History Auto racing 1894-1942

Trans: Few blocks before arriving at Rosario, on the first leg, Mariano Roque Blanco overturns his Mercedes.
Argentine GranPremio 1929 won by Raúl Riganti in a Hudson. (photo from el Grafico)

 

Merry Christmas to all! 2014 was a fun year, and I'd like to thank all of the regular posters on this thread.

Happy Holidays from the Zig-Zag man.

 

That appears to be Barney Oldfield on the left with "Shorty" Cantlon on the right. They're looking at what looks to be a Miller Marine.

 

Miller Marine, yes, Shorty Cantlon, yes, but not Barney Oldfield. That's Ed Wintergust.

 

Right! (no cigar should've tipped me off). I was wondering what was holding the engine up. Surely it wasn't Wintergust just holding the crank housing, But then I saw the table leg by Wintergust's right leg. And the table top below the Miller's crankcase.

 

Actually, there's a similar picture of Shorty Cantlon holding the engine - advertized as weighing 440 lbs! I always wondered about that, but I can't see the table that you are seeing.

 

It may just be my tired old eyes; but looking closely at the right side of Ed's right pant leg, it appears that there is a straight vertical element of some sort. And, of course, even those days a photograph could be "doctored". I can't think anyone, particularly Wintergust could hold that engine in that manner without assistance. Another question for you: Was it the Miller Marine that was said to weigh 440 pounds? If so, what than did the Goossen/Offenhauser Miller 4 banger weigh? I'm assuming it was well under the Marine version. And, now I'm wondering what the Miller inspired Sparks engine weighed. According to Sparks, he made stronger components for his 247 Cu. Inch engine. He said he had problems with the crankcase, cylinder block and gear drive (I think amongst others) of the original Miller. The Sparks engine first appeared at the 1935 Indianapolis 500 in the #33 Sparks and Weirick car.

 

Here is the Bud Rose 220 Miller

 

Boy! There's nothing like a 220 Miller! I guess that I'd give my left (what ever) for one.

But, the highly modified Ford Model B, with a Miller/Schofield "High Speed" OHV cylinder head does better for me for what I use it for.

 

Here's another photo c.1929 (during the brief Schofield-Miller ownership) of that first Miller marine Big Block (183) just installed, Hollywood (the owner of the Miller 91 recipient) and Shorty looking on.
See Michael Ferner's oldracingcars site for a brief history on this car - #2933
http://www.oldracingcars.com/indy/miller/1926-2/

 

Always figured that a few of the Daytona/Ormond dare devils went for a swim.

 

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if anyone is near San Diego this weekend, there is going to be a re-run of the 1915 Pan-Pacifc Exposition race. The entire track is still extant as it was in '15. Don't know what will make it, heard the Tahis may make it out. Hopefully it will be more organized than it was 20 years ago, the police escort showed up after everyone was done.

http://theoldmotor.com/?p=136461

 

First of all, it's good to hear from you Doug! I meant to ask our friend, Brian Blain, if he is running one, or all of his of his three cars. If he is, I think he'd already be there. I believe that one of his Nationals had run in that original event. I'm all but certain that he has entered. I'll try to remember to email him next week to see what, if anything, he has done.

I hope to see you at one of our events this year. I'm planning to run our car at Buttonwillow in late April with VARA. We've already been accepted to Sonoma in mid-May. We won't know about Monterey until the invites are sent out in March. Any, we might run at Coronado again, for the first time in years.

 

Would it be safe to say that Cupid Hornsteads car is still around?

"Better on the road than still a bunch of parts that last drove in 1921 when it went over the banking at Brooklands."

http://www.gregwapling.com/hotrod/land-speed-racing-history/land-speed-racing-blitzen-benz1.html

thank you for bringing a wonderful piece of history back to life.

 

UT article on the Pan-Pacific reenactment. Anyone else make it?

http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2015/jan/10/balboa-panama-exposition-race-car-centennial/

 

Doug, How would I get in touch with Bill Evans? I had a 1923 Photo of a lineup or race cars in Pottsville, Pa. that came from the Larry Beals collection, Larry is in his HISSO V8 powered exSpencer Wishart 1908 Mercedes. The back of the photo had the cars and drivers listed, Larry noted that one car had the radiator from the Blitzen Benz. Larry Beals and George Waterman had to cross paths at some time........................ Bob

 

check with Blitzen142, but he hasn't been on here lately.

 

Thanks, I'd rather see a running vehicle than an assorted pile of parts. Bob

 

Fagerstroms bilplat has started on the Hudsonbody!
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fagerströms-Bilplåt/777542318926784?fref=ts
View attachment 2810072 View attachment 2810073 View attachment 2810075
You can follow the projekt in my blogg. I started with a 1930 Essex frame and called it Essexracer,
http://molinsgarage.blogspot.se/ now i bought an Hudson straight eight to put in it, so i
renamed the projekt Hudsonracer!

 

The Cunningham Fronty: Back in Sep of 2013 we (and The Oldmotor.com) had some discussion concerning the history of the Briggs Cunningham Fronty summarized by Michael (see below).
David Greenlees at The Old Motor has put together the data - see the story and update here:
http://theoldmotor.com/?s=Cunningham+fronty

Link to Eastern Museum of Auto Racing photo where it currently resides (confirmed by correspondence with Joe Heisler):
http://www.pbase.com/noyphoto/image/113830914
Link to photo of the original car and 6 other photos depicting its history:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/91981316@N06/9819193065/in/set-72157632911694050
Today I came across this Walt Imlay photo (courtesy COASTAL 181) from July 1960 showing the car in Carl Becker's ownership burning in the pits.
Link to photo page:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/91981316@N06/16158549867/in/set-72157632911694050/
Text accompanying the photo:
"A Walt Imlay Photo: As shown in COASTAL181 Photo of the Day- #1210 - July 31, 1960 had to be one of the hottest days for Carl Becker’s old-time Sprinter. The car was originally build in the mid ‘30s for Briggs Cunningham. Over time it was wheeled to victory by Joie Chitwood and Tommy Hinnershitz as the Peters Offy. By the ‘60s it was outfitted with a small-block for URC as shown here with the teched-out, cigar-smoking fire crew at the old half-mile Atlantic City Speedway in Pleasantville, NJ. From TOW MONEY: The History of the United Racing Club – Volume One, by Buzz Rose and Jim Chini. (Walt Imlay Photo)

 

Thanks for the links Carl. An interesting car, with quite a history.

 

ZigZagZ - Now if we were on FB you'd just click 'like' and change the subject. lol

 

Go Blue!

 

^^^ I heard that Darrel Waltrip was going to be asked to be the Grand Marshall at the next big vintage race at LeMans. Ifn so, more than likely he'll be saying "Bugatti, Bugatti, Bugatti... lets go racing, boys! Gary

 

Can someone explain to me why all of the Grand Prix cars of this era (and well into the 1950s for that matter) all were designed using positive camber on their front suspension?

 

"Bugatti, Bugatti, Bugatti... lets go racing, boys!
Can't believe you said that!