Jimmy B, Do you know if Regg's Roadster still exists? I talked to Regg's son a few years ago and he wasn't sure. My dad grew up around the block in Lynwood, CA. from Regg's shop and hung out there along with his buddy Kenny Lucas. My mom grew up with Eddie and was good friends with his sister. One of my favorite lakes roadsters. Offy 220
In 1948, after the car had already appeared on the H.R.M. cover, Reggie took his team to the Midwest to try to make some of Granatelli's money. At that time Granatelli was running an outfit called "Hurricane Racing" and promoting track roadster events at Soldier's field. The cover car was really a dual purpose roadster-a lakes car AND a round track car. It was in the latter guise that it travelled east. Sometime after the photography that appeared on the magazine cover and before the departure to Chicago, Roy Prosser wrecked the car and destroyed the Kurtis style nose. The car was repaired with a '32 Desoto radiator shell which detracted significantly from it's classic original looks. While in the Midwest, the car was also campaigned in several Mutual Racing Association events-primarily in Indiana. For reasons unknown, the car was sold to a guy from Muncie, Indiana named Coy Duncan (Dunkin?). He ran it for awhile with either Red Renner or Jim leach driving then flipped it. The car shows up in several Mutual program/lineups in 1948 then disappears. I've searched for several years but have come up empty handed as to its ultimate fate. I've heard that it was sold to somebody in western Ohio but nothing ever came of that. Most of this story came from Red Amick who was one of Schlemmer's drivers in '48. Red died several years ago.
Many years ago Dick McClung and Greg Sharp introduced me to Harold Miller who had been "Millers Crankshaft" as I was researching his old track roadster that I had acquired the body and nose of. He told me that one of the first 4.250 strokers that he did from virgin castings went to the Regg Schlemmer roadster.
When I said he "flipped it", I meant he resold it. As an added note, Reggie continued to bring his other car-'23/'25 T with sprint nose- back East for a few more years with either Prosser or Jim Rigsby driving.
Nice shot of the dash. Check out that 5" face 8 grand tach. Man, I'd give a nut for that... Blow-up from the famous 1948 SCTA club photo, second row behind Ralph Schenks car. Personally I ahve always liked the nose on the Schenks car better...
The original Hot Rod article. Only engine shot I can find. I may have more pics of this car, I'll have to look.
The Jalopy Journal
