History Auto racing 1894-1942

Caliri was a driver from Chile, Zanelli also from Chile raced Bugatti, could find picture of him overturned

 

We have a post up all about the Stutz Bearcat filled with photos including Earl Cooper shown above in his Stutz racing car. We also have up a GREAT FILM called The Speed Kings With all the star drivers & attractive star Mabel Norman & Fatty Arbuckle.

 

I hope this thread is available in Heaven.

 

Auto-Union

 

I know my great grandfather raced cars on the board track at rockingham but I am having a hard time finding any records of race lineups etc... anyone know where I can find this info? His name was Albert Pica...thanks

 

Pica, I looked in the only reference I have for the Salem, N.H. track (Dick Wallen's Board Track) and could not find a record of your grandfather during the years the track operated. That certainly does not mean he did not compete there.

I am sure someone associated with the thread can hopefully provide you with some information.

 

I have Al Pica racing in New England dirt track events, 1932 to '34 - that includes Rockingham Speedway after the board track was torn down and replaced with a one-mile dirt track. It's still possible he also raced on the boards, as they sometimes had "amateur events" as curtain raisers for the big AAA shows - a bit like a Formula Ford or Saloon Car race on the morning of a Formula 1 Grand Prix. Count yourself lucky, however, if you can find any records thereof!

 

thanks thats great it may have been on the dirt...stories get muddled over time...really appreciate the response

 

Here's what I have (not much):

Hometown mostly listed as Lawrence (MA), at least once as Lynn (MA). Ran a #55 "Pica Special" in 1932, probably a Fronty-Ford. Also "Pica Special" in '33, but probably with a different number. Nine individual entries, six times showing up in results:

1932-05-29, Newmarket (NH), 5½m, not placed (2nd in a 2½m heat and two 3½m heats), Dick Shuebruk won
1932-05-30, Saugus (MA), 25m, 3rd (also 3rd in a 10m heat), Lou Boeske won
1932-06-18, Saugus (MA), 25m, not placed (won a pursuit race at 2m, no time), Ernie Zapf won
1932-06-26, Rockingham (NH), 15m, no results, Al Gordon won
1932-07-04 pp 09, Saugus (MA), 25m, no results, Louis Blais/Blass/Blane/Hal Blaze* won
1932-09-05, Saugus (MA), 20m, not placed (won 5m heat/4'48.6" - fastest heat time), Hal French won
1932-09-17, Brockton (MA), 10m, DNS (2nd in a 5m heat for "Ford cars", not placed in final won by Don MacDonald), Fred Frame won overall
1933-09-22, West Springfield (MA), 3½m, no results, Gus Schrader won
1934-06-09, Readville (MA), 25m, not placed (2nd in consy), Charles Stover won


Rockingham and Brockton were AAA events, Saugus possibly, too. Newmarket apparently unsanctioned, West Springfield IMCA and Readville NEBCRA (New England Big Car Racing Assoc.). In the latter event, the driver was actually listed as "Alfred Pickard of Lawrence", quite typical for the newspapers of the time - spelling is an art!

* this is a driver who shows up with four different spellings in the three entries I have for him!

 

A few pictures of early Frontenacs. The low resolution photo with the caption is from a 1962 issue of Car Life Magazine that my dad had in the attic. The better pictures are from the Wayne State University archives. WSU evidently has a cool collection of old newspaper photographs. Here's the link:

http://dlxs.lib.wayne.edu/cgi/i/ima...su;size=50;c=vmc;back=back1359427740;value=au

 

Anyone into early racing memorabilia? In a few months some cool Indy trophies will hit the block. Check it out here:

http://www.antiquehelper.com/upcoming-events/398

Here is a nice letter signed by Fred Duesenberg that is currently available:

http://www.rrauction.com/bidtracker_detail.cfm?IN=267

 

Bugatti 59/50B sports car
A.C.F. Montlhéry (France) 1937

 

^^^ Guess those are speed jack spuds on the back of the Type 59/50 correct? Bob

 

What are those sacks for on the pit wall?

Nice tush by the way.

 

SAND, fire control..

 

sorry for my bad English. What are Speed-Jack-Spuds??

 

Uwe, I think this is what Bob is referring to in the photo below.

Someone recreated this car some years ago and then it was passed onto another gentleman. Has it been completed?

 

www.bugattibuilder.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=860

 

There goes Bob, thinkin' with his stomach again

 

Thanks Mac! It looks like that stub that sticks out is about were the rear spring mount is. You could place a lever type speed jack there and lift the car quickly to change tires. I got to remove this Type 59 connecting rod years ago, always thought it might make a nice ring. Bob

 

If you put it on a necklace, we could call you a "chainer"

Sorry, I'm in a punchy mood today...

ZigZag- thank you for those Fronty pics! It's amazing how good the 300 tail can look from one angle, and how heavy from others.

 

And now your hand prints are all over the internet<<<>>.

 

It would be gold too, if not platinum.

 

Hey Bob, when replacing a rod in a Bugatti what is the process? Find a replacement, or creating a new one? Do blue prints for these engines still exist?

What I found interesting was the size of the steering wheel. Louis Chevrolet was a fairly big guy, so I'm guessing that wheel is 18-20 inches in diameter. Big enough for a Mack truck.

The photos you've posted are terrific, keep 'em coming!

 

The Type 59 Bugatti had a lot of parts that interchanged with a Type 57, just common babbit bearing connecting rods. Filling the hole in the crankcase was the big problem. The owner at that time sold the car, it is rebuilt and Vintage Racing in England now. The Type 35 roller crankshafts & rods are another story............. Bob

 

Hi Keith

The Brisco pic was taken in 1919

Linda

 

That pic is of Sig but that was not his car

 

The # 26 Essex was in 1921 in Regina, Saskatchewan

 

This one is Sig in his Fronentac # 11 at the Jacksonville State Fair 1921