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.