Race Car Transporters of the Past

[khyndart in CA]

Before Gilmore Oil was bought out and eventually was part of Mobil Oil in the 1940s, they did sponsor the Railton Special that John Cobb drove to set the World Land Speed record on the Great Salt Lake in Utah during the 1930s and after World War Two in 1947.
It was a beautiful machine that used two airplane engines set at an angle to deliver power to the front with one engine and the other powered the back. The biggest problem they had was with all the power the tyres kept peeling off the rims ! Cobb raised the land speed from 350 mph to almost 400 mph in this magnificent machine.

Diagram of the engine arrangement in the Reid Railton designed special.

Cutaway of the Railton Special.

Gilmore products were used on the record runs. Note the raging lion emblem that Gilmore used.

A model of the Railton Special with Gilmore emblems as in 1938-39.

After Gilmore was sold to Mobil Oil the advertising changed to this.

(Ken Hyndman)

[khyndart in CA]

The Railton Special and John Cobb at the Great Salt Lake in Utah with Gilmore Oil Company sponsorship.

[video=youtube;vtuMhy4prO8]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtuMhy4prO8[/video]



Plus an interesting read regarding John Cobb and the Railton Special from Motorsport magazine.

http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/november-1965/52/john-cobbs-three-successful-land-speed-record-atte


(Ken Hyndman)

[Ray Bell]

When you don't have one of these...





...maybe you can create something like this?



As inventive as any Australian Special, this was built by Alan Stanfield using a Holden FE/FC utility cabin, parts of two Vanguard chassis, a TR4 engine, dry sumped, lying on its side and driving through an overdrive gearbox to a two-part tail shaft which drove a Landrover transfer case behind the rear axle. From there the drive went forward to the reversed rear axle.

The front of the bodywork was crafted in aluminium by Stanfield. The whole thing was never finished and ultimately scattered to the winds.

[khyndart in CA]

Ray,
Now that is very interesting and such a waste to know all that effort never got completed and then got "scattered in the winds."

[khyndart in CA]

Doing this thread I learned that the Gilmore Oil Company family and the Jim Gilmore who sponsored AJ Foyt in racing for over 10 years starting in 1973 were not related. I had previously thought there was a connection.

AJ Foyt. Pocono Cart race. 1984




(Ken H)

[khyndart in CA]

AJ Foyt did not always have the best of transportation as seen in this photo of his car arriving for the 1961 Indy 500.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]41050[/ATTACH]

This car would go on to win the 1961 Indianapolis 500 and is now in the Speedway Hall of Fame.
It has come a long way since it arrived on that trailer !
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The transportation for AJ Foyt had improved by 1985.
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Photo by Brian Cleary.





(Ken Hyndman )

[khyndart in CA]

I messed up the last posting.
This shows AJ Foyt's Watson Special arriving on an inauspicious trailer for the 1961 Indy 500. Which was won by Foyt.

By 1985 the Foyt transporter had grown to this.

(Ken Hyndman)

[Roger Dowding]

Not everyone could afford flash rigs in NZ often cars were trailered or A-Framed to events, if they weren't driven there and hopefully back. - otherwise borrow a mates trailer to get home and he drove his car

For example - some well known NZ cars in the late 1960's
basic trailer - Marrari

Many cars if not driven or allowed to be driven on the road arrived on A - Frames Zephyr Corvette,in Ken Baileys hands at the time

or simple trailers with ramps - The Heron Daimler

a sided trailer getting a bit more fancy - Paul Fahey's Ford Fairlane

double axle low sided with winch -very fancy The Segedin Ford Mustang with stack pipes.

Have been posted elsewhere, but do belong here on Ken H's thread ..

[khyndart in CA]

Roger,
I always enjoy your inputs but it was Terry S who started this enjoyable and varied thread.
Cheers,
Ken.

[Roger Dowding]

Roger,
I always enjoy your inputs but it was Terry S who started this enjoyable and varied thread.
Cheers,
Ken.

Terry S, my apologies, just seemed that Ken H has put a lot on here !!

[Terry S]

A little o/t but this is a good guide to Triple 8's new B double transporter:

http://www.speedcafe.com/2017/08/09/video-triple-eights-new-supercars-transporter/

[khyndart in CA]

Due to wildfires in Montana that fishing trip has been delayed for 3 weeks. Anyway I have had an interest in race car transporters and I especially liked this one.
In 1972 Roger Penske had this 1972 International Fleetstar 2110A chassis powered by a 257-horsepower, 549-cu.in. gasoline V-8. Engineer and star racing driver Mark Donohue, drew up plans for the rig to be capable of hauling the team’s Indy Cars as well as its Can-Am Porsches. It was known as the "Blue Hilton" (named for its forward bunk space and the Penske blue.)
The team used the transporter for many events from 1972 until 1983 when it was sold and not heard of again until 2015 when an alert Penske employee saw it advertised and some of the team spent many hours secretly restoring it again and then surprised Roger when they unveiled it as a special gift for his 80th birthday earlier this year.
Here are some photos of how it was found in 2015.

Some idea of what went into the restoration work.

This is how it looks today after a beautiful restoration.

This is how it looked in 1973 as the Porsche 917/30 is prepared and Roger Penske looks on from beside his transporter.
(Note the work conditions compared to how it would be today !)




(Ken Hyndman )

[Bruce302]

That's nice Ken, Thanks for the pics.

Roger always had nice gear.

B.

[khyndart in CA]

Yes Bruce he certainly has "nice gear".
If I was a single,young man again I certainly would be looking into some of these career opportunities of working for Team Penske.
From a mechanic to a transport driver ! They like Kiwis as they know they will do the job right.

http://www.teampenske.com/about/index.cfm/51985/Careers


(KH)

[Bruce302]

I have spoken with some guys who worked with/for Penske back in the day. It included flying on his own personal plane, and seeing Roger hand out the few dollars he allocated to the needs each day. Frugality is the key to running a tight ship.
Certainly a very smart man and exceptionally astute businessman.

I have been told that every fifth truck off the Freightliner production line goes to one of his companies.

B.

[khyndart in CA]

Hey Bruce,
Speaking of transporters, I saw this converted 1946 Chevy Cab over 2 1/2 ton truck at the local Solvang Car Show and thought it would be good to take my Mini Cooper places. Do you think it would have enough "grunt" ?

(Ken Hyndman photos )

More on the Solvang Car Show at this site and check the pix.
https://rpmcollectorcars.com/2017/08/wheels-and-windmills-2017/

[Terry S]

Yes Bruce he certainly has "nice gear".
If I was a single,young man again I certainly would be looking into some of these career opportunities of working for Team Penske.
From a mechanic to a transport driver ! They like Kiwis as they know they will do the job right.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]46036[/ATTACH]

http://www.teampenske.com/about/index.cfm/51985/Careers

(KH)

One of the secrets of his success may be that he is not fixated on just one brand.

See the Ford branding on the NASCAR transporter, but the Chev branding in the Indy transporter.

[Ray Bell]

You didn't see the fuel consumption figure for the big petrol V8 in the Ford?

Was it 1mpg or 2mpg?

[khyndart in CA]

Ray,
I think it was more like how many gallons to the mile !

[Roger Dowding]

Hey Bruce,
Speaking of transporters, I saw this converted 1946 Chevy Cab over 2 1/2 ton truck at the local Solvang Car Show and thought it would be good to take my Mini Cooper places. Do you think it would have enough "grunt" ?
[ATTACH=CONFIG]46037[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]46038[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]46039[/ATTACH]

(Ken Hyndman photos )

More on the Solvang Car Show at this site and check the pix.
https://rpmcollectorcars.com/2017/08/wheels-and-windmills-2017/

Love the Cab over trucks.
Have been to Solvang twice, back in 1982 and again in 1988, the second time after staying with Hans Nohr [ Danish like the town ] and Dee Glendenning- Walt Glendenning's widow, at Santa Monica.Walt originally set up " Absolutely British " - a car restoration business that Ken knows well.. bit of a sidetrack, sorry Ken !!