Tag Archives: Kurtis

Super Saturday Part 2/2 – Silverstone Classic

Today’s blog continues on from yesterday with coverage of the second half of the Silverstone Classic Super Saturday race programme.

Porsche 911, Slater, Silverstone Classic

The 50 min Choppard International Trophy for pre’66 GT Cars was won convincingly by Sean McInerney driving the #64 TVR Griffith seen above about to thread it’s way passed the; #27 Porsche 911 driven by Adrian Slater, the #31 Lotus Elan driven by John Sheldon and the #91 Sunbeam Tiger shared by Neil Merry and Terry van der Zee.

Brabham BT4, Minshaw, Silverstone Classic

Jason Minshaw won the first of the weekends two Jack Brabham Memorial Trophy races driving the 1962 Brabham BT4 seen above. It is sad to have to report that in the second race for pre ’66 Grand Prix cars the following day Denis Welch was killed in an accident while driving his Lotus 18. I am sure you will want to join me in offering sincerest condolences to Denis’s family and many friends.

Ford Falcons, Voyazides, Gardiner, Silverstone Classic

Perversely the Mustang Celebration Trophy proudly presented by Pure Michigan was dominated by the type that the Mustang wiped off the sales floor, namely the Ford Falcons driven by Leo Voyazides #1 and Mike Gardiner #37. Leo is seen above sweeping into a lead that he did not relinquish for the rest of the race.

Maserati Centenary Trophy Start, Silverstone Classic

Light was fading at the start of the Maserati Centenary Trophy for pre ’61 Grand Prix cars and photographers such as your truely were having to resort to every trick in photoshop to get an image. Above Philip Walker driving the #1 Lotus 16 is seen streaking into what proved to be an unassailable lead ahead of; the #30 Offy powered Scarab driven by Bristol’s Julian Bronson, #88 ‘Toothpaste Tube’ Connaught C Type driven by Michael Steele, the, #27 Tec-Mech driven by Tony Wood, #35 Kurtis driven by Fred Harper.

Lola T70, Voyazides, Silverstone Classic

Leo Voyazides thirst for victory was unsatiated after winning the Mustang Celebration trophy and he is seen above driving his Lola T70 in the FIA Historic Masters Sports Cars race in hot pursuit of the cheeky 2 litre / 122 cui Chevron B19 driven by Martin O’Connell. No one knows exactly what happened to Martin, but he ended up in the rough stuff, uninjured leaving Leo and Simon Hadfield a clear road to victory lane.

Mercedes Benz C11, Berridge, Silverstone Classic

The final race of Super Saturday was my favourite not because it was the most closely contested, it was not despite the best efforts of Katsu Kobota driving a Nissan to take the challenge to the winning #31 Mercedes Benz C11 driven by eventual Group C Endurance winner Bob Berridge, but because the twin turbo V8 C11 driven at full speed is music to my ears and poetry in motion to my eyes. I could watch that car circulating all day and night as I did in 1991 at Le Mans, with out a care in the world.

Approaching 9pm it was all over time to return my photographers bib to the Media Office, jump into a courtesy BMW, driven by an ex Royal Protection Officer, which on the way back to the car park took me past the crowds waiting for Bonnie Tyler to give a rendition of “Total Eclipse Of The Heart”.

Thanks for joining me on this “Super Saturday Part 2/2” edition of Gettin’ a li’l pscyho on tyres. I’ll be staying with Silverstone Classic for the rest of the week I hope you will join me starting with Maserati Monday tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

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D.A. Lubricant Special – Kurtis Offenhauser KK500H

For the 1958 Indianapolis 500 D.A.Lubricants sponsored an Offenhauser powered Kurtis KK500H that was to be driven by Johnny Thomson. Unlike previous Kurtis Indy cars this one did not lift it’s inside front wheel when going through the corners because it was the first Kurtis to be fitted with independent front suspension.

Kurtis Offenhauser 500H, Rolex Reunion, Laguna Seca

Johnny qualified the D.A.Lubricants Special 22nd and on the first lap got tangled up in the accident that killed Pat O’Conor damaging the suspension. Johnny continued for another 51 laps before the team called it a day, to be classified 23rd, with damaged steering. The race was won by Jim Bryan in the Salih Offy Belond Special.

Kurtis Offenhauser 500H, Rolex Reunion, Laguna Seca

In 1959 the D.A.Lubricants Special became the Smokey’s Reverse Torque Special driven by Duane Carter who qualified 12th and finished 7th to record the cars only Indy 500 finish in a race dominated by the Watson Offy’s driven by Roger Ward and Jim Rathman. Interestingly Smokey Yunnick had realised that by reversing the direction of the crankshaft and flywheel rotation the car should have had a better balance through the corners, hence the Smokey’s Reverse Torque name.

Kurtis Offenhauser 500H, Rolex Reunion, Laguna Seca

This cars final appearance in the 500 was in 1960 when Don Freeland drove the car now known as the Ross-Babcock Traveler qualifying 11th but being classified 22nd after withdrawing from the race with a magneto problem.

Ron Fournier restored the car to 1958 D.A.Lubricants configuration and to meet current vintage racing requirements in 2007.

My thanks to Geoffrey Horton for sharing his photo’s of the car seen at last years Rolex Reunion at Lagunna Seca.

THanks for joining me on this “D.A. Lubricant Special” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me for Maserati Monday tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Madman’s Kurtis -Muntz Jet #52M-505-3

In 1948 race car manufacturer Frank Kurtis started building a run of High Performance 2 seat convertibles for the road powered by Ford V8’s.

Muntz Jet, Marin Concours d'Elegance

At the first Bonneville Nationals NHRA founder Wally Parks drove one Franks cars to a two way timed run of 142.5 mph.

Muntz Jet, Marin Concours d'Elegance

With only 36 cars built Frank’s Kurtis Kraft Sports came to the attention of the legendary media pitch man Earl William “Madman” Muntz who was sufficiently impressed to buy the whole project including manufacturing rights.

Muntz Jet, Marin Concours d'Elegance

Muntz made a few alterations to the Kurtis Kraft Sport which included lengthening it, putting in a back seat, replacing the Ford V8 with a Cadillac V8 to turn the car into a 120 mph high performance personal luxury car offered in loud selection of colours and called it the Muntz Jet.

Muntz Jet, Marin Concours d'Elegance

The light pink 1953 Muntz Jet, seen in these photographs by Geoffrey Horton at last years Marin Concours d’Elegance, was bought new by Gloria De Haven and delivered to her at the Plaza Hotel in New York.

Muntz Jet, Marin Concours d'Elegance

Only around 400 Muntz Jets had been built by 1954 when Madman Muntz pulled the plug on the project claiming to have lost $1000 on each one. Highly prized today the Muntz Jet is seen as the for runner of the Chevrolet Corvette and Ford Thunderbird personal luxury cars.

My thanks to Geoffrey Horton for sharing his photographs.

Thanks for joining meon this Madman’s Kurtis edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again for Ferrari Friday tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

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On The Green – Niello Concours Serrano

Last week I had a look at some of the Ferraris and Porsche 911s marking the 50th Anniversary of the model at Niello Concours at Serano this week Karl Krause’s photographs show some of the other Marques that were represented.

Duesenberg Model A Coupé, Niello Concours Serrano

The Duesenberg Brothers were not the greatest businessmen, they had intended to manufacture 100 Model A Coupé’s, like the 1921 example above, a week instead of the 650 manufactured over six years from 1921 to 1927, but they were great engineers. The 100 hp Model A featured a straight 8 motor with over head cam shaft and four valves per cylinder, the Model A also featured hydraulic brakes on all four wheels while rivals like Rolls Royce were still selling customers vehicles of similar weight and performance with two wheel cable operated brakes.

Kurtis, Niello Concours Serrano

In 1948 Frank Kurtis showed up at the 1948 Indy 500 with a two seat customised 1941 Buick which ran not only an extreme streamlined body but also independent suspension on all four wheels. Public reaction to the vehicle was so encouraging Frank put the car, like the one above, into production, using many Ford components including a Ford V8 with Edelbrock heads, in 1949 one of which, was timed at over 142 mph at Bonneville.

Volkswagen Beetle, Niello Concours Serrano

Meanwhile crime fighting authorities in Germany were using stripped down Volkswagen Beetles like the one above in 1949.

Mercedes Benz W187 Cabriolet B, Niello Concours Serrano

In 1951 Mercedes Benz introduced it’s first post war six cylinder models including the W187 220, which was modeled on the W153 dating back to 1938. The curved windscreen on the example seen above indicates that this is a two door two seat 220 Cabriolet A manufactured between 1953 and 1955 when the W187 series cars were replaced by the ponton bodied W105/W180 series cars.

Chrysler 300 H, Niello Concours Serrano

By 1962 the Chrysler letter series were becoming a tough sell, only 435 Chrysler 300H coupés, like the one above, were built as the rest of the Chrysler 300 range could be ordered with many of the features that had been previously exclusive to the letter range.

Lotus 23B, Niello Concours Serrano

In 1962 over 130 Lotus 23’s, like the one above, were built that are known to have been entered in over 600 national and international events and recorded over 110 outright victories and a more than a further 130 class victories up to the Kyalami 9 hours in 1981. The history of this particular car is not known to me at the time of writing, if you know anything about it, please do not hesitate to chime in below.

Dual Ghia L.6.4, Niello Concours Serrano

Production of the original Dual Ghia ceased production in 1958 after each of the cars built lost money, in 1961 Eugene Casaroll started building an updated Dual Ghia L.6.4 model like the one above, with a 335 hp 6.4 litre / 383 cui Mopar sourced V8, however production came to halt for the same financial reasons in 1963.

Iso Griffo, Niello Concours Serrano

Like the Dual Ghia the Giotto Bizzarrini designed Iso Griffo, like the example seen above, first seen in 1963 used many proprietary parts though these were sourced from GM including the 400 hp blueprinted Chevrolet small block V8 of the type more commonly found in the Corvette.

Mosler MT 900

Exact numbers of Mosler MT900’s are hard to pin down but it seems safe to say the 2010 example above is one of less than 100 road & race versions built between 2001 and 2011.

Lamborghini Murciélago Roadster, Niello Concours Serrano

2013 marks the 50th Anniversary of the diversification of Lamborghini from agricultural machinery manufacture into road car manufacture, above is a Murciélago Roadsters at the time of writing I’m not sure of it’s age or exactly which of the Murciélago Roadster variants this is, I suspect the exhaust is a giveaway if you know the model please chip in below.

Jaguar XK 140 FHC SE MC, Niello Concours Serrano

Finally despite finishing first in class Geoffrey Horton missed out on getting a coveted SCCA ring with his Jaguar XK140 FHC SE MC which was restored from a rats nest 28 years ago. He will be sitting SCCA events next year but will continue attending non SCCA sanctioned events next year.

My thanks to Geoffrey Horton for this seasons many photographs he has shared from the California Concours d’Elegance scene and to Karl Krause for sharing today’s photographs.

Thanks for joining me on this “On The Green” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at the first of a series of four US station wagons. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion – Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca

A couple of weeks ago Geoffrey Horton visited the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca and kindly sent me today’s photographs to share.

Hall Scott The Four, Rolex Monterey Reunion, Laguna Seca

The Hall Scott Four was built in San Francisco for the 1917 Vanderbuilt Cup it used an Reo Model M frame and was powered by a 110 hp Hall Scott aircraft 9.9 litre 605 cc motor that produces the same torque as a modern day Chrysler V10 Viper motor. This car was reconstructed for Dick Deluna by Tom Batchelor in Reno Nevada and Denis Webb in Anaheim California amongst many others.

McCabe, Bugatti, Type 59, Rolex Monterey Reunion, Laguna Seca

Charles McAbe is seen warming up his 1934 Bugatti Type 59 with it’s distinctive wire and alloy wheels.

Chevrolet Corvette C1, Rolex Monterey Reunion, Laguna Seca

Looking particularly purposeful in black above is Bob Patterson’s 1957 second generation Chevrolet Corvette C1, a very successful sports car and racer in it’s day that sold with the strap line “FI = 1 H.P. per CU. IN. x 283″.

Knoop, Echidna, Rolex Monterey Reunion, Laguna Seca

John Staver, Ed Grierson and Bill Larson based their Echidna race cars on highly modified Corvette frames and mechanical running gear. The cars clothed in bodywork by by Bill Devlin won 8 races outright from 35 races and took 17 class victories. The Bob Hardison’s 1959 example seen here is driven by IMSA Endurance racer Rick Knoop.

Kurtis KK500-H, Rolex Monterey Reunion, Laguna Seca

Frank Kurtis built just one new car for the 1958 Indy 500 the Kurtis KK500-H seen above which featured novel, for the period at Indy, independent rear suspension. It’s best finish was 7th with Duane Carter at the wheel in 1959, running with a more conventional tub rear axle installed by new owner Smokey Yunnick.

Arcerio, Lister, Rolex Monterey Reunion, Laguna Seca

Al Arcerio is seen at the wheel of his 1958 Knobbly Lister above.

Scarab, Mk 1, Rolex Monterey Reunion, Laguna Seca

After seeing first hand the apparent chaos that ruled in the factories of several top European racing car manufacturers Lance Reventlow returned to the United States determined that he could do far better. The first product of his determination was the 1958 Scarab Mk 1 with which Lance won 9 races in 1958. Only two Mk 1’s were built, I believe the example above, owned by Rob Walton, is the first of the two.

Ferrari 250 GT SWB, Rolex Monterey Reunion, Laguna Seca

The Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta Competizione chassis #2701 GT was crashed on it’s debut at the Le Mans test weekend after setting the 6th fastest time, fastest in class, in 1961. It was rebuilt and bought for a paltry DM 6,000 in February 1967 by Egon Hofer who won his class with it in a couple of hillclimbs before tackling the Taga Florio with Anatoly Arutunoff where carrying the #74 it failed to finish. Ned Spieker has owned the car since 2004.

American Motors AMX, Rolex Monterey Reunion, Laguna Seca

Dwight Matheson’s 1969 AMC AMX is seen above in the Bruce Morehead Racing colours as raced by Bruce in 1970 in the Sebring 12 hour race where the car failed to finish. Bruce is known to have scored at least one class victory in an SCCA regional race run at Sebastian towards the end of 1970.

My thanks to Geoffrey Horton for sharing today’s photos, please spare a thought for him last I heard the the Rim Fire was causing Geoffrey and his neighbours some concern.

Thanks for joining me on this “Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

PS Thoughts and opinions on the weekends Belgian Grand Prix can be found here at Motorsports Unplugged.

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Bardahl Special – Kurtis Offenhauser 500G

Ole Bardahl was the embodiment of the American dream aged 20 he arrived in Seattle from Norway in 1922 with $32 in his pocket and unable to speak a word of English, by 39 he had become a millionaire building contractor and went on to found the Bardahl Oil Company in Ballard Seattle.

Kurtis Offy 500G, Concours on the Avenue, Carmel by the Sea,

From 1950 to 1959 Bardahl sponsored Offenhauser powered Kurtis cars started in every Indy 500, two third places from Sam Hanks in 1952 and 1953 were the teams best results in this period. In 1956 a Bardahl showed up with the unique Ferrari powered Kurtis for Giuseppe Farina but the car proved too slow.

Kurtis Offy 500G, Concours on the Avenue, Carmel by the Sea,

For reasons that have not been determined during the research for this blog for 1957 Bardahl had Kurtis build two left hand drive Offenhauser powered 500G’s,all the other ’57 Kurtis Indy cars were right hand drive so far as I have been able to determine the #16 was driven by Al Keller and the #19 seen here by Jack Turner. Al Keller started the ’57 Indy 500 from 8th on the grid but crashed on lap 75 and was classified 27th, while Jack Turner started 19th and classified 11th last car on the lead lap.

Kurtis Offy 500G, Concours on the Avenue, Carmel by the Sea,

The ’57 Bardahl Kurtis Offy was by no means the only left hooker Indy car the manufacturer built, regular readers will remember that the Ross Page Special I looked at a couple of weeks ago was also a left hand drive machine, but the question remains as to why so few left hookers were built at all when almost all the other vehicles that participated in the Indy 500 at the time featured either a central driving position or a right side driving position ? If you have any references for an answer please do not hesitate to chime in below.

Kurtis Offy 500G, Concours on the Avenue, Carmel by the Sea,

For the 1958 Indy 500 Al Keller, perhaps best known as the first driver of a foreign car, Jaguar, to win a NASCAR sanctioned race, Linden, in 1954, took over the car seen in today’s photographs taken by Geoffrey Horton at the Concours on the Avenue in Carmel By The Sea a couple of years ago. Renumbered #52 Al qualified 21st completed all 200 laps and was classified 11th as had the cars previous driver Jack Turner in 1957.

Kurtis Offy 500G, Concours on the Avenue, Carmel by the Sea,

For 1959 Bardahl returned to the 500 with a conventional right hand drive Kurtis for Paul Russo who finished 9th. Through the 1960’s Bardahl entered Kurtis, Watson and Eagle cars with a best result of 3rd for Bobby Unser who drove a Bardahl entered Lola in the 1969 Indy 500 which appears to have concluded the teams participation in “The greatest spectacle in racing”.

My thanks to Geoffrey Horton for sharing his photographs which I have used in all of this months Indy 500 blogs, and to E.B. at The Nostalgia Forum for confirming today’s featured car was driven by Al Keller in the 1958 Indy 500.

Finally congratulations to Tony Kanaan for winning the 2013 edition of the Indy 500.

Thanks for joining me on this “Bardahl” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Ross Page Special – Kurtis Duray

Today’s featured Ross Page Special was built around a frame designed by Frank Kurtis in California using some parts that were taken from Leon Duray’s Indy Car originally built 1931.

Ross Page Special, Kurtis Miller, Desert Classic Concours d' Elegance, Palm Springs

It was one of the few post war designed and built cars that went to the start line of the 1946 Indy 500.

Ross Page Special, Kurtis Miller, Desert Classic Concours d' Elegance, Palm Springs

The Ross Page Special is recorded on the Indy 500 website as being a Kurtis Duray, it ran with a motor that started life as a 1932 Miller 220 but which was modified by 2 time Indy winner George Stewart better known as Leon Duray and the Offenhauser Engineering Company who fitted a super charger. Though the badge on the front carries the words Miller Ross Page, Indy 500 historian Michael Ferner tells me the car was referred to in period as “Offenhauser Special”, “Page Offenhauser Special”, “Ross Page Offenhauser Special”, “Page Special” and “Ross Page Special”. The names of frame and bodywork builder Kurtis, engine originator Miller and engine modifier Duray have all been added retrospectively.

Ross Page Special, Kurtis Miller, Desert Classic Concours d' Elegance, Palm Springs

Mel Hansen started the 1946 Indy 500 from 27th on the grid and was classified 11th having retired on lap 143 with a crankshaft issue. For some reason that is not clear to me the car is listed in the official Indy 500 results as the #4 though the photographic evidence shows the car carrying the #41.

Ross Page Special, Kurtis Miller, Desert Classic Concours d' Elegance, Palm Springs

In 1947 rookie Fred Agabashian started the Indy 500 from 23rd on the grid and was classified 9th and running with 191 laps completed.

Ross Page Special, Kurtis Miller, Desert Classic Concours d' Elegance, Palm Springs

The following year Fred could only start from 32nd on the grid and only managed 58 laps before retiring with a broken oil line and was classified 23rd with the car now carrying the #26.

Ross Page Special, Kurtis Miller, Desert Classic Concours d' Elegance, Palm Springs

When the car was restored by John and Heather Mozart it was briefly used raced in vintage events before being donated to the Peterson Automotive Museum. The car is seen here at last years Desert Classics Concours d’Elegance.

My thanks to Geoffrey Horton for the photographs and Michael Ferner for the details about the cars name and build.

Thanks for joining me on this “Ross Page Special edition of getting a li’l psycho on tyres, I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

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