The Jalopy Journal

**Ryan** · 03-31-2008, 11:32 AM

I spent the weekend in my hometown of Midland, TX. As I mentioned last week, the Mabee Special was opening at the Petroleum Museum and I was lucky enough to get an invite from my old crew chief...

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

fiat128 · 03-31-2008, 12:06 PM

I've driven by the petroleum museum dozens of times and never stopped. I didn't realize there was all that interesting stuff there. I'll have to stop next trip.

**Terry** · 03-31-2008, 12:09 PM

HA! I'm in one of those pictures!

The car was simply fantastic, and it gave me goose bumps to see it up close. The workmanship was fantastic. And the car seemed to be moving while setting still. I heard a rumor floating around it will be raced again, I would love to see that!

It was good to see you and your Dad again too Ryan.

1950ChevySuburban · 03-31-2008, 12:11 PM

Thanks for the pics Ryan, glad you made it there. I've always loved those Chapparalls since kindergarten (seriously), and the Mabee car is top-notch as well. Really impressive machinery there!

primerkid · 03-31-2008, 01:01 PM

What a beauty the Mabee Special is, the lines are breathtaking, from any angle. I do agree on the rollcage. Thanks for sharing !
/ primerkid

smittyshotrods · 03-31-2008, 01:51 PM

You guys are killing me, man I wish I could have been there. The Petroleum Museum is a really nice facility and Ronnie is one cool dude. Did you get to see the shop in the back and what they had in there?

autobilly · 03-31-2008, 03:52 PM

Thanks for the mini tour Ryan. Looks like a well layed out, top notch facility. Of course the cars are superb also.

gas pumper · 03-31-2008, 03:57 PM

Ryan, on the car with the turbine sucker, did it ever get to run before a rule change was done? Ya know that it had to be outlawed fast. Hall rule. Every good racer had a few rules named after them.

Frank

GotRust · 03-31-2008, 08:58 PM

This is so much more than an amazing story. From the initial build, the preparation, the hemi in the push vehicle, the driver change, the rope, the record at Bonneville, the years afterward, car lost, car found and rebuilt. This story would make a great book.

It was great to finally meet you Ryan.

swimeasy · 03-31-2008, 09:53 PM

I had intended to be there and had old friends come in to San Angelo so had to miss you people this time but I will get out there after the Roundup. Thanks for the picts.,Ryan.

Tman · 03-31-2008, 10:03 PM

Very cool. Like to see the history we all lust after preserved and catalogged!

plance1 · 04-01-2008, 09:58 PM

I believe I saw this car in Cincy Ohio last year at the Concourse car show.

flt-blk · 04-02-2008, 04:54 AM

Thanks for the pictures.

What's the rope for?

GotRust · 04-02-2008, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flt-blk

Thanks for the pictures.

What's the rope for?

Correct me if I am wrong Ryan or Diceman, but I believe the story was if during the speed run if the car went out of control the driver was to pull himself down into the car for protection. 1953 safety equipment.

81ttopcoupe · 04-06-2008, 10:35 AM

Looks like I was there a few weeks to early, would loved to have seen that car in person. Took the kids there during spring break, it was worth the trip. My grandfather worked as a roughneck in his yonger days, and I work in the industry now(just a drafter though).
The Chaparell gallery is a definite must. It was neat trying to get into the car they have set up for photo ops. I finally got squeezed in but my legs are to large to get the steering wheel on. And of course it was my dad and I, not my kids, who set off the alarms under the cars because we got to close looking at them.

03-31-2008, 11:32 AM	#1
Ryan Administrator Join Date: Jan 1995 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 13,624	The Permian Basin Petroleum Museum I spent the weekend in my hometown of Midland, TX. As I mentioned last week, the Mabee Special was opening at the Petroleum Museum and I was lucky enough to get an invite from my old crew chief... To read the rest of this blog entry from The Jalopy Journal, click here.

03-31-2008, 12:06 PM	#2
fiat128 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: El Paso TX Posts: 1,431	Re: The Permian Basin Petroleum Museum I've driven by the petroleum museum dozens of times and never stopped. I didn't realize there was all that interesting stuff there. I'll have to stop next trip. __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

03-31-2008, 12:09 PM	#3
Terry Alliance Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Odessa, TX, USA Posts: 1,827	Re: The Permian Basin Petroleum Museum HA! I'm in one of those pictures! The car was simply fantastic, and it gave me goose bumps to see it up close. The workmanship was fantastic. And the car seemed to be moving while setting still. I heard a rumor floating around it will be raced again, I would love to see that! It was good to see you and your Dad again too Ryan. __________________ The best car saftety device is a rear view mirror with a cop in it.

03-31-2008, 12:11 PM	#4
1950ChevySuburban Member Emeritus Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Tucson AZ Posts: 6,239	Re: The Permian Basin Petroleum Museum Thanks for the pics Ryan, glad you made it there. I've always loved those Chapparalls since kindergarten (seriously), and the Mabee car is top-notch as well. Really impressive machinery there! __________________ *My '29 Sedan build thread can be viewed here:* /showthread.php?t=635145

03-31-2008, 01:01 PM	#5
primerkid Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Phoenix-Arizona or the Bikini Room at IKEA. Posts: 512	Re: The Permian Basin Petroleum Museum What a beauty the Mabee Special is, the lines are breathtaking, from any angle. I do agree on the rollcage. Thanks for sharing ! / primerkid __________________ If it doesn't run,....primer it !

03-31-2008, 01:51 PM	#6
smittyshotrods Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: The Woodlands,Texas USA Posts: 1,384	Re: The Permian Basin Petroleum Museum You guys are killing me, man I wish I could have been there. The Petroleum Museum is a really nice facility and Ronnie is one cool dude. Did you get to see the shop in the back and what they had in there?

03-31-2008, 03:52 PM	#7
autobilly Old School HAMBer Join Date: May 2007 Location: Tweed, Australia Posts: 2,527	Re: The Permian Basin Petroleum Museum Thanks for the mini tour Ryan. Looks like a well layed out, top notch facility. Of course the cars are superb also. __________________ RETRO Spec. (tive) -Getting to where you're going by knowing where you've come from.

03-31-2008, 03:57 PM	#8
gas pumper Old School HAMBer Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Boonton, NJ Posts: 2,698	Re: The Permian Basin Petroleum Museum Ryan, on the car with the turbine sucker, did it ever get to run before a rule change was done? Ya know that it had to be outlawed fast. Hall rule. Every good racer had a few rules named after them. Frank

03-31-2008, 08:58 PM	#9
GotRust Grenade Inspector Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Midland TX Posts: 314	Re: The Permian Basin Petroleum Museum This is so much more than an amazing story. From the initial build, the preparation, the hemi in the push vehicle, the driver change, the rope, the record at Bonneville, the years afterward, car lost, car found and rebuilt. This story would make a great book. It was great to finally meet you Ryan. __________________ '39 Chevy Midland TX www.westtexascruisers.com www.dickharrell.com

03-31-2008, 09:53 PM	#10
swimeasy Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: San angelo,texas Posts: 993	Re: The Permian Basin Petroleum Museum I had intended to be there and had old friends come in to San Angelo so had to miss you people this time but I will get out there after the Roundup. Thanks for the picts.,Ryan. __________________ "I like old stuff.....That new stuff ain't no good !"(Said to me by an OLD man over thirty years ago)

03-31-2008, 10:03 PM	#11
Tman Old School HAMBer Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Beautifull Black Hills of South Dakota Posts: 28,204	Re: The Permian Basin Petroleum Museum Very cool. Like to see the history we all lust after preserved and catalogged! __________________ Open for business, website in developement www.compulsionrodandcustom.com

04-01-2008, 09:58 PM	#12
plance1 FNG Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: cincy ohio Posts: 2	Re: The Permian Basin Petroleum Museum I believe I saw this car in Cincy Ohio last year at the Concourse car show.

04-02-2008, 04:54 AM	#13
flt-blk Old School HAMBer Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Glen Ellyn, IL Posts: 4,306	Re: The Permian Basin Petroleum Museum Thanks for the pictures. What's the rope for? __________________ THEM TX "Nomad"

04-06-2008, 10:35 AM	#15
81ttopcoupe Grenade Inspector Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Cedar Park Posts: 399	Re: The Permian Basin Petroleum Museum Looks like I was there a few weeks to early, would loved to have seen that car in person. Took the kids there during spring break, it was worth the trip. My grandfather worked as a roughneck in his yonger days, and I work in the industry now(just a drafter though). The Chaparell gallery is a definite must. It was neat trying to get into the car they have set up for photo ops. I finally got squeezed in but my legs are to large to get the steering wheel on. And of course it was my dad and I, not my kids, who set off the alarms under the cars because we got to close looking at them. __________________ Joey 38 Ford Pickup === Build in progress. Need parts, whatcha got?

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