Hello all,
It appears that my last post had the attachment removed, so I will post
the first installment in the email.
Tom, Redding CA - #216 D/GCC
The Roadster years, first installment...
My first year to run in the D/GR class at El Mirage and Bonneville was
1959. For a few years we were "King of the Hill" at El Mirage, setting
many records, running almost as fast at El Mirage as we did at
Bonneville. I just couldn't seem to get things right for the long run.
We were also very successful at the < mile drags throughout Southern
California, holding the National Record for top speed a couple of times
and at every strip we ran, (Riverside, Santa Ana, Colton, Fontana, San
Gabriel, San Fernando, Santa Maria[we made one trip there claiming the
record and Top Eliminator for our trouble]) except Long Beach where I
had exceeded the record but never tore down to claim the record.
We had been introduced to the longer runs at El Mirage through joining
the Road Runners (SCTA) in 1956. As time went on, I lost interest in the
< mile drags and focused on El Mirage and Bonneville, except in the
winter months when SCTA held < mile (and later = mile) drag races to
keep the membership tuned and ready for the coming season.
In 1959 our best time was 154.37 MPH at El Mirage. At Bonneville, we
burned a piston on the first run, worked all night making repairs. After
richening the mixture and retarding the timing, next morning posted a
run of 154.63 MPH, qualifying for record runs. The following morning we
warmed up the engine and because it seemed a bit flat, I advance the
timing a couple of degrees. The down run ended short of the quarter with
two rods in the pan.
This was a 300 cu. in. Desoto that was fueled by six Stromberg "97s" on
a home made Crower log manifold. We broke lots of rods (stock rods)
during the time we ran the Desoto. After getting together enough money
to buy a set of Don's Boxed Rods the rod problem was corrected. However,
at the Colton Drag Strip one Saturday evening, it was revealed to me the
primary cause for the rod failure that we had experience in the past.
As I have already said, we ran six carburetors and we ran a pressure
system, which was the popular method of delivering the fuel in those
days. That night, while waiting to make a run, the starter gave me a get
ready to go signal two or three times, only to hold me for another car
to run. Each time I got the signal, I pumped up the pressure in the fuel
tank and waited for the OK to push off. Once I finally was pushed off
the line, when I released the clutch to fire the engine, it shuddered
and then fired. It didn't sound quite right so I shut the engine off and
returned to the pits. It became obvious that we had internal engine
problems so we loaded up and went home.
When I disassembled the engine, I found that we had pulverize a piston,
the rod, however was good as gold. It seemed evident that our rod
breakage in the past had been because fuel leaked into the cylinders and
since liquid doesn't compress the rod would bend, causing it to break at
RPM. This was revealed at a time when I already had the four cylinders
in the motor sleeved. The fifth sleeve was installed.
In 1960 we ran 156.79 MPH at El Mirage. I don't have any record of our
speed at Bonneville that year, but I suspect that we ran about the same
speed. 1961 saw a bit better performance at El Mirage with a time of
163.33 MPH. Our speed at Bonneville was 162.45 MPH. After Bonneville,
because the last sleeve we had installed was leaking water into the
crankcase and since we were using the 292 Desoto block which was very
difficult to find, I had to make a decision. Either I scour the
wrecking yards trying to find another block, or yield to the suggestion
that I install a Chevrolet engine that had been stored in my shop for a
couple of years. It didn't take too long for me to realize that the
Chevrolet parts were more readily available and much cheaper also. So I
said good-bye to the Desoto which had served me well at the Drags and
the Lakes and installed the Chevy.
In 1962 the El Mirage speed down a bit at 162.45 MPH, but the Bonneville
speed was up to 170.13 MPH, the best yet by almost 8 MPH. In 1963 we ran
a best of 166.66 at El Mirage and 168.85 at Bonneville. Still not taking
advantage of the long runs. 1964 at El Mirage 166.66 again and 152.54 at
Bonneville. ...to be continued
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