A Most Interesting Race Car

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2012: A Most Interesting Race Car
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Lance Sorenson, Minnesota on Saturday, December 15, 2012 - 03:18 pm:

This is what is said about this race car over on The Old Motor site: http://theoldmotor.com/

We have always wondered about this car, who built, who owned it, where was it raced? The photo has enough clues so that maybe the location can possibly be pieced together or hopefully one of our readers may know more about this “Ingenuity Special”.

It is modeled on a front-drive Miller and is based on Model T components. It features a Model T engine and transmission turned around and hooked up to the center section of a T differential. Like the Miller, it is equipped with a tubular front axle possibly from an early Franklin or Packard set on its side. Two types of U-joints are used for the half-shafts and the hubs and spindles are unknown components.

It appears to be equipped with an OHV racing head and based on the locations of the header and the down-draft Winfield carburetor, it may have been a Rajo. It is also on a set of professional grade racing wire wheels and has rear wheel brakes on a simple tube axle. Both ends of the car are sprung on quarter-elliptic springs.

The LaSalle just behind it is a 1930-1931, which dates the photo to at least that late. Note the Model T to the left with the “Auto Races” sign on the windshield along with what appear to be a several Model T based racers in the background. Let us know what you may know.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Layden Butler on Saturday, December 15, 2012 - 04:46 pm:

Am thinking the engine was turned around in the frame rather than drive off the nose. Intake on the reversed " left" and 3 exhaust tubes coming out the "right" would most likely make it an SR Fronty.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Erik Johnson on Saturday, December 15, 2012 - 04:50 pm:

Even though it is fuzzy, to me the LaSalle it sure looks like it has a Minnesota license. I can see the "B" on the left hand side of the plate - Minnesota "B" plates were for passenger cars that weighed one ton or more. For the 1930s, the following Minnesota plates would show up light background with dark digits in a black and white photograph: 1930, 1933, 1937, 1939.

Who has the original print in their possession? Looking at the original print with a magnifying glass, a person could probably tell the year of the license plate.

Also, the "ERSON" that can be seen on the tow truck in the second photo indicates a Swedish name such as Anderson or Peterson. That is another indication that Minnesota may be the location.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bob McDonald-Federal Way, Wa. on Saturday, December 15, 2012 - 05:00 pm:

Could it be a 4 wheel drive, push start only. Would like to see more pictures.

Bob


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Stan Howe Helena, Montana on Saturday, December 15, 2012 - 05:29 pm:

I WANT one!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jim Eubanks, Powell, TN on Saturday, December 15, 2012 - 05:39 pm:

With no run off bars or radius arm for the rear axle, that would be a dangerous situation to lock wheels with another race car! Looks like lots of smarts went into the design of that front end.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By ex trooper on Saturday, December 15, 2012 - 06:39 pm:

You can see the non-generator side of the engine with an upside down APCO replacement motor mount. troop


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Aaron Griffey, Hayward Ca. on Saturday, December 15, 2012 - 08:35 pm:

Seems like an awful hard way to have front wheel brakes.

With the transmission brake on the front and rockies on the rear... hmmm


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Wayne Sheldon, Grass Valley, CA on Saturday, December 15, 2012 - 08:43 pm:

It apparently was not a very successful racing car. I went on the oldmotor.com website and they have another photo of the car, badly wrecked. Really neat car for awhile though.
Drive carefully, and enjoy the holidays! W2


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By David Walker on Saturday, December 15, 2012 - 10:34 pm:

That tube axle looks like a Chrysler product; modified, of course, to accomodate the front wheel drive configuration. The photo was taken, at the earliest, in the mid-1930s.

I just saw this car in an old book about early racing, which I'd borrowed and returned. I'll ask the owner of that book to find the name.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mike Garrison on Saturday, December 15, 2012 - 11:52 pm:

I agree with Eriks observations. Although the only place I can imagine anyone racing cars of that nature would be at the State Fair Grounds. Unless they had tracks in Duluth,Superior, Mankato, St Cloud, Fargo or Rochester. I haven't been to the fair grounds for years but I remember some old railroad cars with a lot of photos and history about the track there. If it is a Minnesota plate it's just too bad a person can't make out what is just below the B. I think that's typically where the date would have went and the MINN would have been on the other end. Maybe the cottage cheese sign on the fence puts it in Wisconsin.

Lance, sorry to hear you haven't been feeling to good. You were missed at the Christmas party at Phil's today. I made sure to eat enough to cover for what you would have. You take care and get back to good health. You've been given a lot of chores to do for the club now. We're expecting you to clean up after everyone on the tours and we need somebody from that rich southern Minnesota farm country to buy the beer and hire the dancing girls. Seriously though, take care of yourself and get this taken care of. The meeting wasn't the same today without you. Besides Terry Knapek wouldn't quit crying because you weren't there to translate for Andy while he was attempting to read the minutes and conduct the meeting.


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