History Auto racing 1894-1942

Doug, that is a really cool find. Packard built three complete cars for the 1923 Indy but only some parts survived. Brad Skinner was responsible for collecting most of the old Packard racing stuff and I purchased my 299 engine from him back in 1981. He also had the remains of the 23 racers I would have to look at my old notes (wherever they are) to see which exact parts he found and saved. I seem to remember he had parts from a couple of the cars but not enough to build a complete car. A collector in Ohio bought the remains about the same time as I bought the 299 and he later sold it I believe to someone who was going to build the car. A reputable shop was in the process of "restoring" the car and I spoke to them and sent them the camshaft specs so it could be replicated (only various parts of the engine had been saved). Much of the body was present. I assume the car was completed but I have never seen it. I did a bit of research on the car and found references to the cars in Jesse Vincent's diary.

I may be able to track down the present owners of the car if you wish to part with the tag. I recently went to a shop local to me (Troy Michigan) that bought the rights to the Harry A Miller name--a really cool shop in Troy with talented guys working on Miller stuff. They even have the Harry A. Miller name on the side of their shop in the exact way that Miller did at his shop in Los Angeles. You can look them up -google Harry A. Miller LLC or Harry A. Miller Inc. Spent an afternoon there BS ing and looking over the cool stuff they are working on. We spoke of making a run there with our car club and seeing their progress. I would bet they know who owns the 23 Packard stuff now quicker than I can find out. In any event a cool tag. Here is a couple of pictures of the 23 racers-one along side the larger 905 record setting Liberty powered 905 12 cylinder car.

 

That's a great start to a tribute replica.

 

Thanks Jim! Back when I worked at a restoration shop it was common practice to remove data plates from the cars and replace them with shiny new ones from Pulfer & Williams. I'd put the old ones in my tool box, things change and having the original bits really matter today. Thought I recognized a car at Pebble Beach last year, and asked a friend when I got home if it was in fact the car I'd disassembled years ago. Felt really good knowing it was the car, even better knowing the original tag I'd saved was on the car again. It won it class, I once had a ride in the car 40 years before the restoration was started.

 

I've heard of cars being built around a few bits, but that would be a real fun challenge!

 

Thanks for the great story! I've learned who owns the car and have the contact information for the gentleman responsible for restoring it.

For now it looks nice in the bookcase.

Thinking about heading to Indy next month for the Miller meet with my cameras. Do you make it that far south? Seeing as it is the last year at the Speedway, figured there can't be a better time than now.

 

Nice collection! I have six of them and use them often to look up information on cars. The one I NEVER SHOULD HAVE SOLD! is featured in one. Bob

 

Yea Bob the original tags are a big deal. When I inspected the 1916 Packard racer that was returned to the U.S. about 25 years ago I crawled underneath to do a visual inspection trying to document the car and I found an original tag affixed to the frame with numbers on it. The tag said Packard experimental department which is where my grandfather worked on it in the teens. I got all excited when I saw the tag as I had never seen one before or since. It is now attached to the firewall and the car is in the Gilmore Museum.

Good collection of books Doug. I have most of the ones you have including two Golden Age by Borgeson. I found one in a used book shop in California for $10. The tag looks good right where it is-for now. I am sure the 23 owner would like to have it but at least it is in existence which is cool. I doubt that I will make Indy although sounds like fun. Always a good time going to a Miller meet. I am sure you will have a good time.

 

Jim, Thanks for the tip on the Harry A. Miller Co. LLC, looks like quite the place. Still want a MILLER & a Bugatti, but they keep picking the wrong Lottery numbers every week.

 

I'm dealing with making one small bronze gear for my lathe. The gear set on the front of that engine raises my blood pressure. Beautiful work on that site!

 

Cutting the gear teeth then drilling the holes to attach them to camshafts, then making sure things like valves & pistons never touch must take forever to figure out. Still easier to understand than wiring a car in my mind.

 

@fur biscuit , be advised that the Miller Meet will be held at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park as it was last year, not at the Indy 500 track. Usually held at the Milwaukee Mile the Miller Club had to change the venue to Indianapolis due to construction at the Mile and will be returning to Milwaukee in 2025.
I attended last year, the cars make laps on the IRP oval, and I found the turnout a bit lower then when I’ve attended in Milwaukee.

 

Need to start a petition to run at Indy! Bet that would be a sight. Thanks for the feedback.

 

Hey Guys!!
Spectacular photos of the "Audax" Argentina Grand Prix, 1928, La Tablada Circuit. The winner was Eduardo Estanguet with #bugatti35bgrandprix, second Raul Riganti with a #hudsonsupersix

 

Nice photo of an early Type 35 Bugatti with the small drum brakes.

 

Is this a Chevy?

 

Yes, I think! At least have the bowtie in the grille!

 

Very Interesting dropped and filled axle or modified Ford axle by welding! Would be? The dropped looks very thick maybe was modified by welding a piece of metal not a dropped one!

 

This was posted by Dandy Driver from Argentina in his personal Facebook page!!

A few days ago I bought 50 photos of Baquets (Speedsters) from a friend.

Only one photo had information on the back. December 14, 1934, Ciudadela, Buenos Aires. And zooming in as much as possible I could see some license plates from La Matanza dated 1928 and Luján. It is incredible the number of racing cars that were made in Argentina.

 

Great pictures, Thanks!

 

It was not that long ago the Old Cars did run at Indy in the month of May.
As would happen, someone caused an incident and the Insurance companies put the nix on them.

Just having a place to run is good enough today, there are still quite a few cars out there.

John

 

I'm in...

 

Fanto at the wheel and his partner Perrone with Mercedes at the 500 mile race of Rafaela city... Argentina

 

Sell more books Bob!

 

Any idea what year this was Bob or Bob?

 

I'd say around 1915 think it was in Santa Monica. I'll be back later after some Google searching.

 

June 16 in 1917, Chicago Speedway Park in Maywood/IL.

 

Somebody imported some trees.

 

Thanks, guess I was just being lazy to look it up myself. That's really cookin' to average that speed for 250 miles at that time.