Projects NEW BUILD-OTIE'S AUTOMOTIVE B/A FIAT TOPOLINO TRIBUTE

Wow now in Hot Rod maybe LOL.

Posted by rudestude in this thread: https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...nd-sex-was-safe.1060429/page-13#post-12080346

 

Found another photo.

how did it go at meltdown?

 

Meltdown was great, sorry no updates in a while, been laying off the computer trying to get the car done.
Got the car put together just in time for the trip. Got a few small things to finish up like the side windows and finishing up the wiring. We didn't arrive until late Friday night so we didn't get a spot up top with the rest of the altereds , but it was our fault. The guys that run the show were great and very accommodating giving us a choice of spots from what was left.
Now for the good part. The car was pretty much ready start when we left.
A friend of mine knows Randy Walls from the Super Nova funny cars and he made a call and Randy paid us a visit Saturday morning. He took my 2-port and adjusted the barrel valve and linkage. No leak down tester for him, he put the inlet in his mouth and blew through it a couple times to set it. Bolted it back on the car, built up some oil pressure, he primed it, hit the mag and it fired right up first try, couldn't believe it, awesome guy.
We ran a few tanks of fuel through it over the next day and a half and decided to get it checked out. Tech guy said I did a tremendous job on the car and passed me. I made one slow test pass on Sunday afternoon. Now it's time to convert to alcohol and go do some real testing.

 

I'll post video later, my phone doesn't want to let me post them for some reason.


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Anxiously waiting video!
KK

 

Having Randy Walls tune for you , that is priceless ! The car looks fantastic, would very much like to see the video.

 

Sorry, best I can do for now. The H.A.M.B. does not like the format the videos are saved, screwed with it for about an hour, time to go to work.
If anyone knows how to post a video from an I-phone let me know. I'll try again tonight.




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Couple shots from meltdown on bangshift today

 

Awesome, thanks


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Just post the videos on You tube then copy and paste them hear.
Seen you on the return road happy as a punk in boys town on your first pass.
Great job and killer car....I love it.

 

Car looks fantastic!

 

Ok, try these links to some short videos.

 

Thank you
Definitely, I was a pretty happy guy at the Meltdown!

 

This was taken on the spot at the IX Piston Power Show this past March.

 

All the videos work fine.

It sure does have a unique SOUND.

 

That's a JEWEL right there, my pants feel wet

 

It think it's the small CI (327) and strait pipes, I sure like that throttle response with the blower though!


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Another great part of our Meltdown weekend was having Isky sign my belt guard.
Thank you Dave Davis from Gasser Wars Magazine for the photos.

 

Found another photo of the roadster in action

 

Thanks, thats at the Akron Airport in 57 or 58. Otie won B/Roadster at the the 56 Nats in that car with a SBC and then installed a 354 Hemi.


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More photos found, fiat, roadster and DRAGSTER

This one says Valenski & Smith with Oties logo







Early version



Early ? Scoop


And sad news but good story

 

Just to close the gap on how the car got to Ohio, My dad, Don Sarrett bought the Fiat as a roller after Al Waldo Hirschfield won the Nationals. He purchased it for a hefty sum of $2000 in 61. Al treated my dad and Vanke to a lobster dinner before rolling out in his topless (not convertible) 57 Olds towing a pipe frame trailer that was used to bring it to that Akron area. My dad was a young man (24) and was working at a steel mill in South Cleveland making $21 a day and couldn't levy the continual expense of blower pistons ($100+) and had to sell it. He did manage a respectable 10.64 @ 128 before Otie assumed ownership of it. Him and Vanke sold their altered's and approached Anderson Pontiac about a new 389 and 421. The rest is history. This car was the first on the east coast with the new B&M Hydro Stick.

Please ask Billy what they did with the big triangle weight that was at the rear of the Fiat. That's a piece of history in itself.

My dad always told me about this car and it is a real treat to see what's left of it even though he didn't own it for long.

 

posted by NHRANUT in the vintage thread

 

Awesome pictures, thanks!


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Steve Harwood from Niantic, CT. at Charlestown Dragway in Rhode Island. This is was the former Ottie's Automotive altered that was on the cover of Hot Rod Magazine December 1960

 

The car was updated a bit from the time it was on HRM cover...straight axle...nose high stance.

 

Nice multiple photos

 

Good story, thanks for filling in the blanks. If you see us at the track stop and introduce yourself.
I met your dad at the 2016 Geezer Gathering and he told me most of that story.
All Bill remembers about the weight is it was full of lead, probably weighed several hundred pounds and it made the floor shake when it landed after they cut it of the chassis.


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