History Comp Coupes, All but forgotten?

Al Bergler's second hot rod. This mid engine Crossley wagon followed a $50 34 Ford coupe that was converted into a roadster and it used the 392 out of the 34 (and I just called Al and he confirmed that it still had the six carb intake from the roadster). The photo is from the 1959 Nationals in Detroit and the same motor later powered the "Aggravation" AA/C with the addition of a blower. Incidentally Al informed me that he is building another 34 coupe but this one will retain the roof.

Roo

 

I think if one doesn't like Franks car you aren't a true blue blooded hot roder.

 

The Frank as pictured is beyond caring and I have not seen Frank Jr in years but I am sure that Tony and Cruz prefer the correct version.

Roo

 

Most people do. I am rotten with names so I don't bother trying to remember anyone's last name and lost of people just called hey you.

 

Frank "The world's fastest Mexican", father of Cruz, Tony, and Frank Jr. has been gone for decades. Killed in the crash of the private plane he was flying.

 

He was also known as "Flamin' Frank" because of this phenomenon that only happened in the heavy night air at LIONS. People that never saw it happen didn't believe it, but I saw it, and it did happen. The rubber collected in the wheel tubs, and then, when the air was just right, the zoomies would ignite it. This was before gasoline fed fire burn outs. The paint on the body around the tires was burned.

 

I never saw it happen but I never doubted that it was true. I don't recall getting down south much when I was little.

 

From the Richard "Mac" McKinstry collection posted here on the HAMB in June of 2014 by nickam82.
Although the photos were not captioned most were from New England and the US Nationals.
Check them out here:
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/mckinstry-photo-collection.927529/

Roo

 

The legendary Burkholder brothers first race car. Rather them me tell you all about it, read the story here:
http://wediditforlove.com/Burkholder.html

Roo

 

Not a drag car. But it could have been. Hank Lashey's Bantam. 261 Wayne Chevy. One of the original Salt Circus crew, Sitting and rotting now I fear. One of my all time favorites.

 

Coupe Deville



Dualie

 

Don Hampton and Eldon Dye's "Too Bad". The car was later rebodied with a Corvette shell when funny cars became more popular than dragsters. It was basically a match race car and ran with American Bandstand sponsorship before being totaled while running in Australia's Ampol New Year Series at Surfers Paradise Raceway in Queensland.

Roo

 

same car

 

Eddie Potter's aptly named "Sudden Death" AA/C at Lions where it ended its life (and almost Eddie's as well)

Roo

 

The late George Weiler who raced from 1959 in a series of "Smarty Pants" entries. George was instrumental in helping found Maple Grove Raceway which opened in 1962 and was also inducted into the East Coast Drag Times Hall of Fame in 2004. He passed away in April of 2017.

Roo

Roo

 

Getting there






Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

Resented the 'funny cars' replacing them...

 

At Sanford Maine

 

OK this just screwed up an entire build for me.

One of the things that I have never really cared for is that one class seems to have to disappear to make way for another class. I know the field would get too large otherwise, but there should be a way around that.

I think what made floppers attractive is that they resembled muscle cars and people could recognize something that they thought they could get off the showroom floor. Now I am wondering if anyone ever campaigned a hot rod looking funny car.

 

More room for one sitting "up front" LOL

 

I know with no chop and a chanel ( about 4" I have actually measured yet) I sit nearly on the floor and its like being in a heavily hammered A.

Problem would be that it would be for one person cruising. No room for a buddy ( well maybe front to back like a bike )

 

From Bangkok Dean



From the web



Rebel Rouser

 

Comp coupe was an odd class for sure, some comp coups were on the edge of being a drivable car and others were more like a digger with a body stuck on it.

We run a Comp Coupe class at the HAMB drags, it is not like the original class it is more for cars that are just more dragster than they are door slammer, too fast to run in gas coupe/sedan. Not my call but I would seriously love to see some real old time comp coupes running in that class. Maybe someone will see this and bring a couple.

I am trying to figure out what this body is supposed to resemble. Early '50s Chevy maybe?

 

Need to get Jackson to slap a body on his heap.

 

I think that was the beauty of Comp Coupe and I am not trying to be offensive to anyone here, you could take a digger throw a body on it and change classes just like that. I remember when Comp Coupes came on the scene (or at least when I first noticed them) asking one of the old timers in the pits about them. He said, "Well those guys were not winning with their digger so they threw a body on it and now they are winning"

Funny the things you remember from when you were a little kid even if they were an exaggeration of the truth a grown up said it. LOL

 

Aggravation



Chicken Coupe



The Creeper

 

I wish I had a pic there was a beautiful candy red comp coupe at the HAMB Drags last August.

 

This one?