Stub Stephens on Pa. Route 106 Clifford, Pa. hauling to Beach Lake. Note hood ornament in lower right corner. Stephens family photo/ history
This thread has a cool feeling to it. So many pictures from when anyone could afford to race something and so many folks did.
July 11th Vol 1 No 2 Published by Dan Roulston who functioned as the publisher and editor. Previously editor of Drag News until 1959. Drag News Hello, In 1959, the best and fastest of all “Green Monster” race cars presented itself at Lion’s Dragstrip. It was the first time traveling West for the Art Afrons group and they brought Green Monster #11 or for the appearance. For the Roman Number fans: XI. The anticipation for the Westcoast arrival and watching it run was pretty cool. Even our dad wanted to go see the Allison powered race car run in all of its fighter airplane looks and glory. It was noted that of all "Green Monsters" that were built, number 11 was the most consistent and fastest. The day at Lions and the resulting film satisfied the need to see and hear the Allison powered race car. Impressive as it was, there were other drag racers that made their own versions of an Allison powered race car. It will forever be in the history books and archives as anything Allison, means the different Green Monsters throughout the years. Everyone stopped what they were doing and came to the viewing area to see this “cool” race car run. The first thing everyone noticed was that it did not have a lot of quickness off of the line and took a while to get moving. But, moving it did, sounding like the airplanes that flew over our house from the Long Beach Airport, on the way to Catalina. The first thing we all saw was the largest 4 wheel trailer (90% of trailers were two wheel tilt trailers at the time) ever seen in our location at Lion's Dragstrip. This red heavy duty trailer was towed by the light blue Ford pickup truck all across the USA. We were impressed with the unusual look of the Allison powered race car. The whole show brought people into the dragstrip that normally would not go. It was a show piece of a different kind. We all saw airplanes with their distinctive sounds, but no one on the Westcoast ever saw a race car that had an Allison motor as the power source. This was a first for all that came to see the race car in action. No one was disappointed, although we wanted the race car to instantly go super fast. It started out with the firing up of the airplane motor and then slowly rolled out of the starting position. Then it took off like an airplane on take off at the nearby Long Beach Airport, heading West over our houses. In the June 1959 edition of the Drag News weekly paper, this large advertisement was shown. My brother and I already were weekly racers at Lion’s Dragstrip and decided to just be spectators for this unusual big-time event. It was the first of its kind. When our dad heard us talking about the “aircraft” powered race car, he, too, was interested and attended Lion’s Dragstrip just for that appearance. Our dad with his hand on his famous Dobbs Fedora Hat he always wore. Jnaki From the 1959 big time event at Lions' Dragstrip ART AFRONS TOTAL AFRONS SOUND
Hello, The chopped, Model A Sedan Delivery, was from Northern California and was slowly building a name for itself. It was not a daily driver as it was given a 25% set back on the DeSoto Motor. It was also one of the only racers at the time using a DeSoto brand motor. From its humble beginnings with several different owners, Bruce Carmen was the third owner and first to use a DeSoto. It was a regular at Vic Hubbard’s Speed Shop along with the Forsberg Brothers and their racing machines. Jnaki Note: The chopped Model A Altered Sedan Delivery sold in 1982 and the new owners, Norris Brothers were now caretakers of a little history from Northern California. https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/friday-art-show.1274461/#post-14614459
Very nice...what is that metal called? Those panels with holes? I almost bought a trailer like that once. I saw some panels for sale later but haven't been able to find them anymore.
Yes , I always heard it called landing mat, came in steel and aluminum. I think the proper name is Madson Mat
We used it in VietNam for tent flooring. Build a foundation with sand bags, add the aviation strips and bingo -- a draining floor plus scrapers for muddy boots.
I really want to own this but it's not in the cards right now...I want to build one if I ever come across some landing mat. https://orangecounty.craigslist.org/tro/d/la-habra-car-trailer-vintage-1950s-rare/7546800159.html
Not long enough IMO and nothing about electric brakes. Seems to me with the projects you haul home you need to look for 16 feet at a bare minimum and brakes on one if not both axles. Also, 6 lug axles not 5 would be a plus as well. Might be overkill but it would suck to have a bearing failure on US 95 south of Searchlight in August. Again, JMO.
My old trailer is almost ready for new decking. This would be a good way to go. While I'm at it I'll get rid of the beaver tail & make new ramps out of this stuff.
yeah,I guess for 2900.00 I could build a better trailer with brakes and a bit longer,,,I did find some landing mat...theres just something about period correct stuff tho
@iwanaflattie, I don't think that trailer is 1950s at all. The things I see that might be 50s are the landing mat and the coupler & maybe the rebar truss. The rest looks 70s to me.
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