When we talk about the roots of hot rodding going back to the Thirties, we can't help but wonder how that sounds to the ghosts of the old timers who'd raced the first automobiles a century ago or longer. Cars weren't owned by ordinary people back then, so early competitions couldn't really be called grassroots racing. It didn't take too long for that to change. Ford's Model T made car ownership a reality for a lot more people, and hillclimbs and time trials were their way to race. This type of racing grew in popularity in the first half of the century and again in the '50s. There was something of a hillclimb revival in the '70s. Nowadays, time trials and hillclimbs have made another comeback with four-banger fans. Groups like F.A.S.T. (Ford "A" Speed Technology) are keeping history alive, racing the way our go-fast forefathers did. All you need is a few cars and trucks, some timing equipment, and a hill. In fact, you don't even need the hill. This summer's F.A.S.T. Santa Margarita Ranch Time Trials took place at a private airstrip halfway between LA and San Francisco-not much incline but lots of fun. The event was open to streetable, stock, or modified '34 and earlier vehicles, built in the pre-War style and running vintage Ford T, A, or B four-cylinder engines. The cars are raced one at a time on a timed tenth-mile course, starting from a dead stop. The day attracted just over a dozen competitors and a large crowd of spectators. The action lasted from about 9 o'clock and finished up around 3 o'clock, after everybody had a chance to make as many passes as they wanted.
To find out more about F.A.S.T. and for information about upcoming events around the country, go to their website at www.hotforhotfours.com.
No self-respecting hot rod...
No self-respecting hot rod race can start without an enthusiastic leaping flagman. In this case, Dennis Howland handled starting duties and did a great job keeping things moving and making sure the drivers were safe and ready to run.
Built from a new Brookville...
Built from a new Brookville '29 Model A roadster body, an original A frame, and milk cartons full of parts, Jack Dewar's highboy turned out beautiful. It's powered by a Forties-era Gemsa engine. Joe Gemsa, "King of the Four-Bangers," was a Sprint car racer who specialized in four-cylinder performance. A Chevy carb connects to a homemade manifold. The V-8 trans spins a quick-change rear.
David Wheeler started working...
David Wheeler started working on this T speedster when his son, also David, was in grade school. That was a while ago. Here, the younger David did most of the driving. The '23 Model T block is topped with a Rajo overhead valve cylinder head and overhead exhaust-"true overhead." A Model A crank and cam were adapted to the block, fed by a single Winfield carb. The aluminum body wears a grille shell from a '15 Maxwell.
Cap Weir ran a garage in the...
Cap Weir ran a garage in the teens and '20s, which his grandson Jim Weir advertises on the bed of his '24 Ford pickup. Jim bought the Model TT truck (a C cab and Express Body bed on a 1-ton chassis) three years ago and overhauled the whole thing. The 176ci T engine makes 20hp at 1,900 rpm. The suspension is stock and the rear gears were swapped from 7.25s to 5.25s. This was his first time racing, but Jim's learning quick. The hay bale in the bed, "is to keep from spinning the rear tires."
This close-to-stock '29 Model...
This close-to-stock '29 Model A sedan delivery was driven approximately 250 miles from Orange County to race in Santa Margarita. "Cigar Larry" McCullah (seated) owned his first Model A delivery when he was 15 and has had this one for three years. It runs a stock block with a Winfield head and Riley intake, with a Mitchell synchro transmission with overdrive. The interior features '65 Mustang seats.
That morning, Marcel Davignon...
That morning, Marcel Davignon said his '30 coupe does 70 mph in the quarter-mile and might go 60 here (it went 50.59). The flathead is modified with insert bearings, an Isky cam, Winfield head, and a pair of 97s on an old Jackson manifold. The transmission is a C4, and the quick-change is from New Zealand. Marcel has owned the coupe for 10 years and driven it almost every day for eight.
One of the most remarkable...
One of the most remarkable hot rods on the scene was Max McLain's original steel '29 roadster. Pat Gary built the remarkable engine, finished at midnight before the event. In addition to the custom manifold, Gary built the custom cam, and billet rods and pistons. And check out the air horns on the Strombergs. The Jenkins heads came from Australia and are similar to Riley heads, but with a single center valve instead of two valves.
Before Bill Garnett bought...
Before Bill Garnett bought this '29 roadster pickup in 1965, it was a black, full-fendered Pacific G&E work truck. The Weiand flathead engine (built by H&H) features dual Stromberg 48s on a Burns manifold. Bill sits on a Chrysler minivan middle seat; a pair of boat jumpseats was added to the bed. This is another almost-daily-driven car and, in addition to Santa Margarita, Bill participates in the Pasadena Reliability Run. "This is what my father wouldn't let me have when I was 16," Bill confessed.
In addition to helping organize...
In addition to helping organize the Time Trials in Santa Margarita, Phil Farber is an avid competitor, racing his T roadster in the class for flathead-powered speedsters. It's a '27 body on top of a '29 Model A chassis, with a '32 mill. The engine has a pair of 97s atop a Thomas intake, with a Winfield head. The car was built by Model T racer Rosie Roussel, who used this as his street car. Phil bought the car earlier this year.
Keith Loomis used Mark Dees'...
Keith Loomis used Mark Dees' history of Harry Miller as his guide in building this '25 Miller-inspired car. The wheelbase is the same as a '25 Miller and the Hartford friction shocks are true to the inspiration, but Keith had to build a bigger cockpit. It's all-Ford, with no Miller parts. The Model T four-banger has a homebuilt four-port head and Winfield carbs that Keith's owned since 1950.