Forget everything you think you know about "old-school" hot rods.
Long before the proliferation of hot rodding in the late '40s and '50s-heck, well before the term "hot rod" was even coined-thousands of American performance junkies itched their need for speed in stripped-down Model Ts and As with hopped-up Ford T, A, and B four-cylinder engines. Such speedsters kicked up dust on fairgrounds, racetracks, and country roads across the nation in the years before World War II-many even before World War I.
These early hop-up efforts were celebrated last July in Lincoln, Nebraska, as the Smith Collection Museum of American Speed-with sponsorship from Speedway Motors-welcomed the Third Annual International Speedsters Trials and Reunion. It was hosted by Smith Collection founders "Speedy" Bill and Joyce Smith and attracted dozens of speedsters and nearly 100 enthusiasts from around the nation.
There's nothing like a speedster...
There's nothing like a speedster for open-air motoring fun! Larry King's T is about as Spartan as they come-all the better to show off the Frontenac-head engine.
Participating vehicles represented the full speedster spectrum; from bare bones machines consisting of little more than a chassis, cowl, floor, and engine, to more sophisticated efforts with streamlined bodies crafted from steel, aluminum, or sometimes even wood. The four-cylinder engines also ran the gamut from essentially stock to significantly modified. Many were equipped with vintage-speed equipment and OHV conversions from the likes of Rajo, Roof, Riley, and Cragar-the pioneers of the aftermarket performance industry.
In true speedster spirit, the reunion had plenty of driving activities. This included a 90-mile rally style road tour on scenic two-lane highways, plus an exciting hill climb competition (yes, a bona fide hill was found in Nebraska!). The hill climb was coordinated with assistance from Ford A Speed Technology and generated some pretty serious-but friendly-competition on the 530-foot inclined course. Olive Moore ultimately earned "King of the Hill" bragging rights by clocking 66 mph in her bright purple '27 Ford roadster, which runs a Riley four-port head and dual carbs on its Model B engine.
A great selection of speedsters...
A great selection of speedsters from all over the country participated in the Third Annual International Speedsters Trials and Reunion, held at the Smith Collection Museum of American Speed in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Friday evening found the speedsters caravanning to the nearby town of Ceresco for a car show and parade commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Swanson Ford dealership. That was followed up on Saturday morning with performance evaluations on a chassis dyno. The dyno results were interesting to watch, with rear-wheel power output ranging from 19 hp on a nearly stock Model T engine, to an impressive 94 hp generated through the quick-change rearend on Ron Mosher's rowdy Model A roadster, which sports a Model B engine with a Cragar head, dual carbs, and many other tricks.
With technical seminars and tours of the Museum of American Speed rounding out the schedule, the Speedster Reunion offered much more action than a typical lawn chair street rod show. And if the smiles on participants' faces were any indication, we suspect that these speedster fans will be looking to reunite again soon at the Museum of American Speed.
The Friday hill climb was...
The Friday hill climb was great fun. Olive Moore's purple '27 roadster is a perennial hill climb favorite. It's got plenty of pep thanks to the four-port Riley head and dual Strombergs on its Model B mill. An S-10, five-speed transmission sends power to the 3.0-geared 9-inch rear. Olive hit 66 mph on the 1/10th-mile hill climb course.
Dave Coleman and Sam Myers...
Dave Coleman and Sam Myers got into the true speedster spirit with mechanics coveralls, leather helmets, and driving goggles. Dave's wood-bodied speedster has a Model T engine with a Roof 16-valve head and Winfield updraft carb.
We really like the looks of...
We really like the looks of Randy Braddock's bare-metal Model A roadster. It runs a B engine with a Snyder head and a single 97 carb. Chassis upgrades include a Columbia two-speed rearend, '41 juice brakes, and split front wishbone.
Art Moore-Olive's husband-was...
Art Moore-Olive's husband-was another force to be reckoned with on the hill. His bright yellow boat-tailed speedster reached 60 mph thanks to a four-port Riley head and dual Stromberg 48s on its B engine. Art's 'banger is linked to a 904 TorqueFlite transmission and a quick-change rear.
When was the last time you...
When was the last time you saw a race pit area that looked like this?
Justin Devine takes a stab...
Justin Devine takes a stab up the hill climb course in his au naturel T speedster.
A look at the hill climb course...
A look at the hill climb course from the starting line. The flagman (who also served as emcee) made sure to point his microphone at the cars' exhausts so he could broadcast the 'banger roar.
Wanda Daugherty (front) and...
Wanda Daugherty (front) and Betty Goebel wait their turns to make hill climb runs.
Bill Stelcher's clean '29...
Bill Stelcher's clean '29 speedster runs a B engine with a four-port Riley head and dual Stromberg 81 carbs.
Squint your eyes and you might...
Squint your eyes and you might think you were transported back to the roaring '20s watching Fred Houston's '17 Laurel speedster climb the hill. The single-seater sports a '16 Model T engine with a Roof 16-valve head and Winfield carburetor.
What better place for a 'banger...
What better place for a 'banger than in a 'bucket! With a Thomas cylinder head, Ansen intake, Stromberg carb, and custom tube headers, Eric Hoppe's four-cylinder makes plenty of beans to push his T roadster around.
Reunion host "Speedy" Bill...
Reunion host "Speedy" Bill Smith (right) discusses early Ford speed parts with a participant.
Participants had a chance...
Participants had a chance to run their cars on a chassis dyno to see just how much power they were putting to the wheels. Output ranged from 19 hp on a nearly stock Model T engine, to an impressive 94 hp from the Model B engine in Ron Mosher's rowdy Model A roadster.
When does four equal eight?...
When does four equal eight? When you install two four-cylinder engines in tandem in your speedster, like Gary LeFever has done.
Don Cusack's speedster sports...
Don Cusack's speedster sports a shapely aluminum body and a Model T engine with a Laurel head, Holley carb, and four-speed transmission.
Brian Olsen showed of his...
Brian Olsen showed of his tidy blue speedster at the Friday evening car show in Ceresco. It features a handmade body and a Riley two-port head on its Model B engine.
Here's a look at the Model...
Here's a look at the Model B 'banger in Mosher's Model A. It sports a Cragar head, dual carbs, and many other tricks.
Between driving activities,...
Between driving activities, reunion participants had a great opportunity to thoroughly explore the Smith Collection Museum of American Speed. The museum has a number of speedsters on display, as well as hundreds of early four-cylinder engines wearing just about every example of early speed equipment imaginable.