As usual, I'm halfway talking out my butt because I don't know the whole story on the team I'm trying to cover; but, try to keep in mind that I'm only trying to give coverage to a car and a team that didn't get much attention - and surely isn't getting the kind of attention that a Wimbel/McCredy 33 gets or someone like Lou Lazzaro [deservedly] gets. The plain brown 47's from that early and wonderful era of New York racing around Fonda Speedway, Victoria Speedway, and similar venues had a small budget with which to work but no less determination and dedication that some of the bigger outfits.

            I have come to conclude that the 47's were run by the Cross family, that included names like Walt and John. I know that the 1963 Fonda program for its famed long distance race in August listed the 47 as then owned by John Cross, of New Berlin. I also know that some of the Crosses raced in other forms of racing and that some served as officials, at times. The car [or cars] were driven by a wide variety of drivers such as Jack Farquhar, Jerry Townley, Maynard Smith, Lee Millington, Irv Taylor, and probably many more.

  
Russ Bergh Photo via Alan McDonald
Jerry Townley, with the coupe after the team had apparently lost a sponsor.

Russ Bergh Photo via Scott Belknap Lee Millington, of Palatine Bridge, NY was the driver in this particular race.	Brent Cross Collecrtion  Russ Bergh Photo  via Scott Belknap Jack Farquhar, of Ephratah, NY was the driver in this particular race.	John Grady Photo via Otto Graham This looks like a slightly later version. No one knows the driver. to my knowledge.
Rick Parry Photo Maynard Smith, of Clinton, NY was the driver in this particular race. Looks like they had the sponsor that was erased in the photo above.	Otto Graham Photo Not sure who drove it in this mid 1960's Otto Graham shot.	From Dan Ody's 8MM Old Speedways DVD's This 8MM frame is from Victoria Speedway, and it looks like a Maynard Smith car.
Russ Bergh Photo via Gater Racing News Jack Farquhar gets a portrait in the car.	Russ Bergh Photo via Gater Racing News Farquhar tries to guide her through a spinning Andy Romano and another car.	Frank Simek Photo [Obviously] Farquhar , at speed with the car at Fonda.
Russ Bergh Photo via Gater Racing News Jerry Townley's time in the car had a lot of bumps.	From Dan Ody's 8MM Old Speedways DVD's This 8MM frame is from Syracuse, and it looks like a Maynard Smith car just ahead of Steve Danish.	Russ Bergh Photo via Rick Parry I can't prove that this is a Cross car, with Irv Taylor at the helm, but the color and the number seem like quite a coincidence.

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