I was privileged to be present at Lincoln , Nebraska when my good mate Doug Partington's Wickner Ford Special was honoured at the Speedster and Racer Hall of Fame awards for 2013. The Board of Directors of the Model T Ford Club of America ( MTFCA ) Speedster and Racer Hall of Fame selected the car as the 2013 Restoration of the Year.
Congratulations Doug.
Here is a link to a Forum discussion regarding the Car. This will provide some background History of the Car.
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/257047/288433.html
What a great looking car.
Did he bring the car over from Australia for the event?
Here's a great story about the car and its owner/restorer: http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/257047/The_Wikner_Ford_Special_1922_Story-2 88434.pdf
Doug gave a wonderful talk and slide show about the car. It's a great story about perseverance, passion for the hobby, and about this marvelous race car.
Thank you for starting the thread John, and congratulations to you, Doug. There were two generations along with Doug to share in the event, his son and grandson. It certainly was a pleasure to meet them all and share in the moment.
Rob
Congratulations Doug. My first drive of a Model T was not my Dads, but Doug's! He was game enough to let a young kid drive a 1912 T around his yard and then his son let me drive his newly restored speedster around the yard. I always liked the T's but after having those drives I was hooked and had to have one of my own! Thanks Doug, I will always remember those drives and now encourage young kids to drive my T's whenever I can.
I very much remember reading postings about this car before. I thought then that it should be placed among the best at the Speedster racer Hall of Fame. I am so glad it has been done.
I recommend reading the links above. It is a special car with wonderful historic connections, that has been well, and properly, preserved by the right person.
All too often, the history of early speedsters and racers has been lost to time. The early T era cars became worn out and beat up badly, then often junked as "just old stuff". Many were scrapped for the later war efforts. When the antique automobile hobby was getting going in the late '40s and '50s, most common speedsters and racers were considered "molested" cars and parted out in order to aid in the restoration of "proper antique automobiles". Thousands of bits and pieces are scattered around the country and still show up often at swap meets (look around the junkiest rust). However far too few intact cars survive. And most that do survive, the names of original owners and the car's own history have been lost.
All this makes the Wikner Ford Special just that much more special. It and Doug Partington deserve to be honored!
Congratulations!
Drive carefully, and enjoy, W2
Dear Doug, I knew you had the 1911 but not this racing car. Congratulations mate! Coooey Cobber!!
Elise and I wish to add our congratulations to Doug and his family.
We thank also the powers that be for choosing this wonderful vehicle as the 2013 Restoration of the Year.
Congratulations and welcome home Doug and John
Congratulations Doug, well Deserved!
G'day Mark,
Thanks for posting the picture. That is a good one of Doug and his boys. It was a memorable time. I guess that this means you have arrived home. Hope you had a good flight home.
Best regards, John
Great picture Mark. Must have been good to have a group of Aussies over there together! I had forgotten Doug's son Bruce's name. It was Bruce's speedster that I drove followed by Doug's 1912 Touring that excited me to go home and go over Dads rust piles to start building a T of my own. I also remember the name of Doug's property was 'Highland Park'. The significance of that was lost on me as a young kid but I find it amusing now that only true Ford nut would name their home after the factory his car was made in!
Doug gave a nice talk with lots of pictures in the afternoon. The part that impressed me was that during the restoration they put it back together the way it was built, warts and all. If there was an issue that gave problems he left it that way so it is actually just as it was built. Doug said he could have made so simple improvements but thought it very important to make it as built. He has all the data on its racing history with copious printed matter from start to finish.