1950s Road Racing Hot Rods

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Expand view Topic review: 1950s Road Racing Hot Rods

Re: 1950s Road Racing Hot Rods

by grelley » Thu Apr 24, 2014 8:27 pm

The ex Arthur Kennard Healey Corvette was at Highlands Park over the weekend, now in plain black and looking extremely nice having been recently restored. It is about to have it's twin 4 barrel carbs refitted. A wonderful old car.

Re: 1950s Road Racing Hot Rods

by Burack » Thu Apr 24, 2014 7:29 pm

David McKinney wrote:I don't know
But I believe Gary Kennard, a Ruapuna regular with a 1500 A30 in the late '60s, was Arthur's son. Timing is almost right for Rob to have been the next generation


Gary is Arthurs nephew, no relation to Rob I believe. Gary has been racing an XU1 at classic events mainly at Ruapuna recently.

Re: 1950s Road Racing Hot Rods

by Steve Holmes » Mon Aug 27, 2012 4:06 am

Chris Read wrote:I am going to start a thread on The NZGP Specials Team of which I am a member.
Here is a taste of the profiles we are producing as handouts. Chris Read - Arrowtown.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]10546[/ATTACH]


Looking forward to that Chris.

Re: 1950s Road Racing Hot Rods

by Steve Holmes » Mon Aug 27, 2012 4:05 am

bry3500 wrote:AK MILLER'S CABALLO DE HIERRO


I love this car. It was built to compete in the Carrera Panamericana, a true hot rod road racer. It cost nickels and dimes to build, everything was second hand, including the '51 Oldsmobile Rocket motor. The transmission was Cadillac, I assume a rare Lasalle manual trans, which when originally released by Cadillac, was only available on cheaper models, as Cadillac owners didn't expect to have to change gear manually. Lasalle transmissions are now highly desirable among the hot rodding community. Caballo De Hierro (Horse Of Iron) entered and completed the Mexican race in 1953 and '54. In the '54 event it averaged 94mph! Pretty impressive.

Re: 1950s Road Racing Hot Rods

by Steve Holmes » Mon Aug 27, 2012 3:55 am

MarkQ wrote:Built in 1949 by Willis Baldwin of California, It competed from 1949 to 1959 and was cover car of Road & Track in May 1950. Built on a 1946 Ford chassis and used "Hopped up" Ford Flathead running gear.
Restored in 1990 by Irv Dickson for the late owner Jim Herlinger who bought this car out to NZ to race back in 2000, 06 and '07, Jim had the Baldwin restored by Auto Restorations in Christchurch while it was here in '06.
I was lucky enough to be asked by Jim to drive it for the 2007 Monterey Historics. Neat old car that was a blast to drive. it is now owned by Rob Manson also of California who also owns the Manning Ford V8 Special. Which is the car with the yellow nose in pit lane.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]10542[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]10543[/ATTACH]


This is a superb car Mark. What was it like to drive?

Re: 1950s Road Racing Hot Rods

by bry3500 » Sun Aug 26, 2012 11:32 pm

AK MILLER'S CABALLO DE HIERRO
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hrdp_0801_24_z+top_100_hot_rods+-1.jpg

Re: 1950s Road Racing Hot Rods

by Chris Read » Sun Aug 26, 2012 4:15 am

I am going to start a thread on The NZGP Specials Team of which I am a member.
Here is a taste of the profiles we are producing as handouts. Chris Read - Arrowtown.
edel 4 001.jpg

Baldwin Mercury Special

by MarkQ » Sun Aug 26, 2012 3:10 am

Built in 1949 by Willis Baldwin of California, It competed from 1949 to 1959 and was cover car of Road & Track in May 1950. Built on a 1946 Ford chassis and used "Hopped up" Ford Flathead running gear.
Restored in 1990 by Irv Dickson for the late owner Jim Herlinger who bought this car out to NZ to race back in 2000, 06 and '07, Jim had the Baldwin restored by Auto Restorations in Christchurch while it was here in '06.
I was lucky enough to be asked by Jim to drive it for the 2007 Monterey Historics. Neat old car that was a blast to drive. it is now owned by Rob Manson also of California who also owns the Manning Ford V8 Special. Which is the car with the yellow nose in pit lane.
baldwin_edited-1.jpg
baldwin pit.jpg

Re: 1950s Road Racing Hot Rods

by 225sloper » Sun Aug 26, 2012 12:17 am

Steve Holmes wrote:The Edelbrock Special

[ATTACH]615[/ATTACH]


Took this photo at Chris Amon meeting Hampton Downs 2011.Cool car doin cool car stuff.
phpG5bFAWPM.jpg

Re: 1950s Road Racing Hot Rods

by David McKinney » Mon Jun 13, 2011 10:09 am

Steve Holmes wrote:Is Arthur Kennard any relation to Rob Kennard, the long-time hot rodder and late 70s/early 80s sedan racer?

I don't know
But I believe Gary Kennard, a Ruapuna regular with a 1500 A30 in the late '60s, was Arthur's son. Timing is almost right for Rob to have been the next generation

Re: 1950s Road Racing Hot Rods

by Steve Holmes » Mon Jun 13, 2011 12:40 am

pallmall wrote:Old Yeller has been at both Hampton Down festivals. A true Hot Rod Special.
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I was so pleased the first time I saw Ol' Yaller II up close. It would have been so easy for this car to have been restored to perfection, with the panels all smoothed out, with 10/10 paint, but that would have just been wrong. It was a rough old car when Balchowsky drove it, and today its a warts and all race car that proudly displays both its true heritage, plus its racing history.

Re: 1950s Road Racing Hot Rods

by Steve Holmes » Mon Jun 13, 2011 12:31 am

thunder427 wrote:David,I believe you are 'correct' with Arther Kennard being Christchurch based,I think he was involved with 'Used' Cars or a Garage, it may have been later that the 'Healey' moved down south of Christchurch........also,Alistair Ansell said to say a 'BIG' Hello!!!!!! next time you were on the Forum...he's back working on the 'Gold Coast'/Brisbane,I'm trying to get him to subscibe to this 'Great' Forum..would be fun!!..........regards thunder427/MJ :)


Is Arthur Kennard any relation to Rob Kennard, the long-time hot rodder and late 70s/early 80s sedan racer?

Re: 1950s Road Racing Hot Rods

by Steve Holmes » Mon Jun 13, 2011 12:30 am

pallmall wrote:I think we need a new thread for NZ (and Australian) road racing specials. It is a fascinating subject in its own right. And with David McKinney on board we should get some good history.


Good idea Gavin, please go ahead with it.

Re: 1950s Road Racing Hot Rods

by David McKinney » Sun Jun 12, 2011 2:10 pm

Yes, the Healey-Corvette went from Kennard to Sid and Ed Candy of Timaru, who were - um - not as fast as Kennard had been :)

Not sure where Graham Smith was from - he did a lot of South Canty events as well as around Christchurch

Re: 1950s Road Racing Hot Rods

by thunder427 » Sun Jun 12, 2011 1:47 pm

David McKinney wrote:I think he was from Christchurch, and the car was all-black to start with (in the 1957/58 season). Apparently the engine was a genuine Corvette - in contrast to some later Chev V8s that were called Corvettes. I think, for example, Dixon's first V8 coupé had an uprated Bel Air engine. The Healey-Corvette also had disc brakes

It made something of a comeback in 1966 with Graham Smith at the wheel, as snapped at Ruapuna, where his battles with Brent Hawes in the Tojeiro-Jag are still remembered


David,I believe you are 'correct' with Arther Kennard being Christchurch based,I think he was involved with 'Used' Cars or a Garage, it may have been later that the 'Healey' moved down south of Christchurch........also,Alistair Ansell said to say a 'BIG' Hello!!!!!! next time you were on the Forum...he's back working on the 'Gold Coast'/Brisbane,I'm trying to get him to subscibe to this 'Great' Forum..would be fun!!..........regards thunder427/MJ :)

Re: 1950s Road Racing Hot Rods

by David McKinney » Sun Jun 12, 2011 12:05 pm

thunder427 wrote:.....Arther Kennard's Healey/Corvette,turquise blue and black!!! (From Timaru/Dunedin???)...........driven with a certain amount of flare!...regards thunder427/MJ :)

I think he was from Christchurch, and the car was all-black to start with (in the 1957/58 season). Apparently the engine was a genuine Corvette - in contrast to some later Chev V8s that were called Corvettes. I think, for example, Dixon's first V8 coupé had an uprated Bel Air engine. The Healey-Corvette also had disc brakes

It made something of a comeback in 1966 with Graham Smith at the wheel, as snapped at Ruapuna, where his battles with Brent Hawes in the Tojeiro-Jag are still remembered
Attachments
66 Ruapuna.jpg

Re: 1950s Road Racing Hot Rods

by pallmall » Sun Jun 12, 2011 9:14 am

Old Yeller has been at both Hampton Down festivals. A true Hot Rod Special.
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Re: 1950s Road Racing Hot Rods

by pallmall » Sun Jun 12, 2011 9:11 am

Some USA specials, 2 lots of photos taken at Goodwood in 1996.
Scarab Sports.
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Cunningham.
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Re: 1950s Road Racing Hot Rods

by pallmall » Sun Jun 12, 2011 9:08 am

I think we need a new thread for NZ (and Australian) road racing specials. It is a fascinating subject in its own right. And with David McKinney on board we should get some good history.

Re: 1950s Road Racing Hot Rods

by Steve Holmes » Sun Jun 12, 2011 8:51 am

The Edelbrock Special

[ATTACH]615[/ATTACH]
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3289948122_71778fdcc5_z.jpg

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