MTFCA Forum

Peter and the folks at Fawcett Restoration get the racer going. The cylinder side ports are open, and that makes cranking a little easier. Peter also drove the car a bit, and said "it's fast." Click on the link below to see the start:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/q78qtp2014njf ... M.mov?dl=0

COOL!!!

That is so obscenely and obnoxiously delightful.

WOW, watching that guy try to start with the big drill looked like he was going to be flipped over. Engine must have been real tight from rebuild.

SWEET!

Wow!!!

On the street. Don't have the volume too high...

https://www.dropbox.com/s/58h904ffflsrb ... 9.mp4?dl=0

Very impressive!!

OOOOOOO..... I need one of them. What's the horse power?

I love it. You should probably install an exhaust fan in the shop.

Thanks guys. Robert, I'm not sure on the horsepower. I think the motor has more compression than a T, and presume with pressurized mains that it was intended to go to higher r.p.m.. I have one article that says the Ford Special was 100 hp., and I suspect that article was referring to the 410 cubic inch racer still at The Henry Ford. I'll try to get it on the dyno at the Speedster Reunion in Lincoln NE this summer.

The guy using the big drill had to really watch the engine didn’t kick back or backfire! He’s braver than me to try to start it that way.
That engine is stouter than his arm!
Anyway glad it cranked and good luck with the rest. It’s really neat!

From your earlier posts, Rob, I got the idea that Ford kept the engine covered in hopes of passing it off as a standard Model T powerplant. Well, for anybody who had heard the sound of a regular Model T, that ain't your Mother's Model T.

Dick

Pretty stout sounding old banger. No substitute for cubic inches.

Doggone yous guys, be good to that old drill. It's almost as old as the race car!
Watch the fellow's finger and listen for the clicks. A square, 4 sided switch tumbler is actuated by the trigger and ratchet inside the drill's handle. Click ON and let go, click OFF and let go. That's two of the sides of the switch tumbler. Click on and click off for sides 3 and 4.
Like firing a gun. Pull the trigger and let go for the next.
Hahaha! Just like me: Getting all excited about an old Black and Decker drill whilst watching a near 110 yr old, one of a kind race car come back to life! TMI.
I even rolled my eyes at myself.
In jest Rob, if you would, ask Peter to contact me if he ever wants to retire his old drill. I might need parts for mine someday!

Dropbox works for me again! Yippee!
That was COOL Rob! Thank you! Coolest thing is, you'll let people drool all over it and themselves because you'll show it.
Don't even think about putting another seat on that car. Someone might soil their trousers! Yikes!

Thanks again guys. Duey, I will show it, and drive it, and fast on occasion. We are adding the second seat, and plan to tour on occasion. It'll be exciting to pull to a tour, knowing we have two of the fastest Fords built in their period.

Peter wasn't the first to drive one of these racers on snow and ice:
Frank Kulick was, in February, 1911.
I believe this was the 300 cubic inch racer. A year later, in early 1912, the new 410 cubic inch racer ran on the same lake (and the same lake Henry Ford set the world one mile speed record in 1904 driving 999), covering the mile at 109 miles an hour.

For all do we know? Could that have been your engine on the ice that day?
Henry and Ford were apparently more than a bit secretive about the "specials". It may not be possible to ever know for certain which cars/engines were run in which contests, or which one you actually have. No matter. It is incredible to see one of these coming back to life!
Thanks for the ride!

Wayne, it's been quite an "awakening" to learn of all the Ford Specials. What I currently think I know:

There are drawings for at least four "Special" racers. Unfortunately, few drawings seem to exist, so I only get bits and pieces of components. The drawings are marked M, M-1, M-II, M-III, M-IV and I think there was an M-V. There is also one drawing that reads "M-III (our racer motor, 300 cu. in.) and 3 13/16. I suspect the 3 13/16 is the bore of the 183 cubic inch racer sent to France in the summer of 1911.

The M-II appears to be the big 410 cubic inch racer at THF.

One Ford Special was reported to have burned in a garage following one of the races in 1910 or 11. One Ford Special was sold to a New York (state) dealer in 1912.

Our motor seems to have existed outside of Ford control since at least 1957. That may indicate it didn't come from a deaccession sale (Ford sales in the 1980's). Maybe it's the motor of the Special sold to the N.Y. dealer?

Anyway, like so much with our cars, much to learn. Good thing the journey is a good part of the fun....

Thanks Rob, it just gets better every time you post, just great !
Leo

Thank you Leo. It appears to me Henry Ford and Ford racing had an incredible run between 1901 and 1912. Ford did it just as they built cars, economically, using simple light construction with high horsepower to weight ratio. While other major auto builders had racing teams and stables of racers, primarily Henry Ford and then Frank Kulick were the drivers. And both had "full time jobs" building Ford into the largest auto manufacturer the world had ever seen, while designing and driving some of the fastest racers of the time.

I think a good place to go might be to write a "who's who" showcasing the famous drivers and cars Ford Specials beat during their short run between the summer of 1910 and only one competition in 1912. In that time, Kulick driving Ford Specials beat some of the worlds fastest cars and best drivers in head to head competition.

I see another thread........

Hi Rob, Wow it just keeps getting more and more exciting. Drop box doesn't work on my old computer, so I'll have to imagine for now. I can't wait to see it in Nebraska. Also hearing about the 999 racer going 104 oooeee, Henry had some big ones. The numbering of the prints or racers is also interesting in that ,that is how the Lincolns are numbered . Thanks for sharing the wonderful news and all the history.