History Bonneville Studebaker info

I heard a reference to a group of guys from Klute, Texas, in the 1970s who raced a Studebaker (wish I knew what model) at Bonneville. They were known for hawking[sic] t-shirts saying, "Fastest Studebaker in Klute".

Does this ring a bell with anyone, and could someone point out any books referring to these guys? Or share a personal story, by chance?


Thank you,

 

check the Stude forum....or a Bonnieville results.....Studes held a record or two from 1964 into the 1990's.....for stock production I'm sure....

 

No love on the Stude forum, so I figured to try here, if not for the car and team itself, for some tips about books that would be good references for Bonneville cars during that time.

I'll try a Bonneville search here, but that's got to be a busy search result.

 

It is difficult to find information. As best as we figure, we are the third fastest Studebaker to run on the salt. I think the fastest is 272 mph but I am not positive. We are going for the fastest this year. However, this is not a stock bodied Studebaker as we run in Competion Coupe Cl***.

A post, with this question, on the land racing board might get you some information.

John

 

Thanks for the warning and information. Is there a specific name for the land speed board?
I don't know that this car was record breaking or record worthy. I just know a writer for one of the big car mags was recalling one of his favorite pieces of Bonnevilliana: A t-shirt from the "Fastest Studebaker in Klute" where the car was from!

 

Neil Thompson's coupe is the fastest Stude ever to run on the salt. With a two way average just under 272, and an awesome one way near 290, no other Studebaker is close. This car is what bad ***ed is about!

 

Belmont Sanchez's coupe was the first ever Lowey coupe run on the salt. In 1956 when the car was barely 3 years old , Belmont liberated the coupe from his Dad's used car lot, and turned it into a race car. In '57 the car ran 178 with a blown fuel Ardun. When this picture was taken in '59, running a Clarke Cagle blown fuel Chrysler, driver Joe Locosto set a record over 200mph, making it the first door slammer over 200. This is the car that started the Studebaker revolution on the salt.

 

If that pic doesn't make your heart pound so loud you can hear it, you should take up another hobby!

 

Thank you for the photos and history. Both of those cars are incredible looking.

 

The Sanchez Stude in it's final version. With a Clarke Cagle blown fuel 454 Chrysler it set the A/Comp coupe record at 220mph. Running various displacement engines, at one time this car held the top four records in the Comp Coupe cl***es.

 

World's fastest air conditioned car, at least at one point? Still owned by Vintage Air!

 

Try searching "Clute TX" and you'll probably have more luck. I found a few STUDE links from google.

 

Hmm. I did do a search for Klute and Clute, but apparently I didn't go far enough down the Clute search pages. Thanks.

 

Cool Stude stuff kids, love them Bakers! ~sololobo~

 

www.landracing.com is the board he was referring to.

 

Different car, but appropriate for this thread. This one from North Dakota set a land speed record in 1960. Was in a gl*** garage on my college campus for many years and now is back with the builders family.






And my Favorite detail...

 

That TP roll can be very useful in an unruly Stude at high speed! Ask me how I know.

 

How many times did you go over Dean? Probably a record for a W engine.

 

Thank you!

 

I don't remember anything after the first hit. Burke Le Sage was pushing back from a run in Don Alderson's roadster and saw the whole crash. Burke said he counted 9 1/2 rolls before coming to rest upside down. 3 weeks in the hospital, and 6 months in a body cast is no way to spend your 17th summer.

 

Andre Moreau. N/A with dual carbs. Andre is from Quebec, but bought this car in the States a few years ago. It was an ex Bonneville car at that time.