Hot Rods Top Banana Style Slingshot Dragster- Marty Strode-Chris Kopp.

I had similar thinking with my FED. I can handle the Powerglide in the cockpit with me, as it has a Stroud blanket. The casing has to breathe though, and any breather needs a catch can. I figure if it gets bad enough that the trans is burping fluid into the can, then I don't want the can in the same place I am. The recommended easy option is to put the can in the cockpit, but methinks I'll run it forward of the firewall.

Cheers,
Harv

 

March 1960 Bakersfield Smokers 2nd March Meet.
Marty Strode said:

Coolest Dragster ever built ! One of hottest of it's time, sad ending though. View attachment 5775185 View attachment 5775187

“It was the sleekest of them all in it's time. I have been planning this build for at least 5 years, and one way or another it will run this year !...”

This is a totally impressive start of a great historical race car… It was well remembered by all who were drag race spectators and participants at the time…

From an old Friday Art post
Hello,

My brother and I were fortunate to be in Bakersfield in March, 1960 for the 2nd running of the Smokers March Meet. We missed the first one in 1959, but I filmed as much as I could at this meet.
You meet the nicest roadsters in the Pits...


Two brothers at the 1960 March Meet…


We had read all about the “Top Banana” and wanted to be sure not to miss this event. We went all over the big pits area and finally found the sleek red FED in its ready stage.

Hank Vincent Top Banana at Bakersfield 1960 races

The Top Banana 2 was at Bakersfield in 1960. It was a standout all day against other racers. Most of the time it was a red blur winning races I recorded from the chain link fence. Closest anyone could get unless someone had an official pass to get closer, inside of the fenced off area for most of us during the eliminations.

Hank Vincent Bakersfield Smokers MARCH MEET #2 1960.
Eliminations...
Far away action photos were due to the fencing. But, in the pits, it was another story as we could get as close as possible to the incredible racers all day…


Jnaki

March 1960 as reported from Bakersfield Smokers March Meet.

The long drive up into the Central Valley from coastal Long Beach was worth it, for a couple of teenage drag racing enthusiasts.

A strange action at :18

But, sometimes something unusual pops up when you least expect it. It was so fast, people saw it, but could not believe what they saw. There wasn’t instant replay back then, so I had to hand crank the developed film, almost a week later, to see the frame by frame drag race.

This was explanation that also came out a week later after the 1960 March Meet.


Note:

It was a sad day when Hank Vincent was killed at the Fremont Dragstrip. It took place a few months later in 1960.

"Drag Strip: Fremont Dragstrip, California
Event Date: May 29, 1960
Car: "Top Banana" B/FD
Biographical: "He was nearing the finish line on the final elimination run when his dragster went off the pavement. Traveling at a speed estimated at 170 MPH, he tried to ease the dragster back onto the track, but the car leaped into the air. It rolled end over end for about 300 feet before coming to a halt. He was pulled from the wreckage and rushed to Washington Township Hospital, but died en route. The push bar on the car penetrated his body and killed him. An electrician, he lived in Hayward, California, and was survived by his wife and two foster children. He had held national records in B/FD and C/FD with his "Top Banana" car which he had run for five years."
Sources
"Dragster killed in Fremont," Hayward Daily Review, May 30, 1960
"Dragster Vincent killed," Hayward Daily Review, May 30, 1960"

Jnaki
Here is a different write up on this happening. May 1960 not 61
http://www.politicalforum.com/index.php?threads/hank-vincent-died-drag-racing-top-banana.519074/

For those that never saw the history or timeless information during the heyday of the "Top Banana." The only action films of Hank Vincent's creation...

Good on you, @Marty Strode !

 

Thanks for the history lesson, you are the best at that. Didn’t you have a video of the TB from Bakersfield? Thanks

 

Hey Marty,
Sorry, it was so early when I put the whole post together. Yes, I do have a film clip with a couple of race cars in motion. I left off the 1960 "Top Banana" film clip from Bakersfield on my laptop ready area. Here it is:



Jnaki

It is the only film clip of the Top Banana in action. Also, if anyone would like to see other races from 1960 the 2nd annual Bakersfield Smokers March Meet, check out J NAKI channel on You Tube.
Thank you and sorry for the oversight or lack of attention to detail in the original post.

 

Thanks buddy, priceless footage !

 

Lat night, I dug out a transmission I have had for 25 years, just waiting to be back in service. It's a toploader Ford 3 speed, the heavy duty version, model RAT. It has the same case length as the 4 speed, and has much huskier gears than the standard passenger car unit. Since I have 2 Mcleod bellhousings, that fit Chevy, and are dual pattern, and fit Chevy and Ford transmissions, both the Dragster and the RPU will use these units. I got lucky on the output shaft, as it's large enough at the right spot to be shortened and re-splined to fit a 27 spline coupler that I acquired last week. The shift mechanism will consist of 2 rods that extend under the LH axle housing with T-handles. One handle will shift low and reverse, the other will handle second and high.

 

I remember a similar dragster they called the Glass Slipper. A few years ago there was an article in a magazine about finding it in a guys garage under a pile of stuff that collects in garages. It was repowered and used for some nostalgia racing.

 

The Slipper was running in the 80's at all of the nostalgia events, fun to watch !

 

Ahh yes, The Cortopasi brothers were very clever with the way they designed that car. The back opened like a car door and the driver just slid right in.

 

Marty I run a toploader 3speed in my dragster but mine is from a truck and is real short also has 1 3/8 input shaft they are tough and I have always ran one in my car and it’s had many different engines from blown Flatcad the current engine to a blown fuel hemi I’ll try to get a pic of it tomorrow evening when I’m in the shop

 

Please post some pictures of the trans, and if it still has the tag on the right side, with the 3 letters to identify it. I would like to use a 1-3/8 -10 spline in mine, as I have a Ram disc and a good cover. You could also measure the length of the case, mine is 9-3/4". Thanks. BTW, I have been talking to Rocky the last couple days, and we are planning on a match race at Toutle. See you there !

 

I'll be watching.

 

Jeff, I found an out, on the dropped axle. The axle was changed sometime during it short lifespan of 3 years. As you see from the R & C article in '58, the the axle was stock. I would still like to get it dropped.

 

It wasn’t lightened yet either. But the wishbones sure were. I bet the car whistled going down the track.

 

On the subject of front wheels, I like the looks of the Halibrands better than the original 12 spoke Americans, but to be more correct it needed the 12 spokes. I figured some might come along one of these days, and sure enough my old friend Tim @Blown Red Ram, who has been helping me with the Chrysler rearend parts, sent me a teaser picture. They just happen to be NOS ! We will be getting together soon.

 

If you are emulating the later version with the spoked wheels, are you also doing the white droopy headers? And would then need the dropped axle too.

I like the smooth Halibrands best, but I’ve had a thing for those going on 45 years.

 

I am going with the swept back headers, and may overlap some of the changes. In reality, it's mostly just bolt on parts. When I restored these two, it was all about part selection.

 

Today, I milled out the clevises on the '34 wishbones to fit the axle. Ordered some tie rod ends, bungs and header parts, to arrive Sat. Then, I can mount the rear of the wishbones and add the the cross tube at that point.

 

Marty here is a few pics of my transmission style the red one is the style I use in my car this one is my spare I could use a new tail housing and output shaft as it came from a friends truck that was in an crash but I haven’t found any parts for it as of yet the crusty one is from a 57 ford pickup and is a side loader not a top loader they don’t seem to be quite as strong as the top loader one the one in my car is kinda hard to get a pic of that’s why I went out to the storage to take pics of these both are 1 3/8 input shaft size I tried to include pics of the numbers on the trans to help

 

I don’t know why the pics are doubled I’m gonna go back to my carbs and magnetos apparently I’m too old to figure out all this technology lol

 

Thank you, mine will be a little shorter, so I will have to machine an aluminum plate to hold the back bearing, and hold a seal. I need to get it apart and make sure my friend can shorten and re-spline the tail shaft. I did find an 1-3/8-10 spline input shaft, with 22 teeth, to fit my unit. I see yours is the HEF . Post a picture of your Dragster, if you like.

 

Yes, the original was the one I was referring to. Should have said that in my question.

 

I will probably settle for around 15 degrees, as any more is overkill and puts pressure on the steering gear.

 

That's a grate photo of Tom. I sure miss that character.

 

Yes sir, he always had a smile !

 

We had the early 60's covered at Bakersfield in 2002. Worlds Fastest Chevy for a short time in '61, before Champion Speed Shop took the honor !

 

Marty I am not sure what you mean by HEF I really wish I knew more about this trans so I could look for another one as if I break it I will be out of commission I do have a in out box I could put in it but my Flatcad doesn’t have enough power to use it lol here is a pic of my car from last year I haven’t even gotten it out yet this year been too busy to even mess with it hopefully here in the next few weeks I’ll get it out and prep it for the season

 

Don't you age? I saw a picture of myself from 20 years ago the other day and I didn't even recognize me.

 

Bill, you are a kind gentleman !

 

Had some good help today, a great Father and Son, we got the front axle swapped, as I am getting the nice one dropped, shipping it on Monday. We also were able to get the Mcleod bellhousing mounted, and fit and tacked 2 uprights in the chassis to attach the rearend housing to. Lots of pics !

Great looking car, see you at Toutle !