Art & Inspiration Traditional images that need no explanation.

Champion Speed Shop Model A Coupe

Old Friday Art... Champion Speed Shop
Hello,

The Model A Coupe of the Champion Speed Shop from Northern California had different builds and variations of the flamed coupe.
From purple to red color with the early crab claw flames highlighting the hood and doors.

"Jim McLennan had already opened Champion Auto Parts in South San Francisco. His speed shop quickly became "the place" to go for rodders seeking specialty parts, hot tune ups, or to just hang out. When Jim heard that a 3000' long, 60' wide ribbon of concrete was available, he quickly negotiated a lease with the city and took over the track. Jim turned this remote little auxiliary airport into the hub of drag racing in the late 1950s. With Half Moon Bay and Cotati (which Jim also owned) open on alternate weekends, drag racers in Northern California finally had a legitimate option to street racing."

Half Moon Bay is rather sparce area of northern California coastline. It is considered a destination spot for big waves coming in from the north during the winter swells. Dangerous, rough and certainly not just your average surf spot.

Jnaki

Early in our coastal travels, we drove right through Half Moon Bay on our way to San Francisco. After staying in Monterey or Santa Cruz, it was a two hour+ drive up the coast to get to S.F. So, as is the case, it was not a stopping point as we neared our final destination. But, the drive was through some of the nicest portions of the coastal highway along the shoreline in this area.



Here is a story about Half Moon Bay and Champion Speed Shop from an early post:

When we took our son camping on the beach, it was a part of our family coastal tour that ended up in the S.F. Bay Area and then across California to the deserted Highway 395 for a different trip home. Early on, my wife and I took this route many times as it allows a lot of different stops and sights to see. A part of the tour for vacations and photo shoots was get there, set up and shoot for several days and appointments. But, in between, and afterwards, we always took our time coming back home to So Cal.

When we went up there for our son’s camping and California tour vacation one year, we happen to stop at an old campground in Half Moon Bay. We were state park visitors all over California, so we stayed at a state park campground on a beach side spot. On the way out and North to San Francisco, we drove by the famous surf spots and then made a jog inland a few short blocks to the old airport, where the original Half Moon Bay Dragstrip was located.

A historic site near the ocean, on a bluff with moisture filtering in the air, was how it felt. The time we were there was cool to warm, but windy, the daily breeze, coming off of the ocean.


During our drag racing days, we thought that it would be a cool thing to tow up to Half Moon Bay and then go across the S.F. Bay to race at Fremont Dragstrip as a grand Northern California tour for our Willys (B/Gas and then C/Gas) 671 SBC coupe. My brother had big time ideas all set up for our drag strip racing adventures.
A low stance, some Moon Discs and rake gives it a little more attitude…

We had seen all of the Drag News reports about the races and racers located in Northern California and that was a place we wanted to explore back then. So, a vacation plus racing seemed like a fun thing to do for us. Come to think about it, my brother also had plans to tow back to Detroit for the Nationals after we got our C/Gas Willys 671 coupe in record setting tune. This Northern California tour would have been a preview of what was ahead for us.
Half Moon Bay Dragstrip
"The former airport turned dragstrip was located in Half Moon Bay, California. This race track/airport runway was just south of San Francisco along the coastal highway, just a stone's throw from the Pacific Ocean. Half Moon Bay was pleasant to attend because of the ocean breeze, but the condition of the track left a lot to be desired. Yes, it was a challenge for any top fuel car to stop safely but they did. The track always had some great Altereds and surprise Gas Coupes from Los Angeles to add to the mix of racers."

It opened June 15th 1957 by owners Jim McLennan, Don Smith & Ted Gotelli. (well known names in Northern California drag racing)

“The airstrip at Half Moon Bay had been used by a couple of the local car clubs (the Lightning Rods and the Piston Pushers) as a place to race legally, but the city wanted improvements and insurance. Without the money to sustain their pastime, the car clubs had to give it up. By this time, Jim had already opened Champion Auto Parts in South San Francisco. His speed shop quickly became "the place" to go for rodders seeking specialty parts, hot tune ups, or to just hang out.”

“When Jim heard that a 3000' long, 60' wide ribbon of concrete was available, he quickly negotiated a lease with the city and took over the track. Jim turned this remote little auxiliary airport into the hub of drag racing in the late 1950s. With Half Moon Bay and Cotati (which Jim also owned) open on alternate weekends, drag racers in Northern California finally had a legitimate option to street racing.”

 

That car wouldn't happen to be MEL powered, would it?

 

Dave Koefful

 

"Ohio" George Montgomery.

 

anybody know the story on this poncho

 

Looks like the 389 is in the 55 Chevy gasser.

 

A 1932 ford sport coupe. Very rare, even in the USA.

 

Isn't this the dragster that Monogram models used as a basis for their model kit way back in the 1950's ?

 

Aussie hotrods, ( State of Victoria )

 

So what's the story on the 55.? Thing looks pissed off sitting still covered in dust haha