Vintage shots from days gone by!

Man Rootie, I just love looking at all the old race car constructors photos you have.
This shot with the Halibrand QC and those bodies stacked up like cordwood reminds me to ask what photos you might have of (any) Halibrand parts being stockpiled, any photos from car builders or Halibrand Eng. would be cool.

 

I find this ad to be interesting because it let's me see that my first go-kart was probably made by Simplex Manufacturing. It had a rather beefy Kohler engine on it and it would smoke the driven rear tire until the tread was wore off. Ask me how I know this.... My second kart was hand built by a guy who worked for Braniff Airlines. It had a McCulloch engine and it was stupid fast for a 14 year-old kid to have control of! It was sure a lot of fun, though! Danger? What is that?

 

Dave I rode those Oakland Ca. Hills in the early '6os on my Harley 45. Sorry I lost a lot of Polaroid pictures. No negs. Where did you/they live? I lived in the hills at the top of 73rd ave. You know above the Chevy. plant. What High School did you/they go to? I went to Castlemont. We might know some of the same people. Wow let me think back. Steve Graham? He rode a Trumpet. Fairly new it had swing arm. Dave Kitenger? He raced his Triumph at the TT track in hayward.
Guess I should PM you. If you don't post about this soon I will.

Gary DeFer

 

I may be crazy but somehow that car looks more like a road race car than an oval race car.

 

That is a reeely good look'n scooter Waldo.
Looks like a lot of fun too.
The modern stuff has nothing on that one.

 

In oval track jargon in these parts we call that a roadster..

 

That picture was Taken across the street from our house on Thompkins Ave ( @ the end of High St. ) My Uncle Clyde lived off 73rd on Outlook Ave..I went to Skyline H.S. , All of my Family Raced @ Hayward and everywhere else most every weekend , Clyde worked forKenny Evilsizer's Cycle Center Hayward and Fremont stores , So did I Clyde also worked for Nelson Bros. and Bob Arnolds Cycle Stop in Oakland. I also worked for and sponsored by M/J Cycles Berkeley and then I was sponsored one year by Hap Alzina = BSA on Broadway , one year by JK Cycle Richmond Triumph. these are all pics of the Hayward Speedway on Depot Rd. * note* Tommy Hrones " The Greek " Scallops and Striping on my Triumph TT Special

 

Rootie, what was the vintage / make of these cars? Such cool tubes! Have you told me before and I just forgot? Regardless, I'd guess Indy roadsters with the offset engines, QCs, and I think straight axles, but I don't see a means for remote starters or the kind of steering. Thanx, Gary.

 

guys had new ones in in 63-4 at El Camino JC. 250's with out the 2to1 exhaust tip were first then the 305's

 

Rear Drive Novi's, circa 1956, they used compressed air starters so they don't have a hole through the rad. If you look closely you can see the drag link with rubber bellows, here's a different view that shows it better. BTW I believe the bodies stacked up in the background are for KK quarter midgets, they look fiberglass to me, not sure though.

 

From Bombsight magazine (U.S. Army Air Corps), Spokane, WA, October 1941:

 

Thanx, Rootie. Wonder what kind of calculus that steering rig needs to be correct?!?! Gary

 

Nash in Pasadena, 1948


Pasadena, '38 Rose Parade


Westwood Village, part of LA


Red Line to Los Angeles, Pasadena


Colorado Blvd, Pasadena, late 20s




Pasadena


Don Lee Cadillac service department, Pasadena




Arroyo Parkway, later the Pasadena Freeway, leaving Los Angeles


Hotel Green is still in Pasadena, Keller Brothers Studebaker, not so much.

 

I had a 1967 305 Scrambler, the first thing to go was the spark arrestor on the end of the pipes. What a sweet sound it made at 9,000 rpm! They made an aftermarket piece called a Snuff-or-Not. It was a washer with a small hole in it with a bolt that was spring loaded that fit in the pipe where the spark arrestor used to attach. 1 position had the washer up in the pipe making it quiet. Turned sideways no back pressure, open pipe and LOUD!

 

I remember those. Got ticketed twice for them as Michigan law prohibited exhaust cut out devices. Two points and ten dollars fine IIRC, late 1960's.

 

Thanks for the help.

 

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

 

What the heck is all that above,, what am I missing?

 

A few more from La Junta, CO:

 

One more? Soitenly!

The Three Stooges during WWII at Kingman Army Air Field, AZ.
(From the John E. Voisin Collection at aafcollection.info)

 

Have a Vairy Merry Christmas

 

Don Lee Cadillac picture, did he own the Clark Gable car? Or was it another Don Lee?

Rootie, the stacked bodies do look small.

 

A bunch more old ads from bangshift.





















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