Murrell Belanger
 1945 baseball team |
 1950 |
 Belanger Special, 1950 |
 1951 winning car |
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This article comes from the Lowell Tribune, May 24, 1951, page 1:
Lowell’s Representative in Memorial Day “500”
- Murrell Belanger’s “Belanger Special” is still one of the top qualifiers in the Indianapolis “500” but lost the speed record for 4-cylinder racers when Walt Faulkner, in an Agajanian-Grant Piston Special set a new track record for all cars by qualifying for the big race with a speed of 136.872 miles per hour last Saturday.
- Lee Wallard qualified the local entry a week ago Saturday with 135.039 the same day that Duke Nalon set the high mark for big cars with 136.498 in a Novi Special. However, the Belanger Special retains its front row position for the race next Wednesday.
- The final starters will be picked this week-end to bring the field of 33 and some of those who have already made the grade will no doubt be bumped by the late-comers.
- Track experts still consider the Belanger Special one of the favorites and if it is able to finish, should end up in one of the lead spots.
- A large following of Lowell fans will be on hand to see the local entry make its bid for “fame and fortune.”
From the May 31, 1951 Lowell Tribune (page 1, columns 3-4):
Belanger Special Wins Indianapolis “500”
- The “fame and fortune” plus an added shot of glory which Murrell Belanger, local implement dealer and owner of the Crown Point Chrysler-Plymouth Sales, has been competing for in the big race of the year, finally came his way after several years of trying.
- Yesterday his Belanger Special, powered with a 4-cylinder Meyer and Drake Offenhauser motor, with Lee Wallard of Altamont, N.Y. at the wheel, set a terrific pace in the Indianapolis “500” to win the annual classic with the record-smashing average of 126.244 miles per hour. The old mark of slightly over 124 mph was set last year when the race was stopped at the end of 345 miles.
- Only eight of the starting field of 33 cars were able to finish the grueling grind and none of the final winners were heavy favorites to cop the big prize.
- Wallard, a veteran driver at 40, became eligible for the thrilling drive down “Victory Lane” in his fourth attempt in the “500” to join the select circle of winners. He lost the lead only for a short time in the race and finished far ahead of the second place winner.
- This year’s winner received the major share of Speedway and accessory awards totalling over $200,000 and in addition was given the new Chrysler convertible pace car and presented the Borg-Warner trophy by movie star Loretta Young in traditional ceremonies in “Victory Lane” immediately after the race.
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- Also “up in the clouds” with Owner Belanger and his driver are the pit crew – –
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- , George Salih,
- and Howard Meeker, who spent long hours in the second floor workshop of the Belanger Farm Equipment Co. on Mill St., preparing No. 99 for its record-breaking victory.
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- Unlike the fans of old Mudville when the mighty Casey struck out, racing enthusiasts in Lowell and the entire county are joining in the chorus of cheers for the champion of the world’s most publicized sporting event.
THE WINNER!
Lee Wallard, 40-year-old driver of the Belanger Special, who broke the speed record for the “500,” remarked of the Lowell entry: “It’s a honey of a car!”
This article, hand-identified as being from the August 28, 1952, issue of the Tribune, was found in a scrapbook owned by Towh Historian Richard Schmal:
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- The famous No. 99, owned by Murrell Belanger, is the only world champion racer in the first 100 years of Lowell’s history. Built and prepared for all its races in the second floor machine shop of the Belanger Farm Equipment Co. on Mill Street, the $45,000 racer took first money and trophy in 9 out of 14 races over the country in 1951 to pile up a huge total of points and win the coveted championship.
Belanger, a Lowell and Crown Point business man, was given a huge reception both here and in the county seat where he was presented trophies by racing notables.
Lee Wallard of Alton, New York, drove the car to victory in the 500 on Memorial Day but suffered severe burns in a race in Pennsylvania a week later while driving another car, and Tony Bettenhausen of Tinley Park, Ill., finished the season in 99.
1951 Record of No. 99
Indianapolis, 500 mile — First
Milwaukee, 100 mile — First
Langhorn, Pa., 100 mile — First
Darlington, S.C., 100 mi. — Second
Milwaukee, 200 mile — Tenth
Springfield, Ill., 100 mile — First
DuQuoin, Ill., 100 mile — First
DuQuoin, Ill., 200 mile — First
Syracuse, N.Y., 100 mile — First
Detroit, Mich., 100 mile — Fourth
Denver, Colo., 100 mile — First
San Josea, Calif., 100 mile — First
Phoenix, Ariz., 100 mile — Thirteenth
Bay Meadows, Calif., 150 mile — Second
The following article comes from the April 28, 1955, Lowell Tribune :
BELANGER ENTERS INDIANAPOLIS “500”
- Murrell Belanger, Lowell and Crown Point businessman and sportsman, who has had cars in Indianapolis “500” races since the late 30’s has again entered the world famous Memorial Day Event.
- Belanger has won only once in all those years, in 1951, however, his cars have finished in the money many times.
- Art Cross of LaPorte will drive this year’s entry, No. 99, a Belanger special, marking his third try for the winner’s trophy in the big race.
- No. 99 is now in California, but will arrive here next week to be finished up before the time trials start May 14.
This article, accompanied by a photo, was on the front page of the May 12, 1955, Lowell Tribune:
Belanger’s No. 99 Ready for Indianapolis Time Trials
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- Frenchy” Sirois, mechanic, is shown behind the wheel of Murrell Belanger’s brand new No. 99 which was completed last Friday well ahead of the May 14 deadline for the Indianapolis “500” time trials.
- , head mechanic looks on with approval at another job well done. Assembling and testing of the new racer was done in the special shop on the second floor of the Belanger Farm Equipment Co. on Mill street.
- Art Cross of LaPorte, who will drive this year’s entry in the big event, will be making his third start on the Indianapolis oval. In a preliminary warmup this week the new car was clocked at better than 139 mph and it was pronounced fit for a possible try at qualifying this Saturday. Owner Belanger and his entire crew of mechanics and pit men will be on hand to aid Driver Cross in the attempt.
The following March 15, 1956, Lowell Tribune article was found on page 6, column 3:
BELANGER MOVIES ENJOYED AT ANGUS ASSN. MEETING
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- Murrell Belanger of Lowell and Tony Bettenhausen, renowned racing driver, were guest speakers at the meeting of the Northwest Indiana Angus Association held at Hazelton Country club at Brook Tuesday evening.
Movies of the Memorial Day “500” at Indianapolis and the Langhorn, Pa., races were viewed. The speakers pointed out the value of racing, revealing the part it has played in developing the efficiency of present day motors.
Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Ruge, Mr. and Mrs. James Little and son Jim, and George Stafford, all of Lowell, were in attendance.
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