By Dean Adams
In Soup’s this week’s greatest photo ever taken we have New Zealand native Ginger Molloy winning the “Lightweight” race at Talladega, Alabama on September 4, 1971. Also in the winner’s circle are Australian turned Californian Kel Carruthers, and the late Cal Rayborn.
Roadracing in the 1970s was gritty, dirty, oily and fast. Disc brakes and slicks had yet to make an impact so these race machines featured drum (Dumb) brakes and tires one would not run on an 80s Sportster for fear of a 70 mph tread separation.
On the far left of the frame is rider and tuner Don Vesco. Additionally, it looks like Kel’s wife, Jan Carruthers, is in the background of the winner’s circle.
And if you have scrolled this far here is a 30 second colorized image of the picture above. Yes, some of the colors are off but let’s recognize the image was not taken with color film.
