Historic Photos

Our extensive library of Historic Photos came from a number of sources, and some were kind enough to share the story.

These three pictures are credited to Bob Tullius.

Kas Kastner writes “Russell Tullius, Bob’s son sent me some photos of the time when Mike Rothschild and his wife and I were on our way to LeMans by car from Paris, this is 1963. We stopped in a little town and bought food and then went into a forest and had a picnic.”

Kas – the man with the bagettes
Mike Rothschild – Red tie, his wife Hanne in yellow dress
Other couple, unknown

Sebring – 1957 – Courtesy of Robert Johns

Bob Johns took this photo at the start of the 1957 event. He and Mike drove #34 to a class win. The Record books are incorrect and will be changed. You will notice that #33 is already moving and way ahead of the field passing the Ferraris. # 34 Mike Rothschild is still buckling up.

Robert Johns (in Glasses behind the Trophy) and Mike Rothschild (with right hand holding same) share in the 1957 class win. Bob Oker (stiped shirt) and Ed Pennybacker beside and to the right. Ken Richardson on far left. Alan Bethel is the face behind Rothschild.

This plaque was given to Rothschild/Johns by the Triumph Factory Representative, Alan Bethel. The original Bowls awarded them at Sebring went to the UK to Standard Motors. Their whereabouts unknown.

Pits 1957
Bottom row, from L to R – Bob Oker, Ed Pennybacker, Mike Rothschild, Bob Johns
Top row, from L to R – Alan Bethel, Hanne Rothschild (Mikes wife.. one of the first ladies allowed into the pits). Others are unknown to me.

Bob Oker, #33, leading the pack at the start. He drove the car 11 hours 6 minutes out of 12 hours! He was teamed with Ed Pennypacker.

Sebring Triumph 1959 Independent Entry – Submitted by Doug Ross, 2001
(editors note – Doug passed away in January, 2003)

Here are some photos taken at Sebring at the 12-hour race in 1959. I worked for a TR dealer, Annapolis Motors in the Washington DC area from ’57 through ’64.

In the early part of 1959 my boss and the owner of a suburban area TR dealership, called United Motors, agreed to jointly enter a car in the ’59 race. The car, a 1958 TR3A was rebuilt from one that had been damaged on board ship on its way to the US. The engine came from an earlier car in which the prior E production champion Harold Hurtley, had been killed in a race at Lime Rock late in 1958. It was built at RC Automotive, Alexandria Va., an engine modification machine shop where coincidentally, I had worked prior to Annapolis Motors.

Originally they had hoped for some serious backing from the factory but, in the end, with the exception of about 4 sets of wheels and tires, we were pretty much on our own. (These were flown in to Tampa the day before the race}

The original drivers were to be Charlie Kolb and Gaston Andre, both of whom were E modified drivers at the time but had previously driven Triumphs. The pit crew consisted of the service manager of United, one Archie Archibald, myself and a couple of mechanics from each dealership. In addition we had the usual group of suspects who helped out in many different ways in order to get the free trip to the races.

Here are some photos that I have from this race and will try to tell you something about each one. As all this occurred some 40+ years ago I can’t guarantee complete accuracy but I’ll do my best.