I have finally come to the realization that my racing days are long past. As such, I have reluctantly decided I have to part with my car. I pulled it out of long term storage, tweaked it a bit and rolled it outside to start it and take a couple of videos. The hemi has 12.5 to 1 pistons, an Engle roller tappet, two Rochester 2-bbls, and a Mallory "flattop". It runs excellently and is quite strong. I had filled the tank with 116 Sunoco before I stored it, and it seems to have survived the ensuing 8 year hiatus with no problems. I say "almost O/T", as it was built in 1964 and was Minnesota State Stock Car champion in 1965. I thought some of you guys might be interested in seeing it run. Here's a YouTube link :
If I was in your shoes, I would have to take that for a rip and tear up some gravel back roads between Breezy Point and Pequot one last time before I let it go.
Trust me, I would if I could get in it. The fact that it has no clutch (only an "In/out" box) severely complicates the issue as well. Also, the suspension and tire setup makes it hard to go straight. Insurance issues have also almost eliminated running a car like this (mainly no fuel cell) on the existing tracks in Minnesota.
I couldn't get rid of it. I'd get a small (8 gallon) ATL fuel cell and put it in, making as minimal a change as possible. And it'd even be red! And maybe find a clutch drive in-out box, so that at least it could be put in neutral more easily. But that's me...
That’s so cool. It must have been a blast to drive. It’s great that you have hung onto it and kept it up over the years. I hope you find a good caretaker for it. With a clutch and a transmission it would make a crazy fairgrounds cruiser.
It was a blast to drive on the track, but with no clutch and no transmission anything else was a white knuckle experience. It just got worse when I installed the upgraded engine. Coming back into crowded pits was a real thrill. You have to kick it out of gear before you get where you're going and coast to where you're trying to end up. Kick it out too early, and you end up where you don't really want to be, and too late? Well.... It's a good thing it has great brakes (note the Buick finned drums). As I said, the stagger in the rear tires combined with the spool and just the general chassis setup make it real hard to go straight for any sort of distance. Bottom line is that this will never be anything a a down and dirty race car.
I sold mine to GERMANY ! they have vintage dirt tracks there , and they sent me videos of it fly'n around the track, with dirt in the air. My car was over 50 yrs old -last raced in 1969!
Actually, the car has such a detailed and important past, it would be a travesty to change it in any way. Except of course, to remove the hemi and reinstall an Olds Rocket like it had when originally raced. I have a 2 inch stack of documentation (score sheets, photos, models, newspaper articles, and other things) that I have accumulated over the last 30 years. I just happen to have a rebuilt '51 Olds with an Iskenderian cam, Gotha adjustable rockers, and other goodies. I also have the original adapter for the Olds to the in/out box, as well as the original Offenhauser 3 deuce manifold and one carburetor originally run by the Thurmers in the '60's. When I purchased that engine, I fully intended to install it in the car and return it to the original configuration, but time got away from me. Plus, the hemi runs so well it would almost be a shame to take it out. How about this for an historical shot? (The Thurmers were also steam tractor guys.)
Truck it down to North Central on vintage nite. Maybe someone couldnt leave with out it. Heck maybe Cliff would let you hot lap it. Just to make a sale of course. I would like to look at it just for giggles. Hear it run atleast Where was it based way back when??
I live in Pequot lakes and the car is at my shop in Breezy Point. PM me if you'd like to visit; I'm at my shop just about every day. I don't think the market for this car is up in this neck of the woods.
Anyone who thinks this is remotely O/T oughta get the stick outta their ass. Way kool, my dear departed Dad raced that kinda stuff back in his day.
Thanks for the correction. In any case, it's a cool piece of history. Perhaps there's another old circle track car on the HAMB that has the 241/270? Or, maybe I'm imagining things..... Lynn
I feel your pain......literally. I had thought seriously about selling my last 1940's rail frame dirt midget about three years ago. I decided that before listing it, I wanted a picture with my 2yr. old grandson in the car. We got him in and got good pictures. My daughter and son in law said I should get in just for comparison pictures. I last ran the car in 1990. I finally was able to get in.......I could not get out !! It took my daughter on one side and my son in law on the other to help pull me out ! Without a quick release steering wheel I could not get my knees to clear the wheel and cooperate. And.....I had an in/out box with no clutch and no fuel cell........it was time. Good luck with your situation.
At some point we all realize the race days are gone but what memories. Me thinks I have too much stuff...if that were my car/situation I'd just put it up on a rack in the shop and enjoy every day I could get there to work or just ponder the meaning of life.
That's a nice thought, but in the real world, I have found out that one of the worst things you can do is just let something sit. After enough time, they will deteriorate; I've had it happen to me a couple of times. I'm just damn lucky that this one is still OK. I am still going to drain and replace the fuel, and I should drain and flush the brakes and cooling system as well, but at 81, I'm just not up to it. Better someone else do it. Not to mention, it would be nice if it went someplace with a robust vintage racing scene, as this thing performs too darn well to just be sitting in someone's shop. Also, I have plenty of other things to ponder in my shop that need more urgent attention.
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