Features VINTAGE SPRINT CAR PIC THREAD, 1965 and older only please.

QUOTE="28dreyer, post: 12300252, member: 47743"]I would call them high tech and light weight. SOHC with roller followers, two valves per cylinder, hemi head, running inverted with a dry sump oil system. Compression was raised by utilizing progressively higher domed pistons. Seven main bearings and a 4 1/8" bore with a 5 1/2 " stroke. Forged crank, chrome moly forged I beam rods, and chrome moly forged cylinder barrels, 375 pounds. Plenty of torque to pull and Offy out of the turns on a heavy track.

Del Fanning at Aurora Speedway in Seattle was running up to 5,000 rpm, claimed over 400 hp for his lay down Ranger. He was beating the Chevy V-8's into the early '60's. I Presume he had pistons with compression above 11:1 running alcohol.

Oddly enough, I just spent the day beginning teardown on a Ranger.

What is a throwaway airplane engine?[/QUOTE]

I was running with the unlimited hydros in the early 60's. Del Fanning had a speed shop and wire wheel service shop, up on auto row in Seattle. Someone talked him into driving an unlimited hydroplane. It was sponsored by a rental company "The Tool Crib". He actually turned some good qualifying times but did not fare well in traffic. That hydro sat on the roof of the old Lake Union Cafe for years until they remolded the place. He was a very gritty character.

just sayin'

brasscarguy

 

I don't think Malcolm Brazier ever drove a Stude up Pikes Peak. There must be other racers with the same forename out there...

 

Let's not fool ourselves, the Ranger was popular because it was cheap, available, and exactly twice the capacity of a regular Offy! With a good driver, it had a fighting chance to keep up with some of the lesser Offies, i.e. those that were driven by novices or second tier racers, but a Ranger never caused any headaches for a Jimmy Bryan or a Tommy Hinnershitz.

 

For sure, no one said this car went to to Pikes Peak

 

Interesting website, Michael.

Have you seen the Cantanaro Spl was a Wayne12Port Six ...DNQ Indy '49 '51 .. it's only about 150km from you

running here at my shop https://www.bing.com/videos/search?...26EA09D59570623C753F26EA09D59570623&FORM=VIRE

 

[/QUOTE] I was running with the unlimited hydros in the early 60's. Del Fanning had a speed shop and wire wheel service shop, up on auto row in Seattle. Someone talked him into driving an unlimited hydroplane. It was sponsored by a rental company "The Tool Crib". He actually turned some good qualifying times but did not fare well in traffic. That hydro sat on the roof of the old Lake Union Cafe for years until they remolded the place. He was a very gritty character. brasscarguy[/QUOTE]

Here is further to the Del Fanning hydroplane connection...

"His Ranger engine wound up in a weird trimaran hydroplane which never ran but is in the Seattle Hydro Museum."

 

This post is for the California sprint car guys. I stumbled across a "honey hole"
Of vintage sprint car parts. Guy is wanting to sell as a lot. Unfortunately for me he does NOT want to mess with packing or shipping the stuff. So seeing as I'm in Texas it looks like I'm out. Bummer. But hopefully one of y'all can get lucky. All I ask is that if you end up with the parts you DONT throw them on eBay. Location is in between Paso Robles and San Jose. Pm for more info. There are some parts in there I could really use. You would not be obligated to sell any of them to me but I sure would appreciate the opportunity. Thanks all

 

Dave,

I found an interesting article from Lincoln Journal Star Aug. 29th,1952-Balster tried to qualify but he was slow.He was 54 years old in this time.
Also Mr. Balster was killed his brother at 1924 then he wass served life sentence,but after 19 years get out and entered defense work as a mechanic.
I think he was built this Studebaker when he was in jail.

 

Thought I'd share some update pics of my 1965 AJ Watson sprint car build. Had been almost a year since I started this project and the wheels touched the dirt for the first time Sunday!!! Man what a feeling. Have had so much help on this project getting it to where it is. A big thank you to Josh Shaw, Ron Greenfield, Frank Koerbacher, Martins Machine, Ralph in Spokane and so many others.. this has been a passion project and trying to do it "right" has not been easy. That being said I was fortunate to stumble across AJ Watson designed plans and would be happy to email anyone the scanned and to scale prints. Hope y'all dig it as much as I have

 

And here is where I was at 1 year ago.

 

WOW looks like you Nailed it! Could not be any cooler!

 

Looking good. Any shots with the body on it ?

 

Great looking.

 

Here's some pics with the body on. The belly pans have been made and everything fit up. Lots of dzus fasteners!!!

 

Nice
I noticed a couple of different sets of tires pictured. Would you care to share who supplied your tires?

 

Frenchtown flyer the tires are NOS.. once i get out to running hard laps ill probably have a new set of shoes at least on the right side... the Knobbys came from a set of wheels I Bought from Frank"One Shot"on the HAMB.. hes been awesome with help and encouragement on this project....

 

Very cool to have found NOS. I wonder if you have any recommendations on where to purchase new vintage looking tires when the time comes. Coker or ???

 

As far as I know Coker or towel city Are the only folks around.

 

Thanks

 

I am Jack Sutton’s granddaughter..his shop in north Hollywood was in the late fifties early sixties . In the forties his was in the British army . I have hundreds of pictures of his work
I am very proud of my granddad. His was a talented builder!!

 

tremendous craftsmanship. Enjoy your passion!

 

How come you replaced the original fold up drivers seat? LOL

Wow what an incredible project, thanks for saving another one. Ya done good.

 

Still doing it in the Race Saver Series

 

Welcome to the HAMB! Folks here are bonkers for old photos, especially "under construction" shots. Post a few samples here if you can.

 

Seconded!

 

I’ve got something in the works I’ve been working on this year. I need to organize the pics but here are a couple teasers.



Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

San Diego Steel Products tribute car ?

 

Neil that's really coming on......great job.....can't wait to see this car....