So today I received a gift from a friend. It is a uninstalled timing tag from the Russetta Timing Association . His father ran in this organization in the early 50's. The tag states that the car was a B Roadster, car #331, owned by Metcalf-Haggart, and it ran 118.81 at Mirage on 6/23/51. I assume this is El Mirage course. Does anyone know of a way to research this to possibly see some photos or records of other events where he may have ran? He also gave me a vintage Edelbrock Slingshot intake manifold but it is missing the top half. The split Y that mounts the two carbs. Anybody by chance have or know where I could get this part? I would post pics but I don't have that technology.
The timing tag you have was earned at the June 1951 Russetta meet by the roadster entered under Chuck Metcalf's RTA number - 331. He was a member of the Screwdrivers club. The roadster was listed as having a 269" flathead engine with Edelbrock heads and manifold and Potvin cam and ignition. Metcalf had run at the April meet (109.42 mph) entered under his name only. Then at the June meet the entry was listed as Metcalf-Haggart. As your plate notes the roadster recorded a time of 118.81 mph. Judging by the records the roadster only ran at the Lakes at the April and June meets in 1951 and then at the July meet in 1952 (117.11 mph). All of the entries indicated the same engine and equipment. I do not find any more Lakes activity for them either before or after that time in the Russetta records. As for the top half of your Edelbrock slingshot manifold, I suggest you call Edelbrock as they still sell this manifold and might sell you the top half. Don
I raced at the Russetta lakes meets at El Mirage back then. My stock bodied 1941 Hudson was running in the B Sedan class in 1951. At the April meet when Chuck Metcalf entered under his name only (109.42 mph), I was running also my Hudson sedan (122.86 mph). Metcalf's time earned him 9th Place in the B Roadster class that day. His June time of 118.81 mph was good for 10th place in the B Roadster class that day. My Hudson's best time that year was 129.96 mph. This info comes from the programs that I kept from those meets. I do not believe I have any photos of Chuck Metcalf's roadster. Most of the Screwdrivers were from the Culver City area so there were many that I did not know. Unfortunately most of us did not take many photos while we were doing hot rod activities - too busy working on the cars and no good cameras. Look at the AHRF photos from the Bill Boren collection. Bill was in the Screwdrivers then and running in the B Sedan class. I also knew Bill as we were both students at USC. I believe that Bill's daughter has put his photo collection on the AHRF site and perhaps on a Screwdrivers site. Good luck finding photos Don
When you look through Russetta lakes photos for Chuck Metcalf's roadster, try to find it by the car number. In 1951 Metcalf's number was 331 (as noted on your timing tag). His association number in 1952 was 135. Sometimes you can spot the car you are looking for in the background of the photos.
Thanks for the reply, I've been looking at old photos trying to spot his car but I didn't realize he used different numbers for each season. I'll keep digging. Thanks again.
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