1962 WEINBERGER HOMES SPRINT RACE CAR

Photo:Barrett-Jackson

The Weinberger Homes Special was built and driven by Johnny White, winner of many events during the ’62-’64 season. The car was the winner of the Little 500 three times, IMCA Champion in 1962 and 1963, numerous USAC races in 1964, won 56 consecutive races and was a world record holder many times over. In 1962, ’63 and ’64, the Weinberger Homes car was billed as “The fastest Sprint Car in the world.” The Special features a 327 Fuel Injected Chevy engine, the first of its kind in a sport that was dominated by the Offenhauser engines. After the 1963 IMCA Championship in the Weinberger Chevy, Al Sweeney, the president of National Speedways, was quoted as saying, “The stock block conversion can no longer be scoffed at. Now where there are 25 cars on the entry list, maybe 23 of them are Chevys, Fords or other stock powered conversion and the others are Offys. It used to be the other way around. White’s Chevy was the first to dominate the Offy dynasty!” In 1964, White placed fourth in the Indy 500 and earned the title of “Rookie of the Year.” One week later in Terra Haute, White got upside down trying to beat AJ Foyt’s fast time and was paralyzed for the rest of his life. He would never race again. Months after White’s accident, the Weinberger Homes car was back on the track, breaking records and setting them. Gordon Johncock was the next exceptional racer to take the wheel. The “top flight ride” of the Special helped Johncock achieve a status received by very few. Making his second appearance in the car at Winchester on Sept. 6, 1964, Gordy shattered the world record by qualifying at 17.21 in the Weinberger Chevrolet. Still determined to go faster, Gordy requalified at 17.18, which is an average of 104.768 miles per hour. Once again, the Weinberger Homes Special was the vehicle that helped a talented pilot fully realize his potential. The time of 17.18 was held for an astounding five years. In 1965, after countless victories and shattered world records, the world’s fastest Sprint Car was retired as the sport moved to Indy cars. In 2004, 42 years after the car was built, a vintage racer and collector happened upon the Special and restored it to its present glory. Paying close attention to every detail over a 14-month period, the all aluminum hand-formed body was restored to better-than-original condition and brought back to the circuit and numerous races.

Photo:Barrett-Jackson

Photo:Barrett-Jackson

Photo:Barrett-Jackson