by Tom Carnegie
For the fiftieth Montana 500 we decided to retrace the original 1961 route. The original run was from Missoula to Fairview, so the fiftieth was from Fairview to Missoula. Sunday was inspection day. We met at Fairview where the town folk had a no host lunch set up. On Monday we met in North Dakota. Since we had to run through Sidney under time, we decided to skirt the city on a truck route. This route was longer than driving through town and was mostly 25 MPH. The route through town was shorter, but had several traffic lights. It was explained to all drivers that they were required to drive the truck route. Even though, several drivers cut the corner and went straight through town and gained an advantage of several minutes on the cars that followed the correct route. A discussion was held and the directors decided to throw out the first leg and start over again. The first car at the end of the scrapped first leg was Sergio Hernandez, with Garrett Green right behind him. Here are the times of the first leg, for those who are interested: Sergio Hernandez 1:03:44 Garrett Green 1:03:51 Sheridan "Sonny" Bishop 1:06:01 Mike Stormo 1:06:24 Bill Mullins 1:07:39 Tom Carnegie 1:07:40 Nan Robison 1:07:58 Mark "Hutch" Hutchinson 1:08:04 Doug Langel 1:08:15 Jillian Robison 1:09:26 Rick Carnegie 1:09:28 Mike Cuffe 1:12:23 Mike Robison 1:14:40 Ed "Skeeter" Carlson 1:18:16 Glen Mc Donald 1:22:40 Dave Huson 1:24:46
We started fresh with the second leg. It was a short run of twenty-five miles from Richey to Circle. Second leg results: Mike Stormo 0:30:21 Garrett Green 0:30:25 Mike Robison 0:31:02 Nan Robison 0:31:04 Sergio Hernandez 0:31:06 Tom Carnegie 0:31:10 Rick Carnegie 0:31:50 Bill Mullins 0:31:54 Sheridan "Sonny" Bishop 0:32:04 Mark "Hutch" Hutchinson 0:32:12 Doug Langel 0:32:14 Jillian Robison 0:32:27 Mike Cuffe 0:33:59 Ed "Skeeter" Carlson 0:35:00 Dave Huson 0:37:06 Glen Mc Donald 0:38:55
(Actual) leg three (counted leg two) was from Circle to Jordan. About 62 miles. On this leg Stormo, Langel and Huson all broke down. Stormo, stuck valve. Langel, Rod. Huson, head gasket. Stormo would later get back in, but Huson and Langel were done. The first column will be (actual) leg three results, the second the total through (actual) leg three. From this point on I will refer to the legs by their counted number only.
Leg three was from Circle to Winnett, 74 miles. Again, the first column is the time for the leg, the second is the overall time. At Winnett, Stormo removed his cylinder head and assessed his stuck valve. We gassed up at the local stop and the folks there reminisced about the last time we had come through.
Leg four was from Winnett to Lewistown, 52 miles was the last of day one. We spent the night at the Yogo Inn.
Leg five began on day two. Stormo was repaired and back in. This leg was from Lewistown to Stanford, 43 miles.
Next leg was from Stanford to the construction at Belt, 37 miles. On this leg Green had a flat tire.
The last leg of day two was from Vaughn to Lincoln, 74 miles. It was very rainy on this leg. Hutch backed out because of engine noise and Jillian and Skeeter both lost rods. Mullins stopped to replace a coil.
The last leg was on day three. 69 miles from Lincoln to Bonner, just outside of Missoula. We were joined by Mike Cain who had trouble getting his car to the run. Jillian repaired her rod and was back in. Tom Carnegie had a bad leg and Nan Robison had a good one. It was good enough to put her on top.
Cars that did not complete the entire route's position is based on the number of miles completed, under time.
Ed Towe started the Montana 500 in 1961. He was on hand to flag us out in North Dakota and also to flag us in in Missoula. In the background is a camera from a film crew that was on hand making a documentary of the fiftieth running of the Montana 500.
President Mike Robison talking to George Fitzgerald during the lunch stop on day one. George ran in the first run in 1961.
The hardworking timer girls. Jackie Stormo and Susie Carnegie.
Mike Cuffe drove his T all of the way to North Dakota, then ran the entire run, all without a support vehicle. He had no problems.
