The Jalopy Journal

**Jive-Bomber** · 05-29-2012, 07:57 AM

In the late 1920s, Stutz Motor Car Company sales were dropping and company president Frederick Moskovics needed some good press from a fast driver to bring buyers back. Crackerjack Indy winner Frank Lockhart was just that person. He had already set a...

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

**paperdog** · 05-29-2012, 08:01 AM

wow and .. wow

truckjim · 05-29-2012, 08:06 AM

I remember reading about this when I was a kid. Never saw any 'video' or newsreels though. Thanks for the memory tickle.

JeffreyJames · 05-29-2012, 08:09 AM

Wow, tender where the design flaw was on it? I bet it was all in the shape that caused it to become unpredictable at speed?

It's a beautiful car though and glad someone cloned it so we could appreciate it again.

Good JJ entry!

**FlynBrian** · 05-29-2012, 08:31 AM

Growing up in Fla and spending many hours on Daytona Bch thats crazy to think he ran over 200mph on that surface in 1928. Those guys had Big Stones! Interesting history. Thanks.

sololobo · 05-29-2012, 09:21 AM

Sad to see a brilliant driver give the ultimate sacrafice in the name of the sport he loved. ~sololobo~

S_Mazza · 05-29-2012, 09:41 AM

Looks like he might have made it if he hadn't hit that dune, which flipped the car.

notrod13 · 05-29-2012, 09:46 AM

frank lockhart was a household name back then , right up there with bebe ruth. its funny how generations forget .

**Flowmeister** · 05-29-2012, 10:20 AM

Holy,Thanks for that post.

CW's40TPU · 05-29-2012, 10:40 AM

Awesome race car and a great driver, very sad both left us way too soon!
Thanks for posting.

flamingokid · 05-29-2012, 10:46 AM

Lockhart was 25 when he was killed and never finished out of the top 5 in 22 board races,winning 8 of them.Some of his records stood until the 1990s.The big question mark is what legacy would he have left if he hadn't died that day and had a full career.

Tman · 05-29-2012, 10:57 AM

Um Jay?

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/?p=2242

**Jive-Bomber** · 05-29-2012, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tman

Um Jay?

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/?p=2242

Tman--Don't bust my stones! That article is 4 years old, and it was time to bring her back up anyway! =-)

Tman · 05-29-2012, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jive-Bomber

Tman--Don't bust my stones! That article is 4 years old, and it was time to bring her back up anyway! =-)

I know but I had to!

The re-creation is pretty cool.

autobilly · 05-29-2012, 07:27 PM

Gotta love those Miller 91's.

autobilly · 05-29-2012, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tman

Um Jay?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jive-Bomber

Tman--Don't bust my stones! That article is 4 years old, and it was time to bring her back up anyway! =-)

This "stuff" is a finite resource, were going to see it again (and again) from time to time.

tfeverfred · 05-29-2012, 07:43 PM

I'm wondering if trying that on the salt flats would have been better than the beach? Tragic loss of a great racer.

Piper106 · 05-29-2012, 08:02 PM

In his biography "Challenger", Mickey Thompson talks about Lockhart's influence on his mentality, the small car vs. the big aero engine monster, the lone visionary vs. a huge organization.

It been a while but I recall Thompson seemed to think that a clam shell cut one of Lockhart's tires, leading to the fatal crash.

Piper106

Weaverville Studios · 05-29-2012, 09:09 PM

I am surprised no one has mentioned this, and I am paraphrasing this story 3rd, 4th or 5th hand, so I may have it a bit wrong, but I have read several times that after the practice run of 198mph, the team was pressured by newly-signed sponsor Mason Tires to make a run with Mason Tires on the car for publicity sake. One major problem-the Mason tires in question were not speed rated and had never been tested at anywhere near the speeds Lockhart was running. A tire soon exploded and Lockhart's fate was sadly sealed.

Tman · 05-29-2012, 10:00 PM

All new interesting addendums to the story.

05-29-2012, 07:57 AM	#1
Jive-Bomber Alliance Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Moraga, Ca Posts: 2,428	Sacrificed on the Altar of Speed... In the late 1920s, Stutz Motor Car Company sales were dropping and company president Frederick Moskovics needed some good press from a fast driver to bring buyers back. Crackerjack Indy winner Frank Lockhart was just that person. He had already set a... To read the rest of this blog entry from The Jalopy Journal, click here.

05-29-2012, 08:01 AM	#2
paperdog Alliance Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: MINN. JUST NORTH OF TWIN CITIES Posts: 4,922	Re: Sacrificed on the Altar of Speed... wow and .. wow __________________ Anything is possible if you don't know what you are talking about.....

05-29-2012, 08:06 AM	#3
truckjim Grenade Inspector Join Date: May 2011 Location: San Jose, Ca. 95127 Posts: 131	Re: Sacrificed on the Altar of Speed... I remember reading about this when I was a kid. Never saw any 'video' or newsreels though. Thanks for the memory tickle.

05-29-2012, 08:09 AM	#4
JeffreyJames Old School HAMBer Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: SUGAR CITY Posts: 16,013	Wow, tender where the design flaw was on it? I bet it was all in the shape that caused it to become unpredictable at speed? It's a beautiful car though and glad someone cloned it so we could appreciate it again. Good JJ entry! __________________ I PLAY WITH TIGERS WWW.SUGARCITYSPEEDSHOP.COM CHECK OUT MY INSTAGRAM IMAGES

05-29-2012, 08:31 AM	#5
FlynBrian Alliance Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Eustis, Fla Posts: 574	Re: Sacrificed on the Altar of Speed... Growing up in Fla and spending many hours on Daytona Bch thats crazy to think he ran over 200mph on that surface in 1928. Those guys had Big Stones! Interesting history. Thanks. Last edited by FlynBrian; 05-29-2012 at 09:26 AM. Reason: t

05-29-2012, 09:21 AM	#6
sololobo Old School HAMBer Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: South Omaha, NE Posts: 6,676	Re: Sacrificed on the Altar of Speed... Sad to see a brilliant driver give the ultimate sacrafice in the name of the sport he loved. ~sololobo~ __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

05-29-2012, 09:41 AM	#7
S_Mazza Grenade Inspector Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 322	Re: Sacrificed on the Altar of Speed... Looks like he might have made it if he hadn't hit that dune, which flipped the car.

05-29-2012, 09:46 AM	#8
notrod13 Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: long beach Posts: 872	Re: Sacrificed on the Altar of Speed... frank lockhart was a household name back then , right up there with bebe ruth. its funny how generations forget . __________________ Tim Sutton photo prints for sale http://timsuttonphoto.com/gallery/

05-29-2012, 10:20 AM	#9
Flowmeister Alliance Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Calgary, Alberta,Canada Posts: 1,950	Re: Sacrificed on the Altar of Speed... Holy,Thanks for that post. __________________ I'm done with old trucks, Unless I find another one. My '33 http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/s...d.php?t=800388 '39 GMC COE http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/s...d.php?t=698949

05-29-2012, 10:40 AM	#10
CW's40TPU Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: DOWNEY CA Posts: 1,344	Re: Sacrificed on the Altar of Speed... Awesome race car and a great driver, very sad both left us way too soon! Thanks for posting.

05-29-2012, 10:46 AM	#11
flamingokid Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Olathe,Kansas Posts: 1,079	Re: Sacrificed on the Altar of Speed... Lockhart was 25 when he was killed and never finished out of the top 5 in 22 board races,winning 8 of them.Some of his records stood until the 1990s.The big question mark is what legacy would he have left if he hadn't died that day and had a full career.

05-29-2012, 10:57 AM	#12
Tman Old School HAMBer Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Beautifull Black Hills of South Dakota Posts: 28,306	Re: Sacrificed on the Altar of Speed... Um Jay? http://www.jalopyjournal.com/?p=2242 __________________ Open for business, website in developement www.compulsionrodandcustom.com

05-29-2012, 07:27 PM	#15
autobilly Old School HAMBer Join Date: May 2007 Location: Tweed, Australia Posts: 2,551	Re: Sacrificed on the Altar of Speed... Gotta love those Miller 91's. __________________ RETRO Spec. (tive) -Getting to where you're going by knowing where you've come from.

05-29-2012, 07:43 PM	#17
tfeverfred Old School HAMBer Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 7,591	Re: Sacrificed on the Altar of Speed... I'm wondering if trying that on the salt flats would have been better than the beach? Tragic loss of a great racer. __________________ We all tend to think that as we drive down the road in our rods or customs, that everyone who glances our way is admiring our car. In reality, the vast majority of people just don't get it. roddinron

05-29-2012, 08:02 PM	#18
Piper106 Grenade Inspector Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Grosse Ile MI Posts: 113	Re: Sacrificed on the Altar of Speed... In his biography "Challenger", Mickey Thompson talks about Lockhart's influence on his mentality, the small car vs. the big aero engine monster, the lone visionary vs. a huge organization. It been a while but I recall Thompson seemed to think that a clam shell cut one of Lockhart's tires, leading to the fatal crash. Piper106

05-29-2012, 09:09 PM	#19
Weaverville Studios Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Auburn Hills, MI USA Posts: 1,114	Re: Sacrificed on the Altar of Speed... I am surprised no one has mentioned this, and I am paraphrasing this story 3rd, 4th or 5th hand, so I may have it a bit wrong, but I have read several times that after the practice run of 198mph, the team was pressured by newly-signed sponsor Mason Tires to make a run with Mason Tires on the car for publicity sake. One major problem-the Mason tires in question were not speed rated and had never been tested at anywhere near the speeds Lockhart was running. A tire soon exploded and Lockhart's fate was sadly sealed. __________________ Weaverville Studios http://www.weavervillestudios.com/ https://www.wepay.com/shop/weavervillestudios

05-29-2012, 10:00 PM	#20
Tman Old School HAMBer Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Beautifull Black Hills of South Dakota Posts: 28,306	Re: Sacrificed on the Altar of Speed... All new interesting addendums to the story. __________________ Open for business, website in developement www.compulsionrodandcustom.com

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