The International Motor Contest Association (IMCA) had an agreement with the CSRA that allowed drivers to compete with both series, however, the AAA ruled with a much heavier hand. The 1939 season saw the start of a three-year feud between the CSRA and AAA. Wilburn would defend his title with the CSRA in both ‘39 and ‘40.
Meanwhile, Webb was continuing to foster his reputation as a hell-raiser. While he was always quick to make clear that he never took a drink prior to climbing into a car to race, post-race celebrations were another story. The trunk of his street car was a virtual traveling bar, complete with an ice cooler of beer and mixers, as well as various bottles of alcohol. He liked to drink and enjoyed indulging in the pleasures of ladies. He was considered a flamboyant dresser for the times, and clearly marched to the beat of his own drum.
So, when several tracks — including Winchester, Dayton, and Ft. Wayne — switched from CSRA to AAA sanction, some were surprised to see Spider make the move to the AAA. But, with several of his favorite facilities going under the AAA, Webb committed to the strict rules of the sanctioning body.
He went winless in 1941 and finished fourth in AAA Midwest points behind champion Dennis “Duke” Nalon, rookie Tony Bettenhausen, and Elbert “Pappy” Booker.
In the meantime, since September 1, 1939 World War II had been underway. And, following the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, the United States responded in force. Only a handful of races were run in 1942 before all motorsports came to a halt for the duration of the war effort.
After six years and one day, on September 2, 1945 WWII reached its decisive end and life began to return to normal. Auto racing, including the Indy 500, gradually began to resume the following year.
Webb‘s close friend and fellow-racer Johnny Shackleford, of Ohio, launched a strong start to the 1947 AAA Midwest season, building up a sizeable point lead, but as they worked their way through the schedule Spider was coming on strong.
That brings us back to September 21, that pleasant day in the pits at the huge half-mile racing facility in Winchester, Indiana.
Webb had entered the event considered the favorite to win, and when he stirred from his nap, he went on to qualify well, then take the checkers in Leach Cracraft‘s Offy for his third consecutive victory.
His career was on fire.
While his win-streak was broken at the next event, at Dayton, when his old cohort from the west coast, Ted Horn, invaded to take the checkers, Webb claimed the runner-up spot and continued to narrow Shackleford‘s point lead. Spider took another win at Salem a week later, but several rain-outs halted his momentum and allowed Shackleford to stay atop the points to claim the championship with a total of 238 to Webb‘s 200.
Webb and Vance started out the 1948 season without missing a beat, with Webb winning at Salem on April 2, then at Winchester on May 2, and then at Dayton on May 9.
The month of May has long been sacred to open-wheel racers — especially those who raced in Indiana. It was perhaps every racer‘s dream to achieve a starting position in the 33-car field for the Indianapolis 500. Well…perhaps every racer but one: Spider Webb.
True to his rebel spirit, Webb had been very vocal about his disinterest in the 500. He felt he was able to make much more money racing sprint cars on the high banks during the month of May and had no interest in chasing a ride for Indy. However, Clarence “Mutt” Anderson and Vance were able to change his mind.
Like Webb, Anderson had also been a veteran of the high banks prior to his retirement from driving. He had purchased a Kurtis-Kraft championship car and practiced in the car in hopes of coming out of retirement and making the field. But, at the urging of his wife, Mutt made the decision to place his helmet back upon the shelf and hire another driver to pilot his car.
After Webb was finally convinced to give it a go, he passed his rookie test at the Speedway on May 15 and posted a four-lap average speed of 121.421 to temporarily put Anderson‘s mount on the grid, before being knocked out of the lineup on the final qualifying day, May 29, the Friday before the race.
As the final hours of qualifying wound down, he was approached by Louis and Bruce Bromme. Webb had driven for the father and son duo back in California. Now, they had brought a homebuilt car to Indy in their first attempt to make the field. Several drivers had attempted to put it on the grid, but each had failed. As the final minutes of qualifying approached, they had rolled the car to the qualifying line hoping to secure a driver to give it one last attempt. Webb climbed in and made two laps, however, his speed was announced as a disappointing 117 mph and the Brommes signaled him to pull in. But, the Brommes had timed Webb‘s laps on their own stopwatches and had calculated his speed to be much faster.