Two people who post on the Atlas F1 forums I can think of might know that sporty car...
'Magoo', who posts on the Technical Forum pretty regularly, and maybe 'B Squared' (Brian Brown) who is often on the Nostalgia Forum.
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Two people who post on the Atlas F1 forums I can think of might know that sporty car...
'Magoo', who posts on the Technical Forum pretty regularly, and maybe 'B Squared' (Brian Brown) who is often on the Nostalgia Forum.
Excuse the pun as I am getting a bit off track but I found the Gilmore Oil Company story interesting.
Earl Gilmore used racing to promote his oil company and built Gilmore Stadium in Los Angeles and is also considered to be the father of midget auto racing. He backed Fred Offenhauser to help develop his famous 97 c.i. midget racing engine. He also sponsored sprint cars in the Los Angeles area and at Indianapolis.
Check this beautifully chromed midget on the custom built trailer behind a very customized "Southern California Plating Company" 1935 Ford delivery truck in 1936 on their way to the races.
Attachment 40765
(Ken Hyndman )
That really is interesting stuff, Ken...
And impressive!
Before Gilmore Oil was bought out and eventually was part of Mobil Oil in the 1940s, they did sponsor the Railton Special that John Cobb drove to set the World Land Speed record on the Great Salt Lake in Utah during the 1930s and after World War Two in 1947.
It was a beautiful machine that used two airplane engines set at an angle to deliver power to the front with one engine and the other powered the back. The biggest problem they had was with all the power the tyres kept peeling off the rims ! Cobb raised the land speed from 350 mph to almost 400 mph in this magnificent machine.
Attachment 40766
Diagram of the engine arrangement in the Reid Railton designed special.
Attachment 40767
Cutaway of the Railton Special.
Attachment 40768
Gilmore products were used on the record runs. Note the raging lion emblem that Gilmore used.
Attachment 40769
A model of the Railton Special with Gilmore emblems as in 1938-39.
Attachment 40770
After Gilmore was sold to Mobil Oil the advertising changed to this.
(Ken Hyndman)
The Railton Special and John Cobb at the Great Salt Lake in Utah with Gilmore Oil Company sponsorship.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtuMhy4prO8
Plus an interesting read regarding John Cobb and the Railton Special from Motorsport magazine.
http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/ar...ed-record-atte
(Ken Hyndman)
When you don't have one of these...
https://s26.postimg.org/3s975xo3d/03...orterfront.jpg
https://s26.postimg.org/uelnuwsah/03...porterside.jpg
...maybe you can create something like this?
https://s26.postimg.org/nj1fbsxtl/01...ransporter.jpg
As inventive as any Australian Special, this was built by Alan Stanfield using a Holden FE/FC utility cabin, parts of two Vanguard chassis, a TR4 engine, dry sumped, lying on its side and driving through an overdrive gearbox to a two-part tail shaft which drove a Landrover transfer case behind the rear axle. From there the drive went forward to the reversed rear axle.
The front of the bodywork was crafted in aluminium by Stanfield. The whole thing was never finished and ultimately scattered to the winds.
Ray,
Now that is very interesting and such a waste to know all that effort never got completed and then got "scattered in the winds."
Doing this thread I learned that the Gilmore Oil Company family and the Jim Gilmore who sponsored AJ Foyt in racing for over 10 years starting in 1973 were not related. I had previously thought there was a connection.
Attachment 40996
AJ Foyt. Pocono Cart race. 1984
(Ken H)
AJ Foyt did not always have the best of transportation as seen in this photo of his car arriving for the 1961 Indy 500.
Attachment 41050
This car would go on to win the 1961 Indianapolis 500 and is now in the Speedway Hall of Fame.
It has come a long way since it arrived on that trailer !
[ATTACH=CONFIG]41052[/
ATTACH]
The transportation for AJ Foyt had improved by 1985.
Attachment 41051
Photo by Brian Cleary.
(Ken Hyndman )
I messed up the last posting.
This shows AJ Foyt's Watson Special arriving on an inauspicious trailer for the 1961 Indy 500. Which was won by Foyt.
Attachment 41337
By 1985 the Foyt transporter had grown to this.
Attachment 41338
(Ken Hyndman)
Not everyone could afford flash rigs in NZ often cars were trailered or A-Framed to events, if they weren't driven there and hopefully back. - otherwise borrow a mates trailer to get home and he drove his car
For example - some well known NZ cars in the late 1960's
basic trailer - Marrari
Attachment 41331
Many cars if not driven or allowed to be driven on the road arrived on A - Frames Zephyr Corvette,in Ken Baileys hands at the time
Attachment 41332
or simple trailers with ramps - The Heron Daimler
Attachment 41333
a sided trailer getting a bit more fancy - Paul Fahey's Ford Fairlane
Attachment 41334
double axle low sided with winch -very fancy The Segedin Ford Mustang with stack pipes.
Attachment 41335
Have been posted elsewhere, but do belong here on Ken H's thread ..
Roger,
I always enjoy your inputs but it was Terry S who started this enjoyable and varied thread.
Cheers,
Ken.
A little o/t but this is a good guide to Triple 8's new B double transporter:
http://www.speedcafe.com/2017/08/09/...s-transporter/
Due to wildfires in Montana that fishing trip has been delayed for 3 weeks. Anyway I have had an interest in race car transporters and I especially liked this one.
In 1972 Roger Penske had this 1972 International Fleetstar 2110A chassis powered by a 257-horsepower, 549-cu.in. gasoline V-8. Engineer and star racing driver Mark Donohue, drew up plans for the rig to be capable of hauling the team’s Indy Cars as well as its Can-Am Porsches. It was known as the "Blue Hilton" (named for its forward bunk space and the Penske blue.)
The team used the transporter for many events from 1972 until 1983 when it was sold and not heard of again until 2015 when an alert Penske employee saw it advertised and some of the team spent many hours secretly restoring it again and then surprised Roger when they unveiled it as a special gift for his 80th birthday earlier this year.
Here are some photos of how it was found in 2015.
Attachment 46022
Attachment 46023
Some idea of what went into the restoration work.
Attachment 46024
Attachment 46025
This is how it looks today after a beautiful restoration.
Attachment 46026
This is how it looked in 1973 as the Porsche 917/30 is prepared and Roger Penske looks on from beside his transporter.
(Note the work conditions compared to how it would be today !)
(Ken Hyndman )
That's nice Ken, Thanks for the pics.
Roger always had nice gear.
B.
Yes Bruce he certainly has "nice gear".
If I was a single,young man again I certainly would be looking into some of these career opportunities of working for Team Penske.
From a mechanic to a transport driver ! They like Kiwis as they know they will do the job right.
Attachment 46036
http://www.teampenske.com/about/index.cfm/51985/Careers
(KH)
I have spoken with some guys who worked with/for Penske back in the day. It included flying on his own personal plane, and seeing Roger hand out the few dollars he allocated to the needs each day. Frugality is the key to running a tight ship.
Certainly a very smart man and exceptionally astute businessman.
I have been told that every fifth truck off the Freightliner production line goes to one of his companies.
B.
Hey Bruce,
Speaking of transporters, I saw this converted 1946 Chevy Cab over 2 1/2 ton truck at the local Solvang Car Show and thought it would be good to take my Mini Cooper places. Do you think it would have enough "grunt" ?
Attachment 46037
Attachment 46038
Attachment 46039
(Ken Hyndman photos )
More on the Solvang Car Show at this site and check the pix.
https://rpmcollectorcars.com/2017/08...indmills-2017/
You didn't see the fuel consumption figure for the big petrol V8 in the Ford?
Was it 1mpg or 2mpg?
Ray,
I think it was more like how many gallons to the mile !
Love the Cab over trucks.
Have been to Solvang twice, back in 1982 and again in 1988, the second time after staying with Hans Nohr [ Danish like the town ] and Dee Glendenning- Walt Glendenning's widow, at Santa Monica.Walt originally set up " Absolutely British " - a car restoration business that Ken knows well.. bit of a sidetrack, sorry Ken !!
Attachment 46053
Terry S, the Heron Daimler was indeed similar looking to the SIDS 11. This one of several cars called Heron .. need to look up who made them.
Roger,
The Heron-Daimler was built by Ross Baker. It was a neat little unit.
Attachment 46079
(Ken )
Ken,
I thought so but didn't want to post and get it wrong ha ha .. would not be the first time I have made an error .. thanks for the input.
BTW off to your part of the world tomorrow, your old stamping ground the Waikato,Te Poi to be precise to see friends on Rapurapu Road on their farm..cheers
Roger
Roger,
Te Poi always reminds me of when the DC 3 crashed above there into the Kaimais in 1963 and you could often see the sun glinting off the wreckage after that. A sad time.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/69898789
Ken
Not sure when this memorial was erected but it looks fairly new.
Attachment 46096
Attachment 46097
Attachment 46098
Thanks Milan,
I note a Miss Cooney on the passenger list, that is a well known name in the Tauranga area.
I myself have bad memories of 1963. It started when I did not feel well and finally my dad took me into see Dr. Watts (Nigel's father ) he quickly diagnosed that I had a perforated appendix and sent me immediately to Waikato Hospital which possibly saved my life.
Just after that in June this plane crash happened near home.
In November President Kennedy was shot, although far away in the US it stunned the world.
Then on Dec. 14th 1963, my dear father died suddenly. So 1963 was a dark year for me.
( Sorry to get way off base with my ramblings.)
(Ken )
928
Not sure but I thought it was either Norris Miles or Bill Robinson driving.
(Photo from Google)
(Ken)
Sounds rough, Ken...Quote:
Originally posted by khyndart
.....I myself have bad memories of 1963.....
As for me, 1963 I got my first car and my driver's licence. Not so bad at all.
And to keep it on topic, I was able to spread my wings more and see ever more race cars and, therefore, ever more transport arrangements for them,
thanks Ken, was a photo I did not know had been released for open viewing
What a difference 10 years makes. After complaining about my 1963 and then seeing Steve Holmes photos of Goodwood it reminded me of how 1973 was like living a dream for me. From being at Trojan Works and going to motor races around England, track testing at Goodwood, meeting well known drivers, taking a Contiki Tour to the Munich Beer fest, showing my bride to be around London and also going to parties (without my bride to be !) with Barry Sheene and his crew. (Suzuki of Great Britain was part of the Trojan complex)
Barry was a real character and a marvelous rider and we met up again at Long Beach in 1977 to share some old times. He passed away way too young at 52 but he achieved a lot in those years !
Attachment 46233
Barry Sheene and transporter. (Year and photographer unknown )
(Ken Hyndman )
From Graeme Lawrence's column in the April 1973 edition of Motorman.
Interesting tow vehicle.
Attachment 46234
I wonder if that shortened Valiant ute was one of those used by Leo Geoghegan for testing at Mallala prior to the introduction of the Charger?
They were trying to keep the Charger quiet prior to laugh so used a shortened ute to be the same wheelbase as a Charger.
Prior to launch...
Two were built, one was a VF and the other a VG, both were equipped with 6-Pack (triple DCOE) Weber 265 engines. One for a short time had a 340 and A833 but was deemed by Pete Geoghegan (while Leo was on an extended stay in England) to be too much of an understeerer.
In the end, this track testing wasn't totally successful as the utes had different torsional values to the Chargers.
Nostalgic look back to 1960.
Not sure why but the ad. looks very English although the price is in dollars.
Attachment 46287
Attachment 46288
(Ken H)