My friend owns the Potvin Deuce roadster that has been fully restored. He has all the memorabilia that goes with the history of the car and restoration. He showed it at the 75th Anniversary at the Peterson in 2007.
Here's a photo of Chuck driving the Meb Healy roadster at El Mirage. Austin American body, 32 Ford grille shell and a Chevrolet 6 for power a long time ago and guys think my Austin roadster is something new.
Thanks for posting. I believe that is the most footage I have seen of them in one video. I have always liked the front mounted superchargers but didn't get to see many when I first started going to drag strips in the early '60s. The top mounted units had pretty much proven their superiority. But it was an important part of early experimenting with superchargers.
Best 2 minutes that I'll spend today! We used to drive by Lyons as a kid - never went to it (Dad was not into that type of stuff) - they closed it before I was old enough to drive. Would have loved to take my 34 coupe down that track - sadly, it never happened. But, good ole' Irvindale was cool - and I ran a 'Potvin 425 Eliminator cam' that Chuck himself ground (before Moon took it over). The bad news - I recently 'lost' that cam - lent it to Harvey Crane for some profile mapping, he died before he sent it back and it disappeared afterwards . . . now that sucked!
Do you have a clearer image of the two pictures? I' hoping to get one for one of his adult children who lives in Southern California. Thanks, D
His front mounted 6-71 kits always held a strong fascination with me even though they probably were less efficient than the top mounted units. It's a thrill to see one to this day. I was a Lions kid a few years later than those videos but I remember seeing them in action quite a few times. I sure wish I was into photography back then, thank goodness Jnaki was! That little Olds powered dragster is my favorite.....
Hey B, I usually do not have the sound up on any website. I was not accustomed to sound added to my movie clips. So, any sound added was not done by me, but done by someone else. This is the only sound I have added to a Potvin style front 671 powered FED. The Original Dragmaster was from Carlsbad, CA in 1959. The sound was added later, but taken from the original Dragmaster in September in 1959's Detroit Nationals. My films were taken in the spring or summer of 1959 for this clip. Dragmaster sound film 1959 Kenny Lindley Don Hampton 1959 sound These are the only real "sound" from those hard charging race cars and drivers from 1959. Thanks... Jnaki It was fun filming back in those days as a teenager. Now, it is fun doing editing and adding real sound to my films. Only the drag racing sounds make it worthwhile. Anyone have original LP albums listed below: PM me asap...the next generation awaits. No Music, just pure motor acceleration sounds.
Very cool! Nothing like the real sounds. If they didn't "light 'em up" they sure bogged down in those days, didn't they? I didn't know Griff Borgeson did audio recordings at the drags. He was sure a busy guy, hot rod journalist, tech writer, photographer and recordist. What a career. Thanks again J.
Awesome I have 2 Original Potvin 425 Eliminator cams One is brand New & beautiful I also have a master to grind this cam Not home but will post pics later Love it Cheers Tony
As a hot rod junkie kid growing up in Anaheim we had very few places we could reach on our bicycles. Stan Betz's shop, (Stan was awesome), Bill Thomas Race Cars, Potvin's, Ray Alley's Engine Masters, Chet Herbert Cams and a scant few others. Potvin made go karts in addition to cams and blower drives. We got to know early that Potvin's was not a kid friendly place. On the other hand, Herbert and Betz were always welcoming. Chet would allow you to watch cams being ground and let you examine whatever dragster happened to be there at the time. Betz would show you how he layed out and punched louvers.......Von Dutch would drop in to see Stan which was an added attraction. Leaning over your bike to get a peek in Potvin's shop thru an open door got you nowhere. Not the end of the world but my experience from long ago.
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