I think an Offy is one of the greatest sounding engines of all time.

My Dad raced midgets at Ascot in the 60s, this brings back a lifetime of memories. I've only got 1 picture of my Dad in his midget and it is hanging proudly in my garage. ;-)

Absolutely fascinating. The fact that this car has not only survived intact but stayed in the family is remarkable. A great piece of American automotive history.

His grandfather finished an impressive 4th in his only Indy 500 start. (From 25th)

@dannycalley7777

2 жыл бұрын

T.55 ..............thanks for the extra !!!!!!!!.........I was wondering

I love the history. You don't have to drive everything for us. That scrapbook was fabulous. I remeber going to Williams Grove, PA Saturday night in my teenage years to watch those kind of cars race on dirt. I remember they used to wet the track down and then start the race and we used to stand behind the screens in the end areas and boy did the mud fly.

The driver was a combo roll bar/driver all rolled into one.

@dannycalley7777

2 жыл бұрын

RB ..................thank God for technology ?????

I live less than 100 yards from the Milwaukee mile! It is fun to watch them test cars!

@williambarry8015

3 ай бұрын

Bet them flat track bikes are insane to watch.

how can you sell a piece of family history like that?

@Esubalol

7 жыл бұрын

they must really need the money, i suppose. i'd never lay a hand on such a piece of not only family history, but motor racing history as a whole

@20alphabet

7 жыл бұрын

Because it's meaningless to the grandchildren.

@spoeny

7 жыл бұрын

roywhiteo5 Maybe they don't have the time or money to restore it and they just want to see it in good hands and running? And family history is about people, not things.

@magisterartium

7 жыл бұрын

Americans and history don't match.

@neilb6933

7 жыл бұрын

spoeni this. Why let a good car or bike rot away? Let someone with the means and facilities appreciate it.

As a professional Sicilian, I found the pronunciation of Marchese in this video strange. Both Jay and David pronounced it "Mar-cheese-ee". But I'm pretty sure that back in Sicily, they said "Mar-kay-zee". But what a cool bunch of racers those Marchese guys were!

I love open wheel racers from back then, this example is a beauty.

Dear Mr. Jay, I loved this video, watched three times in a row. Love the story, LOVE the old stuff. (The no roll cage is freaky)

Come on Jay, buy the car and restore it. Let's hear it run.

@USARAY1947

7 жыл бұрын

Nah, it's much nicer in it's as-raced condition. It's only original once.

@TheJerry834

7 жыл бұрын

USARAY1947 A car will only degrade if left unattended. If you respect the car you will take care of it and make sure it stays alive.

@USARAY1947

7 жыл бұрын

I agree, but maintaining a car is different than restoring it.

@TheCamaro5

7 жыл бұрын

it just needs to be maintained not restored. Its a race car not a high dollar collectable. Peice of history, dont need to restore it and wipe all that history away.

@TheJerry834

7 жыл бұрын

USARAY1947 I think that's what the guy meant, he just wants to have it run. Didn't Mr.Leno mention it having leaky seals? Changing seals imo is a maintenance procedure and I believe collectors wouldn't mind not having "original" seals (as if they had not been changed at least once before.. it is a race car after all).

Come on Jay buy it!

There is a guy in Melbourne, Australia who restores these old Midgets......awesome piece of history.

Jay, THANK YOU for all the videos! As a third generation car-guy, I grew up with the days of the Roaring Roadsters, the ARA and CRA with my Dad and grandfather very active in Arizona and Southern California racing. Grandfather was Vice Pres. of CRA when Walt James was Pres. As a kid I heard all the guys in the race shop talk about who did what and plenty of names were spoken. When it came to the Marchese Brothers, ALL the guys in the shop pronounced it MAR-Cheesey. If all the guys raced with and knew the brothers, seems to me that is how it is pronounced. Leave it alone.. As for the car, this thing is beautiful like it is! NO one should EVER "restore it" And true, if the engine is "pickled" and all fluids drained, it will not take much to freshen it up and go. I tell all my car-guys that have cars to either run and DRIVE them once a month for at least 20 minutes for warm up all systems and get moisture OUT, or dont run them at all. What Jay and David did not explain is the starting procedure for this car and most ALL dirt midgets and sprint cars is, they do not have a starter. YOU have to get pushed off by a "Push Truck" or other vehicle that has a nice BIG push bumper. They also did not explain the brakes very well. this car has 4-wheel brakes, but there is a valve to shut off the front brakes so only the rear will lock. This is all part of what is necessary to push-off the car to start. I have been writing too dang much here so I will cut out a lot of explanation. BUT a short few notes may help----- After Push-Off and the engine fires--- and is running.. The Alcohol does not like cold engines so, you have to allow some warm up before you can much much throttle to it. All this take some time, space, and feel to get the car on step... This is why you just cant start it up once in a while. For More info, go watch a vintage dirt car race... Dont just blast out an opinion without some background. Yep, I grew up around the Arizona Gang-- Look them up... Yes, I drove these cars.... My last midget was a Kurtis Chassis Spring front/parallel bar rear, Chevy II powered, Algon Injected with a Hilborn pump. My first car was a Walberg 1/4 midget when I was 5 years old. Been there done that-- And still can-- Was just asked if I wanted a seat in an offset super modified... I have an early track roadster that is almost done, kind of a build like the one my Dad ran in 1950. And I have another dirt car in the race trailer.

Loved it...hopefully there are more stories like this out there that come your way and you can share.

Love these old midgets, with their Offy's, or v8-60s- or anything touched by people like Miller, or Frank Curtis- midgets, old Indycars, road cars, salt flats, etc.

@davidfast3511

4 жыл бұрын

I have the Solar V8-60 midget that my Dad raced in the 40's and 50's. Things would have to get pretty tough before I'd consider selling it.

fantastic history, man they dudes were flyin' back in the day.

BANG! I die with this great bonus! Thanks for sharing this kind of things Jay, we appreciate them too.

Cool ... fostering interest and respect for creativity in combination with a solid work ethic through generations .... not to mention a great love of family .... like I said ... cool ..Thanks Jay.

the marchese that raced this is my great uncle, my grandmothers brother. cool to see this legacy move on.

That was very fascinating thanks jay keep up the amazing work that you are doing can't wait to see what you do next time

Hey Jay, love your videos. I would love to see what else you got going on around the garage, so keep dishing them out.

A perfect car to drive through the small streets of Amsterdam or Paris, it's even better looking and faster than a smart car!

I'm so glad I found this channel and really appreciate how Jay is keen to share his collection with the world. Keep them coming!

@Schpoople

7 жыл бұрын

Mighty Poo there's so much to see!

@enticingearlobe1116

7 жыл бұрын

Mighty Poo thats not part of his collection

Love the scrapbook and history!

What a great Family and racing history!

8:29 Cedarburg Races... another track that's still (mostly) there. Where the Milwaukee Mile was modernized and paved and hosted NASCAR and IndyCar, Cedarburg's Fireman's Park as its known now hosts demolition derbies, truck pulls, and recently (last night, in fact) a monster truck show. Most of the track is grown over and used for parking, but the original main grandstand is still there, and some of the front stretch is still used for the aforementioned events.

When my dad was a young man he used to race cars like this until my mom made him quit racing...but I remember going to the local dirt oval track and watching the races and just goofing off around the track...so these cars are a part of my personal experience...I still have a soft spot for'em...thanks for doing this show I love it

@paskajaakko3965

Жыл бұрын

.................

My papa raced dirt track motorcycles in the 50's, we have awesome pictures and articles just like in that scrap book! I love those old pictures and articles from racing back then, I'd always looked up to my papa and it definitely got me into motorcycles. The main reason I wanted to comment though was my papa always looked up to the midget racers, most of his racing buddies were midget racers not dirt track motorcycle racers. Somewhere around here I have articles on the midget racers he knew, mostly crashes unfortunately, but young guys giving it all they had and alot of them had all they had taken by that sport. I had always thought it was extreme racing on a stripped down Harley or Indian on dirt with no brakes but when even those guys thought the midget racers were the next level you know it was an extreme sport. Nowadays we have the X games, and Rally is still insane, but these guys weren't trying to be daredevils, they were just trying to win relatively small circuits but were racing as hard or harder than guys with Rockstar or Monster sponsorships today. Just crazy to think about.. My hat is off to all those racers. Oh and DON'T sell that car!!! I'd keep that thing in the family, I would love to have more than pictures of just one of my papas dirt track bikes.

Love the IN-N-OUT burger reference... Thanks Jay!!!

Thanks Jay! keep the videos coming!

Nice piece of history. Thanks Jay.

Awesome video thanks for sharing Jay.

great piece of racing history with a curtis tie-in as well. i love it! it's too bad mr. salvaggio can't buy the car from his mother to keep it in the family.

where can i find one to drive and race today? I love the open wheel cars, i grew up watching them and seeing them in the movies. to me they are the real racing cars the first rally cars.

That toy car could do 140?! How did they fit their massive balls into that tiny cockpit?

@davidfast3511

4 жыл бұрын

I own one and was shocked how fast it was the first time that I drove it.

Very cool love seeing and hearing history like this 👏👏👏👍😆

Looks like a fun little vehicle to drive around town. :)

Thank you for your videos

He should sell it to Jay. He would soon have it up and running. The young fella didn't seem to know a lot about the car or about that scrapbook. Give Jay a couple of weeks with that car and that scrapbook and you'll know more about that car than that kid ever will. That scrapbook is really valuable really goes with the car.

@TheJerry834

7 жыл бұрын

MichaelKingsfordGray An anonymous person... ON THE INTERNET? OH NO WHYYYY THIS IS TOTALLY UNSAFE. EVERYONE PUT THEIR FACES AND NAMES ALL OVER THE WEB ASAP

@scottgolden2766

6 жыл бұрын

Jay would be a great owner if not the best person to sell it to. To bad the are selling it but we don't know the circumstances or reason it's for sale

Great Classic Car here..!! I love old cars....!!! 👌😀👍🚘🚗

I saw these race at the Knox County IL Fair numerous times in the 50s. Folks in the first turn stands would get peppered with mud balls as the cars went by.

I find it interesting that Jay even tells the viewers that the car is for sale. I would assume that Jay would pull the trigger right away on such vehicles not only because he loves cars and can afford them but also due to the history of the car.

That was an extremely deadly era of racing. Not many drivers died of old age back then. Harry Miller copied a French Indy car engine, Peugeot I believe, for his engines. The head and bores were one piece, so there was no head bolts or gasket. This allowed the ports to be unobstructed and they made good hp. Miller made and designed his own carburetors also, or maybe Leo Gossen did that for him. Miller was the most prolific designer of race cars of all time, Roger Penske is a piker beside Harry. Unfortunately Harry died almost penniless. His engine design was winning races for decades and decades.

Jay, you should buy it! This thing is wicked cool.

Such a cool little piece!

Absolutely heartbreaking to see that you're selling this piece of family history....I've seen this happen in my own family as well as myself....my heart goes out to you and your family....peace and love from America....maybe Jay will buy it and save it for you....

Yes, the Miwaukee Mile still exists. Although it is no longer a dirt track. It is now surrounded by the Wisconsin State Fair Park. There aren't many races held there anymore ever since NASCAR left but it still gets used every now and again.

W0W! What some History there is with this race car. If that was in my family it would never be sold for any reason(s). Jay couldn't even afford it.... he-he. ; )

I rode the bus to school in El Cajon, California in the mid-70's and the bus driver's name was Mr. Marchese. We used to sing Beatles songs and the one we always sang to the tune of "Yellow Submarine" was, "We all live in Marchese's yellow bus, Marchese's yellow bus, Marchese's yellow bus!" Wonder if Mr. Marchese was related?

That name is very familiar to most race fans of your age, Jay. There was a PePe Marchese that was critically injured in a midget at Eldora in the 1980's. If I remember, he also raced with a prosthetic foot. Midgets had their zenith in popularity right after WW2 but they are still extremely popular even today. It is almost mandatory for anyone who wants to be a professional racer to spend time in one. Every winter in Tulsa between 200 and 300 midgets show up for a 5 day indoor race called the Chili Bowl. It is one of the most prestigious dirt car races anywhere. Past winners include Sammy Swindell, 5 times, Kevin Swindell, 4 times in a row, Kory Kruseman, Jay Drake, Tony Stewrt, Dave Blaney, Rich Vogler and others that would just make the list too long.

It's like a little spaceship

COOL 1947 Marchese Special - Jay Leno's Garage

Crashes but Escapes! Amazing stuff. He's smiling at Death.

Jay, I love your channel, (edit) love old dirt cars too. Sorry if my post was harsh. Keep up the good work!

i'm with half the comments section, jay should buy it and restore it, that odd little car would fit right in amongst all the other odd cars he has. cmon jay, new project!

Jay there seems to be a LOT of calls here for YOU to buy the SalvaggioMarchese car yourself. I believe that would be a GREAT idea !

@20alphabet

7 жыл бұрын

If the car actually had any value Jay would've already bought it.

@spoeny

7 жыл бұрын

20alphabet Jay doesn't buy cars because they are valuable, he's not a car broker, he's a car guy.

@jameshay7247

7 жыл бұрын

He probably already owns a midget racer.

@SirVic42

7 жыл бұрын

I don't think he can fit into it! It's clearly the kind of car he loves, one with a deep story behind it. Probably belongs in a museum of some sorts, possibly an Italian-American Immigrant Museum?

@20alphabet

7 жыл бұрын

+spoeni Value of ANY kind, o simple one.

It's asymmetrical too; body offset to the left for oval track racing. Amazing to me that they didn't use a foot operated brake. I mean, how hard could it be!?!

I would buy a copy of that scrapbook!

More coolness from Jay.

Just WHO IN THE HELL clicks thumbs down on these videos? The videos are great!

You shouldn't advertise it Jay, you should buy it. You are the right kind of collector to preserve this cars history and maybe get it on the track a few more times.

I have the Solar V8-60 midget that my Dad raced in the 40's and 50's. Things would have to get pretty tough before I'd consider selling it.

real cool to see an offy in the garage, jay! specially in a midget.

So many reg. Jay fans might skip past this seemingly uninteresting sit-down. Please, re-call the passion Jay shows about any old car you like, his work with veterans, giving vehicles to returning kids with medical issues, etc. Jay leno does so many other good things for people beyond those few examples. Here you have a lady with a story, and Jay is all ears. True to Jay's form, they go for a ride. GREAT video!!!!

That's like the coolest go kart ever

Thx for posting.

Should've shown a clip of midget racing. I had to look it up, ended up watching midget boxing, midget basketball, etc. haha.

I love this guy, he's soft spoken & humble. You'd never know he came from racing heritage, unlike some blow-hard Porsche owner who thinks because his uncle had a 356 that he's got racing in his bloodlines!...yes, Jay should buy it or at least put this guy in touch with someone who can appreciate it.

Too bad you couldnt drive it! Awesome car

Jay, car has your name written all over, you got room

I want one. 💟

Was waiting for jay to drive it tbh

Dirt track midget racing on 1/4 mile tracks was a huge sport in southern Calif in the 1930s thru the 1950s. The new invention TV, killed midget racing in LA. Hollywood made several movies about dirt track midget racing....stars in those movies included Clark Gable, Micky Rooney, Abbott and Costello.

I forgot to mention the cars on the track didn't have transmissions or even flywheels..let alone a drive line the rear engine stub shaft coupled through a u joint into the locked rear-end...the cars were push start and you killed it with the brakes...magneto ignition my dad's car had a willy's frame and engine...one time a car with a Flathead ford v8 blew the rods and the pistons made nice round holes in the hood.

Hi Jay - be great to get a video on your Citroën SM in the background and it's Maserati engine.

As much as I am a fan of Miller's, he was wrenching on Peugeots ( 4 valves per cyl, OHC etc) in his youth, employed as a mechanic. so he borrowed as well. And drivers preferred to be thrown clear in lieu of getting crushed and burning to death.

thank s great video from the non computer era :)

very under rated channel

it was this history that inspired me to keep a 1781cc liquid boxer..

Hello, Jay. As always, your KZread videos are well done, informative and enjoyable. I've seen every one, most of them multiple times. Keep 'em coming! I do have one suggestion, not with the videos themselves, but with the advertising. Ever since you've introduced T-Mobile as one of your advertisers, I've had issues with my Blue Ray player locking up. It doesn't do it with any other advertiser. Once the commercial finishes, it just hangs there, instead of continuing with the show. I have to reset the Blue Ray player and skip the video. I wonder if I'm the only one experiencing issues? Perhaps, there may be others. At any rate, love your show!

Could you do a video in your Citröen SM ?

I wouldn't be able to stop myself from dressing as the Monopoly guy when driving it.

Awesome car!

go ahead and buy jay. at least it will stay together and not be changed

jay I know you have many cool trucks in your collection. Can you do some trucks soon????

Yes Jay, the Milwaukee Mile still exists. Had to laugh at that.

cool episode

I keep on spying the SM and DS in the background . . . you ever going to complete the set with a Traction, a 2CV and a HY?

He should keep the car in the family. That is his family's history and also automobile history. Peace, Flood!

IM A BIT OLDER THAN YOU JAY,I RACED THE MIDGETS IN NORTH CAL IN THE 50S ,THEY WERE FAST AND DANGEROUS BUT SO MUCH FUN..HOPE YOU RECOBER FROM YOUR ACCIDENT JAY

I think I met one of The brothers because my dad pointed him out to me and we had a nice little chat. It had to have been before August of 1976.because my father died then. But that is a different story.

Jay - buy it. You won't fit, but buy it any way - Let's see it run :)

jay buy that car .. its a perfect candidate for the collection .. come on now

awesome

II saw this in the background a few weeks ago. Engine should be I believe 110 ci. Classic Speedway is quite a big thing in the US as well as here in Oz. In the day the Offy was the gun engine up too the early 70s when they were being beaten by VW and Chevy2s and Sescos [half a 327 Chev] I run a 68 built Supermodified in Classic spirited demonstrations. Here in Oz at least there is classic solo bikes, sidecars, Three Quarter Midgets [500cc engine] Midgets / Speedcars [caged and uncaged], Heavy stockcars, Supermodifieds and pre 84 Sprintcars

Jay, could you add an active link to that website here please?

Jay, come-on you totally need to buy that car! you can't pass that up!

C'mon Jay ..... Add it to your collection !!! . 😎😎