History 6-71 bearing plate, but not quite

Anyone wanna take a guess at what I bought? I’m a little confused
It’s certainly the shape of a 6-71 rear bearing plate, but the counterbores for the bearings aren’t machined, and the casting itself seems pretty porous and unfinished for any sort of precision surface.
It’s engraved:
“6-21-68 Mph 221,
ET 6.65
Jim Bailey Lyons DS
A/A. T.M.C.C. F/D”
My best guess is some sort of trophy for a track record?
I know what AA/FD means, and I know who Jim Bailey is, obviously Lyons(Lions?) Drag Strip isn’t a mystery
Pictures aren’t working right now I’ll try to add some in the comments

 

perhaps a cover that fits over the original GMC bearing plate? with reliefs for the ends of the shafts, if you didn't trim them off

 

That is a cool piece of Lions history!
I bet it wont be long before someone on here tells the story.

 

I have to ask, why does a driver that apparently raced at Lions misspell the name?

 

^^ auto-correct^^


...

 

Actually its a really a neat trophy. Definitely not one you will get everyplace. If you got such a trophy, it would probably mean a lot to you on a personal level.

A track record, the ET, the trap speed, and the date, with your name on it, hand engraved on a rough cast blower part, and handed to the driver as part of the day's winnings! It would be a great piece for the driver to cherish for a very long time. Even when the record was beaten, that piece of history was forever his, and he has solid, documented, proof of the day he beat the record!

That rough casting could have been fished out of a scrap bin, could have been a set up piece, or a defective piece. The part could have been donated to the track by the blower manufacturer for just such a purpose.

 

Jnaki to the courtesy phone!

 

I think you nailed it, as usual. Even if the seller didn’t quite know what he was selling I’m still going to run it, just need to buy a stock bearing plate to bolt it too.

 

I had the same thought, maybe they engraved it after a few to many victory beers haha

 

Hello,

1968 is beyond the traditional HAMB time period. But, my sources also were beyond listing any mention of times and E.T. for all of the racers. The fuel dragsters were the top attraction and the remaining gas coupes/sedans were relegated to exhibition and some for eliminator class runs. But, the listings, including records set were now gone. So, only the reporter’s writings and results for the rounds were listed.

another random track record in June 1968.

Of what I could find, the speed and E.T. for that 1968 time period was a little fast and perhaps a dream for "lyons." No one from elementary school would misspell a lion for lyon.

Jnaki

So, for the reason, "maybe they engraved it after a few to many victory beers haha" might be a true story.


For comparison:

At a June 1968 event in Englishtown New Jersey Spring Nationals, here are some top times and speeds.

Even Don Garlits was present with his win over Mike Snively


Note:

“6-21-68 Mph 221,
ET 6.65
Jim Bailey Lyons DS
A/A. T.M.C.C. F/D”

Maybe T.M.C.C. mean “The Most Consistent Creation.” OR… DS means, “Designated Storyteller.”

With a current ideology present: “in your dreams…” being added on as the story progresses… YRMV

 

A thorough and fantastic reply as usual, thank you!
It seemed fast to me too, having known about the Beebe and Mulligan record, but I was nowhere near born yet when that was set, so I’m glad I’m not going crazy
Even if it’s fake, it’s still entertaining, and will look just fine on the back of my blower. The rest of it is period correct parts and an original GMC case