Period Photo Thread

[stude8 0]

In the previous post 377 the Studebaker factory racing history story started with 1930 car #35 called the Romthe built by several inspired employee’s on their own that did well at Indianapolis. That car returned in 1931 as the Richards Spl #57, qualified at 107.65mph and finished 20<SUP>th</SUP> driven by Luther Johnson.

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1931 was the real beginning of Studebaker’s star rising in racing, besides the Richard’s independent entry another promising independent “The Russell 8” made its second appearance (Qualified at 104.55mph and finished 8<SUP>th</SUP> in 1930) driven by owner Russ Snowberger and qualified at 112.79mph and became the FIRST “Stock Block” powered car to win the pole position for the Indy 500 race, and he finished 5th.

This record lasted 54 years until 1985 when the “Brayton Buick” became the 2<SUP>nd</SUP> “Stock Block” powered car to win pole position.

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Two other independent entries the Bardy-Nardi #42 and Schofield-Curlet cars failed to reach qualifying speed for the 1931 field.

Last but not least the factory sponsored “Hunt Special #37” car driven by Tony Gulotta qualified at 111.72mph and finished 18<SUP>th</SUP>. Later the Hunt car set a record time in the Pikes Peak Hill Climb in Colorado.

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The Studebaker President 8 engines were showing they had the power to qualify and finish the 500-mile race so the next chapter will exhibit the 1932 five-car fleet entry.

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The first image is the Snowberger car #4 pole position winner; next image is the engine used in the Richards #57 car (Typical inline 8 cyl with 4 down draft carbs, with a magneto ignition no generator is used, hence the long shaft to turn water pump).

Next image is #37 car with driver Gulotta, mechanic Riscignio, standing behind are George Hunt and Ab Jenkins who constructed the car for Studebaker.

Last image is #37 on Pikes Peak driven by Glen Schultz.

[StanleyRegister 28]

OK, you hop in, and when we get up to about 20, just ease the clutch out. I think it'll start right up.

(Unknown coupe, Daniel Best steam tractor.)

[stude8 0]

After the good performance of Studebaker powered independents in 1930 and 31 some powers at Studebaker were confident an engineering coordinated effort behind Indianapolis entrants could succeed in a win that would make great advertising material for them in the tough times of the deepening depression economics. This enthusiasm was not likely to be shared by the outside bankers on the board of directors so a secluded room in the engineering dept was arranged to assemble four Indianapolis Special cars.

* A fifth car, the 1931 #37 then owned by Ab Jenkins was added to the team also.

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Endurance racing was nothing new to the engineering dept; in 1927 a Commander sedan established a 77hour 40minute New York City to San Francisco Bay, 3302-mile transcontinental speed record.

In Oct-Nov 1927 on Atlantic City Speedway at Hammonton, NJ a team of drivers drove three Commanders 25,000 miles NON-STOP in 22,968 minutes! That is 15days 22hours & 48min at an average 65.31mph on the 1-1/2 mile banked wooden track.

Later in Aug, 1928 they went back to Atlantic City Speedway with cars equipped with the new President 8 cyl engines and this time ran 30,000 miles in 26,326 min’s (20 days and 19 nights non-stop) averaging over 68 mph.

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The 1932 Indy race had 8 Studebaker powered cars at the start, in the end the best finishers were Cliff Bergere in #22 who placed 3<SUP>rd</SUP> and Zeke Meyer in #37 in 6<SUP>th</SUP> place.

The other factory cars placed 13<SUP>th</SUP>, 15<SUP>th</SUP> & 16<SUP>th</SUP>. The 3 independents did not finish 500 miles running.

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The images show A- 1927 ACS endurance run start in the rain; B- 1928 ACS endurance run starting lineup; C- 1932 race car shop at South Bend, IN; D- 1932 factory 5 car team photo was color tinted for use in advertising brochures; E-“The Fleet” at the Indianapolis Pagoda in 1932; F- #22 Bergere 3<SUP>rd</SUP> Place; G- #37 Meyer 6<SUP>th</SUP> Place.

[T-Head 18]

The time for the major announcement you have all been waiting for is here. And before I go on I would like to thank the Madison Radio Shop for sending over their Norge Sound Car for the grand occasion.

And the big announcement is that first we want to thank all of you for helping make is thread what is with all of the photos you have sent in. For without your help none of this would not be possible.

Next I am announcing that the Benevolent Dictator of this thread, T-Head, is going to have regular photo contests when he feels here have been enough great photos sent in. He and his guys in his shop (they are working on that old junker of a Packard in the photo) are going to judge the photos by vote so it will be fair and impartial. The photos will also be judged on content and their freshness (originals or photos that have not been pilfered from another website).

The categories may change but for the first contest will be.

Best person or persons with an automobile, truck or motorcycle.

Best gas station or service garage.

Best photograph taken by a professional photographer.

The most entertaining.

And of course the Benevolent Dictator or T-Head's favorite pick

and whatever else he may dream up on the fly.

So later today, tune back in and see what they have come up with and thanks again to all of you for your photos.

Edited January 24, 2010 by T-Head (see edit history)

[T-Head 18]

And just like most things, the only constant is change. T-Head changed the awards already. So our first is Best Motorcycle.

1st. MCHinson. A man with his two children.

2nd. 28Chrysler. A boy on his racing bike.

3rd. ModelTNick. His dad and his bike.

[T-Head 18]

Our second set of winners will be for Best Children.

1st. Steve_Heald. Child in a BrownieKar.

2nd. keiser31. His father in law on a radiator.

3rd. MochetVelo. Child in a Citroen toy car

Edited January 24, 2010 by T-Head (see edit history)

[T-Head 18]

Best Professional Photos.

1st. FotoFan. Hartford Connecticut's Jumbo.

2nd. South-paw. Mopar crankshafts and assembly.

3rd. South-paw. Truck filled with tires.

[T-Head 18]

Best Gas Station or Garage.

To TG57Roadmaster, for the wonderful photo of the Gibson Bros. Garage.

[T-Head 18]

Best person or people with an automobile.

1st. festanley. Two men in a Underslung.

2nd. twin6. Man with dog and gun.

3rd. Paul Dobbin. His Father and his Model A.

Note: in posting this something went wrong with the

pictures and even after deleteing the same thing

happens again.

Edited January 25, 2010 by T-Head (see edit history)

[T-Head 18]

Most Entertaining

1st. StanleyRegister. Stanley climbing the roof.

2nd. mlongfield. Auburn Speedster getting airborn.

3rd. wilsonsk. Man muging with house moving truck.

4th. twin6. Men digging out an automobile.

[T-Head 18]

Best Automobile Portrait.

1st. stude8. Tincher Limousine.

2nd. drwatson. Stevens-Duryea.

[T-Head 18]

T-Head, the Benovelent Dictators Favorite photos.

1st. ChrisPaulsen. Young women sitting in a Velie Racy Type.

2nd. twin6. Jack McGee in his Old's Limited.

Again thanks to all of you for sending in photos and we will do

this again in the future, so send in as many of the best photos

as you can.

Best Regards, T-Head.

[MochetVelo 146]

A Citroen c1923 5HP with farm boy.

Phil

[MochetVelo 146]

A racecar with problems (Bugatti?).

Phil

[keiser31 2,989]

Our second set of winners will be for Best Children.

1st. Steve_Heald. Child in a BrownieKar.

2nd. keiser31. His father in law on a radiator.

3rd. MochetVelo. Child in a Citroen toy car

Thanks! My father in law has just passed and he would be VERY proud to have been part of this forum and thread. He had that smile as an adult, too.

[fotofan 10]

A racecar with problems (Bugatti?).

Phil

Yes, looks like a Type 23.

[pepcak 10]

1928 Buick Standard Six coupe in Belgium, possibly parents of the original owner, owner and of course girls. I have 25 pics with this car and people around....

Edited January 25, 2010 by pepcak (see edit history)

[T-Head 18]

And to finish off the day, let's go see the Goodyear Blimp at the airport on the way back into the city.

[fotofan 10]

OK, you hop in, and when we get up to about 20, just ease the clutch out. I think it'll start right up.

(Unknown coupe, Daniel Best steam tractor.)

OK, you hop in, and when we get up to about 20, just ease the clutch out. I think it'll start right up.

If not we can always stiff hitch it......................NOT!

[T-Head 18]

A very sporty mid 20's Pierce-Arrow with a California Top and added strips on the back of the body. It appears to be a new car that maybe the body builder or trimmer who made the top had finished and photographed before it left. The dealer would have added the spare and maybe a rack on the back along with a trunk.

Edited January 26, 2010 by T-Head (see edit history)

[T-Head 18]

Triplets and a 1920 Haynes, one armed and dangerous. The second photo is a side view of the same sporty roadster with the top up.

Edited January 25, 2010 by T-Head (see edit history)

[T-Head 18]

A late teens or early twentys Kissel Truck just loaded at the shippers depot.

[T-Head 18]

If you are of that mind it might be the time for a beer. At the left is a refrigerated semi, possibly pulled by a mid 30's IHC. The center truck I believe is also an IHC and it is from Labatt's Winnipeg Branch. The last truck according to Fotofan is a huge Sterling, it was loaded with two tanks that were going to a brewery in Wisconsin.

Edited January 26, 2010 by T-Head (see edit history)

[T-Head 18]

This photograph is another racer I would like to identify. The photo was taken in the San Diego area and I believe that it maybe a twenties desert racer. It looks like a production car turned into a racer but I cannot place it. It could have also been run at Pikes Peak.

You may know what it is based on the lettering on the hood which appears to read ...... 6-66 special.

[Nancy DeWitt 2]

Hey T-Head, how about a contest for the most people in a car? Here's a load of folks in a Great Arrow, Saurer truck and White Steamer. The first two were taken in Fairbanks and the third one in Valdez.