History East Coast Digger

[Ryan]

It's been over a decade since I first reviewed "Cool Cars, Square Roll Bars" - a book written by the former editor of Hot Rod Magazine, Arnie Shuman. It remains one of the best kept secrets in Hot Rod publications. The book houses story after stor...

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

[GARY?]

Is that a wing directly behind the motor? I like the corrigated sides too.

[JeffreyJames]

It looks like the engine is tipped forward. That's something I am pretty sure I have never seen before.

Like I said Ryan, I love those 389's. The wheels on my roadster are going but I surely am not crazy enough to cut the car in half. But I do like this type of thinking. It almost crazy enough to work!

I might check that book out. I like the title.

[3rd Gen Hot Rodder]

Ryan, Thanks for the great post. When I take my late Grandfather's dragster to car shows (See below for link / info on the car), I try to emphasize the creative engineering that these early pioneers of drag racing put into their cars. You could not simply go to the speedshop and order a bracket or part, you had to look around your garage for what might work, grab your buzz box and do a little fabrication.

[scottybaccus]

Originally Posted by 3rd Gen Hot Rodder

Ryan, Thanks for the great post. When I take my late Grandfather's dragster to car shows (See below for link / info on the car), I try to emphasize the creative engineering that these early pioneers of drag racing put into their cars. You could not simply go to the speedshop and order a bracket or part, you had to look around your garage for what might work, grab your buzz box and do a little fabrication.

http://www.cacklefest.com/Bronson.shtml

Bill, That dragster of your grandfather's is bad ass.

Folks, you better click on that link!

[HOTRODSURFER]

very cool dragster, i like the steering shaft passing under the intake

[Little Wing]

I like that whole steering set up

[Littleman]

Very neat !!! Back when you could not say cookie cutter !!!.....You can still build and think innovative.......Littleman

[LEMMING249]

Another very interesting article Ryan. Thanks!..................That steering shaft is a tad bit deadly in the event of a crash tho!

[speedtool]

I love the book, "Cool Cars, Square Rollbars".
It's a real classic IMO.

[autobilly]

Originally Posted by corn boy

Is that a wing directly behind the motor? I like the corrigated sides too.

No Corn Boy, I think that's the dashboard.

Outstanding 3rd Gen Hot Rodder! You have inherited and preserved a legacy that "Newbies" like me can only aspire to emulate.

[64 DODGE 440]

Originally Posted by 3rd Gen Hot Rodder

When I take my late Grandfather's dragster to car shows (See below for link / info on the car), I try to emphasize the creative engineering that these early pioneers of drag racing put into their cars. You could not simply go to the speedshop and order a bracket or part, you had to look around your garage for what might work, grab your buzz box and do a little fabrication.

http://www.cacklefest.com/Bronson.shtml

Bill, that car is a wonderful piece of history. How great that it has survived and you can show it and let folks see what drag racing was like when the cars were built in peoples garages by the hot rodders.

How far we have come and how much has been lost from the original concept.

[Ryan]

Originally Posted by 3rd Gen Hot Rodder

Ryan, Thanks for the great post. When I take my late Grandfather's dragster to car shows (See below for link / info on the car), I try to emphasize the creative engineering that these early pioneers of drag racing put into their cars. You could not simply go to the speedshop and order a bracket or part, you had to look around your garage for what might work, grab your buzz box and do a little fabrication.

That is neater than shit man...

[G V Gordon]

Well Ryan, you just cost me $20 on Amazon! There was actually one copy available.

Can't wait to read it.

3rd Gen Hotrodder, thanks for sharing that link, very cool it survived and even cooler it wasn't "overrestored".

[Johnny Deluxe]

If You love hot rods this book is the best on East Coast Hot Rod History written by real hot rodders . A must have.. just google - "Cool Cars, Square Roll Bars"

[gonzo]

That book is damn fine reading.

[Royalshifter]

I have to agree...the book I have had for some time and everytime I pull it out there is something new...as for the Dragster? Well you can't get much cooler than that.

[DualQuad55]

Yeah, lots of information on the early days of East Coast rodding. Arnie and Bernie did a great job on the book and it ended up needing to have a second printing as the first sold out

Some of the stuff in the book, shows the trials and errors of early hot rodding and the ingenuity that it took to make it all work in the long run.

There are more than a few of the cars in the book still around. Some still owned by the original owners/builders. Paul Aldrich (out of Mass.) has restored a couple of the early Front Engine Dragsters in the book (I beleive one was the Bannister bros-can't remember the other off the top of my head.) Sure we all love the nitro burning Hemi's at a cackle fest, but how about a hot flattie in the original slingshot? Cool stuff for sure.

The only other books I like nearly as much are those from Albert Drake.

If you want a good read, try to find a copy of "The Dominators". this book is a written recount of a club from the east coast, and all the nonsense/fun they had in the early years of hot rodding. More of a hot rodidng paper back novel-a cross between a history lesson and a Henry Gregor Felson book. Good stuff

[TexasHardcore]

The book rules. That dragster rules more!

[olcurmdgeon]

Some years ago I was introduced to Dave Sanderson's widow, a lady named Pearl and was able to get the movie reels of this car being towed to Detroit. I have the film put on videotape, a copy for me and a copy for Pearl. Many folks have searched high and low in seacoast NH to find if this car survived but I guess it didn't. Incidently Pearl's second husband, a machinist named Dan Cook, built supermodified race car chassis in a shop at their home. I think my copy is now in the collection of Reg Bernier in Nottingham, NH who has quite a collection of early dragsters and funny cars there.