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History The Tragic Tale of the 'City of Salt Lake'...

Discussion in 'Traditional Hot Rods' started by Jive-Bomber, Mar 8, 2016.

  1. Jive-Bomber
    Joined: Aug 21, 2001
    Posts: 3,754

    Jive-Bomber
    MODERATOR

    Jive-Bomber submitted a new blog post:

    The Tragic Tale of the 'City of Salt Lake'...

    [​IMG]

    Continue reading the Original Blog Post
     
    warbird1, HEMI32, kiwijeff and 2 others like this.
  2. Chaz
    Joined: Feb 24, 2004
    Posts: 5,016

    Chaz
    Member Emeritus

    I may be wrong here, but there were some posts years back that the car was being re-created. I believe it was a relative of Athol Graham...
     
  3. Not re-created....the original is being restored by his son.
     
    Nailhead Brooklyn likes this.
  4. Chaz
    Joined: Feb 24, 2004
    Posts: 5,016

    Chaz
    Member Emeritus


  5. Chaz
    Joined: Feb 24, 2004
    Posts: 5,016

    Chaz
    Member Emeritus

    I guess the restoration is complete! Bonneville 2010 075.jpg
     
  6. Mazooma1
    Joined: Jun 5, 2007
    Posts: 13,598

    Mazooma1
    Member

    The photo above was without the engine. An Allison was installed just recently.
    "Butch" Graham, Athol's son is a house painter in SLC and owns the car.
    -4.jpg
    -3.jpg
    -2.jpg
     
  7. Mazooma1
    Joined: Jun 5, 2007
    Posts: 13,598

    Mazooma1
    Member

    To read the complete story, get the book:
    "A Man and His Dream" by Harvey Shapiro
    A 200 page book with tons of details of the man, the car, the family and the start of the restoration by "Butch".
    Butch was nice enough in 2010 to push the car out into the open so I could photograph it without the clutter of the "Speed Week" pits.
    -1.jpg
     
    Last edited: Mar 8, 2016
    Gotgas, Larry T, Hamtown Al and 5 others like this.
  8. Blue One
    Joined: Feb 6, 2010
    Posts: 11,459

    Blue One
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from Alberta

    Is the plan to run it on the salt again ?
     
  9. Mazooma1
    Joined: Jun 5, 2007
    Posts: 13,598

    Mazooma1
    Member

  10. Mazooma1
    Joined: Jun 5, 2007
    Posts: 13,598

    Mazooma1
    Member

    no
     
  11. Blue One
    Joined: Feb 6, 2010
    Posts: 11,459

    Blue One
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from Alberta

    Ok, I suppose that's understandable considering what happened.
    I would be tempted to run it myself. Just for the experience.
     
  12. I think I'd be trying to get that 400mph that the car was built for... but what do I know, my Dad's still alive...
     
  13. I'd just fire it up and make a low speed pass. I know it's not that simple but very tempting. Of course there are likely family members not too excited about that possibility.
     
  14. y'sguy
    Joined: Feb 25, 2008
    Posts: 694

    y'sguy
    Member
    from Tulsa, OK

    Nice story, Jive-bomber.
    Real dedication from the son to go thru this building of the car.
     
  15. Chaz
    Joined: Feb 24, 2004
    Posts: 5,016

    Chaz
    Member Emeritus

    Finding and financing that Allison must've been an expensive proposition given their scarcity in today's market. A beautiful restoration indeed!
     
  16. Mazooma1
    Joined: Jun 5, 2007
    Posts: 13,598

    Mazooma1
    Member

  17. The37Kid
    Joined: Apr 30, 2004
    Posts: 30,628

    The37Kid
    Member

    Thank you for posting the story. With all due respect for everyone involved, what condition was the car in before the restoration. Bob
     
  18. BrandonB
    Joined: Feb 24, 2006
    Posts: 3,434

    BrandonB
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from nor cal

    Good read, thanks. That guy must have been one hell of a mechanic.
    Thanks for the pics Mazooma1.
     
  19. oldcargary
    Joined: May 6, 2010
    Posts: 212

    oldcargary
    Member
    from devore, Ca

    Cool guy, cool story, and cool car.....
     
  20. Atwater Mike
    Joined: May 31, 2002
    Posts: 11,625

    Atwater Mike
    Member

    Lotta respect and dedication there...can only imagine the state the car was in after tumbling and rolling that far.
    I call that grim determination. Salute, Butch.
     
    Hamtown Al likes this.
  21. froghawk
    Joined: May 9, 2008
    Posts: 857

    froghawk
    Member

    Very poignant story, particularly in that the son has rebuilt the car.

    Wonder why the restoration has a much higher canopy profile?
     
  22. Part of me is impressed with the drive and determination it takes to pursue something like that.

    The other part of me thinks that anyone with a wife and four kids needs to leave that land speed stuff alone.

    Very sad...
     
    clem likes this.
  23. Jive-Bomber
    Joined: Aug 21, 2001
    Posts: 3,754

    Jive-Bomber
    MODERATOR

    AtholGraham2 (1).jpg
     
  24. williebill
    Joined: Mar 1, 2004
    Posts: 3,274

    williebill
    Member

    Wow... what a mess. Have to admire his son for rebuilding it. thanks for posting this story.
     
  25. Blue One
    Joined: Feb 6, 2010
    Posts: 11,459

    Blue One
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from Alberta

    Now that you mention it, it does seem that way.
    Looking at the pictures of the crashed car I'd say that it was as much of a recreation as it was a restoration.
    There wasn't much left to restore.
     
  26. treb11
    Joined: Jan 21, 2006
    Posts: 3,948

    treb11
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    With an understanding and respect for the way things were done in that period, that did not have shit for a rollbar / rollcage compared to what the rules require on the salt today. No way it would be allowed to make a pass, much less a speed record pass.
     
    Arominus likes this.
  27. A great but sad part of Bonneville history.
     
  28. jcmarz
    Joined: Jan 10, 2010
    Posts: 4,631

    jcmarz
    Member
    from Chino, Ca

    After seeing this picture, there's no way that the son rebuilt it. It's a replica.
     
    clem likes this.
  29. Cyclone Kevin
    Joined: Apr 15, 2002
    Posts: 4,223

    Cyclone Kevin
    Alliance Vendor

    A tragedy is an appropriate title;
    We all have dreams of accomplishing something special or great. This man attempted to grab a record, It's what most Hot Rodders dream of if they've been bitten by the 'Speed Bug". IMHO I feel that he did just as he wanted to do, attempt to set a record. The fact that the mag destroyed itself at speed became a factor in his passing.
    I applaud his son for creating a visual reference of what changed his families life and can only say thank you to Jive Bomber, Chaz and Mazooma for posting a story and pix as this is Bonneville history.
     
    Hamtown Al, The37Kid and lurker mick like this.
  30. flyin-t
    Joined: Dec 29, 2004
    Posts: 1,421

    flyin-t
    Member

    The son restored the car. It sat in Athol widows garage, when she sold that business the car ended up in Vegas. A deal was done and the son got it back. Interestingly he has no memory of his dad.
     
    Last edited: Mar 8, 2016

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