Projects BENNETTS ‘Midnight Special’ speedster

After a bit of hiatus with personal projects, I’ve had my eye on a very special event happening in September this year. A race at Lake Perkolilli called the ‘Red Dust Revival’ paying homage to those who raced the dry clay lake bed back in the 1930s/40s
I missed this race that happens every four years due to restoring and hopping up a gentleman’s ‘34 Hudson Terraplane who raced it at the event back in 2018.

The pile of parts has grown and there’s plenty to do. There’s 199 days until the race- 7 weeks of that will be spent back home in Canada

The inspiration most definitely came from Ray Prue’s (onekoolkat1950) little speedster he build and raced at Trog in 2017, along with other major car inspos I have the idea in my head and will continue to post about the build.

I’ve spent only just 3 days so far but feel I’ve made some progress.
I picked up a rolling model a chassis. Sold the frame to a good mate. And will use the front and rear axles and wheels etc.
The frame rails are box tubing that will have oval sections taken out at a later time. Wheelbase is 94” and frame width for outside is 24”
I will finish off the frame over the next few days tweaking the springs and getting the ride height where I want it, it will be flathead powered with a 39 box (maybe an early overdrive)
I’ve sectioned, trimmed and cut a cowl (can anyone identify it) to suit the 24” wide frame and will fabricate the rear section as I go and make a nose and grill setup as well.
Here’s how I’m going so far:

 

Nice project... I'm following it!

 

Cool!
Some very creative ideas.

 

Today I managed to get a bit more done, I cut the rear model a crossmember flush and added a plate that’s welded in with silicone bronze to finish off the out side frame rail, I welded in the lower portion of the the kick ups and blended them in. I also added some gussets that play a role in the look of the frame I’m going for. Here’s some shots

 

Wow, what a great build! I'm in for the ride, for sure. Thanks for sharing, and looking forward to future installments.

 

I really like the uniqueness of what your building. Craftsmanship shows it's not your first go round. My first thought seeing it with just another Flathead was "and then another Flathead". Not knocking a Flathead, God knows I have some of my own. What your package needs is more true Vintage Race H.P. to stand out amongst the rest. How about a Race Ready O.H.V. (Drake) B Banger. Ready to bolt in add fuel and a Kill Switch. This is a B-Ville record setting motor that would be right at home between your Rails.

 

Very, Very nice work! You sir are a craftsman!

 

Perfectamundo.

 

That certainly would look the best between those frame rails. Unfortunately it has to be pre ‘39 for everything on the car, they have a grey area with flat heads and can run any year, but no later model parts. After the race I’ll blend in some good hop up parts for it

 

Canadians sure weld well. Must be the air. Watching!

 

I should get out my B-Ville rule book. I believe other than braded steel lines, high torque starter and the throttle cable the motor fits the pre 39 mark. It will take a stock A trans, (that's what was behind it) stock A starter and the Pump isn't high pressure. Pretty sure Rubber hose would do the job as well. The class it ran in is Stock Body Vintage Model A. We couldn't even remove or drill holes in the Visor or change the Cloth top insert. The only upgrades were Safty Related.

 

What do they say about an Arden upgrade on the V-8?

 

I know when people see his motor they think "That's a lot of $$$". And they are right if you're building through a Machine Shop. I also know what it takes to build a Flathead 8 through a Machine Shop. We also never brake even when they go to a new home. If you still have to buy over the counter everything for the inside and pay for any kind of machine work I can soften the Hit and save you a ton of time. That little Motor red lines at 5960 rpm's and at 5500 rpm makes 218 ft lbs torque max of 232 and 231 Hp. You'd be showing a lot of the V-8's the Ass end of your little skinny butt.

 

I like what your up to @jordabennett...I remember your Roadster...this is just as unique, showing your admirable vision and attention to detail...

 

How much?? Haha

 

Thanks for the kind words! I sure do miss that roadster but once this is finished another one will be built! 28 body 32 rails 36 rear end 32 heavy axle and many more bits!

 

Finished off a few plates and blending. The frame should look nice once painted black

 

Can you show us your riveting tech please? When your plates are welded, it doesn't seem thar the rivets do much of anything but it sure looks good.

 

Holy crap! Very nice work! Makes my home built single seater look like crap

 

I admire you guys that can make brackets from scratch, dress them up with silicone bronze, weld, rivet in place, to look factory. You would fit right in, at our Alvord Desert Meet in 2023. We are taking this year off.

 

It’s in Australia. I had to look it up.

 

South Eastern Oregon !

 

Yikes, that's probably a little further than I can go on a 3 day weekend.

 

Okay, okay now we're starting to talk my language plus it's in driving range. Are we talking about Florance aria? When?

 

Mike, we went last September to check it out, only took around a dozen cars. Our main guy, Jim Lindsay will be out of town this coming Sept. and the Tank will be on display in So Cal as well, so we are planning on 2023. Don't want to hijack this great thread, but here is a couple pictures from last Fall.

 

Mike, I edited my post South Eastern, Oregon. Below Burns.

 

Not at all...

 

Look again, just looks like Fun to me.

 

Of course they add something...its now an absolute brick shithouse and then some...and yes it adds some vintage ambience...

It also seems these are the real deal and added prior to the welding commencing...

The late Hamber Langy used to add rivet like caps or reworked fasteners in his framework for the factory look...

Like you I'd like to see the method Jorda uses...I wonder if Henry waffled the frame rivets?

Another big rivet user is Hamber Edward Lloyd...