1950 Kurtis Kraft – Offy midget Vukovich

The diecast brand GMP (Georgia Marketing and Products) in the beginning of 2000s have produced the “Gilmore Stadium Midget Series” set of models in 1/43 scale to commemorate the 50^th anniversary of the Stadium demolishing. The set included a stadium diorama and 5 midget cars of Roger Ward, Danny Oakes, Perry Grimm, Bill Vukovich, and Walt Faulkner, all were sold separately. Vukovich Offy midget is the fourth model in the GMP set.

Bill Vukovich, like many other West Coast drivers of the 1940s – 1960s, began his racing career with midgets. His first midget race recorded in 1938 when he was 19. After the World War II Vukovich won first two  URA (United Midget Racing Association) series’ 1945 and 1946 midget car championships driving Vic Edelbrock’s  Drake-powered Kurtis car. Vukovich won the Turkey Night Grand Prix at Gilmore Stadium in 1948, and also won six of the last eight races held at Gilmore Stadium in 1948 – 1950 before it was closed. In the 1950 Turkey Night Grand Prix he did not qualify for the 150-lap final finishing 9^th in the 25-lapper semifinal. However at this moment he already had the 1950 AAA National Midget Championship in his pocket. In 1950 Vukovich first time appeared in big cars being DNQ at Indy-500. In 1951 he quit midget racing and concentrated on AAA big cars. Vukovich won the Indy-500 twice, in 1953 and 1954, but it was the “old brickyard” where he lost his life in the 1955 Indy-500 race. Vukovich hold the record at Indy where he led 72% of the laps he drove in competition in his 5 starts in 1951-55.

See more details about midget racing and GMP Gilmore Stadium set here.

Season	Series	Event
1950	AAA Midget Nat’l Champiomship	Gilmore Stadium
Driver	No.	Entrant
Bill Vukovich	45	Bill Vukovich
Chassis	Engine	Car Name
Kurtis Kraft	Offenhauser V8-60	Gearhart Spec.
Scale	Manufacturer	Collection
1:43	GMP	Gilmore Stadium Midget Series
Cat. No.	Quality	Rarity
1028 / 7684G