Art & Inspiration Traditional images that need no explanation.

Thanks, Seb. I couldn't remember his name.

 

Don Holtzel's "T" ?

 

Look at the guy's face in the car on the left side of the guy working under the car.
Back then they were not programed to be so scared that they might get hurt.

 

For sale in Sweden,,,

 

Hello,

“Leonard Harris bought the former Ostling & Argento Fiat Competition Coupe with the intention of building a blown Olds engine for it. It was the start of the total sponsorship of the Oldsmobile motor of Gene Adams, the sponsorship of Albertson Oldsmobile dealer, Leonard Harris driving and drag racing.” WDIFL


This combination was good for consecutive straight wins in top eliminator in the summer of 1960 in the new Chassis Research K-88 dragster frame. The win streak was the top story in the consecutive weeks of racing in So Cal.

“There was all kinds of commotion after our Willys was on fire, heading for the spectator’s fence. The whole dragstrip was closed for the early evening at 9:30 pm with tons of elimination races to go, including the win streak of the Albertson Olds, gas dragster, of 12 straight wins. My brother was loaded onto the white ambulance and was taken to the LB Memorial Hospital.”

“The Albertson Olds FED was instrumental in making 12 straight win at Lions in the 1960 era. On the night of August 6, the streak was interrupted by the early closing of Lions Dragstrip due to an explosion, resulting fire, and crash of a C/Gas Willys Coupe. The next race was supposed to be the Albertson Olds FED going for win number 13 at the staging area.”

Jnaki


The big Oldsmobile motor of Gene Adams was taken out of the blue Fiat Competition Coupe and put into the new Chassis Research K-88 frame.

So, where did the original competition coupe come from? Scratch built? Nope… the team of Ostling, Argento and Hale had a supercharged Cadillac motor in a candy maroon painted Fiat Coupe years earlier.
Candy Maroon paint
Wow, it has been a long road since getting my drag racing films digitized for easier identification of the racers from the way back time machine. Even though we probably knew every racer on film as teenagers, having gone to almost every weekend event at our close by Lion’s Dragstrip, over time since the original list disappeared years ago when the films were still on the steel reels. This was one of the last few that has gone unnamed until recently.

We liked the Altered Coupes/Sedan Class and knew several racers in the Competition Coupe Class back then. But when this Maroon colored coupe started in the pits, it always drew a crowd.


Jnaki

As the search parameters go and by sheer luck, I found an article from a magazine that tells of this Altered Coupe, facts and information. It is considered an Altered, but it depends on whether the tech inspection shows that the driver is behind the axle or not. Behind, then it is classified as a Competition Coupe, not an Altered Coupe.
old film clip prior to research identification
1959 Ostling, Argento and Hale Purple Competition Coupe at Lion’s Dragstrip
new 16mm color film to video with the correct name, editing and link...



Note:
As clear as an old 8mm movie film can be, there is a section of the film that shows early Ostling, Argento, Hale, Altered Coupe.



Note:
After Leonard Harris was gone, Tom McEwen drove both the Olds powered dragster with some modifications and the blue, Competition Coupe locally.

 

Why? Is the building going to fall down? At least he's not going to have a sore back.