Jerauld’s Baby Bomb!

How did I miss this video? Yes, great color footage (with a not-so-great soundtrack) of Al Jerauld and George Barber’s tiny San Diego tanker known as ‘Baby Bomb’ from the Sept. ’52 issue of Hot Rod. The goal was to use the smallest drop tank possible, coupled with a light chassis and de-stroked Ford V8-60 displacing under 89 cubic inches to run in the SCTA ‘O’ class (up to 91 c.i.). Total weight was under 110 pounds!

More than just capturing the tanker in action, this film is fantastic documentation of the entire Bonneville experience in the early and mid 50s, including the trip there, and cars and motorcycles running at the salt. Notice how cramped the ‘Baby Bomb’ cockpit is, with drivers knees up at their chest and no upper body protection whatsoever!