History Bring Out Yer Board Track Pics!

way OT, but about 100 pounds and 10 years ago, that was what I did. Was ranked 12th in the US in the 17-18 mens match sprint. Spent a lot of time going left. Then rugby and the next 100 pounds happened

The more I read, many of the early race drivers all started out on the velodrome: Oldfield, DeKnyff, Jarrot, Edge, the list goes on. Guess it is a good training ground.

 

did you get any splinters?

 

A little board era Peugeot

 

Does the Bothwell car still belong to the family? I always thought that trying to get it in the 1949 INDY 500 was a neat deal. What years did it run in when it was a younger car?

 

it is a 1914 GP Puegot, the car is still with the family. The actual history of the car (who drove it in the '14 GP) is up for dispute. Beyond that it really kicks arse.

 

FB, from what you have heard is the history of the Bothwell Peugeot as to who drove it in the states in dispute as well? I believe Rick Rawlins is the caretaker of the car for the family. Rick is a good guy and I told him what I thought and he seemed open to opinion, I guess. I am not convinced the history of the car is settled at all. I would surely like to hear the "story" as to how Klein who Bothwell bought the car from ended up with Resta"s Peugeot.

Also Resta made a Resta Special in 1918 and ran it at Sheephead in 1919 (and maybe late 1918) and if so what chassis did he use for his Resta Special? He had his own engine (which if truth be told that may have been a modified Peugeot-who knows). Also did the NY Peugeot importer, Kaufman ever end up selling the Peugeot to Resta at any time after 1916?

What have you heard?-Jim

 

This is a pretty good thread that deserves to live. The first photo is of three pretty big headliners in 1917 at Sheepshead Bay (they packed the house to see these three greats run). DePalma in the cream colored 299 V12 Packard (#4) then Louis Chevrolet in the maroon colored OHC four Frontenac (a great car and driver) in the middle and then Oldfield in the Golden Sub. DePalma and Oldfield had been having a series of match races that summer and Oldfield had held his own for sure on the dirt but the 299 was better on the boards. The next photo is the 299 getting the checkers in the same race. DePalma won all three match races that day with Chevrolet taking second in all three. The Sub came in third in the first two races and then Oldfield switched to his Miller powered Delage for the third event but still came in third.

The next photo is the Packard racing garage at Sheepshead Bay. Packard was serious about using the boardtrack for their testing. DePalma always well turned out is second from the right. Notice the racecar in the hallway, probably the 299.

The fourth photo is the Blitzen Benz on the inside and the big V12 Subeam (Toodles V) owned at this time by Packard. DePalma was driving Toodles on that day in a big match race at Sheepshead. Now that is a match race I would pay to see. If my memory is worth anything at all I am pretty sure DePalma was the victor on that day as well.-Jim

 

Courtesy of that great website www.milleroffy.com, some Ballot

 

This beauty was at Road America last September.

 

Great thread! I agree,let`s keep this one alive.

 

absolutely awesome pics guys

 

I could look at this stuff all day...

 

Is this the exBriggs Cunningham car with a fresh restoration?

 

Jim, Is this the Blitzen Benz that was parted out here in the USA? I have a 1923 photo of a lineup in Pottstown, Pa, with a note stating one car has the Blitzen Benz radiator on it. If so it may be the Benz that provided the rear axle for the Parry Thomas LSR car Babs.

 

awe- inspiring thread. I just ran across this one. One of the best ever.

 

More from Road America - not a board track but a great race car!

 

more board guys two wheels short...

 

This is a really impressive bunch of stuff. The old group photos really tell some neat stories. You guys must live in libraries, how can you keep track of all this info? Thanks.

 

Bob, I have never tracked down the history of the Blitzen in this picture enough to answer that question definitively. Shortly after this picture both of these cars were bought by the Adams brothers so they could tour and race them as behemoths I suppose. The Sunbeam 12 "Toodles V", named affectionately after Coatelan's wife, met its fate at a dirt track in Kalamazoo when it was involved in a fatal ten car pile up. The big Benz was one of several large Benz cars and there was some shell games played with some of the parts of some of the Benz cars if one is to believe history. The sooner I put in my two cents without really researching is when I will put my foot in my mouth I suppose.

That being said I have read that this Blitzen (some call the Blitzen #2) was raced in state fair style contests and was destroyed in the twenties. Even then some may have picked at its carcass and used the "good" parts in other monsters.-Jim

 

This post has been most helpful - I am just starting the build of a Miller replica. Started with a 29 Chevy Frame which appears to have similar lines to Millers frames. Had to shorten it 13 inches to get a 100 inch wheel base. It also has front parallel springs like the Miller. I'll be running a V8 60 flathead for power. The wheels, rear axle, spindles, and brakes all come from a 29 Huppmobile.

I had to also narrow the frame from 46" down to 23" - here are some pictures of the original frame and some progress thru this weekend. It's off to the blaster now that the heavy work is done. Any comment or suggestions are appreciated.

 

Sounds like a good idea and you are off to a good start. The only question is which car's bodywork are you going to replicate? Good luck-Jim

 

The 20s Chevy frames were a popular choice for that era racers.

http://packmag.net/index.php?option...ge=inline&catid=6&id=380&limit=1&limitstart=2

 

Nice frame Levis, I'll post the cover and feature on one that was in Old Cars Illustrated, even had a Chevy four for powere if my memory is right.

 

Not sure exactly which one the 91 or the 122 - leaning towards "The Boyle Special"

 

The Boyle is a good choice- Will you end up running exhaust on both sides? The cars in the pic (Miller meet?) are pretty nice as well. I recognize the 1919 Ballot, the Grey Wolf, the yellow Mercer, the Cutting Car (#15). The others are a bit hard to make out.-Jim

 

This is a photo of my Uncle Don Debolt and his lovley wife Marge Highfield.
He was active in dirt track racing at Brooklands Speedway in Winnipeg. I don't know the history of this car. What is it? I do remember he had great taste in cars. As a child I can remember him with a 55 Caddy ragtop with a huge boat behind it with twin mercs. Quite a guy!

"The Great Silver Bullet"

 

so I will admit that I am wrong, I pulled my copy of the Dr. Quattlebaum's book and the suspension is all wrong on the ass end (and it is left hand drive) Neat special what ever it is. I shot a note to my father who is by for knowledgeable than I on matters this obsure...

have the remains of an american underslung chassis, a OHV REO 4 banger, and od white transmission...hmmm...

 

super!!!!

 

So I did some talking and reading...the guy in the middle has a striking resemblance to this here feller:


It is not a Stutz, but maybe one of Harry C's early creations.

1. Underslung: HCS pioneered this one.

2. OHV 4 Valves per cylinder (90 degree valve separation), 4 holes: Wiedley. HCS and Weidley worked together on all manner of engineering marvels, later being the White Squadron Stutz's

3. Transaxle: HCS invented, and patented the transaxle...this thing has one.

4. HCS was working in Indiana, Indianapollis.

It all fits in about the right era to boot.

Any thoughts?