The Jalopy Journal

**Ryan** · 07-29-2008, 09:46 AM

Here's an old hot rod name for you â€“ Tom Cobbs. It's not a household name by any means. In fact, you can read both "The Birth of Hot Rodding" and "Dry Lakes & Dragstrips" (two of the best historical studies on early Hot Rodding) from cover to...

To read the rest of this blog entry from The Jalopy Journal, click here.

**Bruce Lancaster** · 07-29-2008, 10:09 AM

One of the best sources on Cobb's early technical career (before the crank-mount blower period) is a magazine story covering the development of the roadster/coupe through three flatheads developing the top mount 4-71...it has about as much tech as you get in the earliest magazines, and considerable material on the thinking/development process as this thing evolved into a very fast car.
I can't post the citation til tomorrow as it is at home...but it is in a magazine actually famous for its cover pic, two guys working on the Ray Brown '32 roadster. Someone here must have a copy to scan in...

**Ryan** · 07-29-2008, 10:16 AM

I haven't seen that article, but will look for it... You know what year?

It's interesting, half of the media you find on Tom Cobbs has his name spelled as 'Tom Cobb'. The other half it is 'Tom Cobbs'.

I can confidently say the latter is correct.

**JeffreyJames** · 07-29-2008, 10:18 AM

Man, how does a man of such importance not get the attention that he deserves. I can't believe that I have not been reminded of his accomplishments and contributions to what we do on a daily basis. What a cool sorty and I can't wait to read more.

Damn it! That 1956 version of the Pierson Bros. coupe is slick. And the shot at the salt with all of them lined up is painstakingly beautiful. Viva La Hamb!

**Bruce Lancaster** · 07-29-2008, 10:19 AM

Ryan, get Kevin to post it...sent it to him in a packet of belt-drive blower stuff. Will look at the original and post citation tomorrow...no techno to post anything, though.

**Terry** · 07-29-2008, 10:31 AM

Man I love this stuff

mtlcutter · 07-29-2008, 10:43 AM

I can never get enough of this stuff. How cool would it have been to be at that first race?

jonnycola · 07-29-2008, 10:48 AM

I love the Jalopy Journal.

banjorear · 07-30-2008, 11:16 AM

Thanks for that post. Great reading. Looking forward to the follow up.

Old-Soul · 07-29-2008, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Nose hairs be damned, this car was going to haul ass.

haha, that is some funny stuff right there.

Good writing, Ryan, and I look forward to reading part 2 next week. Keep up the good work!

**Ryan** · 07-29-2008, 11:01 AM

Yeah.... If you like this week's installment, you are gonna shit yourself next week.

**JeffreyJames** · 07-29-2008, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ryan

Yeah.... If you like this week's installment, you are gonna shit yourself next week.

I should call off work ahead of time huh?

jonnycola · 07-29-2008, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ryan

Yeah.... If you like this week's installment, you are gonna shit yourself next week.

Does that mean that you ended up with it, and are putting the motor in your coupe??

22dodge · 07-29-2008, 06:37 PM

Great history lesson, photos, and well written, Ryan.

Really looking forward to the next installment.... '22

Ramblur · 07-30-2008, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ryan

Yeah.... If you like this week's installment, you are gonna shit yourself next week.

Next week? That's a whole 5 days from now...

Seriously eating this info up tho, Thanks!

Herdez · 08-01-2008, 03:22 PM

Its a great story to tell Fran Hernandez and Tom Cobbs drag race.

I believe this may be Frans coupe. Photo appears in the Edelbrock book. It talks about how the nitro motor was dropped in to his daily driven car for the race against Tom Cobbs.

Malcolm · 07-29-2008, 11:30 AM

Wow, what a great story! I, too, love this stuff - Thanks and keep it coming!

Malcolm

**Kevin Lee** · 07-29-2008, 11:46 AM

I have it - I'll find it tonight. Scanner is busted so I'll need to figure that out. But as Bruce said it is a great article.

1950ChevySuburban · 07-29-2008, 12:26 PM

Ryan, I really enjoy your literary prose. And this article is mesmerizing to read. Very enjoyable and enlightening!

radredrod · 07-29-2008, 01:05 PM

Oh Man! That's the best read for me in a looong time! I love this kinda stuff. HotRod, R&C, and especially the Rodders Journal are really getting good at reporting on the forfathers of the HotRod genre, but NONE of 'em are doin' it better than what I see here! I'm looking forward to the second part...REALLY! -Greg

07-29-2008, 09:46 AM	#1
Ryan Administrator Join Date: Jan 1995 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 13,623	Tom Cobbs: Part 1 Here's an old hot rod name for you â€“ Tom Cobbs. It's not a household name by any means. In fact, you can read both "The Birth of Hot Rodding" and "Dry Lakes & Dragstrips" (two of the best historical studies on early Hot Rodding) from cover to... To read the rest of this blog entry from The Jalopy Journal, click here. Last edited by Ryan; 07-29-2008 at 09:55 AM.

07-29-2008, 10:09 AM	#2
Bruce Lancaster Alliance Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Madison NJ USA Posts: 18,285	Re: Tom Cobbs: Part 1 One of the best sources on Cobb's early technical career (before the crank-mount blower period) is a magazine story covering the development of the roadster/coupe through three flatheads developing the top mount 4-71...it has about as much tech as you get in the earliest magazines, and considerable material on the thinking/development process as this thing evolved into a very fast car. I can't post the citation til tomorrow as it is at home...but it is in a magazine actually famous for its cover pic, two guys working on the Ray Brown '32 roadster. Someone here must have a copy to scan in... __________________ Bruce

07-29-2008, 10:16 AM	#3
Ryan Administrator Join Date: Jan 1995 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 13,623	Re: Tom Cobbs: Part 1 I haven't seen that article, but will look for it... You know what year? It's interesting, half of the media you find on Tom Cobbs has his name spelled as 'Tom Cobb'. The other half it is 'Tom Cobbs'. I can confidently say the latter is correct. __________________ Ryan Cochran "Skating the same line since 1976..." .................................................. .... www.jalopyjournal.com - www.garagejournal.com - www.gearjournal.com - www.fordbarn.com - www.DOGFIGHTmag.com

07-29-2008, 10:18 AM	#4
JeffreyJames Alliance Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: SUGAR CITY Posts: 15,923	Re: Tom Cobbs: Part 1 Man, how does a man of such importance not get the attention that he deserves. I can't believe that I have not been reminded of his accomplishments and contributions to what we do on a daily basis. What a cool sorty and I can't wait to read more. Damn it! That 1956 version of the Pierson Bros. coupe is slick. And the shot at the salt with all of them lined up is painstakingly beautiful. Viva La Hamb! __________________ I PLAY WITH TIGERS WWW.SUGARCITYSPEEDSHOP.COM CHECK OUT MY INSTAGRAM IMAGES

07-29-2008, 10:19 AM	#5
Bruce Lancaster Alliance Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Madison NJ USA Posts: 18,285	Re: Tom Cobbs: Part 1 Ryan, get Kevin to post it...sent it to him in a packet of belt-drive blower stuff. Will look at the original and post citation tomorrow...no techno to post anything, though. __________________ Bruce

07-29-2008, 10:31 AM	#6
Terry Alliance Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Odessa, TX, USA Posts: 1,827	Re: Tom Cobbs: Part 1 Man I love this stuff __________________ The best car saftety device is a rear view mirror with a cop in it.

07-29-2008, 10:43 AM	#7
mtlcutter Grenade Inspector Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 357	Re: Tom Cobbs: Part 1 I can never get enough of this stuff. How cool would it have been to be at that first race? __________________ Fly Low !! Crash Hard !! Live Fast !!

07-29-2008, 10:48 AM	#8
jonnycola Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Wales Wisconsin Posts: 2,088	Re: Tom Cobbs: Part 1 I love the Jalopy Journal. __________________ THEM! Wisconsin AceHoles Inc

07-30-2008, 11:16 AM	#9
banjorear Old School HAMBer Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Garden State Posts: 2,959	Re: Tom Cobbs: Part 1 Thanks for that post. Great reading. Looking forward to the follow up. __________________ I was bored before I even began.

07-29-2008, 11:01 AM	#11
Ryan Administrator Join Date: Jan 1995 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 13,623	Re: Tom Cobbs: Part 1 Yeah.... If you like this week's installment, you are gonna shit yourself next week. __________________ Ryan Cochran "Skating the same line since 1976..." .................................................. .... www.jalopyjournal.com - www.garagejournal.com - www.gearjournal.com - www.fordbarn.com - www.DOGFIGHTmag.com

07-29-2008, 06:37 PM	#14
22dodge Grenade Inspector Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Nevada Posts: 251	Re: Tom Cobbs: Part 1 Great history lesson, photos, and well written, Ryan. Really looking forward to the next installment.... '22

08-01-2008, 03:22 PM	#16
Herdez Grenade Inspector Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Mostly The Shop Posts: 349	Re: Tom Cobbs: Part 1 Its a great story to tell Fran Hernandez and Tom Cobbs drag race. I believe this may be Frans coupe. Photo appears in the Edelbrock book. It talks about how the nitro motor was dropped in to his daily driven car for the race against Tom Cobbs.

07-29-2008, 11:30 AM	#17
Malcolm Old School HAMBer Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 6,106	Re: Tom Cobbs: Part 1 Wow, what a great story! I, too, love this stuff - Thanks and keep it coming! Malcolm __________________ www.instagram.com/hoesing

07-29-2008, 11:46 AM	#18
Kevin Lee Super Moderator Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: KC,MO - The cradle of hot rodding Posts: 7,090	Re: Tom Cobbs: Part 1 I have it - I'll find it tonight. Scanner is busted so I'll need to figure that out. But as Bruce said it is a great article. __________________ – Learning the hard way since '72 –

07-29-2008, 12:26 PM	#19
1950ChevySuburban Member Emeritus Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Tucson AZ Posts: 6,239	Re: Tom Cobbs: Part 1 Ryan, I really enjoy your literary prose. And this article is mesmerizing to read. Very enjoyable and enlightening! __________________ *My '29 Sedan build thread can be viewed here:* /showthread.php?t=635145

07-29-2008, 01:05 PM	#20
radredrod FNG Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Muskego, Wi. Posts: 15	Re: Tom Cobbs: Part 1 Oh Man! That's the best read for me in a looong time! I love this kinda stuff. HotRod, R&C, and especially the Rodders Journal are really getting good at reporting on the forfathers of the HotRod genre, but NONE of 'em are doin' it better than what I see here! I'm looking forward to the second part...REALLY! -Greg

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