Love reading all of this info on Jimmy. I feel like I knew him ,my mother was married to him her name is Carmelita ( Carmie) Dodd ,its fun to read and yes she is still quite the "knockout!" thx Tom Sherping !

After I retired a few years ago I was able to pursue a long standing interest... vintage sprint cars. I ended up with a project car that was in need of some/much TLC. I find the car had a history with Jimmy Daywalt and he drove it at both Salem and Winchester. (Andy Linden was also often in the seat). Jimmy was driving when the car was wrecked in 1952 at Winchester (I believe it was 1952, I don't have the newspaper clipping in front of me). The car is a stretched Kurtis midget chassis #50. I was told that Herb Porter was in charge when that work was done. I do have some history of the car but little with Jimmy. If any of you folks have any press clippings or photos (or comments) of this car (often #5 or #51, #52), I would appreciate and would return in kind.

Jeff

The car is still a work in progress but on the track at ACOT events here in the Northeast. I hope eventually to make the Winchester Old Timers event.

Wednesday 02/12/2003
I grew up in Wabash County, where Jimmy was born. I am also a huge racing fan, especially when it has to do with the Indianapolis 500. When I found out that an Indy 500 Rookie of the Year was born in my hometown, I had to find out more about him. Well, I was not very successful in searching for info about him. There wasn't much out there. I decided there needed to be a website dedicated to the "unsung hero of his day" so that when other people try to look for information they will be able to find it easier than I did. Thanks for visiting! Feel free to email me!

Wednesday 02/12/2003
City/Country: Andrews, IN
Comments: Hi Marc, enjoyed looking at the site!

Thursday 04/17/2003
City/State: MUNCIE, IN
Comments: Hey Marc, just wanted to let you know that I found this site looking on google!!:)

Monday 04/21/2003
City/State: Virginia Beach, Virginia
Comments: Just browsing by my last name.

Friday 05/23/2003
City/State: Wabash, IN
Comments: WOW! You really did your homework!! I love seeing the pictures of him! Your site is great! (I think it must run in the family!)

City/State: Boise, ID
Comments: Thanks for the memories.

I was acquainted with Jim when I was a high school (Wabash High School) kid back in the early 50's. I was working at a filling station after school and weekends and jim used to hang out there. He was pals with the two owners, a couple of local Korean War vets. I also knew his brother, John, who was a pharmacist at one of the Gackenheimer Drug Stores in Wabash. John eventually opened his own pharmacy on the north side of Wabash.

Whenever I'd appear at a race event where Jim was driving, I'd get his attention and he'd slip me a pit pass through the fence and I'd just walk in. I got to rub shoulders with some of my heros and enjoyed the best "seat" in the house. He did the same for me at the '57 Indy 500 after he'd backed the Helse car into the wall during the race. He just cautioned me to stay safe and out of people's way. Even though Jim crashed out while gaining on the leaders, much to my disappointment, that was my most enjoyable Indy experience, ever.

In' 54, while working as a mechanic at Gus Dorais Chevrolet in Wabash, Jim came on board, working as a salesman. He'd recently gotten married and introduced me to his wife, Carmelita Dodd. Wow! What a knockout! Carmi, as Jim called her, was a minor local celebrity in her own right and had a TV show broadcast from a station in Marion, IN. 19 miles south of Wabash.

I'll always remember Jim as a good looking, well dressed, clean-cut nice guy, which he absolutely was.

Best regards,

Tom Sherping, Boise, Idaho.

P.S. I could recount some other minor anecdotes, but this enough, for now.

(The following are a few more stories that Tom emailed me. I don't know for sure where I will put them, but thought I'd include them here for now...Marc)

I was with Jim at the Salem 1/2 mile paved oval. He'd qualified his own car and was just hanging around when he was approached by another car owner whose driver was unable to run quick enough to make the program. He asked Jim if he'd give it a try. This car was powered by a Chrysler flathead six, of all things! Well, Jim ran it and, sure enough, he made the program with it. After the attempt, Jim rolled into the pits, dead engine. He'd switched it off while still on the track, nudged it into neutral and coasted in. The owner was delighted with the result. Jim's comment was, "What a s**t-box! The throttle stuck open and I couldn't shut off for the corners!"

There are only a few more tales remotely worth telling and they don't necessarily relate to racing, per se. ; just personal glimpses into Jimmy's character. The filling station I referred to earlier was a Texaco one and was located where Miami Street joins Wabash Street, just before the bridge that goes over the river. I have no idea what's there now.

Anyway, one Saturday afternoon Jimmy showed up at the station with his helmet in hand, and a can of some kind of auto body filler. The helmet was pretty beat-up and in dire need of of a bit of cosmetic restoration. This piece of protective headgear was of the type in vogue at the time and was probably made by either Clymer or Cromwell. The British referred to them as "pudding bowls".

So, after clearing a space on a bench in the lube bay, Jimmy set to work. Using a putty knife, he applied sufficient body filler to fill and cover all the gouges, nicks and scratches, and then some. After the stuff had dried and set, it was naturally all lumpy and bumpy, so he applied a file and sandpaper in order to create a smooth, paintable surface. A few hours pass and he's done. Upon completion, Jim presents the helmet for our inspection, "Whaddaya think, guys?" "Jim", answers one, " this thing weighs a ton now!" Another retorts, "Daywalt, this @#%$! thing will break your neck!" Jim countered with, "Well, maybe it'll help to build up my neck muscles." I think the body filler must have been half lead. I don't recall ever having seen that helmet again.

Southside Garage, S.E. corner of Columbus and Vernon. ( I have no idea what's there now, either.)

I wandered in there one day to find Jimmy in the process of repacking a set of wheel bearings. Whose they were, or from what vehicle, I haven't a clue, but here's Jim, nattily attired as usual, with GREASE on his fingers! As I recall, he was wearing tan slacks, a white polo shirt and yellow cardigan. The freshly greased bearings were neatly aligned on a clean shop towel on the bench. I idly picked one up to look at and, OOPS! It squirted out of my hand and landed on the filthy floor. It wasn't a dirt floor, but you couldn't tell by looking. Jim looked at the bearing, and then at me. If looks could kill . . . . I bent down to retrieve the bearing and Jim said, "Never mind.", and then gingerly picked it up between thumb and forefinger and dropped into the solvent bucket. I deserved a royal chewing out, but no. Jimmy Daywalt was truly a gentle man.

Thursday 06/05/2003
City/State: Indianapolis,In.
Comments: I knew Jimmy and Connie when we were teenagers! I also knew Connie's Mom. They were all fine people, and lots of fun to be around! Connie's Mom was a great cook, and always fed me killer food. I hope all is well in their lives. Jack Harrington

Thursday 06/05/2003
City/State: Lafayette In
Comments: Hi! Good site. I first noticed Jimmy at Winchester or Salem in a streched midget with a supercharged offy midget engine. Herb Porter car I believe. Wicked fast. Sat on the pole, Won the race. He was very nice to this kid.