History Roll Bars before 1952

Some of the guys were getting too aggressive as seen by the Chuck Akulis upside down at Fonda. Which is also part of the reason progress has slowed on my car.

I want to race and understand that things happen, but these aren't like the modern cars, I can't go to the speed shop and buy a brand new 40 Ford axle or Cyclone transmission adopter, when people who don't understand that come in and ram and jam and tear up vintage equipment it takes the fun out of it.

The club has taken steps and throws out anyone who does this!

 

good. things may happen, but it certainly doesn't have to be a bloodsport.

 

so going back to the rear suspension . . . . was there a criteria for the (understandably more stable) semi elliptical rear springs, or did guys do this to gain more better handling of their own accord? even if some knows how, it must be a substantial undertaking mechanically, and have gone hand in hand with Rules modification. chicken or egg type of thing?

the more i learn, the more respect i have for the OGs of the sport who really had minimal sources (in comparison to these young whippersnappers of today) on which to draw.

thanks,

sid

 

People did what worked. experimented; and tried things to get more bite. If something didn't work, they cut it off and tried something else.

Well out of the H.A.M.B. era in the early 1970s Jack Johnson had a really trick Shwinning built Modified chassis coil overs on all 4 corners.
They ran it that way for one week at Fonda the next week they were late they rear coil overs were gone and the car had rear leaf springs, the reason they were late was because they were changing the car over!

Jack didn't like the way the car felt or handled on the coil covers.

 

wasn't it Sharon Stone who said that?

"it don't mean a thing if you ain't got that Schwing ... "

 

4 coil cars started showing up at the Valley in the late 60s, parallel leaf rears lasted through the 70s, torsion bars were banned until 77 I think, buggy spring and Flemke split buggy springs were still in use mid to late 70s but not competitive, trailer bars, 2 and 4, were around in the 70s, and then there was Gerry Chaimberlan and the 76 cars. Especially the Pinto. Independent front suspension, Ford 9 inch rear axle on cantilever coils. It was the best handling car of that generation. Gerry could put the car wherever he wanted it, inside, outside, in between. Oh and big block Ford engines, nothing Chevrolet…

 

Shwinning Chassis damn auto correct.

 

My square roll bar in my high school ride 1965.

 

nice ride

 

They also widened wheels. Then Lovable Les Alberti started building chassis.

Like this one. Les told me that he wanted to throw the sprint car tail tank away in the stream behind his shop about 5 times while trying to fabricate the mounts for it. Shwinning and Alberti built their chassis with that little bit of extra protection for the drivers.

 

His cousin Elmer Alberti lived here in Grand Gorge. Elmer was not a racer or interested in racing he was a dairy farmer.

 

Modern dirt track cars are a whole different breed then they were back in the 60s-through the 80s era.
The early years were all about trying different things and the only limitations were what guys could think of. The modern stuff is all about what the computer says is the best thing. its limitations are the guy entering the info or reading the computer results, then everyone build a minor change version of the same stuff, and the car follow the leader, unless you miss the correct setup of the day that your chassis builder suggests. Many racing divisions don't even allow cars that venture from the status quo these days, there is no such thing as innovation allowed anymore. My son's neighbor (which he helps with) participates in IMCA A mod Modified racing at the two "local tracks" in our area (both 60 + miles away).

Several of the tracks around here will run the heat races of all 5 or 6 different classes, then they will grade and water the track before the features start. I believe they do that so the racers are all guessing on how the track will run when its time for the feature for your class. Its about the only way to out smart the computer set ups, so there is not strictly follow the leader feature racing at those tracks.

Back in the old days, a poor man could have fun racing. These days, a poor man can barely afford to watch the races. Its another rich man's game now.

 

Classic pic

 

yup. i waz born two generations late.