hap sharp

In the first turn of Race 4’s opening lap, Ronnie Hissom’s Lister/Chevy and Emory Cantey’s Porsche 550RS came together, knocking both cars out for the weekend.

Story by Willem Oosthoek, photos by Bob Jackson

Read Part 1

Last week we described the strong October 1959 entry list, at least for an SCCA Regional in the Southwest. Today we’ll have a look how the big modifieds – five Ferraris [two with Chevy engines], one Maserati/Ferrari, three Chevy-engined Listers and a Jaguar/Chevy – performed in the two races scheduled for their class during the 2nd Annual Midland Sports Car Races. Their individual chassis numbers were mentioned previously, so we won’t repeat them.

Local resident and oilman Hap Sharp was instrumental getting the Midland Airpark Races established. Seen here during the October 1959 edition, he is at the wheel of chassis 2432, his hybrid entry: a Maserati 250S with a 3-liter Ferrari Monza engine. It was hot and humid, so in practice Hap tried the use of a rubber air hose to stay cool. It probably did not work too well. It was discarded during the actual races.

Story by Willem Oosthoek
Photos by Bob Jackson

When the name Midland is mentioned, people automatically think of Rattlesnake Raceway, or the more recent Petroleum Museum, which displays the various models of Jim Hall’s Chaparral 2 sports racer. But Jim Hall didn’t even participate when sports car racing began in the early days at Midland, and those activities weren’t held at Rattlesnake Raceway, which did not exist yet.