The Blue Crown Spark Plug Special

[Jive-Bomber]

The story of the 1939 Blue Crown Special includes some of the most interesting people in the history of the Indianapolis 500. Its creator Joe Lencki of Chicago, Illinois was a bold innovator (who later supervised Wright R-3350 B-29 Bomber engine ass...

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

[sololobo]

What a great history lesson and cool to see all the folks involved with this iconic race car. Cars like this were inspiration for our man xderelict's speedster. Thanx for the cool story and images, the final resto looks perfect. ~sololobo~

[flamingokid]

Joe Lencki was also responsible for the testing of the group of B-29s that were slated for the Atomic Bomb,including the Enola Gay.Pretty impressive.

[koth]

Another cool story an pics, thanks for sharing it! Tis the season

[Old Dawg]

Originally Posted by banjeaux bob

Where does the engine sleep these days?

Gottagobye

BanjeauX Bob

The car, recently sold at auction for about 350K, had been in the possession of Don McReynolds. I don't know where it is now. It has the original 6 banger in it.

[Old Dawg]

Originally Posted by Jive-Bomber

The story of the 1939 Blue Crown Special includes some of the most interesting people in the history of the Indianapolis 500. Its creator Joe Lencki of Chicago, Illinois was a bold innovator (who later supervised Wright R-3350 B-29 Bomber engine ass...

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

The pic of Mauri Rose at the wheel, is the Blue Crown Special built by Lou Moore, with Emil Deidt having beat out the body panels. That car was a front wheel drive, powered by an Offy four-banger. There were a couple of these "Blue Crowns". They were quite successful, finishing 1st and 2nd in '47; and 1st in '49.

The Lencki car, though not a great success, was, and is, a great innovative machine. Due to Joe's loving car for it over the years, it still exists, in it's entirety. Thanks for the contribution

[gasser300]

Indycars from the beginning up until 64 were some of the most beautiful machines ever made.

Watching an old man wipe the dust off Calhoun at IMS musuem was so damn cool. I stood there and wanted his job so bad. Something I would pay to get to do.

[gnichols]

Super neat stuff. Great ideas and builders, and driver's with large ones. Gary

[Old Dawg]

Originally Posted by banjeaux bob

Thanks DAWG !

You're welcome! I'm a great chronicler of trivia.

I"m reminding all on this thread that one of the greatest values in vintage and historic auto racing is going to go on at AAA Speedway, Fontana, from April 28th to May 1st. A pass for the run of the facility, including the pits and garages is ten bucks, FOR THE WHOLE WEEKEND! So, if you live in the SoCal area; or, are going to visit the LA area at the end of this month; this is a must see event.

For what went on last year, check Carl Schulz's photo site:

http://lateralgimages.smugmug.com/20...12363600_ZMnpS

Hopefully, Tom Malloy will bring out the first Novi engined car.

[ago]

Any photos of the engine?
these old Indy cars are so cool.


Ago

[gasser300]

I am sometimes obsessed with the history of the 500.

Was just reading some stuff on Babe Stapp a few mins ago. Wouldnt be suprised if he had decendents here on the HAMB

[Tman]

Thanks for the good read Jay!

[HJmaniac]

Originally Posted by ago

Any photos of the engine?
these old Indy cars are so cool.


Ago

1938 Lencki Offenhauser Blue Crown Spark Plug Special Indy Car Engine

[fuzzybear]

thats a sweet lookin engine(in a just as sweet car). was the engine a one off or was there a production run of them?

[Mr48chev]

What a beauty, Indy car porn at 4:46 am when I am finishing the last cup of coffee before work. Thanks for sharing that one.

[HJmaniac]

Originally Posted by fuzzybear

thats a sweet lookin engine(in a just as sweet car). was the engine a one off or was there a production run of them?

Joe Lencki standing next to his 4 valve DOHC “Lencki Six” Indy engine, 1954



A Lencki DOHC 6-cylinder engine. This engine is in the 1962 “Trevis Roadster” currently on display at the Nevada Vintage Race Cars Museum.

Joe designed and build the "Lencki Double Overhead Cam Six" Indy Race engine in 1937-38. The engine was unique, Leo Goosen, the world's greatest racing engine draftsman drew the tracings for Lencki and friend/engineer George Lyons. The majority of machine work was done by Walter Sobreski and Sonny Meyer at Fred Offenhauser's shop. Lencki and Lyons updated the Hemi 2-valve six to a 4-valve pent roof design in the early '50s. The engine developed more horsepower normally aspirated then the popular "Offy." The Lencki six ultimately became zMAX's proving ground. Joe's best finish at Indy was fifth in 1939. Tony Bettenhausen, George Connor, Mauri Rose, Duke Nalon, Emil Andreas, Jimmy Snyder were some of the famous drivers in the era who drove Joe's race cars. Many great racing names such as George Bignotti, Roscoe Turner, Johnny Parsons Sr., and Jr., have used zMAX. A.J. Foyt still uses zMAX in his race cars.

In 1934, Joe's first year as an entrant in the Indianapolis 500, Joe started experimenting with lubricants to diminish camshaft and lifter wear; Lencki explained that legend camshaft grinder, Ed Winfield, made his camshafts at a cost of $200.00 each (very expensive at that time). The lube problem he recognized was that down-time between races would be one to three weeks - allowing oil to drain off internal parts and because it would take 90 to 120 seconds for the oil to reach the rear lobes of the cam and cups. This "dry start" damaged the Camshaft and lifter cups because of lack of proper lubrication at initial start-up. On the Offenhauser, engine in order to lubricate cam components, Lencki (inventor, petro chemist, engineer self-taught), started his process of developing a lubricant (Lenckite/zMAX) that would penetrate the porous metal, "soak in," preventing oil drain off. Thus, retarding wear of the engine components, and providing a "wet start." Today, we know that 95% of engine wear is caused during starting. At Oil Chem., we have our own definition of "dry start." It does not mean that the engine parts are dry without oil at startup. As Lencki explained it, "A dry start means that oxidation, along with drain off of the right amount of oil causes a lack of proper oil film needed at startup. This resulting metal-to-metal contact is a principal cause of wear."

FROM: http://www.fabulousracers.com/joe_lencki.html



The “Lencki Partner Special”Joe sitting in the car at Indianapolis in 1947

[ago]

fabulous story on Lencki. any body have experience with Zmax?



Ago

[DustyBarnfinds]

I've used Z-Max for years in everything I own that reciprocates. Teardown after teardown, when matched against other people's motors doing the same thing, it shows its benefits. We use it in a lot of stationary industrial motors, and we consistently see minimized wear and much cleaner internals. The fact that the FAA certifies it means its probably less snake oil than the others out there.

We feel its worth the cost.

The Indy story continues into the late 1990's early 2000's with one of Linckes friends, Ed Rachanski, owning Blueprint Racing and campaigning a number of drivers in the Indy 500. Rachanski is also a drag racer of note. You can learn more about him here:
http://www.fabulousracers.com/ed_rachanski.html which also has some additional information on Lincke.
He's got a cool collection of cars and memorabilia here in Vegas.

[Old Dawg]

Originally Posted by ago

fabulous story on Lencki. any body have experience with Zmax?



Ago

I use Z-MAX in my race engines, along with Mobil 1 Extended Performance. I've no problems, so far.