History The Markley Bros BELLY TANK: A Pictorial History

Here's a color photo of the #128C "MARKLEY BROS. ~ FLYNN" tank on the salt in 1959:

image from the Stephen Justice Collection
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Here's some images of Ernie Pereira's #543 X version of the belly tank lakester ...

... at the 23rd Annual Bonneville National Speed Trials in 1971:

image by Bob Greene (from the Petersen Photo Archives)





images by Eric Rickman (from the Petersen Photo Archives)​

 

... at the 1973 Bonneville National Speed Trials:

images by Gray Baskerville (from the Petersen Photo Archives)​

 

... at the 1974 Bonneville National Speed Trials:

photographer unknown (from the Petersen Photo Archives)


image by Eric Rickman (from the Petersen Photo Archives)​

 

... at the 1975 Bonneville National Speed Trials:

image by Gray Baskerville (from the Petersen Photo Archives)​

 

... and at the 1969 Bonneville National Speed Trials:

image by Eric Rickman (from the Petersen Photo Archives)
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Our friends over at HOP UP Magazine (Tim @notrod13 Sutton, @Marcy Molkenthen, John @jadeidol Gunsaulis, & @Justin Baas) had the good sense to include our favorite Belly Tank Lakester on the cover of their latest (“little pages”) issue:

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And the Pisano Brother's Stude. ^^

 

Hi All,
Brand new to this site as of today. What a fantastic thread !!! Thank you !!!
I lost track of Harry and Charlie a few years ago. I emailed Harry this morning and the email bounced.

I worked for Harry in the mid-70's and learned welding and sheetmetal from him. At the time Harry Jr. also worked there. The Markley Bros. and Harry were building their '32 at the time and I stayed after hours and weekends and built the zoomy headers. I have to say the Charlie, Bones, and Harry were all super great people. Harry was a great boss.

I few years ago (maybe 6 or so) I flew down to Bonneville with my son and met up with Harry, Charlie, and crew. It was the last time Harry ran his red roadster and I think it was Craig driving ?? I was hoping to get down again this year to see everyone; nice to see them before it's too late. Please feel free to contact me with contact info at larryejames[at]gmail[dot]com.

So cool reading all of this history and seeing all the great pictures.

 

Here's a Hilborn ad that appeared on page 27 of the 1964 Bonneville Nats Official Program:

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Here's a COLORIZED photo of the Markley Bros. & Nieri #360 D Lakester on the salt in 1963:

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Any one have more information on this car or more pictures of it

 

Did you see post #219?

 

I do have literally dozens of photos of the Markley Bros. second (T-33 Tip Tank) #360 Lakester ... but would rather keep this thread focused on their first (P-38 Belly Tank) #360 Lakester.

NOTE: I've hesitated doing a "pictorial history" thread on the Markley Bros. #360 T-33 Tip Tank Lakester since it was run in the late '60s & the early '70s (i.e., not really "HAMB-friendly") ... but stay tuned!

 

Found yet another image in my archives that I somehow neglected to post here ... A circa 1966 photo of the #360 C Belly Tank Lakester:

photographer unknown
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Here's some pics of the Varni~Barnett #909 Belly Tank on the salt in 1998:

all images by Tommy Shaw​

 

In 1980, "fairings" were added to the rear wheels of the #543 Belly Tank Lakester to enable it to run in the X / Fuel Streamliner class:

image by Gray Baskerville (from the Petersen Photo Archives)​

 

Here's a photo of the #360 D Belly Tank Lakester in the pits at the 1964 B'ville Nats:

image by Bob Knapp (from the Knapp Family Collection)
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Here's a couple of photos of the #360 C Belly Tank Lakester with Louie Bonesio's #222 I Streamliner and the Herda~Knapp #999 A Streamliner on the salt at the 1965 B'ville Nats:

images by Bob Knapp (from the Knapp Family Collection)​

NOTE: All three cars now reside in Dennis Varni’s "Speed Nymph Garage"collection:

iPhone snapshot image by @HEMI32
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Here's a few Rudy Perez photos of the #360 C Belly Tank Lakester in the pits at the 1966 B'ville Nats ...

... with the Cecato & Jones #1030 D/Gas Coupe & Louie Bonesio's #222 I / Streamliner:

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... with Louie Bonesio's #222 I / Streamliner and Tim Rochlitzer's "True Radius Bending Special" D / Lakester:

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... and with Louie Bonesio's #222 I / Streamliner:

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Love these photos and the letter my father wrote on his world record and victory!! Would love a copy of. that!!! August Mozart Jr

 

@HEMI32 , great thread, I've been thru it all before, and I'm sure I'll do it again !

 

image by @Bobby Green ... from his oldcrowspeedshop Instagram feed








images by Charles Fawcett



image by Eric Geisert​

 

John Swanson sold the tank back to Tony Baron as I understand it. It may still be red.

 

The Varni~Barnett #909 Belly Tank on the salt in 2004:

image by John Hellmuth
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