THE TERESCO AND MANCINI 685

Ladabouche Collection - Russ Bergh Photo
Jack Farquhar in the 1938 Chevy coupe known as Kalamity Jane

     When I had already logged a few races at Fonda, there appeared a very unusual [for Fonda] lavender - colored car that was indentified as being driven by one John Miller, from Amsterdam. I didn't think much about it, as the nearby Amsterdam had always supplied its share of drivers for The Track of Champions. As it would turn out, the car was also from Amsterdam, having been conceived and fielded by the ownership team of Peter Teresco, Sr. and Richard Mancini. The team's hookup with a paints dealer had allowed them to come up with a rather unique color scheme. The car, a 1938 Chevy, was the older upright style of sportsman coupe, and the team had gone to the trouble of preserving some of the body features, including those little tail lights that sat on the rear fenders.
         At Fonda the car hadn't done much with Miller and actually disappeared for a while [apparently running at surrounding tracks like maybe Brookfield or Victoria]. When the team returned, the car was in the hands of Jack Farquhar, from Ephrata. I was fascinated by the driver's name and the unusual town name, as well. From what I can tell, Teresco did most of the mechanics and Mancini supplied funds from some very interesting sources. Farquhar eventually wrecked Kalamity Jane, and Teresco acquired a more standard - looking 1936 Chevy coupe, already on the frame from somewhere. It was with this second coupe that Farquhar and Co. won a feature at Victoria around 1968.
          I paid some attention to car, as Farquhar slowly ascended up the points list at Fonda. He ended up vying for Rookie of the Year [and I don't know who actually won]. Despite that win, after another year or so with the team, Farquhar jumped ship to Vince Barbuto - and I lost track of the 685. Farquhar and Barbuto jumped ship to Lebanon Valley. I think the 685 team folded its tents sometime thereafter. But, it was one of my favorite cars ever in that Golden Age of racing at Fonda.

Ladabouche Collection - Russ Bergh Photo
Jack posing with the beautiful car at Fonda. Check out the colors.

Teresco Family Photo The 1st 685, after the wreck, in Sept. of 1967	Teresco Family Photo The 1st 685, after the wreck, in Sept. of 1967	Teresco Family Photo Kalamity Jane had a calamity.	Teresco Family Photo The '36 coupe, waiting for construction.
Teresco Family Photo Peter Teresco, cutting usable parts off the '38 coupe.	Teresco Family Photo Senior, checking out his next project in winter, 1967.	Teresco Family Photo Peter Teresco, cutting usable parts off the '38 coupe.	Teresco Family Photo Victory at Victoria.

Teresco Family Photo via Lebanon Valley Classics
A better quality image of the same scene.

Teresco Family Photo via Lebanon Valley Classics
Another shot of Farquhar and the second, more successful 685. Supposed to
be the Valley, but it really looks more like the flat open spaces of Victoria Speedway.