Model T Speedster-pics whose got 'em

Ooh! Well, I'm seeing a Fronty(?) headed T block and from there back an in/out box, offset drive and all kinds of weirdness!

And a big beaming smile on the pilot! Any more details?

 

Neat little rig isn't it. From a article in HRM 1975, owned by Seth Hammond (long time hotrodder and big time B'ville racer now) that he built to run the Signal Hill hill climb in Long Beach Ca. Here's some more from that article.

 

Last I heard the Seth Hammond Fronty DO was handing on the wall in his office...............I'd like to see a photo of that!

 

I've heard he has a bunch of nifty toys. I remember seeing him roll his old-timey lakester a bunch of times, at about 300mph, several yrs. ago at the B'ville W/Fs.

 

Hey man is that an Izzetta????>>>>.

 

yup, that's an Isetta. fun but really slow.....

 

... especially in a strong cross wind!

 

These oldies are shur cool.I'd love to own one like the brass one.

 

This one is unusuall, any details?

 

This one.

 

I saw this one at the FAST route 66 hill climbs this year. I think this would be a real kick to drive.

 

Here are a couple of ours.

 

Rootie - MAN I like this one! Gary

 

Title:
Mabel Franzen in butterfly costume sitting on Jim Smith's Model T hot rod, Santa Ana, California

Subject:
Franzen Residence--Santa Ana (Calif.)
Franzen, Mabel

Description:
Mabel Franzen in butterfly costume, sitting on Jim Smith's Model T hot rod, at the Franzen ranch on South Tustin Avenue, Santa Ana, California. A barn and a tin garage are in the background.

Publisher:
Orange Public Library Local history collection<!-- / message -->

 

They lied. I've been staring at it for 15 minutes and still can't see one car let alone two.

 

That is Seth Hammond in his D.O.Fronty that won the Shell Hill Climb back in the early 1970's. I was told it is hanging on the wall in his office now. He and his wife are Bonneville streamliner drivers, they debuted a new car on the salt this year.

 

A couple of photos, of the Moe special from 2006.



CBB

 

A few more of the Golden T,

 

I've always like this style, too. From the Poliform web site, a '19. One for you and one for the misses, better than bikes on a Sunday drive, eh? And you can't fall over at a stop light ifn you are wasted! Gary

 

Man, I just had sick thoughts about building one like the Golden T, but from copper.
But, I bet it'd be hard 'splaining that much copper sheet to the revenuers...

This gets my vote as one of the best HAMB threads ever.
Thanks!
Jay

 

Wonderful speester!

Says board track to me!

and the brass T,....amazing. I had been thinking of a speedster in either all polished stainless, aluminum or , yes, brass. wow,...amazing!

 

From the Speedster Rally at Speedway Motors in Llincoln

 

More from Lincoln

 

more from the speedster rally

 

Have anymore pics or info on this car??!!!

 

Dumb question time... was a T speedster more of an oval racer or what? I can only assume they would have been good for land speed style racing too, ifn that form of racing had been developed by then. Did speedsters "officially" preceed either track roadsters, midgets or sprint cars? Or evolve into something else? Or did their branch of the hot rod world just fade away? Gary

 

I'm glad you have the intrest in that!

From the east coast to the midwest you saw a lot of oval track racing, and some baord track racing. On the west coast you saw the same, but also the world of landspeed enters there and makes it more unique in that regard.

Yes, T's were used in landspeed racing. In fact, you NEED to pick up Al Drake's book, "FLAT OUT" there you will see all kinds of great early racing photographs!

I believe that world/ or "branch" of the hot rod world is alive and well in an 'underground' kind of way....

We as well as The Flyers are certainly doing our part to keep the fires going! you may see more at: www.hotironclub.com

 

yet more speedsters

 

Just the three I posted, no one was around it. It had a For Sale sign on it is all I know.. Pretty Sweet though!

 

We as well as The Flyers are certainly doing our part to keep the fires going! you may see more at: www.hotironclub.com[/quote]

CTK, yes but you didn't answer my other questions... were the speedsters fazed out / morphed into midgets or sprint cars? At some point I can see the oval track world splitting into the open wheel and closed (stock car / jalopy / modified) branches of the racing tree. It would make sense that the speedsters just faded away after the first purpose built banger or V8-60 midgets were developed! Gary