The Jalopy Journal

**Ryan** · 07-31-2009, 10:41 AM

Before WWII, Bill Burke was active in the Southern California hot rod and racing scenes. Speed had grabbed Bill by throat and wasn't about to let go. Like many of us, he was a slave to all things fast and hopped up. So it makes sense that even while ...

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

Flathead50 · 07-31-2009, 10:49 AM

Wow - fantastic history. That must have been an insane ride.

hugh m · 07-31-2009, 10:52 AM

A bicycle seat! Makes the early midgets look safe.

Little Wing · 07-31-2009, 10:55 AM

neato !!

ratster · 07-31-2009, 10:56 AM

wow, that thing is cool and little

hudsoncustom · 07-31-2009, 10:58 AM

Cripes. That's awesome...I wonder if the new car will be on the salt next week?

**Mr48chev** · 07-31-2009, 11:00 AM

Thanks for the early morning history lesson. That car probably helped make one of the biggest changes in land speed racing that still works even now. It looks like the recreation pretty well captures the spirit of the original car even with the noticeable differences. 120+ in that car in the late 40's must been one exciting ride.

kurtis · 07-31-2009, 11:04 AM

Gotta give alot of respect to racers of years past. Bill Burke is most certainly the pioneer of the teardrop shaped race car in America and the WWII tanks are still used today. Amazing.
The guys behind this recreation also need a pat on the back. Beautiful car.

AnimalAin · 07-31-2009, 11:14 AM

Very cool. Bill Burke is a legendary racer, and one of the nicest men on the planet. It is really great that our history has been reclaimed.

**HOTRODSURFER** · 07-31-2009, 11:25 AM

bad ass,thanks for the friday afternoon history lesson

**Porter Man** · 07-31-2009, 11:26 AM

Way cool! I love those old belly tank cars. My dad use to race one on the salt flats.

**Punko** · 07-31-2009, 11:27 AM

That is too cool, just yeaterday I was looking at that belly tank on the internet, and here it is.

metaljon · 07-31-2009, 11:33 AM

Thank You!!! Just passing through Ogden, Utah and saw some salvage tanks and just wondered who thought of the 1st Belly Tank. Now I know. Amazing......

**Jeem** · 07-31-2009, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hudsoncustom

Cripes. That's awesome...I wonder if the new car will be on the salt next week?

It'll be there.....There will be a presentation of sorts and make a deal out of it.

duste01 · 07-31-2009, 11:45 AM

I would love to take a shot in something like that. Thats good stuff there.

poofus1929 · 07-31-2009, 11:56 AM

What a cool story and cool little race car. Thats awesome.

**scootermcrad** · 07-31-2009, 12:06 PM

Bad ass!

1950ChevySuburban · 07-31-2009, 12:14 PM

Thank you, Mr. Burke, for starting something cool and exciting!

Great history lesson Ryan! Thanks man!

justanotherguy · 07-31-2009, 12:41 PM

I've been intrigued by this car from the first time I saw pictures of it.
Some vintage shots showed up recently in Hop Up vol X. pp 122 and 123 and in Hop Up vol 9 p 117.

Rich Venza · 07-31-2009, 12:45 PM

I've known Bill from his early days selling advertising for McMullen, to the 80's at Bonneville when he and his son were thrashing on that blown Avanti.
I'm thrilled that this project has been completed, and he will be there to see it.

07-31-2009, 10:41 AM	#1
Ryan Administrator Join Date: Jan 1995 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 13,606	The First Belly Tank Before WWII, Bill Burke was active in the Southern California hot rod and racing scenes. Speed had grabbed Bill by throat and wasn't about to let go. Like many of us, he was a slave to all things fast and hopped up. So it makes sense that even while ... To read the rest of this blog entry from The Jalopy Journal, click here.

07-31-2009, 10:49 AM	#2
Flathead50 Grenade Inspector Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Western Pennsylvania Posts: 279	Re: The First Belly Tank Wow - fantastic history. That must have been an insane ride.

07-31-2009, 10:52 AM	#3
hugh m Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: ct. Posts: 1,779	Re: The First Belly Tank A bicycle seat! Makes the early midgets look safe. __________________ www.waterwheelboatcarts.com

07-31-2009, 10:55 AM	#4
Little Wing Old School HAMBer Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Northeast Posts: 7,663	Re: The First Belly Tank neato !! __________________ Wanted: Motometer 120 Oil Temp Gauge Drag Strips

07-31-2009, 10:56 AM	#5
ratster Old School HAMBer Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: louisville,tn and melbourne, fl usa Posts: 3,495	Re: The First Belly Tank wow, that thing is cool and little __________________ GREAZY HUBCAPZ CC EAST TN

07-31-2009, 10:58 AM	#6
hudsoncustom Old School HAMBer Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Mt. Vernon, WA Posts: 4,019	Re: The First Belly Tank Cripes. That's awesome...I wonder if the new car will be on the salt next week? __________________ FS: 58 Lincoln Capri, 430, pink: $3,000; 61 Olds 2-door hardtop (bubbletop), 394: $1500.

07-31-2009, 11:00 AM	#7
Mr48chev Alliance Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Yakima Valley, WA Posts: 15,403	Re: The First Belly Tank Thanks for the early morning history lesson. That car probably helped make one of the biggest changes in land speed racing that still works even now. It looks like the recreation pretty well captures the spirit of the original car even with the noticeable differences. 120+ in that car in the late 40's must been one exciting ride. __________________ Definition of a "work car". One you have to work on all weekend so you can drive it to work the next week.

07-31-2009, 11:04 AM	#8
kurtis Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Australia Posts: 1,870	Re: The First Belly Tank Gotta give alot of respect to racers of years past. Bill Burke is most certainly the pioneer of the teardrop shaped race car in America and the WWII tanks are still used today. Amazing. The guys behind this recreation also need a pat on the back. Beautiful car.

07-31-2009, 11:14 AM	#9
AnimalAin Old School HAMBer Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Las Vegas, NV USA Posts: 3,304	Re: The First Belly Tank Very cool. Bill Burke is a legendary racer, and one of the nicest men on the planet. It is really great that our history has been reclaimed.

07-31-2009, 11:25 AM	#10
HOTRODSURFER Alliance Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: HATBORO,PA Posts: 5,502	Re: The First Belly Tank bad ass,thanks for the friday afternoon history lesson __________________ HOILER AUTO REPAIR est 1918 http://www.pantera-electronics.com/

07-31-2009, 11:26 AM	#11
Porter Man Alliance Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Mound, MN Posts: 378	Re: The First Belly Tank Way cool! I love those old belly tank cars. My dad use to race one on the salt flats. __________________ www.welding.mn Porter Mufflers: Where the Sound Meets the Asphalt!!! www.portermufflers.com Alliance Vendor[SIGPIC]

07-31-2009, 11:27 AM	#12
Punko Alliance Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Houston Posts: 400	Re: The First Belly Tank That is too cool, just yeaterday I was looking at that belly tank on the internet, and here it is. __________________ Good work ain't cheap. Cheap work ain't good.

07-31-2009, 11:33 AM	#13
metaljon FNG Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: california Posts: 16	Re: The First Belly Tank Thank You!!! Just passing through Ogden, Utah and saw some salvage tanks and just wondered who thought of the 1st Belly Tank. Now I know. Amazing......

07-31-2009, 11:45 AM	#15
duste01 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: retro-ville, Kentucky Posts: 1,221	Re: The First Belly Tank I would love to take a shot in something like that. Thats good stuff there. __________________ Build thread: http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/s...d.php?t=304770 Grey is the new Black

07-31-2009, 11:56 AM	#16
poofus1929 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: So Cal Posts: 1,003	Re: The First Belly Tank What a cool story and cool little race car. Thats awesome.

07-31-2009, 12:06 PM	#17
scootermcrad Alliance Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Charlotte/Concord, NC Posts: 12,905	Re: The First Belly Tank Bad ass! __________________ Like early Hemis? Click the banner below... My blog: scootermcrad.blogspot.com

07-31-2009, 12:14 PM	#18
1950ChevySuburban Member Emeritus Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Tucson AZ Posts: 6,239	Re: The First Belly Tank Thank you, Mr. Burke, for starting something cool and exciting! Great history lesson Ryan! Thanks man! __________________ *My '29 Sedan build thread can be viewed here:* /showthread.php?t=635145

07-31-2009, 12:41 PM	#19
justanotherguy Grenade Inspector Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: central left coast Posts: 173	Re: The First Belly Tank I've been intrigued by this car from the first time I saw pictures of it. Some vintage shots showed up recently in Hop Up vol X. pp 122 and 123 and in Hop Up vol 9 p 117.

07-31-2009, 12:45 PM	#20
Rich Venza Old School HAMBer Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Suwanee, GA...but grew up in North Jersey Posts: 4,191	Re: The First Belly Tank I've known Bill from his early days selling advertising for McMullen, to the 80's at Bonneville when he and his son were thrashing on that blown Avanti. I'm thrilled that this project has been completed, and he will be there to see it. __________________ YES...Fiberglass is traditional!

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