History Jim Lindsley, Dry Lakes pioneer, family photo collection

A couple months ago I was privileged to borrow and scan a collection of some of the Lindsley family photo collection, compliments of one of Jim's sons. I will attempt to explain what I know as I go along, but could use help in correcting or identifying from the historians- @Jimmy B , @lurker mick , @Dean Lowe and all you other guys in the know. Some of these photos have been published, were in magazines or given to the family, but I'm going to throw it all out there best I can.

Jim Lindsley (1917-2005) grew up in Southern California, battled polio young while doing whatever he could as a young man in the depression. His interest in the dry lakes started in the late 30's, and had learned the electricians trade. He and some friends started the Gear Grinders in 1938, which joined up with the fledgling SCTA in 1940. Friends with Wally Parks, Alex Xydias, and many others, his house in East LA was SCTA headquarters and storage - for cones, timing stands, lights etc. He got some old street lights, wire and a generator to set up the first "Christmas Tree" at El Mirage - before drag strip racing had even started. Jim was President, treasurer and much of the glue that held both the Gear Grinders and SCTA together in the early years, along with his wife Phyllis - more on her later... He was instrumental in the beginning of Bonneville as we know it, and competition director for the BNI into the 60's. But first and foremost he was a racer - dry lakes, Bonneville, drags and short track jalopies. He was the first to 200 mph in a roadster, a true pioneer. So here goes, patience as I attempt to post what I've got worth sharing.

 

I'm in, I want to hear and see more!

 

1947... the #370 1927 T roadster radically narrowed, running a "40 Merc 247cui flathead, with Harry Webber carb and Spalding ignition. These are pictures as it's being put together.

 

It ran for one season at El Mirage as #370.

View attachment 4618108

 

The radically narrowed body puts this car in the Lakester category, an early predecessor of the belly tanks that came about after WW II. What a great start, I can't wait to see the rest of the photos!

 

Oh my , let me get a coffee.

 

For the 1948 season, the lakester was changed to #222. While I think it had a Weiand manifold in '47, it now had Weiand heads as well. Top speed was 132.93 mph at the September meet at El Mirage. This slip would have been from an earlier meet.

 

At speed in 1948....

 

One more before dinner, Jim posing in the Lindsley's driveway. I'll be back...

 

WOW! You got me watching, Jim is a true legend I really look forward to what comes next... Amazing!!

 

No, it ran as a streamliner like belly tanks did up until 1950 when rules changed and Belly Tanks were then classed as Lakesters.

A Lakester class was added in 1949 but it was made up of roadsters like Don Waite, Johnny Hartman, Ray Brown, Spurgin/Giovanine & Jim Khougaz.

In 1950 SCTA added a Modified roadster class so there were 4 classes
Roadster
Modified Roadster
Lakester
Streamliner

 

Very Cool - Thanks to you, and his Family, for sharing

 

Jim was a great guy and LSR pioneer. I was at his house many times repairing the old Bonneville timing stand and painting it with many others. I’m sure I put in at least 2 floors. He was a no B.S. guy along with Larry the son I knew. These photos will be great to see and be shared. J. D.

 

cool....thanks for posting....

 

I think this is the last of this car, unless I've missed something. I'll be back tomorrow with some Burke LeSage/Jim Lindsley stuff...he lived around the corner from Jim as a teenager.

 

Found one more of the #370/222 Streamliner before I move on. What's the pulley driven accessory hanging outside the hood? Generator or something else?

 

Here is one photo of Jim's streamliner at the 1st Bonneville speed trials in 1949.

 

@39ChevyBob...Thank You and the Lindlsey Family for sharing this incredible historic imagery...I am honored to witness it...Thanks also to those helping to help connect the dots to what we are seeing...

I always love the levels of finish on these Vintage Hotrod/Racers...from thrown on and strapped down to Indy style Finesse...both side by side with breaking speed records the goal...

 

Spalding Bros in the background!

 

Outstanding. Thanks Bob!

 

As @Jimmy B already showed, in 1949 Jim moved to a new car, #24, running in the B Streamliner class. B class was 183-250 cui - he could have been using the engine out of the 222 car. It wasn't the fastest, running 7th in this class at 131.00 in the Oct 1949 El Mirage meet, compared to Marvin Lee with a blistering 155.17. This car did 137.82 at the first Bonneville meet in August 1949.

Edit from Jimmy B - Great pics, Jim's streamliner was the same car #370 #222 and #24

 

The #24 getting up to speed at El Mirage. Gotta love the push vehicle!

 

Another shot of the #24 car, looks like El Mirage. Is that Wally Parks with his foot propped up on the front tire?

 

Great photo collection, thank you for posting them. The car has a Chrysler tube front axle if anyone was wondering. Bob

 

i am gonna say a franklyn tube axle

 

That's a Chrysler from the late 20's. If anyone has one sitting around I am looking for one.

 

this great picture shows how narrow the car was.

 

This timing card from the Oct 49 El Mirage meet I scanned had me scratching my head for a while. It lists car #74 in D roadster class, while Jim was running his #24 B streamliner. Then I noticed the owner - non other than Jot Horne. Jot Horne came out of the Navy in 1946, got a job at Bell Auto Parts, and became a member of the Gear Grinders. He designed the now rare Horne intakes and gas pedals, starting his own company for a short while. Jot later designed and then convinced the owner of Bell to manufacture the original 5 spoke Cragar SS wheel in 1964, that sold like hot cakes for the Bell company, who then owned Cragar parts.
He had a 32 roadster, later re-bodied to a '27 for better aerodynamics. He bought a model J Duesenberg engine out of a speedboat, and stuffed it into the roadster. It ran four Strombergs, aircraft magneto and exhaust stacks. The noisy beast ran 127.56 for a record in D roadster at the first Bonneville meet in Aug 1949. In 1951 he built another 27 roadster, this time with a Ranger aircraft engine out of a P.T. 19 WWII trainer.

Edit per Jimmy B - Jot Horne's Duesenberg powered T roadster was rebuilt into the Ranger engine version.

So...Jim Lindsley must have driven Jot's Duesey powered roadster at the Oct meet, but what's strange is in the results book of the Oct meet that I scanned, it does not list results for Jot in B Roadster...unofficial run? Any ideas?

 

A picture off the net of Jot Horne's #74 Duesenberg powered roadster....

 

Great pics, Jim's streamliner was the same car #370 #222 and #24

Jot Horne's Duesenberg powered T roadster was rebuilt into the Ranger engine version.