Projects Track Roadster 16 yrs in the making

Rick,

You bet. Sometimes the whole thing seems to be an out of body experience. I guess the idea that the roadster is "real" will only happnen after I've driven it on a nice long drive, parked it overnight, then get up and its still there.

I was thinking of buying one of those small video cameras for use on cars. I could record its maiden voyage; on the other hand maybe it's time to just enjoy my hot rod.

I see you are making good progress on your Healey. Lookin' good.

Charlie

 

Go for the camera, I'm sure there would be plenty of interest in folks joining you vicariously for your maiden drive. For now, progress on the Healey has screeched to a halt. Winter has come to my unheated garage and I had my rotator cuff surgery last week.

Happy Healeydays,
Rick

 

Charlie, I also vote fpr documentation of the maiden voyage of TR. The HAMB will be hanging on every turn of the wheel.
Like Rick said - "Happy Healey Days !" Way Kool !

41 Dave

 

H.A.M.B. Drags!! You won't be sorry!! Sweet ~Sololobo~

 

My God, how sweet is this. Will we see it at the Metcalf Winstead's next spring/summer?

I like the everything you've done, but I do have one comment: The switchgear to the left of the column really doesn't match the rest of the detail-oriented build; why not match the knobs to the rest of the metal bits?

 

Nitrobrother,

Right you are. To be honest I think both Jack and I are kind of burned out, and we are making some expedient decisions. The ugly knobs can be corrected once I take possession of the roadster. I did buy some pretty cool 50s style knobs over the years, but the ones I purchased are the sparkly clear type and are not correct for the theme. I should begin looking for some simple metal knobs. The switch/controller for the cruise control is a problem; I think I'll paint it using the coating on the tranny, bellhousing and so forth; that will camouflage the controller somewhat. We could have chosen to hide this assembly [cruise control]; but that would have meant that using the cruise control would be a pain in the ass....so the compromise is what you see before you. I am more than open to suggestions for knobs or alternatives.

To answer your other question about driving the roadster to local cruise-ins; the answer is hell yes. You will find that I plan to use my new ride as much as possible. As to when I expect that the car will be in the KC area "permanently" — that will happen in late spring after the LA Roadster Show, until then it will be residing in the San Diego area, mainly for practical reasons.

When I receive the roadster from Jack in a month or so, it will not have a canvas top. I have contacted couple of well known top shops in SoCal and will have a top constructed in Calif. Further in April, I will attend a week long conference in Anaheim...so it will be fun to have the car that week. All of the foregoing means that the car will likely be in SoCal from early Feb till the Roadster Show on Father's Day. If all goes well the top will be built during March.

Thanks for the kind words and your interest.

Trakrodstr
aka charlie

 

Well it’s a cold, snowy day in the Kansas City area, but the weather is not as bad south and north of us.

Today I divulge my long kept “classified” plans to name my track roadster. I wrote earlier in this thread about the fact that one of the major inspirations for the roadster is the Maserati 8CTF, the car Wilbur Shaw drove to victory at Indy in ‘39 and ’40. The nose of my car is patterned after the famous Boyle Special 8CTF; Jack did a super job translating the nose of a single-seat (monoposto) racecar onto a Model A-sized chassis.

Early in the design process a name popped into my head, which even if I do say so myself is a great play on words: MASERODI.

Accordingly, I have for years been playing around with various font faces and badge/emblem designs based on the Maserodi theme. More importantly, perhaps, I registered the domain names maserodi.com and maserodi.org.

Today, Dec 26 2009, with the expert help of John Alfeld, a member of the Denver Roadsters club, I established two “plain vanilla” websites one for each domain name. My main purpose in acquiring the domain names and websites is to prevent anyone from pirating the concept; further, I do not want to have any issues with a certain brand/company presently owned by Fiat. Basically I just want to be able to call my car Maserodi and be left alone.

The photo shows the typeface that I finally decided upon. I had two badges made that bear the “Maserodi” name. For the reasons stated above, I am not comfortable posting photos of the emblems. However, if any of you folks happen to attend a HAMB event, or other hot rod event, to which I have driven my roadster, you’ll be able to see the emblems.

On a more practical level, the Stewart remote water pump is on back order; so there will be no progress on that front for a couple of weeks. Meanwhile, Jack is putting finishing touches on John Alfeld’s ’32 roadster. In addition to being the computer whiz who helped me construct the two websites, John is the proud owner of a gorgeous silver 32. His hot rod is equipped with a stout Ford “Cup” engine and a seriously lightweight chassis/body.

There are photos of John’s superb 32 on Jack Presse’s website:

http://www.thestreetrodplace.com/

Stay warm and if any of you have a comment, good or bad, regading my roadster’s new name please let me know.

trakrodstr

 

Love the name, Charlie!

 

Charlie, Good to hear of your plans for TR - - oops, I mean Maserodi. Looking forward to getting to see it at the America's Most Beautiful show. Have you got parking space in the Suede Palace ? I will be down there on Fri 29 Jan. Will you be accompanied by your friend ?

Happy New Year to you and your family/

41 Dave

 

Damn good Sir - I still have not looked for the model

 

Thanks guys, as you can imagine I really dig the name Maserodi.

Unfortunately I was too late to secure a spot at the GNRS at Pomona; by the time I contacted the right person there were no openings left.

In practical terms it probably would not have mattered as the Stewart water pump is on back order, which means finishing on time for the Roadster Show would have been very doubtful.

I am not going to predict any more completion dates until Jack has puts the TR through some road tests. I'm hoping for mid February, but that is only a hope.

On the good side, however, the 4 car garage I am adding to my house is moving along well; today the workers installed the garage doors, so now the builder can start on the inside of the structure. This means that the TR will have a brand new home, whenever it finally arrives.

Stay warm, its eally cold in KC.

trakrodstr,
aka charlie

 

Charlie, Sorry to hear TR won't be at GNRS. Will you still be coming out ? Let me know so we can spend some time together.

41 Dave

 

Congratulations on a truly magnificent machine. I somehow missed this thread until today.

 

Cymro,

Thank you so much, we're kind of running out of steam right now, your kind words will add a bit of enthusiasm to our effort. I'll pass your praise along to Jack, the builder.

I never quite made it to Wales (to my regret) but I got as far west as Gloucester on a trip years ago. My companion and I rented a vintage Alvis DHC and toured the surroundings. Neat car, but I was pretty tense most of the time due to driving on the "wrong" side of the VERY narrow roads.

Cheers,
trakrodstr
aka charlie

 

HAMBers,

I'm bored out of my mind and stuck at home in crappy weather.

So I have been doodling with the Maserodi logo ideas in Photoshop.

Here are two possibilities, which do you prefer, if either? Negative comments are valuable, especially if there is a suggestion that does not require me to insert an object into a body cavity...for instance you may think that the circle should be larger in proportion to the font box.

The design is based on military aircraft roundels.

Just for fun, let's consider this a poll. Simply indicate red font or green font if you have a choice.

trakrodstr

 

Options

 

Hey Charlie, if you're bored, you can come help me push snow. I feel like I've been going for three weeks straight.

The wife and I just secured our plans to go to Pamona for GNRS. It's a shame the car won't be ready. I guess I'll just have to wait 'till you bring it home.

I like the green letters, btw.

Mikethegreek

 

Green letters. How about making the Maserodi box diagonal through the circle rather than horizontal?

 

Mike,

I feel your pain; this weather really is getting old. I too wish I could have made it to the GNRS. Oh well. I hope you have a great time. If you can swing it I recommend attending on Friday, the crowds are not too bad and you can see most of the cars really well; on the weekend it's pretty hectic.

The Peterson Museum is worth a visit if you have not seen the collection.

Thanks for the feedback on the logo.

trakrodstr
aka charlie

Rick, OK I'll give it a try. I use Photoshop which isn't really a drafting/drawing program. I guess I should bite the bullet and try to learn a drawing program. I have used the open source drawing program Inkspace but it's pretty cumbersome; on the other hand the price is right!

Thanks for the suggestions.

Cheers

charlie

 

RODSTR...slow down and chill man, what's your hurry! HA!...POP.

 

Charlie,

I just figured out where in my subconscious that idea came from. It will look something like this, lol:

 

Rick,

Wow, great visual memory, my hat's off to you.

See the latest versions. Note that the "diagonal" version is a quick effort and is not exactly dimensionally correct, but it's pretty close.

Which do you prefer, if either?

charlie

Holeshot,

Yeah man, I'm a speed demon alright, pushing 15 years of in-completion. There are children beginning to plan for college that were born when I began this, ...ahem, project!

Stay warm,

 

Charlie,

I like the diagonal version. The real question is what do YOU like?

 

Rick

I need to sleep on this, but right now I like the diagonal. I was trying to think whether this kind of graphic design was compatible with the rest of the project.

The logo would not be likely to be made into a "real" 3D emblem like a factory ornament; on the other hand, I can foresee posters, removable vinyl decals; T-shirts; embroidered patches; flags....perhaps even a cheapo stamped Chinese enamel emblem.

More importantly, I can easily make templates or stencils to colorize the floor mats or the canvas trunk liner, using fabric paint.

Thanks again for the insightful advice.

charlie

 

My wife can enamel...

 

Here are a few she made for my projects.

 

The front suspension and brakes are outstanding; there's some awesome brain-power buried in this thing. Two points for being from Kansas City.

Hope to see you on the street, this thing is top notch to say the least.

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Man, I really dig that enamel work - I can imagine some realllly cool things that could be used for..

 

Cactus1

Excellent, we'll have to put our head together for a enamel project once I get the TR housed in KC. Assuming of course your wife is interested.

Thanks for the examples of your wife's work. Nice.

charlie

Grim,

Thanks man, I'll take the two KC points. I have to admit that the front suspension and the brakes are my favorite assemblies; the Hemi is cool, but there is only one car on earth with the front end Jack and I designed.

I appreciate your kind words, we need to consider having a informal KC HAMBers cruise or gathering at some point.

Now...if I can just find 8 more points...

Cheers,

trakrodstr
aka charlie

 

Those are her first attempts at "emblem" type pieces. If I ever finish my car they will get road tested for durability.

I'm sure we could talk her in to making a couple more...

 

Charlie, I like the diagonal logo. Would look neat as enamelled emblem.

March is coming fast. Hope to get to see you guys then.

41 Dave