For a serious Legends cars racing fan or driver, "cute" is probably not a term they apply to the 5/8-scale fiberglass cars modeled after NASCAR modifieds. The size of a large golf cart, the tiny replicas of 1934 to 1940 Fords, Dodges and Chevys have the appeal of kittens and puppies. Yet with four-cylinder motorcycle engines like a 125 horsepower, Yamaha FJ 1200 under their hoods, the cars will tear down a track at 85 to 95 miles per hour.
Several weeks ago, Nelson Stewart, father of international racing champion Tony Stewart, picked up his own Legends racer from Bulltown Legends in Kalona - an Infernal Orange mini-replica of a 1937 Chevy Coupe. Its paint job was by CS Autobody on Highway 1, next door to the Legends shop. Stewart was also hauling one of his son's sprint racers, complete with 22 2008 win stickers, to the museum in Knoxville as an on-loan exhibit.
Warren and Denise Ropp of Kalona own Bulltown Legends, the only authorized dealership of the racers in Iowa.
Warren said he was involved with his father's (Ernie Ropp) tractor pulls when he was alive, but afterwards he began looking for something a little faster. He began racing Legends about 14 years ago after an acquaintance introduced him to the sport. A smart salesperson, he made sure Denise also took a turn behind the wheel. Though Warren now consistently competes in Legends competitions, Denise says she only occasionally will take part in a powder puff division.
The closest races are at Davenport, Brooklyn, and Maquoketa, as well as Beaver Dam and Darlington, Wisc.
Bulltown Legends is located south of Kalona on Highway 1 next to CS Autobody. The sponsors for Warren's cars are Farmer's Supply and CS Body Shop in Kalona and Gretter Autoland in Washington.
Warren said as soon as the weather cooperates, they will be completing a 1/5-mile track for customers to have test drives.
The origins of the racing car series began in 1992 at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte, N.C. Officials there were looking for lower-cost racing cars that needed little maintenance.
President and general manager of the track, H.A. "Humpy" Wheeler, along with famed road racing champion Elliott Forbes-Robinson,
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designed the cars after NASCAR modifieds driven by such "legends" as Fireball Roberts, Buck Baker, Curtis Turner, Speedy Thompson and Banjo Matthews.
They are now produced solely by 600 Racing Inc., with more than 3,500 now in existence.
According to littleracecars.com, "To keep expenses at a minimum, Legends drivers are not permitted to make performance-enhancing changes to a Legends car. In the spirit of fair play and open competition, races are determined more by driving skills than anything else. That's what makes Legends Cars so popular around the world."
Warren said one of the car's appeals lies in its affordability.
Strict enforcement of Legends racing rules keeps the costs at a bare minimum. The cars are remain basically the same as when they leave the assembly line, with stringent inspections before racing, which even includes tire sizes.
The tire size and narrow wheels do not allow a driver to utilize all of the power from the engine, thus eliminating the need to spend more money for extra horsepower.
The major expenses between races are for oil, oil filter and about five gallons of gas - provided there is no body damage. Fenders can be quickly repaired with a simple fiberglass repair kit. The bumpers are also cheap, costing about $30. They can often just be repaired with a big hammer.
Like Tony Stewart, says Warren, many racers begin with go-karts and work their way up, which now includes the Legends. For any auto historians driving one of these Legends is a joy. Although they are no DeLoreans, driving one feels like traveling back in time - you just have to make sure to get to 88 MPH.