The Montana 500

Driver Profile: Perry & Ted Mathews

by Tom Canegie

Perry Mathews was from Helena Mt. He was a voc-ed teacher teaching Diesel mechanics. He first raced a model T in the Montana 500 in 1969. At that time he ran in the cast iron division. In 1973 he won the cast iron division.

In 1976 he switched over to aluminum and came in fifth.

In 1980 his son Ted joined him in the endurance run. They both ran until 1982.

For 1983 the Association decided to try 11/16" restrictor plates between the carburetor and the intake manifold on a one-year trial basis.

Perry Mathews won that year, so when they voted to make the use of restrictor plates permanent, Perry Mathews' hand was the first one up.

In the fall of 1984 the sudden passing of Perry saddened us. While out hunting he suffered a fatal heart attack. Ted continued to run off and on until 1993.

Ted still lives in Helena.