So-Cal Streamliner Part 2

The 1st Bonneville Nationals in 1949 was a successful endeavor for the So-Cal streamliner. The team ran top time of the meet at 187.89 mph & set a class "A" streamliner record of 156.39 mph. They also set the class "C" streamliner record of 189.745 mph.

The 2 pics below were taken at the dry lakes after Bonneville

After a successful Bonneville and regular S.C.T.A. season where Xydias/Batchelor came 2nd in the points championship. The streamliner was repaired and the front end changed it was repainted white with the 2 painted on the front wheelcovers. At the May 1950 S.C.T.A. meet the repaired streamliner ran strong on Saturday with a 152.28 qualifying run. Come Sunday Dean was backing up with his return run, there was a strong crosswind which he was steering into to keep straight. When the wind died the streamliner veered right putting the car sideways, it skidded, the tires dug in, went up on the 2 left side wheels and the car flipped and miraculously landing back on its wheels the belly pan had flown off and Dean was knocked unconscious after he smacked the steering wheel with his head. Dean never raced again after that accident. It was again back to Valley Custom to have minor body repairs done. Major driveline and suspension parts weren't so lucky they had to be replaced as the force of the crash had fractured a number of components. The body was primered in black as time was running out to have the streamliner ready for the 1950 Bonneville Natioanls.

At the 2nd annual Bonneville Nationals (1950) the Xydias/Batchelor team broke the "A" and "C" class streamliner record setting the "A" streamliner record at 162.950 mph and a "C" streamliner record of 208.9271 mph. The So-Cal streamliner also ran the fastest one-way speed of the meet with a 210.8962 mph, beating the Kenz/Leslie Streamliner which ran 210.6489 mph. The So-Cal liner was featured on the cover of the October 1950 Hot Rod alongside the Kenz/Leslie and Lee Chapel's Tornado Streamliner.

The streamliner made the cover of the November 1950 Hot Rod as well as a Hot Rod of the Month feature.

In February 1951 the So-Cal tank ran on the sands of Daytona Beach

another crash and a sad fate for a true innovator and record setter. The engine was given back to Vic Edelbrock, Mal Hooper bought the quickchange and Al Dal Porto bought the tires, the body and chassis was sold for scrap for a grand total of $4.

So-Cal Streamliner

How many people know the So-Cal streamliner used the chassis from the original So-Cal belly tank Alex Xydias & Dean Batchelor ran in 1948? and how many know the team colours were Bronze & White before the familiar Red & White we know today?

Valley Custom Shop built the streamliner body. Alex's racing partner Dean Batchelor worked at Valley Customs. Seen here at the May 1949 S.C.T.A meet in unfinished state.

Nicely finished in time for the first Bonneville National Speed Trials

At Bonneville 1949

Notice damage to the left front? Damage was caused by a towing accident, maybe an omen of things to come for the streamliner.

to be continued........

Roy "Multi" Aldrich T and Spalding Bros. T at Bonneville 1949

What a great shot this is Roy "Multi" Aldrich Gow Job & the Spalding Bros. state of the art (for the time) T at Bonneville 1949

Bob Giovanine Talks Chev 4 Bangers

Don Waite Rear-Engined Lakes Roadster.

Phil Remington Modified Recreation.

Dan Webb of Webb Automotive art has built a beautiful recreation of the Phil Remington Modified. The Remington Mod was a Beautifully built Hot Rod when most had a some what rough appearance.

I have had a Picture of the Remington Mod on a sideboard at home for the past 4 years and love staring at it.

Dan Webb's Beautiful recreation see it at the Wally Parks NHRA museum from the weekend of the LA roadster show to the middle of August.

Bill Burke's 1st Bellytank.

This photo is courtesy of Ken Crawford who made a few passes in Bill Burke's 1st Bellytank.

HOT RODS

I was finally able to find a copy of "Hot Rods" trend book 102 and to my surprise there was two pages devoted to the Spurgin/Giovanine roadster.

And some great news the Spurgin/Giovanine roadster has been accepted into the 2010 Hot Rod class at Pebble Beach.

Crawford/Stroner 1932 Ford Roadster

This post is on the Crawford/Stroner 1932 Ford Roadster that was owned by Ken Crawford & Jerry Stroner. The roadster was featured in the 1947 Look magazine article

This is how the roadster looks today after being restored by Chuck & Mike Longley of Florida.

And finally a video.

El Mirage 1948-49 in Colour

Recently some photos were posted on the SCTA site of a few different lake meets held at El Mirage in 1948 & 1949. The incredible thing is they are in brilliant full colour. The quality of these pics are so incredible they look as if they were only taken yesterday but are actually 61-62 years old. Who are we to thank for these incredible photos? Waren Durkee for taking them and Jill Durkee-Burgoyne for sharing her fathers incredible photos
http://www.scta-bni.org/EM_1948_photos.htm 

1948 Dry Lakes Footage Spurgin/Giovanine roadster