THE QUESTION: Why hood straps? I've asked this question of a few people that have "been around" so to speak, Old Hot Rodders, Old Racers, Engineers, (also old...), etc, and could not get a definitive answer. I did contact the Miller/Offy website, and got a very nice response from Harold Peters, with great information, which I will share with everyone after I hear your ideas. There must be a logical reason, a tip of the hat to old carriage makers, the original auto body coach works, perhaps? They would remain functional and allow access to the engine bay, even after a crash that could distort and make latches stick closed? Why did Miller, and other race cars of the period run leather belts/hood straps on their cars? Surely by the 30's or 40's, there were other mechanical means of fastening a hood closed, some totally internal latch type mechanism would seem to be more efficient. Yet for decades, there were cars from Indy to El Mirage running hood straps. I've seen cars from the 10's to the 50's use them. I've researched Miller, Offy, Duesenburg, et al, and nothing about hood straps and their importance was mentioned. I can't help but wonder what was the original reason for using them! I'm convinced there was a reason beyond "they look awesome", but darned if I can find anyone that talked about it! I am a leather worker, and have been manufacturing and selling hood straps for years and this is something I've wondered about for a long time! There are probably many possible answers, and I've heard some good ones, but was hoping to hear your ideas! How about it HAMBERS?? Care to have a shot at it? Why did nearly ALL vintage race cars, from Millers at Indy to Roadsters at El Mirage, run hood straps?? I'll post the answers I got from some old timers, and from Harold Peters at the Miller/Offy site in a day or so, I just want to see what HAMBers think! Eric hoof22
the best explanation is the simplest: they would work even if the mechanical one failed (IF it even HAD mechanical latches).... given the amount of vibration a mechanical latch would be subject to even on the public roads at legal speeds, it made sense to add some backup to the design. and, given the sheer amount of labor (maintenance and on the road repairs) the driver was subject to, being able to undo a leather strap and lift the entire hood off was a boon.... and they look cool.
Bodies flexed a lot back then on dirt roads and tracks. A leather strap allowed the hood to stay on the car, and quick access to the engine during a pit stop. Add Bugatti GP cars to your list of race cars with leather straps, they held the spare tires on too. The zig zag hood springs on American race cars of the teens and '20's are a favorite feature of mine.
They also kept things together during a crash, as can be seen on the Earl Cooper 1925 MILLER wreck at INDY.
In the total speculation department, perhaps it is just that the use of leather straps and buckles as "fasteners" was already widespread - from shoes, to suit cases, satchels, trunks, sadles, rigging? Or perhaps the buyers of these then expensive autos expected their new cars to be luxuriusly trimmed, like a designer handbag or custom furniture would be? Conversely, what I've never understood - or it seems to me anyway - is that leather isn't all that durable - it changes shape with the weather and decays easily when constantly exposed to the elements. Perhaps the wealthy buyers didn't use their cars much and kept their prize possessions out of the sun? Belts would be constantly changing length with the humidity and are certainly a hassle to use compared to simple, quick latching mechanical latches. Or... perhaps the mechanical latches were too weak to hold parts in place on the rough roads and strapping everything down added a measure of security? Later, Gary
My guess..... They allowed for greater cooling of the engine by eliminating the side panels. They retained the top part of the hood to keep the elements out...... Rain, Dirt etc.
"...Conversely, what I've never understood - or it seems to me anyway - is that leather isn't all that durable -..." On the contrary, I understand that people think leather isn't all that durable, but the truth is, if it's kept hydrated with oils, like they use on saddles, it will last indefinitely, and is very stable material. UV will destroy anything eventually, but there have been leather shoes excavated in digs from the Roman Empire, and they were intact! Saddles and tack 100 and even 200 years old are not that uncommon, so like most anything else, if properly cared for, it will last as long as the Hot Rod it's attached to! Oh, and pound for pound, it is INCREDIBLY strong stuff, due to the random fibers and how they lock together...it is one of the strongest "natural" materials. GEEEZ, that Earl Cooper 1925 Miller wreck photo might tell the story right there...wow... Any other ideas? So far, they all sound reasonable and very plausible.
what may be lost in this is that a great many early cars flex a lot more than modern cars, couple this with rough roads and it is not uncommon for a hood to come undone. finally, those hoods are really good at catching the wind and going for a flight. straps provide an additional safety measure. plus they look cool.
Simple and they worked. hoof, do you have a website? I am contemplating the hood hold downs on my project as we speak.
Tman - Don't mean to hijack the thread, but would you be interested in this? It came with a Model A tudor I once owned.
Hoof's site is www.hotrodleather.com Very nice stuff -- and very easy to deal with. I have a set of his hood straps waiting to go on one of my projects. I had contemplated making some myself, but after adding up the cost of materials, it was very close to what he was charging for a set of his.
Don't know what the straps are for.. but the ability to remove the sides and keep the hood on as well as the flexing sounds like good reasons to me. The website for Hot Rod Leather looks great, I need some hood straps, door handles and door straps (keep them from over opening) for two projects in the not to distant future.
OK, so finally got time to put together all the answers I've gotten from people that should know. Many of you had great answers, and all are probably correct to some degree... I got this response back from Harold Peters of The Miller/Offenhauser Historical Society. I asked him the same question, "Why hood straps?" And since Miller Cars ALWAYS ran hood straps, I thought who better to ask? Here's what he said: "Very interesting question that my "oldest" sources also didn't have a certain answer for. Here's the thinking though...the pounding that race cars experienced on the tracks/roads of the day is hard to imagine these days. Friction shocks, gravel roads, holes, etc. caused most cars to drop out due to something being broken. (One of the reasons Millers were so successful was the very high quality steel from which they were built: 6150 vanadium steel.) That severe vibration and twisting could easily pop open a mechanical hood latch, which would then cause the hood to fly open at speed and require stopping. Also, securing the hood down solid helps stiffen the whole front half of the car (creating a box effect with rad and firewall), improving handling - this I've confirmed with a friend who has Bentley's who says you never drive with the hood open: the handling is badly affected. So, probably those reasons, and that racers are the most conservative when it comes to change, and since the early cars, and racers, had hood straps, they wouldn't change them easily" All that sounds about right to me... And here's what I also think the most likely answers might be: 1-The roads were awful, and the hoods very well might have popped off. 2-If it ain't broke, don't fix it-it worked perfectly under adverse conditions for many years, (see pics of that Miller wreck in this thread), and the hoods never stuck shut- 3-It stiffened the front "box" of the car, creating a rigid structure up front, making the chassis stiffer and actually did improve handling characteristics. 4-This is the one I always thought was "the most" true?: When high performance cars run at high speeds, it takes a LOT of CFM of air to cool the engines down-I can imagine an old flattie at full chat on the dry lakes, with an ambient temp of 115f, my guess is, you need air, air, air to keep it cool. Once it crossed through the grill and passed the radiator, this tremendous amount of air looked for a way to get out. (hence lots of louvers on those cars!) If the hood wasn't strapped down with full, over-the-top style hood straps, the hood would puff up, and try to lift off the car. Mechanical latches might keep the hood attached, but wouldn't counter the lift off, "puffed up" effect. The only way to counter this was the straps holding the hood down, forcing the air to go down and out underneath the car. 5-AND finally probably the correct one-THEY LOOK FREAKIN' AWESOME!! Anybody else have any ideas? Thanks for playin'! ERIC HOOF22
The trunk straps I got from Eric for my Shoebox Ford are really cool. Right now, they are (unfortunately) the focal point of the car. When he starts making wallets, I'm gonna replace my beat down dollar bill holder.
Thanks for the History lesson Hoof22. It all makes sence. Your site looks great. I'll come looking for ya later on down the track with my build to purchase some off you...... I just want them for the Look effect, I won't be racing.
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