Art & Inspiration Traditional images that need no explanation.

Great picture!!!!!.....

 

I wouldn't kick her out of bed for eating crackers.....

 

Here in my hometown

 

Haven't heard that in a long, long time.

 

1959-60 Lion's Dragstrip

Hello,

Before the era of the Altered/Modified Roadsters hit the dirt trail to oblivion, there were a lot of Hot Roadsters/Altered Roadsters/Modified Roadsters all over the USA. That class was a big draw at the drag strips. Out west, the Harrell Brothers had built one of the fastest full bodied Altered Roadsters.
1929 roadster 32 grille altered roadster 1959
I.D...The frequently posted, modified 29 roadster from Harrell Engines… So Cal

"By late 1956, Harrell Engines had completely rebuilt their '29 roadster and reentered competition with what the racing media called the Chrysler powered "Red Hot Roadster."

Here is the most popular photo that has circulated all over hot rod/drag race world.

Photo of “Harrell Engines, L.A.” in July 1960; from: 50 Years of Hot Rod
by the Editors of Hot Rod magazine, 1998, page 54.

We were fortunate to be able to see it in person in the Lion's Dragstrip Pits, fire up with our ears covered nearby, and see it run, blasting down the quarter mile in living color. What a sight and sound experience!!!
Staging area view...

Jnaki

During this early time period, the Harrell Brothers’ shop was in Los Angeles, today known as “South Central.” Nearby, Berardini Brothers’ shop, Howard’s Cam, and Joe Itow’s shop made up this portion of hot rod speed shops, all within a block or two of each other.

"JULY 1960 At the other end of the sport, where performance was everything and looks were secondary, H. L. [Jim] and N. J. [Nick] Harrell of Harrell Engines, Los Angeles, fielded this record-holding 1929 roadster. Driven by Don Reynolds or Willie Borsch,.., this roadster was strictly business. Eight Stromberg 48s sat atop a 4-71 GMC blower, which was Howard-chain driven from the 412-inch Chrysler’s crank. The car held numerous track records, and in the spring of 1960 set a new top speed of 144 miles per hour at LADS in Long Beach." (Hot Rod magazine Editors, 50 Years of Hot Rod, MBI Publishing, 1998, pages 54-55)
old Friday Art

"This is the Harrell Engines car with a hemi under the hood. The A started life as the Tony Berardini's flathead powered #7 (a sister car to the now restored #404 Berardini car) but after Bob Morgan totaled Harrell's 34 coupe around 1954 Jim (White) Harrell and brother Nick purchased the roadster and put their flathead in the car. In late 1955 they teamed up with Willie Borsch to run hemi power."

"This is the second roll bar configuration for the car with the first being the original Berardini version as run when the car still had the original paint. Later a brace was added to this single hoop so this photo most likely dates to around 1958/9 as the brace was in place in 1960 and the engine was running a 4-71 blower with a scoop off the cowl area prior to the team debuting the altered that later became the Winged Express."


So, you could be watching the only recorded run(s) of the Harrell Brother’s record setting Red Roadster as it set the 1320 record…

Drag Cars in Motion:
Harrell Brothers & Willie Borsch before the T-roadster

 

Nice buns.

 

Is this what they mean by a "dropped axle" ?

 

Isky's roadster.

 

Don Prudhomme.

 

Willie Borsch.