The Jalopy Journal

**Ryan** · 07-31-2009, 10:41 AM

Before WWII, Bill Burke was active in the Southern California hot rod and racing scenes. Speed had grabbed Bill by throat and wasn't about to let go. Like many of us, he was a slave to all things fast and hopped up. So it makes sense that even while ...

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

Flathead50 · 07-31-2009, 10:49 AM

Wow - fantastic history. That must have been an insane ride.

kurtis · 07-31-2009, 11:04 AM

Gotta give alot of respect to racers of years past. Bill Burke is most certainly the pioneer of the teardrop shaped race car in America and the WWII tanks are still used today. Amazing.
The guys behind this recreation also need a pat on the back. Beautiful car.

**Jimmy B** · 07-31-2009, 06:51 PM

What a great tribute

Quote:

Originally Posted by kurtis

Gotta give alot of respect to racers of years past.

A great car and Bill definitely had balls driving that at 135mph sitting on a bicycle seat half way out of the car, crazy! & what a legend.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kurtis

Bill Burke is most certainly the pioneer of the teardrop shaped race car in America

Pioneer of the belly tank yes, of the teardrop shaped streamliner no. That honour goes to Bob Rufi who designed his whole car around the principal of the most aerodynamic shape being the teardrop with the widest point 1/3 the way down.

Something I've often wondered is when Bill first saw the belly tank on the dock if he thought of Bob Rufi's car and saw a way to gain similar speeds at the lakes.

I hope someone films when Bill sees this amazing recreation and gets his reaction.

Jkustom · 07-31-2009, 09:09 PM

Fuckin A! He went 130 ON that thing?? It looks like the wind in your face could blow you right out the back of it!!

BALLS.

5window · 08-04-2009, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimmy B

What a great tribute

A great car and Bill definitely had balls driving that at 135mph sitting on a bicycle seat half way out of the car, crazy! & what a legend.

Pioneer of the belly tank yes, of the teardrop shaped streamliner no. That honour goes to Bob Rufi who designed his whole car around the principal of the most aerodynamic shape being the teardrop with the widest point 1/3 the way down.

Something I've often wondered is when Bill first saw the belly tank on the dock if he thought of Bob Rufi's car and saw a way to gain similar speeds at the lakes.

I hope someone films when Bill sees this amazing recreation and gets his reaction.

Not so new. If you survey the fastest swimming fish in the sea, you'll notice they are tear drop shaped with the widest point a third of the way down.

Ted Kempgens · 08-07-2009, 11:05 AM

Well plans have changed, Tom Bambard and myself are leaving for the salt Sunday morning. We will be there Sunday afternoon and Monday. Looking forward to shaking hands with some HAMBers. Look for us around the Burke pit area. Thanks Ted

hugh m · 07-31-2009, 10:52 AM

A bicycle seat! Makes the early midgets look safe.

Little Wing · 07-31-2009, 10:55 AM

neato !!

ratster · 07-31-2009, 10:56 AM

wow, that thing is cool and little

hudsoncustom · 07-31-2009, 10:58 AM

Cripes. That's awesome...I wonder if the new car will be on the salt next week?

**Jeem** · 07-31-2009, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hudsoncustom

Cripes. That's awesome...I wonder if the new car will be on the salt next week?

It'll be there.....There will be a presentation of sorts and make a deal out of it.

**Mr48chev** · 07-31-2009, 11:00 AM

Thanks for the early morning history lesson. That car probably helped make one of the biggest changes in land speed racing that still works even now. It looks like the recreation pretty well captures the spirit of the original car even with the noticeable differences. 120+ in that car in the late 40's must been one exciting ride.

AnimalAin · 07-31-2009, 11:14 AM

Very cool. Bill Burke is a legendary racer, and one of the nicest men on the planet. It is really great that our history has been reclaimed.

**HOTRODSURFER** · 07-31-2009, 11:25 AM

bad ass,thanks for the friday afternoon history lesson

**Porter Man** · 07-31-2009, 11:26 AM

Way cool! I love those old belly tank cars. My dad use to race one on the salt flats.

**Punko** · 07-31-2009, 11:27 AM

That is too cool, just yeaterday I was looking at that belly tank on the internet, and here it is.

metaljon · 07-31-2009, 11:33 AM

Thank You!!! Just passing through Ogden, Utah and saw some salvage tanks and just wondered who thought of the 1st Belly Tank. Now I know. Amazing......

duste01 · 07-31-2009, 11:45 AM

I would love to take a shot in something like that. Thats good stuff there.

poofus1929 · 07-31-2009, 11:56 AM

What a cool story and cool little race car. Thats awesome.

07-31-2009, 10:41 AM	#1
Ryan Administrator Join Date: Jan 1995 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 13,606	The First Belly Tank Before WWII, Bill Burke was active in the Southern California hot rod and racing scenes. Speed had grabbed Bill by throat and wasn't about to let go. Like many of us, he was a slave to all things fast and hopped up. So it makes sense that even while ... To read the rest of this blog entry from The Jalopy Journal, click here.

07-31-2009, 10:49 AM	#2
Flathead50 Grenade Inspector Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Western Pennsylvania Posts: 279	Re: The First Belly Tank Wow - fantastic history. That must have been an insane ride.

07-31-2009, 11:04 AM	#3
kurtis Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Australia Posts: 1,870	Re: The First Belly Tank Gotta give alot of respect to racers of years past. Bill Burke is most certainly the pioneer of the teardrop shaped race car in America and the WWII tanks are still used today. Amazing. The guys behind this recreation also need a pat on the back. Beautiful car.

07-31-2009, 09:09 PM	#5
Jkustom Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: west seattle, wa. Posts: 1,553	Re: The First Belly Tank Fuckin A! He went 130 ON that thing?? It looks like the wind in your face could blow you right out the back of it!! BALLS. __________________ "where you goin', city boy?" "Thanks for the big burnout you done leaving JCustom,they heard it on the third floor." - Hambandy

08-07-2009, 11:05 AM	#7
Ted Kempgens Grenade Inspector Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 204	Re: The First Belly Tank Well plans have changed, Tom Bambard and myself are leaving for the salt Sunday morning. We will be there Sunday afternoon and Monday. Looking forward to shaking hands with some HAMBers. Look for us around the Burke pit area. Thanks Ted __________________ My hair is not grey, its primer. Haven't picked a color yet. www.creativemotionconcepts.com

07-31-2009, 10:52 AM	#8
hugh m Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: ct. Posts: 1,779	Re: The First Belly Tank A bicycle seat! Makes the early midgets look safe. __________________ www.waterwheelboatcarts.com

07-31-2009, 10:55 AM	#9
Little Wing Old School HAMBer Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Northeast Posts: 7,663	Re: The First Belly Tank neato !! __________________ Wanted: Motometer 120 Oil Temp Gauge Drag Strips

07-31-2009, 10:56 AM	#10
ratster Old School HAMBer Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: louisville,tn and melbourne, fl usa Posts: 3,495	Re: The First Belly Tank wow, that thing is cool and little __________________ GREAZY HUBCAPZ CC EAST TN

07-31-2009, 10:58 AM	#11
hudsoncustom Old School HAMBer Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Mt. Vernon, WA Posts: 4,019	Re: The First Belly Tank Cripes. That's awesome...I wonder if the new car will be on the salt next week? __________________ FS: 58 Lincoln Capri, 430, pink: $3,000; 61 Olds 2-door hardtop (bubbletop), 394: $1500.

07-31-2009, 11:00 AM	#13
Mr48chev Alliance Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Yakima Valley, WA Posts: 15,403	Re: The First Belly Tank Thanks for the early morning history lesson. That car probably helped make one of the biggest changes in land speed racing that still works even now. It looks like the recreation pretty well captures the spirit of the original car even with the noticeable differences. 120+ in that car in the late 40's must been one exciting ride. __________________ Definition of a "work car". One you have to work on all weekend so you can drive it to work the next week.

07-31-2009, 11:14 AM	#14
AnimalAin Old School HAMBer Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Las Vegas, NV USA Posts: 3,304	Re: The First Belly Tank Very cool. Bill Burke is a legendary racer, and one of the nicest men on the planet. It is really great that our history has been reclaimed.

07-31-2009, 11:25 AM	#15
HOTRODSURFER Alliance Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: HATBORO,PA Posts: 5,502	Re: The First Belly Tank bad ass,thanks for the friday afternoon history lesson __________________ HOILER AUTO REPAIR est 1918 http://www.pantera-electronics.com/

07-31-2009, 11:26 AM	#16
Porter Man Alliance Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Mound, MN Posts: 378	Re: The First Belly Tank Way cool! I love those old belly tank cars. My dad use to race one on the salt flats. __________________ www.welding.mn Porter Mufflers: Where the Sound Meets the Asphalt!!! www.portermufflers.com Alliance Vendor[SIGPIC]

07-31-2009, 11:27 AM	#17
Punko Alliance Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Houston Posts: 400	Re: The First Belly Tank That is too cool, just yeaterday I was looking at that belly tank on the internet, and here it is. __________________ Good work ain't cheap. Cheap work ain't good.

07-31-2009, 11:33 AM	#18
metaljon FNG Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: california Posts: 16	Re: The First Belly Tank Thank You!!! Just passing through Ogden, Utah and saw some salvage tanks and just wondered who thought of the 1st Belly Tank. Now I know. Amazing......

07-31-2009, 11:45 AM	#19
duste01 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: retro-ville, Kentucky Posts: 1,221	Re: The First Belly Tank I would love to take a shot in something like that. Thats good stuff there. __________________ Build thread: http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/s...d.php?t=304770 Grey is the new Black

07-31-2009, 11:56 AM	#20
poofus1929 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: So Cal Posts: 1,003	Re: The First Belly Tank What a cool story and cool little race car. Thats awesome.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Switch to Linear Mode Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode