Leighty Racing Sprint Car Team

This 1936 Dodge coupe started Rich Leighty and the entire Leighty family's love of auto racing. The car was flat towed to the track and was raced at the Washington tracks in Forks, Silverdale, Longview, Chehalis, and Elma from 1960 thru 1965. Power was provided by the original stock Straight Six. The car was sold to Bud Yeager of Chehalis after the '65 season.

1966 would see this chopped Willys coupe be Rich's ride. Like the previous Dodge, this car was flat towed from the Aloha, Washington home to the 1/2 mile dirt at Elma. Power for this beast was provided by a Ford Straight Six. This car was assembled in the garage of Herman Burns. Aberdeen's Arie Callaghan purchased the rolling chassis after the '66 season.

1967 thru 1971 would see the first Leighty Racing modified on tracks throughout Western Washington and Western Oregon. This car would propel Rich to his first feature win at Shelton, followed a week later with another victory at Elma. Ed Kvistad  of Bremerton designed and built the bare frame. While Larry Spoon did final design and assemble work on the car. He also built the 283 Chevy. The body was what remained of a Hudson Terraplane. The wing was added when wings became legal in 1969.  This car was also the first Leighty Racing racer to be hauled on a trailer.

1971 saw the blue color of the first decade give way to the purple that has adorned Leighty Racing to the present day. 1971 also saw Rich win the B Championship at Skagit Speedway. Before the '72 season, Bob Dey of Aberdeen purchased this car.