The Winged Express, driven by Wild Willie Borsch

A photo from the old master Photographer Walker Evans

Notice that the above is not a clip from the below, but another photo taken at the same photo shoot

1936 Atlanta http://www.shorpy.com/node/142 for the source of my finding this photo, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walker_Evans for more about the master photographer, and American icon

One of, maybe the most important and central, leaders of hot rodding passed away, Robert Petersen... founder of Hot Rod Magazine, and so much more

http://www.scta-bni.org/news/Deceased/petersen.htm

One of the most inspirational of all the pioneers of hot rodding, through the magazines he originated, Hot Rod and Motor Trend to name two, he inspired unknown millions to love hot rods and treasure the racing his generation began.

Lamborghini Tractors, then and now

Mickey Thompson tribute webpage

http://www.thompson-motorsports.com/mt.html

Barney Oldfield, American icon, record setter

Barney Oldfield was the first man to drive a car at 60miles per hour (100 kmh).

On Memorial Day in 1903 in New York, Oldfield drove a mile in a minute flat in another match-race victory. Two months later, he powered the car to a mile run in 0:55.8 and that was enough for Winton to hire Oldfield, complete with salary, expenses and free cars.

His accomplishments led to the expression "Who do you think you are? Barney Oldfield?"

In 1910, Oldfield bought a Benz, in which he broke all existing speed records for the mile, two miles, and the kilometer in special runs at Ormond Beach, Fla. After that, he was able to charge a whopping $4,000 for personal appearances, something he didn't mind at all.

Once suspended by the American Automobile Association, the sanctioning body of the day, because of his "outlaw" racing activities, much of Oldfield's legitimate racing career was lost during his prime.

However, he competed at Indianapolis after being reinstated and his best finishes were fifth in 1914 and 1916. Additionally, he ran the first 100 miles per hour lap in Indianapolis history.

http://digitaldoorway.net/The_Barney_Timeline.html

He helped found the Fisher Automobile Company, was a developer for Firestone tires, beat Winton (the founder of the Winton Car Company) in a Ford (by Fords requesting him as the driver), and had been inducted into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame, the International Motor Sports Hall of Fame, and the Motorsports hall of fame of America.

Legend, pioneer, innovator.

http://www.motorsportshalloffame.com/halloffame/1990/Barney_Oldfield_main.htm

http://xroads.virginia.edu/~class/am485_98/sarratt/barney.html

http://www.rumbledrome.com/barney.html

Mickey Thompson's murder solved by jury

The business partner and motocross race promotor Michael Goodwin, 61, now faces life in prison without the possibility of parole. He grabbed a sailboat for the Caribbean just after the murder and stayed out of the US for quite awhile. No physical evidence connects him to the murder committed by two black men who took off on bikes, and have never been seen again.

Trial information from the news says that they shot Mickey several times but assasinated his wife in from of him, before fatally shooting Mickey.

http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory?id=2771478
http://ktla.trb.com/news/ktla-thompsonverdict,0,3492982.story?coll=ktla-news-1
http://www.canyon-news.com/artman/publish/article_5176.php
http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2007/01/04/goodwin-found-guilty-in-mickey-thompson-murder/

Chip Foose

Some years from now Chip foose will be recognized as a brilliant businessman, and 2ndly for his fantastic career of designs. He is the youngest to ever be inducted in to the Hot Rod Hall Of Fame, 7 time winner of the AMBR award, 3 time Ridler award, and 6 time Good Guys Street Rod of the Year award.

He went through the prestigious Art School College of Design, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_Center_College_of_Design which is in Pasadena Ca. and which has had teachers like Ansel Adams, and graduates like designers Dick Teague (GM and AMC), Thomas Kinkade, and Syd Mead (Bladerunner, Aliens, and Tron).

Later he worked for Boyd Coddington as a part time designer and for J Mays (designer of the new Beetle and the retro Thunderbird), then went full time for Boyd, eventually becoming president and designer for Hot Rods by Boyd. Since Boyd is impossible for most everyone to work for (see any episode of American Hot Rod) and the business was on the edge of bankruptcy, soon went solo, and then made himself a household name for the Discovery channel show Overhaulin, and the many featured vehicle teamups for Mustangs, Camaro's, Challengers, Boydster II's. etc. http://www.chipfoose.com/gallery.aspx?LinkID=hplnk1

Carroll Shelby's personal Cobra sells for $5 million

Auction details here http://www.speedtv.com/articles/automotive/lifestyle/34919/ in 3 minutes it was $1.5 million, at the 4 minute mark $2 million, at 4:45 it was $3 million, at 5:30 minutes it was $4 million , and at the 8 minute mark it went out for $5 million.

The buyer is Ron Pratt, who paid 4.1 million last year for the GM Motorama bus. Who the competion was that got the price that high is something I'd like to know.

That is a monument to the man, the legacy, and the craze that auctioning rare cars is. It made US history, World history, and it feels insignificant to mention that it made auction history.
http://www.speedtv.com/barrett-jackson/ for the 8 minute feed from Speedtv's website.

click on the link to my earlier postings for more info, a copy of the 1968 Motor Trend article in full, and other links for more on Carroll Shelby's personal dual supercharged Cobra Super Snake.
http://elite-bike.blogspot.com/2006/12/meanest-cobra-ever-made-ever-carrols.html#links

A new Smokey story

1st source

Smokey Yunick once went to Daytona with a Chevelle, with the fenders covering the rear wheels. It gave him quite an aerodynamic advantage, but was going to make tire changing during the race a real problem.

Other owners complained, but Smokey pointed out that the rulebook said he could cut out the fenders if he wanted to, and he said that he didn't want to.

He ran with it, and the car qualified very high. As soon as the car qualified, he rolled it into the paddock, and started cutting metal from around the wheels.

Other owners complained.

Smokey pointed out that the rule books said he could cut them out, but didn't say when he had to.......

from http://www.bikeforums.net/archive/index.php/t-18185.html

2nd source

I belive it was the 67 or 68 Daytona 500 when Smokey Yunick entered a perfect 7/8ths scale Chevelle.

The car was lowered to the point that the tires were tucked up inside the wheel wells almost rubbing the sheet metal. The other teams ran with large cut-outs to clear the tires.

The teams all protested and NASCAR said there was nothing in the rule books saying the tires couldn't be tucked inside the fenders.

Smokeys car went out and easily won poll position. No other team could beat it during qualifying.

Prior to start of the race Smokey took a sawzall and cut the wheel openings to clear all the tires.

Again the other teams protested.

NASCAR said there's nothing in the rules that say he can't do that.

It was because of Smokeys 7/8ths Chevelle that NASCAR now uses templates to check body size and shape and wheel openings.

from http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-58834.html

Remember the 55 Chev in "American Graffitti"?

It isn't around anymore, unlike Milner's 32 duece, that resides here in San Diego. It went on to star in "Two Lane Blacktop", was modified, and destroyed during filming... http://blog.cardomain.com/blog/2008/04/55-chevy-from-t.html#more has a full write up

On the first day I bought my LAST musclecar, I was introduced to the coolest Burbank drive in

Pic from http://thehollywoodextra.blogspot.com/ cool website. Vince, if you read this, check through this blog for the AMX 2, and AMX 3 pics... Re: a comment you made about how it's a shame they weren't produced. Come to San Diego, in the Balboa Park Auto Museum, Dick Teague's wife donotated one, it's on permanent display.

A moment of style and panache, damn good photo

Dick Teague concept cars for AMC

AMX nose and Gremlin tail... but the color scheme is cool, tires and sidepipes are a damn good look

The beautiful AMX-3

http://e-carzone.com/american_motors/ source of the yellow AMX 3 pics, the only one painted yellow. Only 3 exist I think, it's the only yellow one.

The AMX 3 was the design of Dick Teague. A long time hot rodder, and head of design at AMC.

Dick Teague story written years ago, but a good story.

Listed in his current stable are two of only five AMX III concept, European-style sports cars hand-built in Italy in 1968.

He also has a production AMX 2-seater, a '60 Corvette, A '61 Berlinetta, a rare vintage Ferrari, 1906 and 1932 Packards, one of only six 1904 Ramblers extant, an early Polk-Hartford and his most prized possession -- a 1907 American (no kin to AMC) Underslung he recently acquired after a 35-year pursuit.

He considers it "the first American sports car," and its frame uniquely was placed under its springs. The low, hunkered-down appearance that resulted was striking during an era when most cars looked like phone booths on wheels.

Underslung's 476 cu.-in. (7.8L) 4-cyl. engine, good for 50 hp, stood out as well.

A witty, colorful storyteller, Mr. Teague recalls that while dating his wife-to-be, Marian, he told her he'd marry her if she ever located an Underslung.

Only 2,000 copies were built during the Indianapolis automaker's 1906-'13 existence. By Mr. Teague's count, only 27 survive. Marian, to his surprise, soon got wind of four -- all owned by one family in Pennsylvania. "She said 'I found an American Underslung. Now we'll have to get married.'" Mr. Teague chortles. He kept his vow the next year.

All four cars sat idle until restored in the mid-'60s. It took two more decades to convince the family to part with one, purchased new by its patriarch in 1907. Why'd they sell? "I guess it was my persistence," says Mr. Teague. "Maybe they felt it would get a good home."