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Chet Herbert's 1950 Beast

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by hermit, Dec 24, 2003.

  1. hermit
    Joined: Dec 11, 2003
    Posts: 1

    hermit
    Member
    from Oregon

    Does anyone have HotRod Mags from 1950?
    I'm looking for a feature on Chets 1950
    Top Eliminator Harley; the Beast
     
  2. jdubbya
    Joined: Jul 12, 2003
    Posts: 2,435

    jdubbya
    Member

    Yo Hermit, ya might want to do an intro, you will get a better response. If you don't the flood gates are gonna open on you!...just a warning
     
  3. disastron13
    Joined: Sep 22, 2002
    Posts: 332

    disastron13
    Member

    A great hairy and wild bike, finless cylinders, big port knucklehead. Wild on the cam timing and it ran 2nd and high only.
    British 650s weighed half as much and eventually beat "the beast" by totally tippin the can.
    So- are you a yuppie creep who's gonna spend $250,000 to0 duplicate it and display it at Pebble Beach? In a glass case?
     
  4. Nads
    Joined: Mar 5, 2001
    Posts: 11,862

    Nads
    Member
    from Hypocrisy

    Chet Atkins was a damn fine guitar player.
     

  5. I'm sure somebody does...

    but most of us here build cars.

    But if collecting a magazine article is as high a goal as you've set for yourself, go for it. [​IMG]
     
  6. Its common practice to do a proper intro here on the HAMB.you know tell a little about yourself and car/projects/goals nekkid pics of the girlrfriend etc etc...... [​IMG]
     
  7. fab32
    Joined: May 14, 2002
    Posts: 13,985

    fab32
    Member Emeritus

    Hi! you don't know me, I've failed to introduce myself (even though thats rude) but could you drop whatever it is you are doing on Christmas eve and cater to my wants/needs? Does that about cover it?
    I think I just heard reindeer on the roof, I'll get back to you after the new year.

    Frank





     
  8. lakes modified
    Joined: Dec 2, 2001
    Posts: 1,283

    lakes modified
    Member Emeritus

    Iv'e got the magazine and the story, but no intro. you get no info. Gotta keep the tradition going here.xmas or not. bah-humbug
     
  9. buck#27
    Joined: Jan 18, 2010
    Posts: 4

    buck#27
    Member

    Hi, A little intro before I make my request. I'm mainly a "bike guy" from the
    midwest but I'm currently working on a '68 Camaro rag top ralley sport,
    welding in new trunk exten. inner wheel wells, and rear quarters. I'm 62 &
    a retired construction high press. welder. As I said, mainly a bike guy but
    I hung around with some car guys in the 60's but couldn't afford a fast car
    but could build a fast bike, Nortons, Triumphs and Sportsters, we went to the drags a lot. Anoka, Brainerd, Tenora a outlaw track in Wis. I still race
    flatrack bikes, a Trackmaster Triumph and a "77 XR750 Harley. Went to
    Bonneville last year with a vintage altered class 1955 Harley Panhead. Had
    some problems on a new build with no miles. Burnt out 2 sets of coils on'
    a Mallory Uniltite ignition. Was running 5800 rpm in 4th when I entered the
    the 3rd mile timing trap and burnt out another set of coils, the motor just
    quit. With the gearing that works out to about 145 mph. way over the
    record. Anyway saw the thread about Chet Herbert's "The Beast" and I
    always was interested in some info. on it for curiousity sake, so if you
    could share the article with me I'd appreciate it. Thanks, Buck.
     
  10. sololobo
    Joined: Aug 23, 2006
    Posts: 8,378

    sololobo
    Member

    Hello Hello Huh
     
  11. frank spittle
    Joined: Jan 29, 2009
    Posts: 1,672

    frank spittle
    Member

    Here is Al Keys on Chet Herbert's "Beast" fuel burning Harley at Santa Ana in 1950. Herbert can be seen in the background in his wheelchair. Keys set top speed of the meet of 121.62 and did so a half dozen times there that year.
     

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  12. Well geese I wish I had noticed that.
     
    Last edited: Feb 11, 2011
  13. autobodyed
    Joined: Mar 5, 2008
    Posts: 1,943

    autobodyed
    Member
    from shelton ct

    doin' an intro on an 8 year old thread?
     
  14. buck#27
    Joined: Jan 18, 2010
    Posts: 4

    buck#27
    Member

    Hey the guy said no intro no info. This is the first I've seen of this site and
    anyone claiming info on "The Beast". I would sure like to get a copy of the
    article in Hot Rod. Thanks, Buck
     
  15. frank spittle
    Joined: Jan 29, 2009
    Posts: 1,672

    frank spittle
    Member

    Buck, scroll down to the bottom of this page and click on the Jockey Journal and you will find tons of bike stuff.
     
  16. buck#27
    Joined: Jan 18, 2010
    Posts: 4

    buck#27
    Member

    Thanks Frank, It's never good to assume, but I assume you're the same
    Frank Spittle that used to run Fuel Harleys.
     
  17. smarg
    Joined: Nov 18, 2008
    Posts: 1,069

    smarg
    Member

  18. frank spittle
    Joined: Jan 29, 2009
    Posts: 1,672

    frank spittle
    Member

    This thread will go dormant again soon since the only interest here in two wheelers is vintage minibkes but it should be known that one of the greatest car guys in the history of motorsports got his racing career started with Harleys. Doug was a spitting image of his father when he was 20.
     
  19. choptop4
    Joined: Feb 3, 2007
    Posts: 767

    choptop4
    Member

    Did he build a twin engine panhead in1955 called Beauty 2? And run it at El Mirage in sept 55?
     
  20. buck#27
    Joined: Jan 18, 2010
    Posts: 4

    buck#27
    Member

    choptop4, By that time Herbert was totally into 4 wheels and was running a streamliner, I think Beast IV at Bonneville. I think by 1952 he was pretty much done with his bike. He liked the Harleys' roller tappets and started grinding roller cams for
    automotive engines, the first to do so. He was quite an innovator, one of the great ones of his time. The first 4 wheel streamliner he built had I believe a fibregalss body
    also the first to be built. Google pics of Beast III, a real beauty, restored and at Pebble Beach. Buck
     

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