The Purdy deuce Scroll this page!
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Unfortunatly,it all came to an end in Tulsa Oklahoma on July 14th 1966 when
he was fatally injured in his heat race. A little side bar,the reason Ronnie could take so much time off from his job to race was because he had an understanding boss-John Casey!! of Casey Trucking. After Lux's death,Purdy tried many drivers including Bob Smith,Ron Wallace,Jim Gresley and Art Bennett But it was the young New England driver that Ron Lux himself had recommended, Bentley Warren that had what it took to make the deuce a winner again. For the 1969 season, the deuce was re-worked with parts from an ex-Indy roadster that Jim Smoker from Buffalo once drove at Oswego. Smokers son Ron is now running USAC midgets. From that point on-Andy Brown, Warren Coniam and Jimmy Winks
all drove it with Winks being the last. I read an article a couple of years
ago that said the car to this day sits in the back of Howard Purdy's Ford
dealership in Gowanda N.Y. He has been approched by the Sprint Car Hall of
Fame in Knoxville about a complete restoration and permenant display. He says the car will never be sold. In the same article, Bentley Warren said and quote; "I think if Howard freshened the car up and brought it to Oswego,I could put it in the top 10". You know what ? I believe it!!