History Auto racing 1894-1944

[Don Capps]

Originally Posted by Racemaker

Does anyone have information regarding AAA race regulations from the early 1920s that required a racing car to be able to back up under its engine power (a working back-gear function). The Indy 500 did have such a regulation in place until the 1960s but I would like to find evidence, either written regulations or other knowledge, that this was required at other sanctioned events particularly in 1921, 1922, or 1923.

I just read through my copy* the "American Automobile Association Contest Rules Revised to Sept. 1st 1922" and there is nothing that I could find that mentions a requirement for a reverse gear.

* The original was donated to the International Motor Racing Research Center (IMRRC) at Watkins Glen and is now a part of their collection.

[kurtis]

[QUOTE=model.A.keith;5425487][QUOTE=onelung;5424925]

Originally Posted by kurtis

Anyone know the history of the Bill Thompson Bugatti that was later owned{?} by Bill MacLachlan and fitted with a Ford V8? Does this car still exist?

A piece of older history on the ''Mackellar special''

taken from the Autosport bulletin board....................


An event at Penrith Speedway (near Sydney, 1-mile, bumpy dirt) in which the Mackellar V8 (Bugatti with more reliable engine fitted) got out of shape and went straight for the crowd.
Unfortunately this happened just after lunch, and some families were still sitting in front of the 3-strand wire fence that was about 30ft back from the track.
A friend, having seen this once years ago, commented how effective people are as catch fences. Three died, dozens hurt, bodies flying everywhere. Car came to a stop very quickly.


.

.

Yes, i've heard that story before. There is also a video of that event, supposedly.

I have also read that the Riley was fitted with IFS from a Delahaye at one time and this is how the car remains today after it's last restoration.
Apparently, the owner has attended Goodwood.
Photos, we need photos.

[kamikaze]

Hi, I bought this engine a couple of days ago. But i dont know what it is..I have now heard that it might be a racing engine and that it probably is quite rare. Does any one know what it is?

[model.A.keith]

[QUOTE=kurtis;5427967][QUOTE=model.A.keith;5425487]

Originally Posted by onelung

Yes, i've heard that story before. There is also a video of that event, supposedly.

I have also read that the Riley was fitted with IFS from a Delahaye at one time and this is how the car remains today after it's last restoration.
Apparently, the owner has attended Goodwood.
Photos, we need photos.

Kurtis


I'll look later...........(must do some work !!)


Keith

[ehdubya]

Thanks for the Eldred Norman snippets and the read McFire.

[ehdubya]

This pic of Carl Fisher at Harlem Chicago 1905 I'm almost certain is the Premier Comet which he raced a lot in 1904-5, it seems to be often confused with the famous holey 1905 Vanderbilt OHC four which is reputed to have been raced by Fisher only once at the 1905 Indiana state fair.



Griff Borgeson describes it as being built from two of the production transverse fours. I've seen no trace of these but for the Model F triple which bears a very strong resemblence to the Marion four





The Model L Premier looks like it has National DNA and Tone's Marion racer looks like it may have had a few Premier half siblings...

[ehdubya]

Barney Oldfield in the 1905 Vanderbilt Premier Chicago 1906...

[Racemaker]

Originally Posted by Don Capps

I just read through my copy* the "American Automobile Association Contest Rules Revised to Sept. 1st 1922" and there is nothing that I could find that mentions a requirement for a reverse gear.

* The original was donated to the International Motor Racing Research Center (IMRRC) at Watkins Glen and is now a part of their collection.

Don, Thank you for the information regarding the AAA reference. You have cleared up a conflict of information for us pertinent to a book we are about to publish entitled: One Fast Car. The Birth of Hisso Racers: Adapting Hispano-Suiza Aero Engines to Dirt Track Racing During the Early 1920s.

[T-Head]

[QUOTE=ehdubya;5429067]

The Model L Premier looks like it has National DNA and Tone's Marion racer looks like it may have had a few Premier half siblings...

Good job....That racer does look like it shares the chassis of the production car above it with the exception that the production car appears?? to have shaft drive.

The two engines also appear to be alike....

And a welcome to Racemaker.....I hope the fishing trip went well....

[jimdillon]

That moniker Racemaker sounds kind of familiar and a historian to boot. Glad to see you have found your way to this site. Some pretty good stuff to read. I am sure you could add a thing or two on occasion. Welcome-Jim

[T-Head]

Three photos that Twin6 found of what looks to be fairgrounds racing, came from North Dakota of all places.

The most professional looking of the four cars is the one in the first photo which appears as if it may have been based on some T ford components.

Does this car look familiar to anyone?

[The37Kid]

Welcome to the HAMB! I have some info on the Larry Beales HISSO, the one that was in the 1908 Mercedes GP chassis that was the Spencer Wisehart 1911 and 1912 INDY car earlier.

Originally Posted by Racemaker

Don, Thank you for the information regarding the AAA reference. You have cleared up a conflict of information for us pertinent to a book we are about to publish entitled: One Fast Car. The Birth of Hisso Racers: Adapting Hispano-Suiza Aero Engines to Dirt Track Racing During the Early 1920s.

[T-Head]

Photos of the still smoldering remains at the Mercedes factory when they lost all of their early 90HP?? cars and had to borrow 60HP?? customers cars to attend the next race.

If I remember correctly they did very well or won the race.

[Racemaker]

Please share any information you might have on the #24 Mercedes-Hisso, much appreciated.

[model.A.keith]

Originally Posted by kurtis

Another car that made it's way to Australia was the ex. Freddie Dixon works Riley that won at Broolands in 1935. It was driven in Australia by Dick Bland, John Snow. Hope Bartlett and Alec Mildren.
Anyone know the history and whereabouts of this car?

.

.

[ehdubya]

Racemaker, I recall reading something about a land speed attempt car having an electric motor driving directly on one of the tires to provide a means of reversing to comply with the international rules, it may have been the Stewart Enterprise.

[Vitesse]

Originally Posted by T-Head

Photos of the still smoldering remains at the Mercedes factory when they lost all of their early 90HP?? cars and had to borrow 60HP?? customers cars to attend the next race.

If I remember correctly they did very well or won the race.

Yep, the old brain cells haven't gone yet!

The Canstatt fire was in June 1903, just before the Gordon Bennett Trophy. Although The Autocar issued a successful appeal for the loan of 60hp Mercedes to ensure the Germans took part - Alfred Harmsworth and others offered their cars - the three cars used all came from the stock of the company's Paris agent Monsieur Charley.

The race was of course won by the 'Red Devil' himself - Camille Jenatzy. The other two, driven by Foxhall Keene and de Caters, failed to finish.

[T-Head]

Originally Posted by Vitesse

Yep, the old brain cells haven't gone yet!

The Canstatt fire was in June 1903, just before the Gordon Bennett Trophy. Although The Autocar issued a successful appeal for the loan of 60hp Mercedes to ensure the Germans took part - Alfred Harmsworth and others offered their cars - the three cars used all came from the stock of the company's Paris agent Monsieur Charley.

The race was of course won by the 'Red Devil' himself - Camille Jenatzy. The other two, driven by Foxhall Keene and de Caters, failed to finish.

Thanks again.....Did you study the photos at all? I thought it was interesting that it got hot enough to melt the solder in the radiator but all of the brass tubes from the core and the parts of the shell are laying on the ground in front of the car.....Brass melts at about 1700 degrees.....

[The37Kid]

Here is Larry Beales in his Mercedes/HISSO at Pottsville, Pa June 7, 1924. I had the original photo that Larry had sold to Bob Brown in the late 1970's. The Isotta also has a HISSO, the #23 was powered by 1/4 of a Bugatti Areo engine.

Originally Posted by Racemaker

Please share any information you might have on the #24 Mercedes-Hisso, much appreciated.

[Racemaker]

Hello and thanks for the images, we do have this picture and the news reports on the race. We do know that the middle picture is of Earl Vance in the Hisso car numbered "1", it has been called the "Delage Hisso" and our assumption is that is because the aero engine was originally manufactured by Delage for Hispano Suiza. We had wondered if the chassis was a Daimler but were not set on that thought. We are interested to know your opinion on why it may be an Isotta.