History Auto racing 1894-1944

[The37Kid]

Nice car deuce354! Looks like that front axle is a narrowed Franklin.

[Don Capps]

Originally Posted by Bluto

Capps

Is that a Leo Gorcey quote?

No, it was, I would suggest, courtesy another sage of the Bowery, Huntz Hall, hence the reason for the confusion on your part.

Then again, alas, it may have been uttered by Dylan Thomas at the White Horse Tavern in the days not long before his not going gentle into that good night.

I would offer an opinion regarding the use of that oft abused, misused, and misunderstood word, "history," which appears in the title of this thread, but it would serve no purpose, good or otherwise, given the raison d'etre for this collection of postings.

As I sit here, I can see my copy of Anti-intellectualism in American Life by Richard Hofstadter on one the bookshelves in my office. Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose. (Alphonse Karr, Les Guêpes, 1849)

But, I digress....

The obligatory photograph is from The Horseless Age, 17 March 1915, page 362 It is the line up of grid prior to the start of the Vanderbilt Cup race. It shows the Peugeot of Resta, the Mercedes of De Palma, and the Chevrolet of Durant on the front row.

[Bluto]

I picked the option of Mr Gorcey so as to offend you less, but if you wish to think of your comments in the style and content of Mr Hall we all here can accept that easily

I am not confused only don't understand why you come here and post the same general self-centered garbage knowing it will change no one's mind here.

[Don Capps]

Originally Posted by Bluto

I picked the option of Mr Gorcey so as to offend you less, but if you wish to think of your comments in the style and content of Mr Hall we all here can accept that easily

I am not confused only don't understand why you come here and post the same general self-centered garbage knowing it will change no one's mind here.

Ah, but it is at least literate garbage.

As for your comment, perhaps Emerson (the American philosopher and writer, not the radio company, Bluto, since I doubt you would know the difference) provides a fitting farewell: "A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds...."

Farewell, little minds.

[Bluto]

That's were your very wrong Crapps.

Throughout history people have tried to hide their rude argument and bulling as somehow literate. Your not the first, last or even the best.

You have added nothing to this thread for others enjoy or learn from.

I wonder at the pitiful existence you have. Must burden aways being right.

I never claimed my mind is large. Only you have claimed that for yourself here. And over and over trying to impress us "little minds"

[ebtm3]

Oh come on Bluto

Just ignore him

He just wants attention.

Herb Kephart (self proclaimed illiterate dufus)

[T-Head]

Back to our regularly scheduled program.....

I found this photo labeled only Marquette, which was a high quality make that became a part of Buick. From the way it is set up it looks to be a fairly serious sprinter in the same vein as the Simplex Zip or the Fiat Cyclone. Maybe someone can enlighten us on its history?

[kurtis]

[T-Head]

A little off topic but I am hoping that maybe someone can ID this WWI Staff Car?. It is listed as being a Benz but with no other information. The radiator has a narrower look to it that the racing cars of 8-10 years earlier that we are familiar with. Regards it appears to be a very high quality automobile that I am sure someone can positively ID.

[kurtis]

Welcome to the thread Deek.

Very nice midget you have. Keep us informed if any new information should arise.

[ebtm3]

TH-
Any idea what the smaller disk mounted outboard of the countershaft sprocket on the Marquette might be? Hard to see if it has any teeth, but it might be a quick ratio conversion for hillclimbs???

Another question- were the L head Mercers ever able to win any major race?

Herb Kephart

[Vitesse]

Originally Posted by T-Head

A little off topic but I am hoping that maybe someone can ID this WWI Staff Car?. It is listed as being a Benz but with no other information. The radiator has a narrower look to it that the racing cars of 8-10 years earlier that we are familiar with. Regards it appears to be a very high quality automobile that I am sure someone can positively ID.

Possibly a Benz 30/60, the model used as the basis for the 1908 Prince Heinrich Trial cars.

[T-Head]

Herb...... It in fact does have something there, I enlarged the photo but it is poor qualify. It also appears to be more there. I have never seen one on a chain drive car but I wonder if it could be a compensating sprocket?

I guess it could also be a way of setting the sprocket inward without a heavy dished hub??

As you noticed the small sprocket could be for hillclimbing or maybe a half mile track?

Did you notice the huge flywheel??

I am not aware of the standard L-Head winning any major races but I hope that Jim Dillion will tune in fill us in as he is good with Mercer racing history.

[ebtm3]

TH
No I didn't notice that man hole cover lurking in the shadows! Gulp!!

Your idea of a comp. sprocket makes more sense than mine. Although my idea might work, the chain would be horribly miss-aligned on one (or both) ratios.

I guess that with 6 1/2 pound rods rods a pound one way or the other won't matter?



Herb

[The37Kid]

Kurtis that is Harry Stillman and his broken Marmon during the 1908 Vanderbilt Race. I didn't know this until yesterday when my prize arrived from Howard Kroplick for IDing a photo on this website. Great time to say "TAHNK YOU HOWARD!" the books are great!

[The37Kid]

That is the same setup that Sears high wheelers have, it is a differential of some sort. There must be a technical name for it, I'm good at remembering silly stuff like that.

Originally Posted by ebtm3

TH-
Any idea what the smaller disk mounted outboard of the countershaft sprocket on the Marquette might be? Hard to see if it has any teeth, but it might be a quick ratio conversion for hillclimbs???

Another question- were the L head Mercers ever able to win any major race?

Herb Kephart

[T-Head]

Originally Posted by ebtm3

TH
No I didn't notice that man hole cover lurking in the shadows! Gulp!!

Your idea of a comp. sprocket makes more sense than mine. Although my idea might work, the chain would be horribly miss-aligned on one (or both) ratios.

I guess that with 6 1/2 pound rods rods a pound one way or the other won't matter?



Herb

Sorry I did not catch you idea the first time. If you are right maybe they could turn it over and put the small one on the inside if they wanted to use it and it would line up perfectly??

The heaviest rod was 26 grams more the the lightest and you could feel the out of balance. That is the kind of thing you find with a lot of these early cars.

[The37Kid]

If you are in need of a pit crew member, I can abandon my Bugatti friends.

Originally Posted by T-Head

I am balancing T-Head Mercer rods today for a car I hope to have running for the Limerock Fall Festival. They weigh 6.5 lb !!!

[T-Head]

Originally Posted by Vitesse

Possibly a Benz 30/60, the model used as the basis for the 1908 Prince Heinrich Trial cars.

Thanks Again.....Its Quite a car.....

[Rapid Robert]

All -
With the start of Speed Week, on the Bonneville Salt Flats, just 12 days away, I thought I would put up some vintage land speed images. For the record, this photo is an original, in my collection. It was found by me, with some other photos, at a yard sale in Salt Lake a few years ago. I believe it is a news service photo.

It is, of course, one of Utah's most famous citizens, Ab Jenkins. The information on the Pierce would indicate that this photo, staged in front of the Utah State Capitol building, was taken after Ab's first 1932 unofficial runs on the salt. I do not know who the other gentleman in the photo is.

I do not know the circumstances of the photo. Perhaps Jenkins is just leaving on a road trip, arranged by Pierce Arrow PR. I will leave it to others to shed some additional light on this.
Bob.