I hope you have some success with this post. I've gotten frustrated in my pursuit of the period before WWII. Much of the information if it does exist is held under lock and key and dished out only as a novelty, not as truly important historical information. Sadly for the really early stuff almost everyone that was actually there, is gone.
It only takes one visit to Speed Week to see how fragile the whole thing is. Between the trip to just get there, expense of building anything to compete, the utter lack of the government's interest in saving the little amount of salt that is left, I take my hat off to the SCTA for keeping this national treasure alive for this long as it has. Ryan anything your research can dig up will be an important contribution to the historical record.
If you ever give up your day job, you could probably get another as a private investigator or a news reporter. I'm sure you've mentioned your college degree, but I don't remember. It wasn't journalism, was it?
This reads like someone is gate keeping historical data? If so, PM me details... I'd be happy to call them out and blast them for that bullshit.
Part of the problem is the same car appeared for number of years with: different paint, different car name, different owner, different engine, other body suspension changes. Is it the same car. Indy had similar changes
Absolutely, but if we had a full field roster those discrepancies would be much easier to spot and research. It just makes life easier for nerds like me. I learned this while researching all of the Pikes Peak photos. The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb people kept meticulous records from 1916 onward. If a car or driver registered, they logged it, kept it, and protected it. Same thing with Indy for the most part. Part of the charm of early Land Speed Racing was its... for lack of a better word... disorganization. Those guys weren't worried about the future. They weren't worried about building some huge event to grow and monetize. It was just a bunch of pals drawing lines on the salt and seeing how fast they could go between them. It leaves people like me grasping for details now, but that’s a small price to pay for the legacy they left behind. And honestly, it could be pretty fun to chase down some of this stuff.
@Ryan - If you don't already have a copy of these two books: . . . I suggest purchasing them . . . as this two volume set contains every Bonneville National Speed Trials event program from 1949 thru 1968. Although they don't contain all of the info you are looking for (i.e., the programs only listed pre-registered entries ... and class records set in previous years), they have helped me identify dozens of cars depicted in the foreground & background of vintage Bonneville photographs / video footage. As for pre & postwar events held at El Mirage (& other Dry Lakes), @Jimmy B might be able to assist you . . . as he owns a collection of almost every issue of CT NEWS: - Todd @HEMI32 Olson
Hey @Ryan If you can find a copy of this particular issue #1, I think you will be impressed at the contents of this very cool magazine. I found my copy of it at the Portland swap-meet, in a plastic sleeve for $4.00, well worth the investment to say the least. Thanks from Dennis.
I was very good friends with a person who collected and kept results sheets from over 90% of the dry lakes meets and Bonneville. After the starter Bob Higbee died, who kept everything including minutes to every SCTA Reps and Board meeting, I received from his daughter a copy of all the results which I combined with my friends. Before my friend passsed away everything was copied by Jim Miller one of the Hot Rod historians. I’m sure he continues to do so. I believe He’s pretty easy to contact for specific information. When I was in charge of making the SCTA timing brass tags I research many inquiries by old competitors and their families for replacement tags. It was tough because car numbers, entry names, years, and classes were needed… or at least 2 of the items. Many were disappointed when the speeds found on the results were not what they remembered. I could tell you many stories. The SCTA cannot be blamed for all this as the “office “ was moved many times along with officers being changed every 2 years.
Thank You @41 GMC K-18 GMC. A great read, about "The Tops in Hop-Ups" I liked the part about shaving the tires so they would not shred.
Ryan, this is off subject, but what is the status on the '38 ? I haven't heard a word about it in years. Sorry for the interruption.
The Jalopy Journal
