The Jalopy Journal

Foul · 01-09-2008, 02:55 PM

I didn't realize there's such a fan base for tether car racing until I was contacted randomly by a woman looking for one of two tether cars her father-in-law built in the late 1940s. She mentioned having some pictures from that time, so I thought I'd try to help her out and share some of the pics at the same time:

http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2...-in-the-1940s/

I need to follow up on the comments that some guys have left already, but if anybody else knows anything about that particular tether racer, let me know.

dan

Sealed Power · 01-09-2008, 03:35 PM

Looks like a Dooling Frog, made by the Dooling brothers in the 40's. Reproductions of that model are available and good originals are not that hard to find but can be pricey. Of course if she is looking for the exact one that her father built that will be a lot tougher.

I know most people here don't like ebay but there are several guys that deal in tether cars on there you might check with some of them.

And try this guy. He can probably tell you who the dealer was at Hershey www.tethercar.com

cabriolethiboy · 01-09-2008, 04:06 PM

I live in Anderson, Indiana and we still have track here. I don't race but I have stopped and seen them run during one of the meets they have there. I have heard it is a pretty well known track because there are entrants from all over the world. They are amazing to watch. If you have never seen them you probably won't belive me but they are so fast you CANNOT see them. I saw one run 201 MPH. The pictures I saw on one of the websites where they were racing in what looked like a parking lot looks pretty dangerous. They are so fast you would never know what hit you if it came loose. I'll try to take some pics this summer if I can catch when they run.

touchdowntodd · 01-09-2008, 04:13 PM

and i thought the planes were kinda cool i saw tihs summer with bob and johnny..

those are real cool

hiboyroadsterboy · 01-09-2008, 04:48 PM

Those are cool,we have a friend around here who restores those things,and I guess they are racing them again somewhere in newyork,theres a track.

DrJ · 01-09-2008, 05:44 PM

There's a track in the Whittier Narrows park area, near where we had a HAMB BBQ a couple years ago.
I've seen them run there, or seen the blur of them running at 200 ± mph.
They're having a "fun run" and swap meet there this Saturday 1/12/08 according to the site below.

Check here:

http://www.amrca.com/

and:

http://www.tethercar.com/

terrarodder · 01-09-2008, 07:42 PM

I remmber seeing them in the 40s, there was a amusment park in Bethlehem PA. called Central Park that had a track. I would like to see them again, I though they were cool when I was a kid.

justanotherguy · 01-09-2008, 08:17 PM

Hmmm... well, here ya go:

ArtGeco · 01-09-2008, 08:35 PM

I know it's off topic but, I'm always amazed at how thin people used to be.
Not a fat person in those pics. We "were" a healthy nation.

El Gordo · 01-09-2008, 08:50 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RUuQgvVOzk
once the car gets going - turn the speakers up

RugBlaster · 01-09-2008, 10:03 PM

I had a McCoy ("The Real McCoy") tether sprint car from that era. My wife had bought an old oak chest of drawers from a lady and she threw the car in on the deal.....I sold it on Epay for almost $1000.00 biggies to a feller in the Pacific Northwest.....before my time, but some people apparently really get into it.

Mercmad · 01-09-2008, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArtGeco

I know it's off topic but, I'm always amazed at how thin people used to be.
Not a fat person in those pics. We "were" a healthy nation.

No,it was combination of the effects of the great depression ( malnutrition) and cigarettes,amazing how thin you stay when you smoke and in those days a non smoker was about as common as a ham sandwich in a synagogue.

And this is Brisbane Australia..up beside the motorway at Caboolture just past the bribie island turnoff.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bWS0...eature=related

Kiwi Kev · 01-09-2008, 10:30 PM

Mechanics Illustrated, Sept' 1955........

**Big A** · 01-09-2008, 10:31 PM

Here's one that belonged to a friend of mine. Unfortunately, when he died his wife gave it away. Made by Ohlsson and Rice, Los Angeles. The thing weighed about 3 pounds.

**The37Kid** · 01-09-2008, 10:33 PM

They ran them on board tracks too! This shot was in the National Speed Sport News June 1944 Racing Album #2 sent out to GI's durring WWII.

DocWatson · 01-09-2008, 10:38 PM

Check this out!
http://video.yahoo.com/video/play?vi...yfp-t-501emot0

**Big A** · 01-09-2008, 10:50 PM

There's a vintage Dooling tether car on that auction site right now with a Buy It Now price of $9,950

Zombilly · 01-10-2008, 12:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The37Kid

They ran them on board tracks too! This shot was in the National Speed Sport News June 1944 Racing Album #2 sent out to GI's durring WWII.

Resent for the sake of clarity. Great picture, 37Kid.

Zombilly · 01-10-2008, 12:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DocWatson

Check this out!
http://video.yahoo.com/video/play?vi...yfp-t-501emot0

Great movie short!

DocWatson · 01-10-2008, 01:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zombilly

Great movie short!

Yeah, I saw that on another board and loved it.

01-09-2008, 02:55 PM	#1
Foul Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Bennington, VT Posts: 648	tether car racing in the 1940s I didn't realize there's such a fan base for tether car racing until I was contacted randomly by a woman looking for one of two tether cars her father-in-law built in the late 1940s. She mentioned having some pictures from that time, so I thought I'd try to help her out and share some of the pics at the same time: http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2...-in-the-1940s/ I need to follow up on the comments that some guys have left already, but if anybody else knows anything about that particular tether racer, let me know. dan __________________ Steve McQueen's got nothing on me.

01-09-2008, 04:06 PM	#3
cabriolethiboy Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Anderson, In.,USA Posts: 739	Re: tether car racing in the 1940s I live in Anderson, Indiana and we still have track here. I don't race but I have stopped and seen them run during one of the meets they have there. I have heard it is a pretty well known track because there are entrants from all over the world. They are amazing to watch. If you have never seen them you probably won't belive me but they are so fast you CANNOT see them. I saw one run 201 MPH. The pictures I saw on one of the websites where they were racing in what looked like a parking lot looks pretty dangerous. They are so fast you would never know what hit you if it came loose. I'll try to take some pics this summer if I can catch when they run.

01-09-2008, 04:13 PM	#4
touchdowntodd Old School HAMBer Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: milwaukee WIIIIII Posts: 4,042	Re: tether car racing in the 1940s and i thought the planes were kinda cool i saw tihs summer with bob and johnny.. those are real cool __________________ WTB - vintage aircraft hydraulics, pesco pumps, EQs, adels, etc STYLISTICS INC. LA Chapter

01-09-2008, 04:48 PM	#5
hiboyroadsterboy Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Mass Posts: 1,648	Re: tether car racing in the 1940s Those are cool,we have a friend around here who restores those things,and I guess they are racing them again somewhere in newyork,theres a track.

01-09-2008, 05:44 PM	#6
DrJ Old School HAMBer Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: PARADISE! (Long Beach, CA) Posts: 9,229	Re: tether car racing in the 1940s There's a track in the Whittier Narrows park area, near where we had a HAMB BBQ a couple years ago. I've seen them run there, or seen the blur of them running at 200 ± mph. They're having a "fun run" and swap meet there this Saturday 1/12/08 according to the site below. Check here: http://www.amrca.com/ and: http://www.tethercar.com/ __________________ Not my fault, I was at camp. Last edited by DrJ; 01-09-2008 at 05:51 PM.

01-09-2008, 03:35 PM	#2
Sealed Power Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: TN Posts: 646	Re: tether car racing in the 1940s Looks like a Dooling Frog, made by the Dooling brothers in the 40's. Reproductions of that model are available and good originals are not that hard to find but can be pricey. Of course if she is looking for the exact one that her father built that will be a lot tougher. I know most people here don't like ebay but there are several guys that deal in tether cars on there you might check with some of them. And try this guy. He can probably tell you who the dealer was at Hershey www.tethercar.com __________________ WANTED: U.S. Highway Route signs Speed Shop Display Items Wanted Distributor Wanted

01-09-2008, 07:42 PM	#7
terrarodder Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: EASTERN PA Posts: 1,077	Re: tether car racing in the 1940s I remmber seeing them in the 40s, there was a amusment park in Bethlehem PA. called Central Park that had a track. I would like to see them again, I though they were cool when I was a kid.

01-09-2008, 08:17 PM	#8
justanotherguy Grenade Inspector Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: central left coast Posts: 173	Re: tether car racing in the 1940s Hmmm... well, here ya go:

01-09-2008, 08:35 PM	#9
ArtGeco Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Miami Posts: 710	Re: tether car racing in the 1940s I know it's off topic but, I'm always amazed at how thin people used to be. Not a fat person in those pics. We "were" a healthy nation. __________________ www.terrybyer.com

01-09-2008, 08:50 PM	#10
El Gordo Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: St. Albert, Alberta Posts: 427	Re: tether car racing in the 1940s http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RUuQgvVOzk once the car gets going - turn the speakers up __________________ "Baby Blue" 64 Acadian Pinstriping.By.El.Gordo

01-09-2008, 10:03 PM	#11
RugBlaster Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: San Angelo, Texas Posts: 567	Re: tether car racing in the 1940s I had a McCoy ("The Real McCoy") tether sprint car from that era. My wife had bought an old oak chest of drawers from a lady and she threw the car in on the deal.....I sold it on Epay for almost $1000.00 biggies to a feller in the Pacific Northwest.....before my time, but some people apparently really get into it. __________________ Roses are red, violets are blue, I am a schizo, and so am I.

01-09-2008, 10:30 PM	#13
Kiwi Kev Old School HAMBer Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Ventura, CA Hotrodders Paradise Posts: 6,732	Re: tether car racing in the 1940s Mechanics Illustrated, Sept' 1955........ __________________ That's MISTER low buck to you pal!

01-09-2008, 10:31 PM	#14
Big A Alliance Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: Niagara Canada. The deep south of the far north Posts: 4,002	Re: tether car racing in the 1940s Here's one that belonged to a friend of mine. Unfortunately, when he died his wife gave it away. Made by Ohlsson and Rice, Los Angeles. The thing weighed about 3 pounds. __________________ SFCC... we can do it ourselves. (Canadians use thicker socks) My shoebox build... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=626123

01-09-2008, 10:33 PM	#15
The37Kid Alliance Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Ridgefield, Ct. Posts: 15,697	Re: tether car racing in the 1940s They ran them on board tracks too! This shot was in the National Speed Sport News June 1944 Racing Album #2 sent out to GI's durring WWII. Attached Thumbnails

01-09-2008, 10:38 PM	#16
DocWatson Old School HAMBer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Aspley Queensland Australia Posts: 9,778	Re: tether car racing in the 1940s Check this out! http://video.yahoo.com/video/play?vi...yfp-t-501emot0 __________________ At the going down of the sun and in the morning, We will remember them.

01-09-2008, 10:50 PM	#17
Big A Alliance Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: Niagara Canada. The deep south of the far north Posts: 4,002	Re: tether car racing in the 1940s There's a vintage Dooling tether car on that auction site right now with a Buy It Now price of $9,950 __________________ SFCC... we can do it ourselves. (Canadians use thicker socks) My shoebox build... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=626123

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