Gang, I took a little trip north, up to Milwaukee and back, in June and thought you might enjoy some of the images. In addition to visiting friends and family along the way, I went to a Ford Capri meet (the European coupe) near Columbus, OH; my first super-modified race at the Lorain County Speedway (west of Cleveland, OH); visited Suicide Axle Rod Shop in Sycamore, IL; did a weekend of vintage sports car racing at Blackhawk Farms (South Beloit, IL); the Studebaker Museum (South Bend, IN); and the start of the Coker Great American Race in Jacksonville, FL. I'll spare you the Capri pix (super dull event) and tales of a very bad case of food poisoning I probably got from a bacteria-laden bratwurst injested at National Trails Raceway, but I think you may enjoy some of the other pix. The prime reason for the trip was that an old college bud was racing his Triumph "Special" at Blackhawk farms ICW a National TR meet. It's a weird build, but he did a fantastic job on the build. It took him 4 years and it's mostly a TR chassis and engine with a Volvo P1800 tail. Except for the tail, there really isn't a body - the skin is just hammered around the cage / tubes of the chassis. Race car wise, I was most impressed with the Supers. Absolutely the coolest oval track racers I've ever seen. No two are alike, any kind of setup is fair game. If you look closely, you'll see a photo of a straight front axle with a camber adjustment feature! They use big blocks and the engines sit between the two left side wheels for max left hand cornering. Virtually half of those cars is to the right of the centerline. They are stupid fast - I was astounded at their speed and handling. In the strange world department, I passed one of the Coker entries (twice) in the Chicago area while we were on the Tri-state tollway, but never got to meet the Schmitt's who were entered in a 50's Olds. I sure wanted to meet them but I never caught up to them around their car. If anyone knows them, ask them if the recall a silver HHR tooting his horn at them around Chicago. Later, Gary
That cut-and-shut orange sports car has Volvo 1800 rear sheetmetal, and that engine could be Volvo too. It's an interesting piece, thanks for the pics.
Zerk, as I said at the top, it's mostly TR but the butt. My friend has raced TR-2-3-4s and he made it from some of the take-offs and a lot of creativity. I have a few more pix if you want to see them, just let me know. Gary
The Jalopy Journal
