Hot Rods # 10 Track Roadster Build- Marty Strode

Frank had a long history with circle track cars and fabrication. We talked a bunch over the years. He donated the prototype steering rack that I am using in my lakester. It was from Sweet before it actually was a company. I think he had it in a desert buggy? I miss him.

 

Working off templates, I drilled and sawed out the 4 base brackets for the roll bar mountings. Also the platforms to carry the upper rear shock/ rear bumper attach points. Next week, bending and installing the roll bar, and fab the rear bumper, is the plan.

 

Another simple trick I'm gonna put to use! Thanks for sharing your tips, tricks, and depth of knowledge!

 

Your moving right along Marty, if I was closer I would come over and hand you tools or sweep. Lippy

 

Anytime my friend, hope to see you boys soon !

 

Lippy, It's a shame that some of us doing projects weren't closer together, it would be fun to build a car, with a revolving crew !

 

Am I close enough Marty?

 

I was thinking we need to send a crew to build a fire under you ! Drop by anytime.

 

Let me get this concussion figured out and I'll gladly volunteer some mountaindale community service

Sent from my SM-N950U using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

Its always awkward when you're the last one to comment on a thread and there's no activity for 10 days Mr Strode...

Sent from my SM-N950U using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

Larry, you need to look at the B/SR build, exiting news !

 

I hate to admit making a mistake, but it's such a rare occurrence, I will still put the best face on it. Having not used most of the templates for this car, in 15 years, I got confused on the brackets for the rear of the roll bar mounting. The template with "roll cage base" didn't jive, as it should have been "roll bar", and the template on the far left in the first photo, is the one I used making the base brackets a couple of weeks ago. I could't find the paper tracing pattern, to make the cutouts in the body for the roll bar to drop through. My body man friend who owns one of the Roadsters, is doing the final prep for paint on my '40 pu, and I needed to deliver some parts, so I planned on taking a paper template off of his car. To my surprise, the mounts on his car were the size of the roll cage plate, (smaller), and it hit me, I had mounted a roll cage in #7 in it's early fabrication stages, hence the wrong labeling of the template. So I came home and made the correct base mounts, with plates, and will install the roll bar, early this week. If I don't hustle and get this thing finished, I might be wearing "paper slippers" before it is done !

 

So cool Marty!!
Such amazing work as always

 

Savage, I see your location is Los Gatos, do you see anything of Brian Burnett ? He, along with Tom Prufer treated us drag racers very well at Fremont in the 80's.

 

Bump.....just because.

 

OK Boner, you built a fire under me. I laid out and bent the roll bar today. Starting with a half layout, on my well used white paper. Material, 1-3/4".120 wall ERW. Side bars soon.

 

Bent the side bars today. I saved a pattern that I made out of exhaust tubing, along with some notes concerning bend starts, and ram extension measurements. To allow for the clocking of the 2 bends, I installed the sample in the bender, with one bend in the die, and record the angle. Just have to remember to bend RH and LH bars. Should get it installed in a day or so.

 

Marty, looks like you, or someone you know has a cat.

 

He has birds and meat cleavers too!
Hmmm.

 

Dean, my Brother Tom had 2 cats, and furnished me quite a supply of buckets. Most of those buckets store remnant pieces of round tube, sorted by size. The funny thing is, I hardly ever even look in them. Just hate to throw anything way. Sadly, all of my cats and dogs have passed, too old to get more.

 

The quail have been in hiding lately, pretty soon there will be coveys of 1" tall ones running around !

 

You're not too old, adopt a rescue dog or cat, that will be good for you and the animal you adopt!

 

With Marty's permission I'm posting some photos here from yesterday. Sorry they are somewhat out of sequence. My brother Erik and I had the privilege of spending the day at his shop to fab and install the roll bar for my avatar. He allowed us to work right along with him, sharing his knowledge and tricks. We are very appreciative for this as he certainly is a master craftsman as you all know.
Rich

9am

Marty at the layout table....my knees hurt watching him kneel on the floor!

Final welding

Back home at 4:30


My only wish is that we were a bit closer, 60 miles one way.
Thanks Marty for taking the time with us!
ps. I'm extremely happy with the roll bar as it adds so much to the character
of the car.

 

Rich, thanks for posting, it was great to work with you and Erik, you are welcome anytime !

 

Cool little modified!

 

nice work

I like your gas gauge.

 

I'm OK down on my knees working. It's the getting up that's a bitch!!

 

Dean,
The biggest problem I have, while kneeling to work, is the pain I have later, from having my toes curled back. I should clean off one of the several rolling tables I have, and work standing up. But that would require some organization, just one of my many shortcomings.

 

Yeah, "organization" is getting farther and farther back in the rear view mirror.

 

Yeah, Marty, I have gotten to where it is less painful to organize than to work on my knees (too many years of doing things not good for knees). I only get down on my knees if I absolutely have to. And as Dean states, it is a real bitch gettin back up.