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Technical More on Kenz & Leslie...

Discussion in 'Traditional Hot Rods' started by Ryan, Sep 10, 2008.

  1. Ryan
    Joined: Jan 2, 1995
    Posts: 21,633

    Ryan
    ADMINISTRATOR
    Staff Member

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  2. Asphalt Outlaw Hero
    Joined: Dec 9, 2006
    Posts: 963

    Asphalt Outlaw Hero
    Member
    from Dixie

    I never realized that car was out of Colorodo_One think about being at 5200+ feet is you have a leg up on jetting for the Salt (4200 feet). There is a term renaissance man,which refered to people who could do it all back in the 15th century(?).
    Those guys had to be gearhead renaissance men.Drag racing,sprint cars,LSR attempts.
    Pretty cool.
     
  3. mtlcutter
    Joined: Oct 6, 2007
    Posts: 364

    mtlcutter
    Member

    I love reading these threads. these are what I spend all day on the HAMB for. These men were the true pioneers of the era. I can't get enough of this stuff. Thanks a ton Ryan
     
  4. This kind of history is priceless. Damn shame more of the first generation fellas weren't interviewed years ago.
     
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  5. autobilly
    Joined: May 23, 2007
    Posts: 3,123

    autobilly
    Member

    Love that Kenz & Leslie streamliner! The more information posted on TJJ the better.
    Thanks for the video Boss.
     
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  6. oldandkrusty
    Joined: Oct 8, 2002
    Posts: 2,141

    oldandkrusty
    Member

    True pioneers of racing - just about any type of racing. I'm blessed any time I can see something new on Kenz and Laeslie. Thank you, Ryan.
     
  7. mike bourg
    Joined: Dec 15, 2007
    Posts: 166

    mike bourg
    Member

    for anyone in the denver area, Kenz & Leslie is haveing a car show at their location, which is 4800 van gordon st. wheatridge co. reg is from 8 to 10 and the awards go at 3 pm.
    Saturday sept, 27th.
    Mike Bourg
     
    Last edited: Sep 10, 2008
  8. GaryC.
    Joined: Mar 24, 2007
    Posts: 1,557

    GaryC.

    Super cool!
    My favorite period in dry lakes racing with my favorite type of cars!
    Thanks for posting the vid.
     
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  9. blackjack21
    Joined: Oct 13, 2005
    Posts: 89

    blackjack21
    Member
    from Denver, CO

    Thanks for the info on the car show. We will definitely be there! An amazing family, and to believe it all started here in Denver!

    Thanks,

    -Tyler
     
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  10. R A Wrench
    Joined: Feb 4, 2007
    Posts: 517

    R A Wrench
    Member
    from Denver, Co

    I talked to Ron Leslie at the All Ford Day a couple weeks ago. Got to look over the streamliner. Nice!! I will be at the open house now that I am aware of it. I'm drivin a 34 coupe in faded red primer. I own a 46 Ford sedan delivery in rough condition that is supposed to have been a Kenz & Leslie shop truck/delivery vehicle. Any ideas where I can search to verify that? I've olny spotted one picture with it parked as a push truck & showing part of the face. Not enough to go on.
    Thanks, Rick
     
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  11. DOK
    Joined: Aug 24, 2009
    Posts: 1

    DOK
    Member
    from Phoenix

    I was Lucky enough to have been able to work for Kenz & Leslie from 1972-1975. Right when we moved into the Big Warehouse at 1333 W Zuni.
    I worked side by side with Ed Leslie (Uncle Ed) as we all called him and the Streamliner as well as the Comet both sat on the side of the warehouse in trailers. Ed was kind enough to have taught me more than anyone else I have ever met about cars, performance and metal work he was an amazing man. And seeing Ronnie again a few years back when I visited K&L out off of Ward road and seeing him in the Video brings back a lot of memories. Thanks!

    BTW Rich have you been down to the garage downtown and is it still there? They should be able to fill in some of the blanks.

    Oh yes and the gentelman who really got me started in ernest with my first real HotRod job at Bandimere`s was Andy Anderson who ran the K&L BG team for years after I worked with him as a kid at Bandimere`s.
     
    Last edited: Aug 24, 2009
  12. Here's a picture of my pickup parked next to the Kenz & Leslie 777 Streamliner at a 'Legends Reunion' show held at Bandimere Speedway a few years back.

    The streamliner was run in several diferent color schemes over the years. I think light blue was the first when it was sponsored by Floyd Clymer Motorbooks. Later it was yellow & red and sponsored by Wynns Oil. the last paint scheme was red & white when it had the three flathead engines and was sponsored by Bob Jones Skyland Ford, a Denver Ford dealer.

    My pickup happens to be known as a 'Bob Jones Special' as the dealer was known for customizing brand new pickups (and some new cars and T-Birds) right off the showroom floor. There was an article in the December 1956 Hot Rod Magazine titled "Truckin First Class" about these customized pickups.

    Bob Jones Skyland Ford also sponsoredl other race cars around the Denver area at the time including midgets and stock cars.

    JG
     

    Attached Files:

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  13. Here's a few more Kenz & Leslie pictures from my stash.

    #1 is the Kenz & Leslie flathead dragster running at Denver's Lowry AFB drag strip in 1955. It took top time of the meet. It had an unusual 'swing-axle' rear suspension made up of early Ford driveshaft and rear-end parts. This same suspension was used on the 'Odd Rod' and the streamliner.
    #2 I another shot of the K&L 'Odd Rod'.
    #3 The 'Odd Rod' lined up for a hill-climb road race in Colorado.
    #4 The 'Odd Rod' on the cover of HRM.
    #5 A K&L twin-engined flathead dragster.
    #6 Willie Young, driver of the streamliner, racing Bill Kenz's '32 Roadster on a dirt track in Denver.
    #7 Bill Kenz and this same roadster as driven on the street and at the drags....shown here powered by an OHV Lincoln engine.
    #8 The Bill Kenz roadster, driven by Willie Young, during a spin at a dirt track in Denver.

    A picture exists of this roadster upside down and going over a fence at this same race track, but I don't have it.

    This same roadster was also used to push the streamliner at Bonneville.

    A friend of mine in Denver now owns this same roadster, (now restored to pristine condition and driven on the street).

    JG
     

    Attached Files:

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  14. A friend of mine in Foxfield(a suburb of Denver) has one of the F1 shop trucks. He has great stories of K & L history. I think the F1 will be on the new BG calender, but don't quote me.

    [​IMG]
     
  15. colorado51
    Joined: Feb 24, 2003
    Posts: 1,576

    colorado51
    Member

    DOK,

    I also worked at K&L, but about 10 years after you. I worked in the automotive division, not the B&G division. I worked there when Andy was hired.

    The streamliner was stored in the warehouse when I was there, not sure if it was even restored at that time either. After a while we didn't even notice it, the warehouse guys would complain because it was in the way! Imagine that!
     
    Last edited: Sep 1, 2009
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  16. Tinman
    Joined: Mar 6, 2001
    Posts: 963

    Tinman
    Member
    from Orange, CA

    DOK or anybody, are K&L still active here in Phoenix? I stumbled upon a local AZ address not too long ago and was curious what the company does these days?
     
  17. Spooky
    Joined: Mar 3, 2001
    Posts: 2,239

    Spooky
    Member

    Love this thread!!!!!!!!
    I have the falcon ranchero door off of one of the delivery trucks hanging in my garage!!!!
     
  18. colorado51
    Joined: Feb 24, 2003
    Posts: 1,576

    colorado51
    Member

    All they do now is sell the B&G Chemical line. The automotive and motorcycle parts division closed a while ago, and the "V8 Shop" is gone also. :(
     
  19. Slim Pickens
    Joined: Dec 15, 2008
    Posts: 3,343

    Slim Pickens
    Member

    Thanks Ryan, OddRod! Great story.
     
  20. Spooky
    Joined: Mar 3, 2001
    Posts: 2,239

    Spooky
    Member

    More on Kenz and Leslie-

    For years it was thought that hooking up two flatheads was a death blow to the engines. Bill Kenz did it and invited longtime friend and merchant of speed, Vic Edelbrock, sr to come out for a look see and a ride. The pair set off down 15th street in downtown Denver. Bill gave it the throttle and a roar and whirring noise was heard from the back of the truck cab. Vic said to Bill-"See, there it goes! I tell you that ytou are wasting two good engines!"
    Bill laughjed and told Vic to look behind them. The racket was the second engine hooking up and causing the tires to go up in smoke!

    The body of the Odd Rod was a '34 Ford truck cab, as reported in the 1949 Hot Rod magazine spread. It was used because Bill thought it was good as any other body out there and it was lying around.

    The '32 Roadster was used as a test bed for engines used in the streamliner

    Bill Kenz was a Model T mechanic and was always looking for ways to make his T faster. One thing that was key was fine tuning his spoked wheels with piano wire to keep them in balance.
     
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  21. Spooky
    Joined: Mar 3, 2001
    Posts: 2,239

    Spooky
    Member

    Oh, and here is the door-
     

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  22. MDK
    Joined: Sep 23, 2005
    Posts: 18

    MDK
    Member
    from Belgium

    Hello

    I need your help...
    to complete my project to produce the Kenz & Leslie 777 de 1950, 1951 and 1953.
    I am missing items.
    Well I asked Ron Leslie but should ask friends to the pressure of pictures.
    I ask you if you have more net pictures with details them of décalcomanies.

    Thank you for you it helps.

    Marc
    [email protected]
     

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  23. safari-wagon
    Joined: Jan 12, 2008
    Posts: 1,457

    safari-wagon
    Member


    Street driven? Ha, not bloody often!!!

    Hey Magoo, do ya think that he'd let you & I take it out for a run, just to keep everything well oiled??? :D I'll ask him tonight...
     
  24. colorado51
    Joined: Feb 24, 2003
    Posts: 1,576

    colorado51
    Member

    From my collection of stuff from when I used to work there:

    [​IMG]
     
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  25. SOHC427
    Joined: Apr 5, 2009
    Posts: 1,048

    SOHC427
    Member

    Ron is a great guy, and has the best stories, and a ton of cool stuff. He is a rare type of person, and a blast to hang out with!
     
  26. 65COMET
    Joined: Apr 10, 2007
    Posts: 3,086

    65COMET
    Member

    I got to meet some of the guys at Dick Brannans show in AZ. back in 2006,they had the streamliner there. ROY.
     
  27. Pete1
    Joined: Aug 23, 2004
    Posts: 2,254

    Pete1
    Member
    from Wa.

    I feel very priviledged to have talked to Ron, Butch and Bob for 3 days the last time I was at Bonneville. I ran at Bonneville from 52 to 57 and saw all the runs the streamliner made.
    Bill Kenz was very interested in my engine in 56 because it was quite a bit bigger than his.
    All of those guys were great people to know.
     
  28. crash11049
    Joined: Aug 31, 2009
    Posts: 136

    crash11049
    Member

    sorry for the bad photos but I have no scaner

    [​IMG][/IMG]
     
  29. crash11049
    Joined: Aug 31, 2009
    Posts: 136

    crash11049
    Member

  30. MDK
    Joined: Sep 23, 2005
    Posts: 18

    MDK
    Member
    from Belgium

    Last edited: Nov 20, 2009

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