1953 Indianapolis 500

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=26677243198528732&set=oa.1933720567242807&idorvanity=1083885655764610

imagine, for a moment, how cool it would be to take this 49 Kurtis onto El Mirage for fun!

The first of two “Front-wheel-drive Specials” built for Gil Pearson by Frank Kurtis, and among the last designed by legendary engineer Leo Goossen

Powered by a 270-cu. in. Meyer-Drake Offenhauser engine with twin Riley carburetors and Bosch mag

Used in the 1949 film, The Big Wheel, starring Mickey Rooney

Sympathetically preserved and subsequently exhibited at the 2001 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance

 https://rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/mo23/monterey/lots/r0189-1949-kurtis-kraft-pearson-fwd-special/1377160

do you want the final racing car built by Frank Kurtis? It's got a 327, Halibrands, and Airheart Disc Brakes

When Frank Kurtis was ready to retire in 1962, he and his renowned staff designed and built a small batch of beautifully styled two-seater sports racing cars, and this car in particular, chassis 62-S1, took the concept one step further. 

It was commissioned by a Houston auto parts distributor and motorcycle racer turned race car driver. He thought an Indy-type car would be an excellent basis for SCCA competition, and Frank Kurtis suggested that one could be built for both open-wheel Formula 366 and sports car races by designing a car with quickly removable fenders via Dzus fasteners. 

It is the only Kurtis-Kraft racing car built with a dual-purpose body.

https://www.goodingco.com/lot/1962-kurtis-kraft-aguilla 

Ray Evernham is selling his car collection, 32 cars and 1 engine at Mecum Auctions upcoming Indianapolis Auction Thanks Mike!

https://www.mecum.com/auctions/indianapolis-2022/collections/ray-evernham-collection/
https://www.facebook.com/rayevernhamenterprises/posts/515694680224681

It's got an Offy, and 3 straight wins at Pikes Peak, and is coming to auction, the 1952 Kurtis Kraft 4000 that Bobby Unser himself won in could be yours on May 18th

https://www.hagerty.com/articles-videos/articles/2019/04/25/bobby-unsers-1952-kurtis-kraft-uphill-battle

1952 Kurtis Kraft Midget coming to auction in June

https://www.proxibid.com/Vintage-Kurtis-Kraft-Midget-Racecar/lotInformation/47211324

1947 Kurtis Kraft midget racer is coming to auction, with trailer. You better get this, there aren't many left, and they aren't going to come to auction much more in the future

https://www.proxibid.com/Rare-1947-Kurtis-Kraft-Chimnery-Midget-Racecar-and-Trailer/lotInformation/47211320

six midget racers are coming to auction in December from the Rolland racing museum collection

Hiram Hillegass was working at Mack in 1919 when he began building race cars, and would become as well known as Kurtis for his sprint cars.

Following the war, both car builders and racers looked for an alternative to the recycled production car frames that had been the basis of many pre-war cars.

Many of these individuals had worked in the aircraft and defense industries during the war, and brought from it some lessons. Car builders began to use large diameter, high strength steel tubing for frame rails. Rigid, rugged, and straight forward to build and repair, these tube frames caught on quickly.

Hillegass quickly realized the practicality of frames made from lightweight, strong tubing, and quickly developed his own design which he offered as a chassis and body package for $925.

This example was a nitro burning flathead Ford, with a Meyer intake, Spencer heads, Stromberg carbs, gold leaf numbers, and knock off Weld rims

this one is Offy powered

Flathead Ford, Strombergs, knock off Welds

not a Hillegass

Kurtis Kraft

http://www.leakecar.com/consignments/?auction_filter=ROLL17&year_filter&make_filter&model_filter&run_day_filter&pagenumber=1&sort_by=make%2C%20model

Bob Hope, a favorite celeb of mine with ties to a lot of car stuff, and Bing Crosby... with another odd tie in to the vehicle world, a Kurtis Kraft Pikes Peak racer

What about the name Esmeralda and the laughing horse?

 Bob Hope and Bing Crosby sponsored the car at the 1951 Indianapolis 500.

 Both were golf enthusiasts and played at the Esmeralda Open golf tournament in 1949.

Which was ran by the “Spokane Athletic Round Table” In 1950, the ART was developing a new golf course. Their emblem was a Laughing Horse head inside a circle.

Bob Hope and Bing Crosby used that logo on the race car to help the group raise funds to build the new Esmeralda Golf Course.

http://www.racingpastdevilsplayground.com/2017/02/01/bing-crosby-bob-hope-clark-gable-and-the-pikes-peak-hill-climb/

the last Hope and Crosby surprise was the soap box derby cars http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2016/12/the-goofballs-bob-hope-and-bing-crosby.html and Hope's Challenger http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2017/06/bob-hopes-1970-challenger-rt-440-727-ac.html 

once upon a time in California, cities owned race cars. Ever wonder what your city assets are? Like, does it own a supercharged 427 Kurtis Kraft undefeated race car?

1950 Kurtis-Kraft KK3000 (which came in 2nd in 1950), rebuilt as a promotional item fitted with a Boeing gas-turbine engine for demo laps at the 1955 Indy 500.

http://www.progcovers.com/motor/hagerstown551016.jpg

1952 Kurtis Kraft champ race car / Blakely Oil Special

dirt track racing at the 1938 Iowa state fair

http://natgeofound.tumblr.com/post/49860843567/race-cars-roar-around-the-track-at-the-iowa-state

the race cars at the Art Center Car Classic 2012

For a gallery of this at the Desert Classic earlier this year http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2012/03/blakely-special-52-was-at-desert.html