Don Waite's Roadster 1948

Don Waite Rear-Engined Lakes Roadster.

I love the lakes roadsters of the post-war era and one of my favourites is the rear engined roadster built by Don Waite who was dubbed "The Dumb Kid" (go figure) by his fellow lake competitors. The roadster Don built was quite advanced for the time. Ray Brown had run his rear engined T in 1948 but with solid rear. Don had also run his T in 1948 as a rear engined roadster it was powered by a Crager head banger. In 1949 Don got serious and started a rebuild, Don had Whitey Clayton build the tracknose, bellypan, hood and sides. The '47 Merc flathead was mounted in a cradle that connected directly to the quickchange rearend the whole driveline could be easily removed for repairs as it was mounted in a 2 point system a large rubber bush at front and the model A rear spring holding it out back.

Gow Jobs

From July 26 1941 Colliers Magazine

Evans Bellytank @ Bonneville 1949.

evans-bellytank
Originally uploaded by Jimmy Bs 1925 Chev

Happy New Year to everyone out in blog land.

Todays offering is the Earl Evans Bellytank at the 1st Bonneville Nationals in 1949. Running "B" class Lakester the Evans, Starr, Alger entry ran 157.930mph.