Since @elgringo71 @falcongeorge and I got into a debate about the size and date a set of racing slicks were made. I thought why not have a thread about the fiirst racng slicks from companies like Moxley,Bruce, M&H and others. I did a search and didn't find a deadicated thread about early racing slicks so lets crank up our scanners, dig through your pile and find the earliest drag slick ads you can find. My collection starts in '58 so if anybody has anything before that please post it.
what I found, didn't read through ..http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/search/70959522/?q=racing+slicks&o=relevance&c[***le_only]=1
All of the early day slicks were recaps...Inglewood Tire was one of the largest supplier..followed by Bruce and Marsh..
"Speed Gems", I see you're from Minnesota. Were you around when Ellingson's on Franklin Avenue was recapping them? I had a set of Ellingson's recaps on 7:10X15 casings on my D-Altered in 1961. (I bought them used!)
Here's an add for M&H Racemaster for the"new" 16/1000 tires that came out in '61 or'62 i think falcongeorge said the 16/900 came out in '60 and i know the 16/1100 came out in '65.
According to this history of Hurst Racing Tires, Casler started in the lates '40's: Aspiring racing tire manufacturer Ron Hurst (no relation to parts magnate George Hurst) was, by all accounts, a quick study. In the spring of 1961, Hurst and son Steve launched Hurst Racing Tires out of San Diego, California, and aimed it directly into the ’60s performance frenzy, making slicks from molds first developed by Bill Casler back in the late ’40s.
That has to be one of the coolest jobs in the world------writing adds for speed parts; The guy (or gal) that wrote these probably skipped home from work.........
Alex Xydias' So-Cal Speed Shop in Burbank, Calif. produced "asphalt slicks" in 1953, recaps with seven inches of tread and purportedly four times the traction of a regular tire. In early 1957,Bill Kretch's Inglewood Tire Company and Bruce Alexander's Bruce's Slicks produced improved slicks and late that year, Marv Rifchin produced pure drag racing tires molded from special soft compounds at his M&H Tire Company in Watertown, M***. Of the three, Rifchin's M&H Company is still pumping out donuts, now in Gardner, M***. Information found here: http://www.dragracingonline.com/special/innovations_2.html
I traded for some old MH Superstock pie crusts that I found on Craigslist. They're all dry rotted, but I think I'm going to throw some tubes in there and see if they're drivable. This is the only picture I could find without digging...
Everyone forgets Marvin Rifchin's M&H was an oval track tire manufacturer, and applied what he learned about rubber compounds in oval tracking to drag racing. The following is from-http://www.intercotire.com/mh_legend In the 1930’s Harry Rifchin opened a tire sales and recap business for p***enger cars and trucks. His son, Marvin, worked with him and had a p***ion for midget and stock car racing. This p***ion would lead Marvin to develop a special rubber compound designed to work much better for racing than the standard recap rubber that was currently being used (which was meant for regular highway service use, and not racing). He reached out to their recap rubber supplier, Denman Rubber Mfg. Co. of Warren, OH, to produce a new racing recap rubber using his compounds. It was around this time that the M&H Tire Company was formed (Named for Marvin and his father Harry). His recap rubber was a hit. Marvin and is dad continued to run their mall family owned business tire operation out of Watertown, M***. Although the p***enger car and truck tires still paid the bills, it was the circle track tires that took up the majority of Marvin’s time and energy. By the early 1950’s race cars had become more powerful and faster. Marvin realized that the recapped tires in use were simply getting overstressed and failing far too often and it was time to change the game again. Marvin convinced Harry Webster, Denman’s President, to take an existing old tire p***enger mold, with the tread pattern mostly machined out, and create a tire using Marvin’s race rubber compound. This mold and compound were used to make the first M&H Tires for modified stock car racing. That’s right. In the 1950’s M&H Race Tires were the tires to run on your modified stock car – if you wanted to finish the race and have a chance of winning. It didn’t take long for Marvin and his M&H Race tires to get a firm grasp on the round track market, so when the mid 1950’s ushered in a new sport called drag racing it’s no wonder it grabbed Marvin’s attention. His new goal was to develop a tire, specifically a rear tire, with acceleration and traction in mind. By 1957, Marvin had created his first drag racing tire – the Drag Racing Slick (we know it today as just a “Drag Slick”. Following from-http://www.nemahistory.com/marvin-rifchin.html Biography An avid midget racing enthusiast from the very beginning, Marvin’s connection with midgets blossomed soon after the end of WW II. During the War, he was an Army Intelligence Officer who deciphered enemy transcripts and codes. Upon his return home, he went to work with his father, Harry, who was involved in a tire sales and retreading business in Watertown, M***. His Dad had started the business during the 1930’s in the back of a Jenny Gas station on Main Street, but it was Marvin who became interested in making better recaps for race cars, specifically midgets and stock cars. Together they formed the M&H Tire Company (named for Marvin & Harry) and bought their tread stocks from Denhan Rubber in Warren, Ohio. Harry Rifchin proudly stands in front of their business on Main Street in Watertown, MA. Marvin realized he needed a tire that can control the heat, so he convinced Harry Webster, who was the president of Denhan Rubber, to manufacture a new tire tread and compound that was more suited for racing. This time after the War, rubber products were in short supply and tubes for 12" midget tires were impossible to find, and considered gold. Marvin was working at retreading tires for the popular racers, but the lack of tubes made for a hard sell. He devised a way to cut down 16" p***enger tubes to make 12 inch tubes. That made it possible to sell more midget tire recaps and helped the business flourish. That is the time when he met the racers of the day, supplying tires to racers and services garages all across the Bay State, including Simmonetti's garage, which was a short distance away, and of course the famous Kelley Brother’s garage, which was the social hub for many local midget racers. Many of those guys became dear friends in addition to business ***ociates. Marvin’s reputation and success expanded out across New England and the East Coast, supplying tires to popular racers at the time, including Joe Barzda and his “California Speed Shop” located in New Jersey. M&H became thee tire to have on your circle track race car in the 1950’s. By the mid to late 1950’s, Marvin had made a name for himself in the midget and stock car industry, but the need for a better tire in drag racing sparked Marvin’s attention. Up until that time, drag racers were using smooth-tread recapped p***enger tires, which did not offer much traction. His new goal was to develop a new purpose-built rear tire that could endure the incredible forces of acceleration. In 1958, he convinced a well-known drag racer named “Big Daddy” Don Garlits to try a set of his “drag slicks” for the next race in South Carolina. Garlits blistered the compe***ion and won Top Eliminator that day. As they say…the rest is history. "I knew about this man who was into stock car races," said Garlits in a 2003 interview. "He said that I needed a tire that’s not recapped. Marv had these tires that had the same mold but softer rubber. They were narrow, about 6 1/2 inches wide, but he said that wouldn’t matter. I didn’t know that much about tires back then and listened to what he had to say." Marvin sits with Don "The Snake Prudhomme" That victory meant a lot to the company, as it sparked a tidal wave of business and continually increased as the years rolled on. Garlits was also the first to break the 8-second barrier on this innovative new tire, and later on, he recorded the first officially recognized 200-mph run in Great Meadows using M&H tires. Legendary racer, Don “The Snake” Prudhomme described Marvin as the “Godfather of drag racing slicks. Tires were a mystery to most racers in both circle track and drag racing, so they ran recaps until the undeniable performance of Marvin’s tires made them a believer. But of course all this success with both his new drag racing slick and his improved oval track tires encouraged other tire manufacturers to enter the drag and circle track racing market. By the mid-60s, M&H went head-to-head with giant companies like Firestone and Goodyear. In the 1970’s, M&H faced more compe***ion with a younger gr***-roots tire company, named “Hoosier”, that was quickly finding success on the racing circuit. But like the others, Marvin found all this compe***ion stimulating and a lot of fun, and the M&H continued to thrive. It was this brand wars of the 1960’s and 70’s that led to some of the greatest advancements in tire technology. “I think the greatest accomplishment that any of us could have were the tire wars that we went through with Goodyear,” recalled Marvin years later. “The compe***ion lead to us being instrumental in securing some of the most fantastic advances that have taken place in mechanical and scientific business.” In addition to making tires for racers all over the country, Marvin tried his hand at car ownership. In the 1970's, he successfully raced modifieds at the Thompson International Speedway and the Waterford Speedbowl. At the tail end of the ownership stint, he purchased the Bill Hood #7 modified and found even more success. The most notable driver for Marvin was an up and coming young man named Ronnie Bouchard, who of course later left to pursue his professional stock car racing career as a then Winston Cup driver. Marvin ***embled a team that included Bob Judkins who spun the wrenches, Steve Kalkowski who handled tires, and Chuck Grime who made sure the whole operation ran smoothly. In typical Marvin fashion, he tried to stay behind the scenes. Together, they went on to win championships at Seekonk and Stafford Motor Speedways. Marvin talking strategy with Ron Bouchard and Vic Kangas at Stafford in 1980 It was the midgets and people of NEMA however that Marvin always truly adored. He was around when NEMA took its first green flag in 1953, though in his usual fashion working through others who provided track service. Undoubtedly, most of the midgets that day were on M&H rubber. Marvin's partnership with Kelley Brothers garage was key to M&H's success and growth in the world of Northeast midget racing. Ray and Wen Kelley sold Marvin’s tires for more than the first four decades of the club’s history. You could always count on Ray, his M&H tire truck, and his personalized - and colorful, service to be at each and every race. Through these years, even when business demands pulled Marvin away from NEMA, he always worked to insure there were tires available for those little cars he liked so much. It was this great service and quality that made it easy for many racers to select M&H for their NEMA midget over the many years. Drew Fornoro stands in victory lane with Wen Kelley's son, Sam (left), Ray Kelley (far right), and Marvin Rifchin in 2003. Throughout the 60's, 70's, 80's, and into the 90's, Marvin's tires helped deliver countless NEMA victories and championships with guys like Bill Eldridge, Al Pillion, Dave Humphrey, Lee Smith, Joey Coy, and Drew Fornoro just to name a few. M&H sponsored all of Bobby White's midget efforts that helped earn him championships in 1975 and 1979. Marvin also developed a close friendship over many years with NEMA Legends, Bruce Bean and Russ Stoehr, who together earned two driving championships and an owner's championship in the 90's. However, it might have been Marvin's reverence to the low-buck racer that some consider most noble. In his typical quite fashion, Marvin often did whatever he could to help the "little guys", even if it meant giving them a free tire or two to try out for the night. Dedicated races like Jim O'Brien, Mike Luggelle, Pete Pernisiglio, Glen Cabral and many others all benefited from his kindness. For years, especially late in his life when his schedule allowed, he was a fixture at the NEMA races and often helped support the club with sponsorship and his invaluable wisdom behind the scenes. By the late 1970’s, Marvin had developed tires for almost every form of racing over the years, which were produced exclusively for M&H at the Denhan tire factory in Warren, OH. However, his insatiable desire to make all M&H tires better and faster than the compe***ion lead him to establish and operate his own tire factory in the early 1980’s. So at the ripe young age of 65, he moved his business from Watertown to Gardner, just of Route 2, where he continued to grow his business and make his own tires until his retirement almost twenty years later. When he retired, he was well into his eighties and doing the mental and physical work most 20 year olds could not and would not do today. He was also tired with the inability to attract employees who shared his p***ion, which was not so much the tires, but his relentless pursuit of a better recipe and the results. This was the same p***ion he had inherited from his Dad, Harry. Therefore in 1996, he made the difficult decision to sell M&H to the Interco Tire Company but remained involved with the company as a consultant until his final days. Marvin himself once told the story "I was working with my Dad for years, as I watched him slow down to the point I said to him one day - Dad it's time." His dad retired immediately. Marvin never slowed down himself, but knew it was time. Marvin's contributions to the industry has been nationally recognized. In 1999, he was inducted into the NEAR Hall of Fame. In 2003, he was inducted into the SEMA Hall of Fame. In 2006, NEMA ran a special race at Thompson to Honor Marvin (see below) and to this day, they annually hold an annual memorial race in his name. Even after the tire plant moved to the midwest, he stayed loyal to friends in both the world of drag racing and circle track, offering his advice and mentor-ship on or off the track. Everywhere Marvin went, no matter what type of racing it was - whether it was NEMA, NASCAR, IHRA, NHRA, CART, USAC, WOO....and the list goes on - Marvin was an amb***ador to motorsports. The long corridor inside his Gardner, MA factory, which connected his front door to his office, was wall papered with photos of well-known racers from all over the world thanking him for his tires and advice. That's just the kind of guy he was...a great family man, an amazing chemist, and a wonderful friend...the world of motorsports, and NEMA especially, is lucky to have known him. "Marvin was a very special man... a sportsman, engineer, chemist, Racer, and a self-made man"... recalls fellow Hall of Famer and dear friend Bruce Beane..."The week before he p***ed, He received word in the nursing home, from the company that he sold his business to, that his latest compound cured a problem they had been fighting in a front wheel drive drag car application. He was really pleased that he had once more solved a tire problem for the company... Marvin's most valued things, next to his family and many friends, were his books of tire compound formulas that he had developed over the many years that he built racing tires. Hopefully these books are tucked away safe somewhere... Marvin's generosity to many will never be fully understood ... he was truly special." Marvin stands with close friends, Bruce Beane and Russ Stoehr, at Thompson. (Special thanks to Marvin's son and daughter, Robert Rifchin and Deb McDowell, and also Paul Stoehr, Russ Stoehr, Bruce Beane, and WeDidItForLove.com for providing much of the invaluable information and stories herein)
More Moxley. Car Craft, Sept. 1960 1960 Phoenix Directory listing. From May 2011 issue of Hot Rod Deluxe. Saw this in an episode of American Pickers, could it be? Ep: Red White and Blues.
Those on the right are the exact slicks I posted earlier. They're still mounted on the Ford steelies from 19-whenever.
I don't have anything to add to this interesting thread. But how could I NOT post with an avatar like this. <
I ran a set of J C Penney's cheater slicks on my 327 Chevy powered MGB in the early '70s. Bought 'em at their auto center. I sprayed them liberally with VHT traction compound and they bit like crazy at Lions. I didn't want to cut out the rear fenders and that was the biggest tire that would fit - 8.50-14. I had heard they were "private label" Caslers. I've got a few pairs of ancient M&Hs out in the shop, wish I knew what year they were made.
Worked at Reitman Auto Parts in the 80's, salvage yard. A early charger came in with a set of Casler slicks on the rear, small 14's, can't remember the size. There wasn't a dry rot crack in them, they were like new. I took them home, but damn if I remember what I done with them. I just remember how cool I thought they were.
Hello, After going through all of my early stuff/photos from cars, drag racing, I found this ad from Vic Hubbard’s Speed Shop, dated February 8, 1958. We had got a set of small Bruce Slicks (locally) for our 1958 black 348 Impala. We ran the car with slicks first, but in the A/Stock cl***, only cheater slicks were allowed in the eliminations. We use the Bruce slicks only in the timed runs. We tried running the Bruce slicks on the street during the “local” races. They worked quite well, but as the evening wore on, the mist on the road home did some wonderful tail wagging when slowing down or stopping. Later, in 1960, we used these same small Bruce Slicks on our 1940 Willys using the same rims, as the Willys had a Chevy rear axle housing. By this time, we were grinding away at these Bruce Slicks, we had ordered new, larger, M&H slicks for wider Halibrand Mags. Going for more traction for quicker times at the nationals...but... Jnaki
I had a pair of 14's that looked just like this. Bought them at an Ezrine Tire Co. store I was working at after school. This was about '76. Manager said they were in the stock room for longer than he had been there. Put them on my buddies '67 Chevelle. Tread came loose first time we tried them. Never seen another set till now.
I just got a new batch of Hot Rod magizines from Fleabay and found this ad for the "New" Racemaster Dragster from Hot Rod April '59 it doesn't give the size but one would ***ume it is the 9.00/16.
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