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History The Markley Bros BELLY TANK: A Pictorial History

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by HEMI32, Aug 1, 2009.

  1. B Crall
    Joined: Aug 20, 2010
    Posts: 3

    B Crall
    Member
    from Nor Cal


    The last time I saw the Herda car wewere preparing for Bonneville last year. As of then restoration had not started. I do know that as a courtesy Dennis got in touch with his daughter(s) to ask if they objected to his desire to restore the car to a non running condition as it was when their father drove it. They felt as Dennis did that it would be a tribute to his memory.

    Dennis has so many irons in his automotive fire at any one time I do not know where that project fits in. He has laid his hands on a few old salt cars and the display of them is growing. His shop takes on more of a museum atmosphere every time I am there. I have some pictures on another computer and will post when I can.
     
    HEMI32 likes this.
  2. bigdearmond
    Joined: May 31, 2012
    Posts: 1

    bigdearmond
    Member

    Every time I look at this forum page it brings back memories for me. Throughout my childhood I was told stories and shown pictures of the Bonneville. My dad (Al DeArmond) went to school with the Markley brothers and had a continued friendship well after building and racing cars.

    I am beginning to forget the stories of the early days of drag racing in the bay area where according to the stories they caused a bit of havoc racing around.

    I could go on quite a bit, but will keep it short. I was looking to make my dad a birthday card for his 80th tomorrow when I ended up here again. I took a few quick pictures of the memories he has put on his wall in his garage and will figure out where to post them and get back here for another post.

    Hopefully one day I can get him to open up the picture books to post more, and evidently he also has a few rolls of film that I want to transfer to video and post on YouTube.

    https://picasaweb.google.com/bigdearmond/MarkleyBrothersAlDeArmond?authuser=0&feat=directlink

    Chris DeArmond
     
    Last edited: May 31, 2012
    HEMI32 likes this.
  3. Von MoPar
    Joined: Jun 4, 2006
    Posts: 359

    Von MoPar
    Member
    from Australia

    Thanks for the great read, the 55 plymouth 259 poly block with 241 dodge hemi heads was the hot set up for sure.
     
  4. The Markley Brothers #360 belly tank (in Varni~Barnett #909 trim) at the Hot Rod Magazine 65th Anniversary Cover Car exhibit in Pomona:

    @ HRM 65th Anniversary Cover Cars Exhibit (by Bobby Green).jpg
    image by @Bobby Green


    @ HRM 65th Anniversary Cover Cars Exhibit - 1 (by Chuck G.).jpg
    @ HRM 65th Anniversary Cover Cars Exhibit - 2 (by Chuck G.).jpg
    images by @Chuck G.


    @ HRM 65th Anniversary Cover Cars Exhibit - pic1 (by Craig Wise) .jpg
    @ HRM 65th Anniversary Cover Cars Exhibit - pic2 (by Craig Wise) .jpg
    @ HRM 65th Anniversary Cover Cars Exhibit - pic3 (by Craig Wise) .jpg
    @ HRM 65th Anniversary Cover Cars Exhibit - pic4 (by Craig Wise) .jpg
    @ HRM 65th Anniversary Cover Cars Exhibit - pic5 (by Craig Wise) .jpg
    @ HRM 65th Anniversary Cover Cars Exhibit - pic6 (by Craig Wise) .jpg
    @ HRM 65th Anniversary Cover Cars Exhibit - pic7 (by Craig Wise) .jpg
    images by Craig Wise (@CW's40TPU)
     
    Last edited: Jan 21, 2015
  5. Thanks for the compilation Hemi32!
     
    Last edited: Mar 26, 2013
  6. Huh? ... Did @Tman forget to drink his coffee this AM? :rolleyes: ... It's HEMI32 ... not @Harms Way :D
     
    Last edited: Jan 20, 2015
  7. Fixed it. You two always post such cool stuff it is easy to mix ya'all up!:eek::D
     
    HEMI32 likes this.
  8. I saw the current version of the Markley Brothers tank at the HRM show last March. While it's good that this old salt veteran is still with us, it really should be restored to it's early 60's short version so us old timers that actually saw, and heard this beast running over 280 in it's prime, can appreciate it as it should be. That Charlie crunched himself down in that tiny cockpit, and coaxed it to those speeds seems unbelievable. One of the more impressive things I've seen in my years at Bonneville.
     
    rusty valley likes this.
  9. I agree with Dean on that one!
     
  10. NV rodr
    Joined: Jul 23, 2006
    Posts: 155

    NV rodr
    Member
    from Reno, NV

    Ernie is a great guy. Still helps us out on the streamliner at Bonneville. I'm lucky to know him and hope I get to help him with the model A roadster he's currently building. It's got a baby hemi in it. I wish Varni had restored it to its former glory as the Markley tank instead of what he created. That was a bona fide piece of hot rod history. See you guys on the salt
     
    HEMI32 likes this.
  11. Here's a couple snapshots of the #909 C/GL taken today at Varni's Speed Nymph Garage:

    #909 C @ Speed Nymph Garage (8-20-13) - Front .JPG
    #909 C @ Speed Nymph Garage (8-20-13) - Rear .JPG
     
    Last edited: Jun 24, 2014
  12. ... and some vintage photos of the #360 Belly Tank in front of the Markley's garage:

    #360 C - 1.jpg
    #360 C - 2.jpg
    #360 C - 3.jpg
     
    Last edited: Jun 24, 2014
  13. What kind of HP did it take to get that shape to 280mph?
     
  14. Fast411
    Joined: Sep 2, 2010
    Posts: 19

    Fast411
    Member
    from Montana

    [​IMG]
     

    Attached Files:

    402BOSSMAN likes this.
  15. Talking to a couple of salt vets in the landspeed chat last night and we all agreed that the car should be restored to its 60s version
     
  16. I second that 100%!!!
     
  17. Here's the 1st iteration of the #909 C/Gas Lakester in its natural habitat:

    #909 C Gas Lakester at Speed.jpg
     
    Last edited: Aug 5, 2017
  18. The 2nd iteration of the #909 C/Gas Lakester was part of the "Century Of Speed" display @ the 2014 Grand National Roadster Show:

    #909 Belly Tank 3-4 Front @ '14 GNRS.JPG

    #909 Belly Tank 3-4 Rear @ '14 GNRS.JPG

    Charlie Markley's 200 MPH Club T-Shirt @ '14 GNRS .JPG
    Charlie's "Two Club" Tee-Shirt

    Our Hero with #909 Belly Tank @ '14 GNRS.JPG
    Our HERO with his old BELLY TANK
     
    Last edited: Aug 5, 2017
    402BOSSMAN and psychocross like this.
  19. 36hplandspeedracer
    Joined: Apr 28, 2009
    Posts: 23

    36hplandspeedracer
    Member

    Beautiful, but no comparison to the classic lines of the earlier style in my mind!
     
  20. Here's a couple cool vintage B&W photos from the Craig Wise (@CW's40TPU) archives:

    #502E & #360D Lakesters on trailers (Craig Wise archives).jpg
    502E Ralph Lynde Tank with 360D Markley Bros Tank (Craig Wise archives).jpg
    The Ralph Lynde (#502E) & the Markley Bros. (#360D) Lakesters on their trailers.


    360D Markley Bros Belly Tank in pits (Craig Wise archives).jpg
    #360D & #433D Lakesters in pits (Craig Wise archives).jpg
    The Markley Bros. (#360D) & Rochlitzer (#433D) Lakesters in the pits.
     
    Last edited: Apr 13, 2015
  21. Last edited: Aug 5, 2017
    402BOSSMAN likes this.
  22. 36hplandspeedracer
    Joined: Apr 28, 2009
    Posts: 23

    36hplandspeedracer
    Member

    Beautiful illustration. Thanx for posting...................................Burly
     
  23. Beautiful work, Really captures the essence of the car.
     
  24. @LongDistanceOperator -

    Charlie e-mailed me yesterday ... Here's his response to your question:

     
    volvobrynk likes this.
  25. 296ardun
    Joined: Feb 11, 2009
    Posts: 4,673

    296ardun
    Member

    That's amazing, but if Ed Winfield said that is what it was, I believe him!...says a lot about the mechanical abilities of the Markley Brothers..
     
    volvobrynk and HEMI32 like this.
  26. cheap-n-dirty
    Joined: Jan 28, 2002
    Posts: 896

    cheap-n-dirty
    Member

    In a tank with the same shape and length it went 200mph with a v-6 Buick making 350 hp.
     
  27. Dynoroom
    Joined: Feb 26, 2008
    Posts: 539

    Dynoroom
    Member

    Found this on Facebook this am.
    Charlie and his machine....
    Added a picture of Charlie & my son Kevin at the Pomona show in Jan.
     

    Attached Files:

    402BOSSMAN, HEMI32 and drofrockology like this.
  28. Michael LeFevers (@Dynoroom) -

    I too saw Brian Rochlitzer's posting of the B&W pic on the "Bonneville Land Speed Racer" facebook page (with the caption "I love the ____eating grin on Charlie's face.") ... but you beat me to posting it here in this thread. :D

    Also ... I'm almost positive that I was standing near you when you took the pic of your son with Charlie ... I was waiting to chat with Charlie (and later took the "Our HERO with his old BELLY TANK" pic in post #138).

    At any rate, thanks for sharing the pics ... and for keeping this 5-year old thread alive!
     
    Last edited: Jan 26, 2015
  29. drofrockology
    Joined: Sep 17, 2008
    Posts: 252

    drofrockology
    Member
    from Reno, NV

    I'm quite proud of the Bonneville Land Speed Racer group we formed on Facebook just a couple of years ago. With so many members, we are seeing more and more new pictures all the time! https://www.facebook.com/groups/landspeedracer/
     
    HEMI32 likes this.
  30. Here's some vintage snapshots of the Markley #360D Belly Tank Lakester on the salt :

    charlie shades.jpeg
    markley pit.jpeg
    markley body on salt.jpeg
    dearmond,charlie,_,bones,doug smith.jpeg

    NOTE: These images are from the Tim Rochlitzer family photo archive ... c/o Tim's son, Brian ... Thanks Brian!
     
    Last edited: Jan 21, 2015
    402BOSSMAN, volvobrynk and Dean Lowe like this.

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