100 mph Model T Fords ?

[Rich Bingham]

'Twas legal if they could do it !!

[Kevin Pharis]

There were a few of em back then that would...

Back when the racers would drive their cars to the track But if they did... who could catch catch em to write the ticket

[David Mazza]

Here’s another. The earliest gow job model t roadsters are hands down the coolest ever. I’m sure most car guys know weiand superchargers!

[John Warren]

[Harry Lillo]

This old board track racer should be able to do the speed limit.

[Les Schubert]

This picture taken about 1986 of me in #21!
It was easily capable of freeway speed. I sold it because I became afraid of killing my self!! The guy that brought it got a ticket for 92 mph and he had slowed somewhat!!
It still exists.

[OilyBill]

If any of you have ever heard of a guy named "Blacky Gold", he is one of the few that probably did it regularly. He was a founding member of the Southern California Timing Association, and a hot-rodder from the 1930's on.
I met him when I was a member of the "Old Pueblo Regional Group" of the HCCA, back in the 1980's He was also a member of the "Tucson Touring T's" until his death.
All the big names in hot-rodding, such as Iskenderian, Edelbrock, etc were people he knew, and had been in their garages, raced with them , and went out for burgers with, after racing at the lakebeds that are now Edwards Air Force Base. He told me that he was never fast enough to set records, being always just 2-3 mph slower than the people he was racing against. He said the difference was that THEIR cars arrived on a trailer, and were only good for racing, whereas he DROVE his there, and all his cars were perfectly fine just running on the streets with regular cars in traffic. In the 1960's, he worked as a machinist on spacecraft at the Jet Propulsion Lab in Pasadena. He showed me samples of his work, that were trial pieces from research satellites that he helped build, when he was working out the machining required to generate the actual finished parts.
He helped me assemble my first Model A engine, and I have a treasured picture of him during the engine assembly. (He didn't like being photographed, and this was one of the few times he ever let anyone take his picture. I was very touched.) He refused any payment for his services, and would only let me buy him lunch. I think this was one of the last engines he ever built, as he was in his 90's by that time, and was slowing down. He drove over to my house in in 1932 Ford V-8 Coupe, which was bone stock, and an absolutely beautiful car. As you would expect, it purred like a contented cat. When he was downsizing, he gave me a complete set of the HCCA Gazettes, from the 1950's on. The only issues he kept were a few issues that had picture of his beloved late wife, Jewel, in them, from their touring activities in the 60's and 70's.
He worked with Ken Petrick in Tucson at Ken's shop, and they must have built hundreds of Model T engines, including putting in Model Al crankshafts, and installing pressure oiling systems, over a 40 year period. Ken had a tremendous reputation as a Model T engine expert himself, and was also an incredibly gifted machinist as well.
When you think about what these guys managed to accomplish, in the early years of car restoration and hot rodding, it is pretty incredible.

[Rob]

109 mph, but not really a T. Four cylinder 410 cu. in.. A wolf in sheeps clothing......

[John Warren]

100 mph in these old cars had to be scary, I don't like driving mine over 65,even though it is probably capable of the 100 mph club. Frank was truly an amazing man.

[YellowTRacer]

Since old #4 is pictured in this group I thought I'd better add some details. First a few details of explanation as to why number 4 might be a little special achieving that century mark. I'll try and not get long winded. Stock equipment: Stock T steering, crankshaft, camshaft, con. rods, splash oiling system, and transmission (with Scandanavia band lining).Period accessory stuff; Pearlman 30 X 3 1/2 artiliary (wood spoke) wheels, Hy-Grade front radius rods, Rajo B cyl. head, Ruckstell rear end with 3 to 1 gears, Muncie selective gear transmission, Master external contracting rear wheel brakes.
Alright, with that said, it sounds like most of you are wondering what it's like to go 100 in a Model T, so lets take a short fast ride with me. We'll go through a couple of gear changes and reach 60 MPH before shifting to our final gear. Anything under that speed and we'd be lugging the engine (don't forget T crank, don't lug it!). At around 80 MPH we're beginning to feel some vibration (the engine has never been balanced, the simple balancing system that I use on my front Pearlman wheels is only better than nothing, and I'm running old original Wards Riverside tires, (an absolute great 30 X3 1/2 tire but sometimes as much is 1/2"+ out of round) The vibration only gets stronger as the speed increases, you just have to somehow try to ignore it. Looking at the radiator cap it's vibrating back and forth as well as the steering column. Those are the two things most noticeable. Old #4 has an extremely rare Stewart 120 MPH speedometer so a glance at that kind of keeps you honest. Oh, I've also at times dared to look down at the steering tie rod and it's doing an imitation of the radiator neck. With the tall gear ratio in the final gear, at 100 MPH the engine is not screaming but it feels like its nearing it's final out put. In short that's pretty much it.

Ed aka #4

[John Warren]

Hi Ed, sorry about throwing you in the ring but you and your car belongs there. Thank you for chiming in.

[YellowTRacer]

Not a problem John, I'm honored to even be mentioned in that mix.

Ed aka #4