1958 Wahlborg Quarter Midget

• Rare, air-cooled Continental single cylinder engine

• High performance internals

• Owned by family of Can-Am racer for six decades

This Wahlborg Quarter Midget was owned by a single family in Pennsylvania for more than 60 years before being acquired for the Audrain Collections. Powered by an air-cooled single-cylinder engine mounted behind the seat, this midget was purchased by former Can-Am driver Oscar Koveleski for his five-year-old son Robert. Robert raced this midget in 44 races between 1958 and 1962 in Northeast Pennsylvania, winning many races during this period. This Quarter Midget gives us a great perspective into the golden era of youth racing, with these serving as the introduction for many young racers’ careers.

In the 50’s, Wahlborg was a premier quarter midget producer in the U.S., creating a sleek shape that were certainly desired by many young enthusiasts. This Wahlborg houses a rare Continental AU7-R air-cooled engine, producing a strong two horsepower. This was plenty of power for a five-year-old in a race event, especially when they were built to run at full throttle. These engines use an aluminum gear assembly, along with a forged aluminum connecting rod, hi-lift camshaft, heavier valve springs, and an “R” modified cylinder head to assist with higher RPM racing. Oscar Koveleski knew this was a special engine in the early 1960’s when he and his son retired the midget, as he had pickled the engine to keep the internals lubricated over time.

Specifications:

Engine: Continental AU7-R Single

Horsepower: 2hp

Brakes: Rear handbrake

Weight: 75 lbs