35 yrs. ago

[Dollisdad]

35 yrs. ago I remember seeing a little article in Old Cars Weekly, that the MTFCI was going to rerun the 1909 New York to Seattle race. I thought that would be fun to go on, so I contacted the person in charge and was told that the entry list was full with about a dozen on a waiting list. It was still 6 mo. before the run so I thought “well maybe”. So I had an idea for a car, so I started to gather parts. I wanted to build an early car, so I found a 12 rivet rear, tapered springs,early spindles, wishbone, tie rod, etc, etc. Got 2 frames, one with bad front and one with bad rear. Cut the bad ends off and zeed the rear section to give me a 4” step. Got a 4” dropped axle from Mor Drop and sent the wheel hubs with new rims to Vintage Wheel. In about a month I had all the parts to assemble the chassis

Sorry these are pictures of pictures.If you want to comment, please wait till I have loaded the whole story.

[Dollisdad]

And that’s as far as the build got for some time. I had not heard from the committee so I assumed I was out. Then with 4 weeks to go I get a phone call saying that I have been accepted and they are looking forward to seeing me in New York City. Holy shit! I got to get to work. So with the help of friends and family we tore into this project working 20 hr. days, 7 days a week.

It started by using on of our speedster decks and cutting it off where the frame stepped up. Then making a gas tank to fit the step up area and using cardboard to mock up the tail end. Then using those looks to finalize the wood frame work for back of the body. Once woodwork was done, covered with sheet metal and appropriate mouldings. Then into paint and plating and polishing.

[Dollisdad]

Then with a week to go we started to assemble the car. Everything went pretty smooth and I’m sure there were hiccups that I don’t remember. Oh- one. The cyl head was no good and had to be changed at the last minute. And lots of little things had to be adjusted, reworked or fabricated.

But with so many hands it made it much easier. So we fired the engine the night before we were to leave. Cyl. head leaking. Luckily I had another low head, so we switched it out. Ran fine. Adjusted the bands. Backed it into the street and went down the block and back. Everything works. Put a skid under the car and lifted it up, took the wheels off and loaded it into the back of the pickup, covered it up, went home and slept for 4 hrs. and left for New York the next morning.

[Dollisdad]

The car only had one issue. After leaving New York the fan assembly came loose. Happened twice more, so I decided to remove the entire assembly. What I noticed was the engine was running about 10 degrees cooler with no fan blocking air flow. Only once when I got into stopped traffic did it heat up, so I just pulled over till traffic lightened and then took off. As long a I could go 10 mph, it ran cool, even when it was 110 along the Snake river. All in all a great trip with many stories and new and old friends along the way. I kept the car for a couple yrs after the trip and then sold it. I have never seen it since. Thanks for coming along this trip down memory lane. Tom

[Ralph F]

I remember see this speedster when they drove to upstate Ny. My Dad and I came over for the afternoon and had a great time. If I remember correctly there was a speedster that was driven by a young fellow from Kentucky. His Dad share a bit of Moon shine with us as he made some adjustment to the car.

fitz

[Dallas Landers]

Thanks Tom for taking us down memory lane and the photos. I was 15 at that time.

[DanTreace]

Tom

Here you were at the start in New York those years ago!

[babychadwick]

Great pictures, reminds me of the stories my Mom would tell, I'm pretty sure you guys knew her and my Dad. Last names Azevedo and Vanveldhuizen

[John Warren]

Great story, A dream come true. thanks.

[Dollisdad]

Yes baby Chadwick, your dad made the wheels on this car. I remember giving him the parts and saying to him “do your best to make these wheels run true”. Fast forward to running across the great expanse somewhere west of Laramie and we passed one of the other cars. Later that night we were having dinner with the folks who we had passed earlier in the day, and one of them asks me “You know what is most impressive about your car when you passed us?” I looked at him and said I had no idea. He said “All your wheels run absolutely straight. I think it’s the only car with all the wheels running true. It really stood out when you went by us”. I never forgot him telling me that.