Been around cars and racing my entire life. My Grandfather was head of Research and Development for Offenhauser for 30 years and his love of cars rubbed off an me. I am very fond of flathead Ford engines and nostaligic racing parts. Hope to meet a lot of new friends and talk a lot of cars with everyone.
welcome aboard! whats this 1954 rear engined dragster youve got? also, we like stories here and im sure your grandpa had a lot of them... and pictures... feel free to "spill the beans".
In response to my rear-engined dragster. In 1954, my Grandfather built a rear engined dragster after and he had an engine fire in his Model A racer. It was featured in the November 1954 issue of "Hot Rod". The car was called "The White Owl" because of it's cigar shaped hand built body. It is considered the first purpose built rear engine dragster. Although rear engined car were around then, his was the first to be completely designed for drag racing. The chassis was a Model A Ford with the cross members removed and frame rails flipped to acheive a lower profile. The engine was originally a flathead Ford running 90% nitro. Later, after getting sponsership from Offenhauser, it was the first dragster to use the "new" Chevy V8 at the first US Nationals in Great Bend, Kansas. He also ran it with at Bonneville with a 354 hemi donated by Chuck Potvin. The car is currentlly being resurected and should be done soon. I have many great stories about the early days of drag racing and hot rodding from my grandfather. His friends included Wally Parks, Bud Coons, Don Gartlis, Tommy Ivo, Chuck Potvin, Dean Moon, Bill Hayes, Fred Offenhauser, Phil Weiand, Ted Halibrand, Mickey Thompson, Clay Smith, CJ Hart, Vic Edelbrock, and others.
i have an idea about what the dragster looks like... has it been to the CHRR? ...white body, gold nose? crying shame i dont remember the name of it.. what did the Potvin powered version run at B-ville?
The car has not been to CHRR, yet. The chassis is completed and we are just starting work on the body. The car was all white originally, then painted black around 1956 with the Offenhauser logo on the sides and number 606. At Bonneville it ran just over 200mph. Unforunately Chuck's streamliner had an accident and flipped over that weekend. Chuck, not wanting to risk another accident, did not want my Grandfather to do a backup run and left early. I believe it was 1955 when that happened. If it happened in 1954 then it would have had a 331 Hemi.
thats a really neat story... are you restoring the dragster back to 1954 standards or making it NHRA legal? id imagine if you are using the same chassis, it will be a cacklefest contender? also, the 90% nitro'd flathead.... what were some of the bottomend tricks done to keep it from grenading all over the track? did it have a blower?
It "may" be NHRA legal? We've had conversations with NHRA and they would want to inspect it car's roll bar and cage to determine legality. The car will be built to 1954 spec's, with the option of upgrading if neccesary and/or desired. As far as lower end trick's for running 90% nitro, I don't know. I'd have to ask my Grandfather what they did. I know the top end and valve train were heavily modified.
The Jalopy Journal
