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hawk22
Joined: 28 Jan 2018 Posts: 309 Location: Northern Virginia
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Posted: Thu Jan 14, 2021 1:40 pm Post subject: Junk Yard Special |
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Its 1957. After watching the races from his perch in a pine tree at the Jacksonville Speedway, 19 year old LeeRoy Yarbrough was ready to give it a try. Had (free) access to a local salvage yard, and this is what he came up with. Got the maxium horsepower out of that little flathead engine (he was a very good mechanic) and actually won his first time out. I think he picked "0" as the car number as that represented the amount of cash he had
invested in this car.
Anyway the rest is history until his untimely (but not surprising) death Dec. 7, 1984...
Took a few liberties with the model. Really it should be painted yellow, black & rust !!!
It's a Revell 1940 Ford (has nice detail) and a rattlecan paint job. The #0 is done with a
red sharpie.
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hemiman_1999
Joined: 29 Jan 2018 Posts: 296
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Posted: Fri Jan 15, 2021 8:24 am Post subject: |
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Great Model I love the history you provided with it... I will build my own copy of this.... Great Model Thanks For Building it and Thanks for Posting it for all to see. |
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MarkJ
Joined: 29 Jan 2018 Posts: 1321
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Posted: Fri Jan 15, 2021 8:33 am Post subject: |
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Excellent replica. Always pulled for Lee Roy. |
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Racer14
Joined: 13 Feb 2018 Posts: 283 Location: Rockford, IL
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Posted: Fri Jan 15, 2021 9:06 am Post subject: |
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You really do a great job with these Lee Roy builds. Keep them coming! |
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Henryjint
Joined: 28 Jan 2018 Posts: 1983 Location: NY State's Hudson Valley
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Posted: Fri Jan 15, 2021 9:17 am Post subject: |
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Very cool build!!! _________________ Forum member since 10/25/2010 |
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sentsat71
Joined: 03 Feb 2018 Posts: 1237 Location: Fenton, IA
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Posted: Fri Jan 15, 2021 9:38 am Post subject: |
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WOW!!!
_________________ Ed. K |
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hawk22
Joined: 28 Jan 2018 Posts: 309 Location: Northern Virginia
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Posted: Sat Jan 16, 2021 8:00 am Post subject: |
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hemiman_1999 wrote: | Great Model I love the history you provided with it... I will build my own copy of this.... Great Model Thanks For Building it and Thanks for Posting it for all to see. |
All of these Leeroy models have been done for a friend in Florida who was a personal friend of Leeroy’s & his family. Leeroy has a sister & a brother still living in Jacksonville.
Sometimes our memory is not as realistic as the photos that turn up years later. Most of the models are built with a combination of both while trying to keep the cost down (done around 25 of theses in 10 months!!!)
But I expect the “0” did look nice it’s first time out & the photo was probably toward the end of its racing life as Leeroy proved himself and got rides in top modifies of the era...
I was also a big fan of Leeroy’s & saw him race when he was an unknown & followed his career to the end... |
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sentsat71
Joined: 03 Feb 2018 Posts: 1237 Location: Fenton, IA
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Posted: Sat Jan 16, 2021 8:12 am Post subject: |
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Have been liking all these builds of Lee Roy in his early racing career.
Folkowed his NASCAR career in the pages of Stock Car Racing magazine, especially his stellar year in 1969...Have always wondered what happened to his wife, Gloria(?) and their son.... _________________ Ed. K |
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hawk22
Joined: 28 Jan 2018 Posts: 309 Location: Northern Virginia
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Posted: Sat Jan 16, 2021 10:00 am Post subject: |
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sentsat71 wrote: | Have been liking all these builds of Lee Roy in his early racing career.
Have always wondered what happened to his wife, Gloria(?) and their son.... |
Gloria was Jacksonville white trash. After splitting with Leeroy she became a total alcoholic. But she was popular with the guys during Leeroy’s best years. Referred to as “sweet thing”...
There son died young, some form of cancer as I recall. I was told the details but can’t remember them to say much more. Was never involved in racing as far as I know. 2003 at age 36.
Sad ending for Leeroy & his family.
But his sister Evelyn is well, a good friend of my friend in Jacksonville.
Brother Eldon, who was a good driver in modified & sportsman cars, is still a Jacksonville resident. But seldom communicates with anyone after the death of his wife. |
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sentsat71
Joined: 03 Feb 2018 Posts: 1237 Location: Fenton, IA
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Posted: Sun Jan 17, 2021 7:35 am Post subject: |
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Thanks for the info, hawk22 _________________ Ed. K |
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Horrorshow
Joined: 19 Dec 2021 Posts: 55
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Posted: Thu May 26, 2022 6:24 pm Post subject: |
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Very cool build and a history lesson too. Those old race cars are so cool. Thanks for sending me to this link. |
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