Stromberg Carburetor – The Choice For Remington Lakester Recreation

Bonneville Salt Flats: Race Car Recreation

Stromberg headquarters—Stromberg is pleased to announce their valued participation in the recreation of Phil Remington’s stunning 1941 lakester.

Stromberg is proud to announce their participation in the recent unveiling of the recreation of Phil Remington’s 1941 lakester.

Unveiled at a special party honoring Phil, who will be 90 this year, at the NHRA Museum in Pomona during LA Roadster weekend, the blue roadster was an exact recreation by Burton, Michigan’s Dan Webb. Webb hosted the party for 400 of Phil’s closest friends, including Dan Gurney, Stu Hilborn, and more.

Built in 1941 and raced at the lakes from 1946-1948, the roadster consistently ran over 130 MPH running a 21 stud Ford flathead fed by two Stromberg 97 carburetors. As Dan Webb wanted this to be a perfect recreation of the beautiful lakester, he needed to look no further than our reissue of the winning Stromberg 97.

Though the new Stromberg 97 looks exactly like it did almost 70 years ago when Phil chose them on his ground-breaking race car, internal improvements have been made to eliminate leaking, warping of the body and other problems that racers and hot rodders faced. Now, it’s the perfect choice in more ways than one.

Congratulations to Phil Remington and Dan Webb for creating and recreating one of the greats from hot rodding’s past. We’re proud to be a small part of it.

Name That Roadster! Or Highboy? Or Phaeton?

As I journey along in the car world, little by little I’m learning. From mechanical issues to car culture history to just plain cars. Recently, while at the LA Roadster Show, I was able to learn a little about all three! It all started with the question “What makes a roadster a roadster?”

To help me answer that question I enrolled Lynn Houchin, longtime LA Roadster Club Member, to be my guide. He answered all of my questions (and was able to point out examples!) about important distinctions surrounding roadsters including: Model A, Model T, highboy, coupe, phaeton, tudor, and more! Read on to get schooled!

First things first – What defines a roadster? Sure, I know its got something to do with having a removable top… but that same definition would also define a convertible so there must be more to it than that. So here it is, two simple things. A roadster must have removable windshield posts, one that is not one with the body – and no roll-up door windows.

Now that mystery is solved, let’s move onto the next.  Model A and Model T, what’s the difference? Hearing car guys talk about this I’d always been confused thinking it was a model type. As it ends up, Ford only made one model of car (albeit with different variations) during these years. So Model T is the earlier Ford car made between the years of 1908 and 1927. A perfect example of a modified Model T would be our very own Pikesan’s 1927 “Bonnie” . In 1928 Ford switched things up a bit adding a splash apron, widening the fenders some, and changing the body style in places. The Model A was then produced between 1928 and 1931, and can be seen in the picture above.

In 1932 Ford switched things up again, and this time it’s a little easier to notice – they added a radiator cover. 1932’s often get called “deuces” but you could also call them Model Bs (for some reason though I’ve never heard car guys use that term.) 1933s and 34s are recognizable by their pointed grills – and a 1933 has curved louvers on the hood sides whereas a 1934 has a straight louvers. So the above picture is what year? That’s right, a 1934. At the LA Roadster show, you can get your roadster in up to the year 1936.

But enough of these nitty-gritty distinctions. Now that you’re on your way to being a schooled car buff, let’s learn some more vocab!

Highboy. A roadster with the fenders removed. (Fender = those curvy things that go over the wheels.)

Phaeton: A 4-door roadster.

Truck: True roadster trucks are rare, but they were made. On top is a  beauty done by Hollywood Hot Rods. I first saw it in October at Ultimate Street Challenge and it also made an appearance at LA Roadster Show… but it’s much funner to see it in action! Below that, I couldn’t help but add this cute aqua and black roadster truck sighted at the LA Roadster Show, I want a ride!

Channeling: Lowering the body over the chassis instead of on top of them. Most rat rod roadsters are channeled. This one was on display at SEMA this past November.

The following terms are NOT referring to roadsters. But they’re applicable to these years of cars – and sometimes, people apply them to roadsters improperly!

Coupe: A 2-door single-seat hardtop with windows. There are both 3-window and 5-window coupes. The 3-window also has suicide doors. (Suicide Door= a door that hinges at back instead of towards the front)

Tudor: A coupe with a back seat.

Sedan: A 4-door hardtop with a back seat.

Cabriolet: Fixed-post windshield (its connected to the body), soft-top, can have roll-up windows, 2-door, single seat.

And the final question: Does it have to be a Ford? No! While the majority of roadsters you’ll see are Fords, it can be something different. Remember, to be considered a roadster a car must have a 1.)Removable windshield post and 2.)Have no door windows. Here’s one of my favorite roadsters of the show and it’s a Mercury!

With nearly 800 roadsters present at the LA Roadster show, I had plenty of opportunity to practice my new naming skills! Next time you see one of these beauties on the road (or looking through the MyRideisMe.com LA Roadster Show gallery) see if you can properly name it…you’ll be on the way to being bonafide!

Want more learning opportunities? Check out Pikesan’s article on 13 of the Best Hot Rod Engines or the learning page at GreaseGirl.com!

Pinstriping from the LA Roadster Show

When we hit a show, especially one with hot rods EVERYWHERE like the LA Roadster Show, we always try to grab some pinstriping pictures.  Take these pictures and use them for inspiration for work on your own car, or if you’re just starting out, use the various styles as a reference.

This is one of my favorite shots. Is this striping really old or just made to look that way?

If we shot some of your work, let us know! Leave a comment below… Make sure to see the entire pinstriping gallery here:

Pinstriping pictures from the LA Roadster Show

13 of the Best Hot Rod Engines at LA Roadster Show

#1 Harrell Los Angeles Flathead with Harrell Intake

Best Engines of the 2010 LA Roadster Show

Walking the 2010 LA Roadster Show, I started snapping shots of the dazzling chrome works of four-stroke art found in the roadsters and hot rods in the show. Where else to place the prized and uber-rare speed parts for your flathead than out for the world to see in an open engine bay?

So let’s put it to a vote. Pick a favorite and MyRideisMe.com will send a T-shirt to the top 3 engines. Easy for me to say!  To do that, I’ll need help! If you know the owner or know the owners cousin or even want to know the owner… leave a comment and help us get in touch.

Owners of these engines: Please email to BestEngines@MyRideisMe.com. You might have won a t-shirt! Let us know the details of the build and how this engine shows why, “My Ride is Me”.

For every picture here, click on it for the full size image.

Starting with The Flatheads category: (don’t forget #1 above)

#2 Polished Offenhauser Flathead

#3 Jimmy Shine’s Truck – 1949 Ford flathead built by Mike Gilbert with Stromberg 97 carbs atop a S.C.o.T. blower with wide open zoomie headers

#4 Tom Cobbs Roadster Flathead: 1946 Mercury 268CI with Cobbs designed 3-ring pistons; Evans 8:1 heads and Cobbs modified GMC 3-71 blower on Navarro manifold supplied by 4 Stromberg Model 48′s.  Dig the cooper fuel plumbing too! (I cheated on this on and copied the show card. I also got a picture of “The Snake” Don Prudhomme starting this up. Yea! It runs!!)

#5 Edelbrock Flathead – Not as racy looking as the others, but finely detailed no doubt

#6 Blown Flathead. Who can tell me about the “Internal Syphon Gauge” mounted behind the blower. It’s made by GE and has a + and – 30 PSI range. The trick curved air cleaners really set this one off.

#7 Sharp Flathead

#8 Quad Carbed Offenhauser Flathead. I saw a NOS Beehive oil filter like the one shown here for $450 at the not-to-be-missed LA Roadster Show swap meet. Nostalgia ain’t cheap.

Next, representing the, Blown & Bad not a flathead category:

#9 “Steinegger & Eshenbaugh” Blown Hemi

#10 Twin Blown & Finned SBC Beauty

Next, representing the, Hell NO I ain’t a Small Block Chevy category:

#11 Gurney Eagle & Weber Carbed Big Block Ford? (Help me out here!)

#12 Thunderbird Finned Y-Block

#13 Tri-powered Caddy

That’s it. 13 of the best looking, best detailed engines of the LA Roadster Show. Care to pick a favorite?

And don’t forget to tell the owner to contact me with details of the engine. I’ll update the story. (Cause we love old school, but we’re we’re the dynamic NEW way to read about hot rods!)

-pikesan

CLICK HERE for More LA Roadster Show Pictures

Want more “Best of” Engines?  Check out the Best Engines of SEMA 2010

Standing Out At LA Roadster Show

Today marked the start of the 46^th Annual LA Roadster Show held at the fairgrounds in Pomona, California. As the name implies, this is a show focused on roadsters. Roadsters aren’t the only thing to see though. In fact last year, I was so busy checking out the informal car show that happens in the “preferred parking” area that I didn’t even make it over to look at any roadsters! This year I decided to remedy that and take a good look at all those purdy roadsters.

As I walked through row after row of pristine roadster my head started to spin! Rather than continuing on with glazed-over eyes I decided to try and learn a little, recognize roadster differences, and figure out which I like the best.

What’s there to learn about a roadster? Tons! First, how about a definition of what makes a roadster a roadster? Most know one when they see one, but could they define it? Then you’ve got Highboys, Model A’s, T-Buckets… what are the differences? I know I’m not the only one who’s unsure about these distinctions. I learned a ton today (thanks Donnie and Chuck) but still have to track down some of the LA Roadster Club members to steer me straight on these differences tomorrow. Be on the lookout for that article in the next couple of days!

As I was learning, I was also noticing what I did and did not like on roadsters. Here’s what I found…

A roadster is a driving-mans (or woman’s) car… so it should have good motor. Not only did I like the looks of this one – from the color choice to the tires to the metal-paneled interior – but it had an impressive engine also.

Some roadsters are too modern for my likes and others too antique. This ’32 Ford was hot rodded in the fifties and remains nearly untouched since then. I like it!

Of all my choices, this is the only one that isn’t a 1932 and that does have fenders on! This 1933 Ford almost screams both fun and elegance! Can’t you picture driving it up the California coast?

This one’s stance must’ve been a good foot above all the rest. It looks ready to have fun out on the road, in a show, or on the flats!

Classic done right. Enough said!

So these are some of the one’s that I like – what qualities make a good roadster to YOU!?!? Leave a comment and let us know!

There’s still another day of the LA Roadster Show!!! Make sure you check back and see what else Craig, Swanee, and I run into!

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