Saturday, December 29, 2018

1964 Topps card of the Beatles racing go carts

George Harrison's Mini


George Harrison, considered the “quiet Beatle,” was actually the biggest gear head of them all. He enjoyed fast cars and was an avid Formula 1 racing fan. And although Lennon’s psychedelically painted Rolls-Royce Phantom V is perhaps the best-known Beatles automobile, Harrison’s similarly decorated 1966 Mini Cooper S isn’t far behind. In fact, the little car played a starring role in the Fab Four’s 1967 movie “Magical Mystery Tour,”


Shortly after production wrapped for “Magical Mystery Tour,” Harrison gave the head-turning Mini – with reg plates LGF 5960 – to close friend and fellow musician Eric Clapton. Clapton returned it to Harrison in the 1970s, but not before it was completely repainted. Since no one took detailed photos of the car wearing its original “Tanta Art,” the task of recreating the theme was eventually completed using old photos and images from the film.





https://www.hagerty.com/articles-videos/articles/2016/04/26/george-harrison-mini
http://clasp42.rssing.com/browser.php?indx=14584416&item=139

Photographer unknown, but really talented

cross country Rajo head

1957 Maserati 450S


The 450S made its first appearance at the 1957 Argentinian 1000 km race where it was driven by the Grand Prix drivers Juan Manuel Fangio and Stirling Moss. In the early stages of the race there was no one who could keep up with the storming 450S. The all new and complicated engine was remarkably reliable, although it failed to finish. The drivers were let down by a failing clutch, which after some clutchless gearshifts, caused the transmission to seize. At Sebring in March of that same year the 450S was in top form. This time there was no mechinical failure stopping the Modena based team from scoring their first victory. With the 450S in the hands of Fangio and Jean Behra victory was had.

At the Mille Miglia two months later victory was further away than ever. Jean Behra destroyed his 450S on the open roads before the race when, travelling at 150mph, a truck pulled out in front of him, there was no room to slow down or pass the truck. The Moss driven 450S did make it to the start but he had to retire 10 miles in the race with a broken brake pedal. Moss didn't have any luck at the Nürburgring 1000km either where he retired from first place in the 10th lap as a wheel came off.

For Le Mans Maserati brought out a low drag coupe version of the 450S for Moss to race. Ironically it proved to be slower than than the roadster bodied 450S due to major design flaws. In the race Moss showcased his ability and desire to win and piloted the underperforming coupe to second place, but in 38th lap he was let down by a failing rear axle and had to retire.




http://clasp42.rssing.com/chan-14584416/all_p23.html

one impressive looking beast


looks like an altered wheelbase gasser, and I can't remember ever seeing an altered wheelbase Olds 442 before

https://www.facebook.com/groups/stiffspeed/permalink/1631604083652868/

Friday, December 28, 2018

Coffee and donuts video for Saturday: NHRA mayhem, 2018. They are pushing the envelope of possible racing to the ragged limit, and often, blowing the engines up

I was just driving home, and found this parked on the street, completely a shock to me. I've never seen this in my neighborhood before









Thanks to Allen B for clanging my tip jar!


Imagine moving to a new city, and the neighbor has a hoard of musclecars they won't part with... but they die, and finally the cars get sold off in the estate sale, and you grab a 39k mile 440 six pack 4 speed 1970 Charger R/T


The fender tag rusted away years ago but, luckily, a mint broadcast sheet was found under the rear seat. Aside from the aforementioned 440 Six Pack (code E87) and A833 four-speed (D21), the Charger also came loaded with a 4.10 Sure-Grip Dana rear end (D58), charcoal and black vinyl bucket seats (C6XA), a console (C16), a woodgrain steering wheel (S81), front disc brakes (B41), performance hood paint (V21), tinted windows (G11), and a Tic-Toc-Tach (N85).


After rebuilding the locked-up original 440, Lou took care of the daily driver necessities with a new fuel pump, gas tank, sending unit, fuel lines, battery, water pump, brakes, and brake lines. The interior is mostly original with only the carpet needing replacement.

http://moparconnectionmagazine.com/finders-keepers-1970-dodge-charger-440-six-pack-barn-find-hits-the-road/

it's a VW Beetle, that looks like a Willys

the Barris 6 engined monster is up for auction again, right now there is no reserve, and there are no bids, yet.


full gallery and info from a post 3 years ago https://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2015/12/if-this-ever-had-landspeed-record-its.html

the engines are Ford 351s, and the photos on the auction are from this photo gallery from 3 or 4 years ago. It was bought and kept in a private collection since 2006, when it was bought for 30k, and in Jan 2018 they tried to sell it for $750,000 and there was no interest

https://online.handh.co.uk/m/lot-details/index/catalog/123/lot/43750

driven for 9 years, then parked in 1968, and never moved again until a dinner conversation with another GM engineer retiree turned toward a mutual affinity for old Corvettes

Bob Doucette has four grown children. The youngest two, who are 38 and 42, have never seen his Corvette driven because it has been parked since before they were born.



In 1968, this car was advertised for $600, not exactly cheap for what it was, but not expensive either.

Although a graduation present for the son, the 1955 delighted the father, as well. Bob drove the Corvette 60 miles home to a small town in West Texas, and over that summer he and his father got the car ready for Bob to drive.

The 1955 was not a creampuff. The numbers-matching V-8 was gone, replaced with a 283 bored to 301 cubic inches and further hot rodded with a Duntov cam. The amateur restoration had stalled out, which explains missing trim on the sides, front, and stone guards over both headlights.

His college ride was a ’66 Caprice two-door, but Bob drove his Corvette in the dual-use manner that Chevrolet intended, for street and track. He also joined a local Corvette club and participated in many shows throughout the next 9-10 years.

Then the car was stored as other life events occured and has spent the last 20 years in this, his father's, garage at the house Doucette was brought home from the hospital in — Doucette wanted to keep the car close to home, and became increasingly more nervous about the car over the years, going so far as boarding up the windows of the garage to keep people from being able to look in and see it.



Bob still derives enjoyment from owning the 1955, and is “comfortable” the car is “safe and out of the weather.” He also takes pride not to have “relinquished it and felt remorse selling,” as he has done with other vehicles over the years.

Finally though, family started asking about it, and he mentions in the video that they wouldn't have any attachment to the car like he does unless they get some seat time in it, and now that he's retired, it's finally time to get it out, get it running, and let the family enjoy it.

He has grandkids that are approaching prom days and have “expressed real interest to be delivered to the prom in the 1955 Corvette.”

this is a long, horribly editted video, and they don't start pushing it out of the garage until the 12:30 point.



http://www.superchevy.com/features/1812-barn-find-1955-corvette-roadster-never-for-sale/

Hal Vaughan spent Christmas traveling, on 6 different flights, to be with his daughter. Not because she was somewhere else, but because she was the flight attendant


Many families travel to be with their loved ones for the holidays but one father took things to a whole new level this Christmas – literally.

Pierce Vaughn, a Delta flight attendant, was scheduled to work Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. But her father wasn’t about to miss the holiday with his daughter.

"Hal decided he would spend the holiday with her. So, he is flying on each of her flights today and tomorrow around the country to spend time with his daughter for Christmas,"

Vaughan was flying on his daughter's staff travel benefits, and thus flew on standby throughout his journey. It's a risky maneuver, but he made it on each flight.

https://www.facebook.com/pierce.vaughan/posts/10219072046618060
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/flight-attendant-dad-delta-christmas-travel-503518271.html

Thursday, December 27, 2018

school bus driver surprised 70 students by getting them Christmas presents




Jenkins has worked for Richardson ISD for seven years and saved money from his paychecks this year in order to buy presents for the students on his daily route. His initial idea was to host a gift exchange, but when his wife Shaneqia pointed out that the kids’s families might not all be able to afford gifts, Jenkins decided to buy each of them what they asked Santa for instead.

"We talked about the things that they would want and I made a mental note of it and wrote it down," Jenkins said.

On the day before Christmas break the 70 gifts were all onboard, including puzzles, electronics and even a bike.

Jenkins, who has worked for Richardson ISD for seven years, said he remembered being the child who didn't get much for Christmas.

"I had an auntie that would buy a pack of socks and she would give us all one pack of socks and wrap it," Jenkins said. "When you're going to school and you have a hole in your socks, that new pair of socks meant something to you."

Jenkins said his work is his calling and he hoped to show each child they have value and are loved.

https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/Richardson-School-Bus-Driver-Surprises-Students-with-Gifts-503420831.html
http://tywkiwdbi.blogspot.com/2018/12/how-to-do-christmas.html
https://www.facebook.com/LakeHighlandsElementary/photos/a.631045276941766/2126689870710625/?type=3
https://twitter.com/JHubenHawkeye/status/1076250078652841986

Check out Bruce's book!

Thanks for clanging the tip jar Tim D!


oh, this is a genius spin on the old christmas classic

Finally, someone compared oil filters! The right way!



Long and the short of it, get Napa/Wix filters

https://www.facebook.com/DoRite-Fabrication-411460772376180/

Packard in line 12, only one was made


Packard made one running copy in 1929, and Warren Packard personally tested it for six months ... until he died in a plane crash. After his death, the luxurious convertible was dismantled, and the unique engine was destroyed.

https://motor.ru/selector/fokusyscilindrami.htm
https://macsmotorcitygarage.com/packards-1929-straight-12-experiment/?fbclid=IwAR0d4I2cc30s1_6i7ZR1yhk8xty5y0acT1o_Thv02BhJoQplVoGlkAIOXkg

I'm not sure if I posted about these before, The Boy Mechanic book series, a set that was printed from 1915 - 1925 with a new book coming out every couple of years.

Never seen an 8 track speaker test cartridge before