Land speed group: 4:15PM PST
HAPPY THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY TO ALL!
For too often we forget all the we have to be thankful for in the good
old USofA. Even the poorest among us are rich compared to many in this
world. God has blessed these United States. Let us thank Him for his
Mercy, non of us really wants Justice.
Keith asked me to expand on the Pierson Coupe story and my involvement,
so here goes...
In early 1980, I was approached by Dick Schell, a "shade tree mechanic"
in the Redding area, who told me he had purchased an old Bonneville
Coupe that had been stored, for about fifteen years, in a barn on "Old
44" highway east of Redding. He knew that I had a Bonneville roadster
and came to me for a copy of the rules, so he could properly prepare the
coupe for Bonneville. I am always thrilled when new people show an
interest in Bonneville, so naturally, I gave him the latest rule book
and offered to put an engine it, since I had a spare motor, when he got
the car ready.
A few months passed and one day he came to our shop, telling me that he
was getting discouraged with the project (we all know how much work, and
expense is involved in preparing a car to run). There was a Street Rod
Event in the San Francisco area that he wanted to attend, needing to
raise some money, he asked if I knew anyone who wanted to buy it. I told
him that I didn't. However, after he left, I couldn't get the coupe idea
out of my mind, so I made a trip out to his place to see the car.
When I saw the car, it was really ugly, but I saw something different in
my mind's eye. I set out to convince my wife that I should purchase the
coupe. Unfortunately, she saw the same ugly car that I saw, but didn't
have my vision. It was difficult, but through convincing argument, and
some bribery, I suppose, I really don't remember, she relented. So, I
called Dick and made an offer. My offer was $600 less than he paid, but
he finally concurred, if he could keep the engine, (a basically stock
Pontiac) and the early Ford transmission. That suited me since I really
had no need of those items.
It was mid-June. Speedweek was only about two months in the future and I
had lots of work to do if I would make the meet. You have to remember
that I was only fifty years young and had considerable more energy than
I do at present. The car still had a stock enclosed driveline. I had to
order parts for the quick-change to convert it to an open driveline, but
most everything else was "grunt work."
We did get the car ready, I borrowed a trailer, and we headed to
Bonneville with two cars, a D/FR and a D/GCC. Since I had been unable to
come up with a rear drive shaft yoke that I needed, I manufactured one.
Unfortunately, after a couple of runs, which yielded times in the
mid-170's, I was up to the starting line just at dusk, when I put the
car in gear and found that I had lost connection to the rear axle. As we
were pushing it off to the side, a photographer came up and wanted to
take a picture of us, the coupe and an enormous moon that was just
rising. Naturally, as all other racers, I have an enormous ego, so
gladly agreed to be photographed. (The picture appeared in Sports
Illustrated a couple of years later) This was my first indication that I
had purchased a car that would draw lots of attention over the next
eleven years. Through the rest of the week, while the car was residing
in the pits, people were constantly stopping to take pictures of the
car. A few asked, "Is the Pierson Coupe?" I had no idea since I had not
yet become aware of what the Pierson Coupe was. Phil Fruediger, stopped
and looked the car over and said, "This is the Pierson Coupe. I
recognize the clutch and brake assembly I made while partners with and
driving for Tom Cobb." They were the last to run the car at Bonneville
before I brought it to the Salt in 1980.
Through the next several years, just about ever time I appeared at an
event, some one would give me more information about the car. The
history of the car as best I can recount is as follows:
August 1949 it made its first appearance at the Russetta Lakes meet.
Owners, Bob & Dick Pierson were also running a 1936 coupe at that time.
The First time at Bonneville was 1950, and then 1951 under the same
ownership. Dick went into the military service and in 1952 Dawson Hadley
purchased the car and his partner was ? Evans (I'm not sure the first
name, but I have talked to Mr. Evans at the Muroc events). They ran the
car for a year or two, then George Bentley (of Sadd, Bentley, & Teague)
bought the car. Tom Cobb then borrowed (or bought) the car from George
and ran at Bonneville setting the record in C/CC at 187.987 in 1956,
using a blown Chevy for power. Eventually his best one-way time was 196+
MPH, last running the car in 1958.
Bob Joehnck purchased the car in 1959 and installed a Chrysler with
plans to take it to Bonneville, but decided to scrap the plans after
attending the Bakersfield National ¼ mile meet where he experienced
handling problems. He sold the car to one of his employees. A fellow (I
don't remember his name) was driving down the street in Santa Barbara
and saw the coupe parked at the curb, he stopped and inquired about the
possibility of purchasing it and was successful. This gentleman was in
our shop for some service one day when I was working on the car. He told
me that he brought the car to Redding and put in storage. His son sold
it without his knowledge! He said that although he was terribly upset
with his son, he was glad to see that it was in good hands.
I met Dick at the Lakes in 1984, I believe, and spent some time
discussing the car and its history. I met Bob a couple of years later
when he stopped by our shop and spent a few hours with me, catching up
on what the car had been doing. Both Bob and Dick and their wives have
become dear friends, following the car just about every where we ran
until I sold the car the end of 1991. Bob says that I made him famous,
which really isn't too far from the truth.
Both Bob and Dick have capitalized on the fame of the car and I am happy
for them, they certainly are entitled since they conceived and built the
car, but very likely the car would have been forgotten by most of those
who remember it, if we hadn't given it the exposure. Certainly, the
younger generations would not have known of the car if it hadn't been
for the press it received while we campaigned it. The car has appeared
in most USA hot rod publications, and in at least two overseas (Italy
and New Zealand) magazines.
I am very thankful to the Piersons for having built such a great car. I
am proud to have been a part of its history. The only regret I have is,
it was never MY car it was always, and always will be, the Pierson
Coupe. Although, I do occasionally get a mention as being the last owner
before the restoration. I guess that is the main reason for staying with
the '34 coupe when I built the new car. When I look at it, I see the
Pierson Coupe with streamlining and it is known as Tom Bryant's car!
The Pierson Coupe is now safely in good hands. If I had continued to run
the coupe, it is likely that it would have eventually been destroyed
resulting in possible serious injury or death to the driver. The car was
going too fast for its age and the quality of its construction. After
all the car had been a race car for forty-two years when I sold it. The
new owner, Bruce Meyer, is a super person and his joy is received from
restoring and preserving various vintage vehicles and race cars for
future generations. The Pierson Coupe is one of his most prized
possessions. A real tribute when you see his collection of cars which
includes a Duesenberg touring car that is said to be valued at more than
million dollars.
There is so much that I could say about this car. Maybe I'll write a
book!
Happy Holidays
Tom from Redding CA
Keith Turk wrote:
>
> Hey Tom.... Tell us the story of how you ended up with this car... K
>
> ----------
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