 10th.
From The Lens Of Bob Wilke. July 13, 1958 USAC Stock Car Race Milwaukee Mile. Drivers L-R Jim Rathmann, Jimmy Reece and Rodger Ward. Driver Fred Lorenzen won the 150 mile race in his 1958 Ford. Rathmann finished 31st Reece 33rd and Ward DNQ. Two months after this picture was taken September 28th Jimmy Reece died in an accident during a Champ Car race at Trenton Speedway. Jimmy was killed on the final lap of the race.
May 1976 Indianapolis Speedway Hotel. Leader Card Racers cocktail party. L-R 1925 Indy winner Pete DePaolo, 1963 Indy winner Parnelli Jones, 1957 Indy winner Sam Hanks and Leader Card Racers car owner Ralph Wilke.
May 1, 1960 New Bremen Speedway. Leader Card 110 Offy. Driver Chuck Weyant with Car Owners L-Ralph Wilke R- Gus Wesell. Bob Wente won the 50 lap race.
October 25, 1959. California State Fairgrounds Sacramento, CA. Program cover for the National Championship 100 Mile Auto Race. Jim Hurtubise would go on to win the race in the Racing Associates 1955 Kuzma Offenhauser. Jim collected $5020 for the 100 lap feature win.
Great shot of Billy Wood in the Leader Card 110 Offy.
August 15,1959 Illiana Speedway. Recently crowned Indy 500 champ Rodger Ward races local favorite and 1958 National Champion Tony Bettenhausen in a special 5 lap match race. Ward driving the Leader Card 110 Offy defeated Tony in front of a crowd of more than 5,000 fans. L-R Tony B., Car Owners Gus Wesell & Ralph Wilke and USAC official. A John Lutzo Photo.
Milwaukee Mile 1960 Chuck Stevenson spins the Leader Card #65 Roadster. This car is the Leader Card Roadster that Rodger Ward won the 1959 Indianapolis 500.
Great Picture. 1959 Bruce Kessler Leader Card Sportor Porsche 550 RS Spyder.
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