Saturday, January 07, 2012
Jason Lane scrap steel sculptures, these are gas tank birds... great ideas are frequently found in spare parts and scrap pieces art sculptures
Andy Gregg's bike furniture
a new pinstripe thing, records.. and they look cool
anyone know anything about this "Artists against Humger, SD 3rd annual"?
images found on http://hdshovelhead.blogspot.com/
more cool stuff from SwissStache
All Hitler wanted was a Harley for Sturgis (funny adaptation of a movie clip)
Thanks to my buddy Mike who often sends me cool and funny stuff like this to share with all of you!
Friday, January 06, 2012
Cool pinstriper "3 Sheets" pulled a rabbit out of a hat, so to speak... he came up with a new take on pinstriped pistons and conrods, very damn cool
Thursday, January 05, 2012
We count our victories by the bombers we get to their targets, by the husbands we return to their wives, by the fathers we get back to their children.
Terrence Howard and Cuba Gooding, both are oscar winners, and this looks like the best aerial combat movie since Pearl Harbor, or Flyboys
One of two 1961 Corvettes special ordered by Don Yenko Chevrolet for delivery to Grady Davis - of Gulf Oil Research and Development fame, made with the special factory speed parts that Duntov could equip it with
Competitors sighed with relief. Grady Davis called Dr Dick Thompson.
Sitting in Number 11’s race seat, Thompson picked up where Yenko left off and drove the Corvette to victory Bridgehampton, Indianapolis, Thompson, Road America and Watkins Glen. In the half-season spent with the Corvette, Thompson won every race and the B-Production National Championship
photos from http://www.sportscardigest.com/duntovs-secret-corvette-gulf-oil-race-car/ via the Vintage Racing League weekly newsletter
Zora Arkus Duntov, somethings I knew, some things I just learned
In addition to the galleries of Super Sport Corvettes that Zora made, I've posted very little biographical info about him. I just read the following
The Belgian born son of Russian Jewish parents, Duntov had already outrun the Nazis, revolutionized hot-rodding (with his eponymous line of Ardun accessories for Ford’s Flathead V8), and aided the development of Allard sports cars by the time he saw the new-for-‘53 Corvette at the New York Motorama. He loved the car’s lines and despised everything else. So he wrote a letter to GM telling them as much and was hired shortly thereafter.
Duntov’s love of speed was no mere whim. While helping Allard engineer their sports cars he proved a talented driver as well and later piloted a Porsche 550 to class wins in two 24 Hours of Le Mans; the last of which, ironically, during the same 1955 event that would eventually lead to the AMA ban on racing. Nonetheless, he profoundly influenced American motorsports and, in particular, the Corvette.
By 1955 the Corvette traded the 150hp straight six engines and powerglide automatic transmissions of ’53 and ’54, for 195hp, 265ci V8s and three speed manual transmissions. By ’57 the Corvette added a 283hp 283ci V8, a limited slip differential and fuel injection. All the while, Duntov kept his eyes and talents focused on the racetrack and by the 1957 AMA ban on racing he stood at the center of one of the greatest contradictions of mid-century corporate America. While GM’s brass touted safety, forward styling and advanced color theory, Zora Arkus-Duntov quietly slipped some of the country’s most successful race cars out the back door; among them the championship winning Corvette seen here.
Duntov would have a hard time explaining why his engineers vacationed together in Nassau during Speed Week. Harder still the suitcases packed with Bermuda shorts and prototype intake manifolds.
Duntov’s available speed equipment; since the words ‘speed equipment’ weren’t exactly politically correct in ’61, however, the high performance parts were identified by their harmless sounding RPO or “Regular Production Option” numbers. It seems that while the AMA might wonder why any factory would offer a fuel injected, 315hp 283ci V8, they were far less likely to question “RPO354.”
Ditto RPOs 675, 685, and 687 which, in non-GM-speak are a Posi-traction differential, four-speed manual transmission, and heavy-duty suspension and brakes, respectively. The boxes of uninstalled parts that came with a few cars, on the other hand, are a different story altogether. Known by a select few as the ‘Sebring package,’ the vented hood, stiff front anti-rollbar, aerodynamic headlight covers, and 37 gallon fiberglass gas tank didn’t have RPO numbers and, by all accounts, left Duntov’s office without his bosses’ blessing or knowledge.
Duntov would have a hard time explaining why his engineers vacationed together in Nassau during Speed Week. Harder still the suitcases packed with Bermuda shorts and prototype intake manifolds.
Partnered with Zora to win races in Corvettes were Don Yenko, and Dr Dick Thompson. Dick was a dentist, and such an expert in winning SCCA raes with Corvettes he wrote a book on what a buyer should do to order the things only the insiders knew about (the RPO codes) and items like aluminum flywheels... and that little trick got Don Yenko suspended from SCCA racing for 6 months. FIA racing allowed the aluminum, but SCCA didn't allow them in B-Production
info from http://www.sportscardigest.com/duntovs-secret-corvette-gulf-oil-race-car/
The Belgian born son of Russian Jewish parents, Duntov had already outrun the Nazis, revolutionized hot-rodding (with his eponymous line of Ardun accessories for Ford’s Flathead V8), and aided the development of Allard sports cars by the time he saw the new-for-‘53 Corvette at the New York Motorama. He loved the car’s lines and despised everything else. So he wrote a letter to GM telling them as much and was hired shortly thereafter.
Duntov’s love of speed was no mere whim. While helping Allard engineer their sports cars he proved a talented driver as well and later piloted a Porsche 550 to class wins in two 24 Hours of Le Mans; the last of which, ironically, during the same 1955 event that would eventually lead to the AMA ban on racing. Nonetheless, he profoundly influenced American motorsports and, in particular, the Corvette.
By 1955 the Corvette traded the 150hp straight six engines and powerglide automatic transmissions of ’53 and ’54, for 195hp, 265ci V8s and three speed manual transmissions. By ’57 the Corvette added a 283hp 283ci V8, a limited slip differential and fuel injection. All the while, Duntov kept his eyes and talents focused on the racetrack and by the 1957 AMA ban on racing he stood at the center of one of the greatest contradictions of mid-century corporate America. While GM’s brass touted safety, forward styling and advanced color theory, Zora Arkus-Duntov quietly slipped some of the country’s most successful race cars out the back door; among them the championship winning Corvette seen here.
Duntov would have a hard time explaining why his engineers vacationed together in Nassau during Speed Week. Harder still the suitcases packed with Bermuda shorts and prototype intake manifolds.
Duntov’s available speed equipment; since the words ‘speed equipment’ weren’t exactly politically correct in ’61, however, the high performance parts were identified by their harmless sounding RPO or “Regular Production Option” numbers. It seems that while the AMA might wonder why any factory would offer a fuel injected, 315hp 283ci V8, they were far less likely to question “RPO354.”
Ditto RPOs 675, 685, and 687 which, in non-GM-speak are a Posi-traction differential, four-speed manual transmission, and heavy-duty suspension and brakes, respectively. The boxes of uninstalled parts that came with a few cars, on the other hand, are a different story altogether. Known by a select few as the ‘Sebring package,’ the vented hood, stiff front anti-rollbar, aerodynamic headlight covers, and 37 gallon fiberglass gas tank didn’t have RPO numbers and, by all accounts, left Duntov’s office without his bosses’ blessing or knowledge.
Duntov would have a hard time explaining why his engineers vacationed together in Nassau during Speed Week. Harder still the suitcases packed with Bermuda shorts and prototype intake manifolds.
Partnered with Zora to win races in Corvettes were Don Yenko, and Dr Dick Thompson. Dick was a dentist, and such an expert in winning SCCA raes with Corvettes he wrote a book on what a buyer should do to order the things only the insiders knew about (the RPO codes) and items like aluminum flywheels... and that little trick got Don Yenko suspended from SCCA racing for 6 months. FIA racing allowed the aluminum, but SCCA didn't allow them in B-Production
info from http://www.sportscardigest.com/duntovs-secret-corvette-gulf-oil-race-car/
Wednesday, January 04, 2012
Found in a family members trash after they cleaned out the garage rafters, a rare 1968 Scat Pack Super Bee light sign, for sale on Craigslist
Aprox. 6 lbs
Plastic with cardboard back.
Original hanging chain attached.
Original 2 prong electrical cord attached.
5 original light sockets attached.
original Dodge Dealer Lighted Scat Pack Super Bee Sign. Found (actually my family whose house this came from dumped it into the trash) after cleaning out a garage of a family member who had it stored in the rafters. As you can see from the photos, all the light sockets work (non original bulbs) and the plastic does not have any burn marks! Everything is original including the hanging chain.
The seller has already talked to his local Dodge collectors, and the most he's been offered and turned down was 1500, mostly because the Mecum Auction people have raised his expectations to 2007 price levels. His other problem is not wanting to ship the sign. Wow, talk about narrowing your possible buyers to your own area code.
Tuesday, January 03, 2012
Car collector extraordinaire Bruce Meyer defines the acronym CSX as Carroll Shelby Experimental
That is what I thought it was too, but after reading Shelby Cobra Fifty Years, the author Colin Comer, expert in Cobras, defined CSX as Ace car company 3rd series (a =1st b=2nd c=3rd) S was for Shelby, the customer... and X was for export.
So, what is the right definition? I'll have to get the Shelby company, or the SAAC to let me know, and settle this.
So, what is the right definition? I'll have to get the Shelby company, or the SAAC to let me know, and settle this.
Autoweek’s Vinsetta Garage
Named for a storied auto-repair shop on Detroit’s legendary Woodward Avenue, Autoweek’s Vinsetta Garage originates in the Motor City, for people who live for cars everywhere.
http://www.vinsetta.com/
here's my opinion of it after watching it:
http://www.vinsetta.com/
here's my opinion of it after watching it:
Started with a look at Bruce Meyer's cars, and some other collector guys with a LeMons Caddy and Bobcat, then a discussion on what is a car person/guy, a dialog with Courtney and Auto Week editor, in a E type Jag.... which the editor calls a Drophead Coupe. Get off your high horse, it's a convertible you egotist. Why are so many editors full of themselves? Ditto Jag owners.
Then a self promoting Auto Week dream week rundown of what the lucky 20 will get to do if they win.
Every moment of the show has a music bed soundtrack as if the watcher can't get enough music, or needs a sound bed to get them through the show. It's too loud. It's not necessary. It's annoying.
Every 5 minutes is a commercial, and self promoting commercial among others. So half the 30 minute window was commercial or self promotion.
So, in a nutshell, mediocre to annoying. Better than Hot Rod TV, but not by much. It's no wonder so many of us keep watching British Top Gear
Monday, January 02, 2012
Hot Rod Delux turned up a great story this month... a found deuce had unexpected history, on El Mirage, and a timing tag turned up!
Lewis McMillan bought this one at the LARS (LA Roadster Show) in 1978, and had no idea it had dry lakes racing history. (I label dry lakes racing as "dry lakes racing, LSR, racing. LSR" in the post labels)
He shipped to his home in Lexington North Caroline, and stored it away til he could get to it... 24 years later when he'd collected all the parts he wanted to add, like a Halibrand quick change, boxed frame, etc
Speaking of cool parts, those headlights are 1943 Seagrave fire truck lights!
So when he dug into fixing up the car, he discovered a matchbook with a guy's name on it, and it turned out to be the guy who raced it in 48! Arvel Youngblood. The new and old owners met and Lewis learned about the car... somehow a friend of Lewis found the timing tag and reunited it with the car. Awesome.
Mary Ann Foss and Black Magic (58 Pontiac), they won the 1964 D/SA title
Image from http://allshops.org/cgi-bin/community/communityalbums.cgi?action=openalbum&albumid=9980177328148
The Salt 2 Salt Studebaker set some records at Bonneville this year, with an interesting 182 cu in v8
The trick of getting such a small displacement is using a tiny one year only block, and the crank from another model year to get the right numbers.
I just learned of a museum, lots of cars and motorbikes, it's in Murdo, on I90 1/2 way across South Dakota
Here is the inventory from 2011, it's not 100% accurate, but close enough to let you know what you can expect to find, you can get a look at them at http://www.pioneerautoshow.com/tour-cars.php
See a gallery of it at http://carzhunt.blogspot.com/2016/02/six-days-on-road-day-2-part-2.html
and they have a 1948 Nash towtruck
Ronnie Kaplan's #33 Javelin... 1970 Trans Am race car, it's a Red White and Blue color scheme I haven't seen before
Found on http://homeracingworld.yuku.com/topic/24746/javelin-livery
Get your Red White and Blue TA Javelin fix at http://www.tajavelin.com/photos.html