Art & Inspiration Traditional images that need no explanation.

Aussie car with Victorian rego. Based on rego plate and window sticker was registered in March, 1961. Possibility Rip Kirby's car which was a strong competitor at the monthly drags at Fishermans Bend in Melbourne. If Rip's car it now lives close to me and is now a hi-boy and SBF powered.

 

Andy Kassa ?

 

In my time we called them Gigs.

 

She doesn't look happy.

 

@40ragtopdown

Al Hirshfield, Howard Cam sponsored Studebaker sedan running in the B/Gas class at Lion's Dragstrip. One of the famous tower side "pits" snack bars in background. My brother and I saw this Studebaker sedan plenty of times as a fast sedan in the same class as our, initial, 40 Willys Coupe build. It was powerful, built by a well seasoned veteran of the hot rod/drag racing world and supported by Howard Cam Company wares.

Junior Thompson vs Al Hirshfield in B/GAS Lion’s Dragstrip

Note the fast start from Junior Thompson, but a “cough” or something allows the Howard Cam Studebaker to catch up… The two fastest Studebaker sedans in all of So Cal or even the USA.



Hello,

The idea of a fast sedan winning in the gas coupe/sedan class started early. If the car (Studebaker sedan) was available, in the staging line at Lion’s Dragstrip is somewhat of a good/bad omen. Bad in that it did look like a thrown together Studebaker sedan. That blurry photo is the Al Hirshfield-Howard Cam Studebaker Sedan that looked rough, but ran like a top against a lot of competition in So Cal dragstrips. Good in that it was/is one of the top B/Gas Sedans in all of So Cal drag racing circles and we were able to have some films we took at Lion’s Dragstrip and Bakersfield in 1959-60.

What is that protrusion sticking out of the hood? A rarity in early drag racing circles... It was one that had an unusual Howard Cam/Hilborn Single Injector as a one-of-a-kind item.
Al Hirshfield Howard Cam Studebaker Sedan at Bakersfield Smokers March Meet 1960

The high powered 1941 Studebaker Sedan of Howard Cam/Doug Cook/Al Hirshfield just over powered the sports car and won the race.
Drag News reporting the race...1960

It was a few seconds off of the starting line, but the 1941 Studebaker of Al Hirshfield just blasted by the Austin Healy sports car as if was standing still. It was not a question of "Where is Waldo," but, who is Waldo... "Waldo" is a nickname given to Al Hirshfield.

The “beater” Studebaker is nothing to scoff at during competition.
The actual race as recorded in March of 1960: :23 in the film
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLjwOmWU-po elimination race 1960

"A single, 3 inch Hilborn Injector, just prior to developing the two port Hilborn Injectors. Howard Cam Group…" Donny Johansen

The "TWIN BEAR" at Lion’s Dragstrip single Hilborn 1960:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRPlmcBp824 Lion's Dragstrip 1960

Plus:

From the files of @ttwomotor

Note:
March 1960 Smokers March Meet
Here is one other film clip that I took in March 1960 at the Bakersfield Smokers March Meet.

It is of the Al Hirshfield vs. the Al Dal Porto Willys Pickup Truck. The history of the Al Dal Porto Willys pickup was that it won the A/Gas division in 1959 as per Drag News weekly.

Watch the power of the Studebaker sedan as it gets off of the starting line with authority and does not lose any traction…

“Another gasser that had an early influence was the Al Dal Porto Yellow Willys Pickup that was later bought by the Panella Brothers and became their Candy Apple Red pickup. Al was a lakes racer and built this Pickup to go drag racing. He won the A Gas Coupe Sedan class in it at the Smokers Meet (March Meet) in it in 1959. It turned 114.94 Mph with a Chevy engine.”
Al Hirshfield vs. Al Dal Porto Willys 1960

Jnaki

Filming at such a big event in early drag racing was hectic to say the least. SinceI did not have a "press pass," I was relegated to the masses at the chain link fence as close to the action as possible.

It was hectic trying to film along the chain link fence. There was this blonde, bubble head, lady that kept shoving against me while leaning over the fence to get a better view. What a dumb ass… we all had the same view over the top of the chain link fence. No advantage was had by leaning over the top.

But, some just have no clue.

These films are several of the whole day spent at the Bakersfield Smokers March Meet in 1960. Either look up on the HAMB search or J NAKI Channel on the You Tube website. I thought they looked good on the 17 inch laptop screen, then on a 31 inch computer monitor and the surprise was the look of the historic racing on a large screen OLED TV as it does not distort being shown in a larger size. As Mikey’s friend used to say on a commercial, “Try it, you might like it…”

 

Hope it's not too modern

 

Ron, that photo of Moose was taken just a few years ago!!

 

Is...
https://kustomrama.com/wiki/Andy_Kassa's_1932_Ford

 

Rich Tiago.

 

That's one way of doing it.

 

I think it's a 1939 Mercury convert. It doesn't have wing windows or the extra chrome spear on the hood that the 39 Ford would have.

Mick

 

Original

and colored

 

Well done @j hansen, excellent sleuthing to track that one down. I read the licence plate and thought about it awhile but I should have known the car as my T-bucket and Tony's 32 shared a stand at the first Melbourne Hot Rod Show in 1965. I think we were the only country cars there which is how we ended up together. Tony came from Geelong which was considered a country town back then. As the pics are from Tony Mullens collection and no current pics I assume Tony no longer has the car. Graham's books - Australian Hot Rodder are top quality and feature lots of early Aussie hot rods and also later traditional builds. They are an Aussie equivalent of TRJ