Tether car knowledge

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got10carz
Posts: 496
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 6:37 pm
First Name: Steve
Last Name: Meixner
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1911,13,14,19,23,25,26,27
Location: Moorhead MN
MTFCA Number: 28023
MTFCI Number: 20471

Tether car knowledge

Post by got10carz » Sat Sep 24, 2022 1:05 pm

This group is so diversified, who has tether knowledge, especially from the early 50s. Please call or message me, Steve 701 212 5009


TXGOAT2
Posts: 6435
Joined: Sun Feb 14, 2021 10:08 pm
First Name: Pat
Last Name: McNallen
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926-7 roadster
Location: Graham, Texas
MTFCA Number: 51486
Board Member Since: 2021

Re: Tether car knowledge

Post by TXGOAT2 » Sat Sep 24, 2022 1:22 pm

Usually used with horses (?)


Topic author
got10carz
Posts: 496
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 6:37 pm
First Name: Steve
Last Name: Meixner
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1911,13,14,19,23,25,26,27
Location: Moorhead MN
MTFCA Number: 28023
MTFCI Number: 20471

Re: Tether car knowledge

Post by got10carz » Sat Sep 24, 2022 2:37 pm

Sorry, I thought people had a rough idea of what they are. They're miniature sprint cars maybe 12"-18" long powered by a motor. There was a rope( tether) attached and they raced in a circle. Some also hooked the left side wheels to the track.


TXGOAT2
Posts: 6435
Joined: Sun Feb 14, 2021 10:08 pm
First Name: Pat
Last Name: McNallen
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926-7 roadster
Location: Graham, Texas
MTFCA Number: 51486
Board Member Since: 2021

Re: Tether car knowledge

Post by TXGOAT2 » Sat Sep 24, 2022 7:25 pm

Interesting. I recall motorized model planes that were tethered to a post with a 2-cable control arrangement. Some were plastic, and some were balsa framed with paper or fabric covering. The exhaust had a nice scent.


otrcman
Posts: 366
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 2:25 pm
First Name: Dick
Last Name: Fischer
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1912 Touring
Location: Arroyo Grande, CA

Re: Tether car knowledge

Post by otrcman » Sat Sep 24, 2022 8:55 pm

Tether cars were very popular back in the late '40's & early '50's out in California. As an antique model airplane hobbiest, I know a little about them And I do have a couple of the engines of the type that powered the cars. One is a McCoy 60 and the other is a Dooling 61. There were other popular engines, but the Dooling was probably the top of the heap.

"Garage" is what the enthusiasts called their carrying case, consisting of the car and associated components necessary to run the car. About five years ago I saw a complete "garage" for sale at Bakersfield. The cars and components are highly collectable and are kind of pricey. The one I saw at the swap meet was priced at $2900.

I only saw the cars run once. My father took me to a tether car track in the town of Eagle Rock, which would be very near to Pasadena. As a little kid, the experience was rather terrifying. We stood pretty close to the edge of the track and even as a small child I could visualize one of the cars breaking its tether and hitting me.

Maybe that's why my Dad never took me back.

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A Whiteman
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First Name: Adrian
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* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926 TT, 1924 Colonial Roadster, 1924 'Bullnose' Morris, 1925 'Bullnose' Morris, 1936 JD AR
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Re: Tether car knowledge

Post by A Whiteman » Sat Sep 24, 2022 11:48 pm

They are still a thing it seems:

http://www.amrca.com/

It seems they get over 200 MPH from these!

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