Jack Howerton – Behind the 2012 AMBR Winner

Background and Details on the 2012 AMBR Winner

How did editors and writers work before Google? I searched for some info on the man who started the 2012 America’s Most Beautiful Roadster winning hot rod: Jack Howerton. I found this great video of “Jackie”  from back in the day:

You can really see the expression of Jack’s racing past in the AMBR car.

Then, I found this great video by Cars.tv from the SoCal shop interviewing Pete Chapouris about the Indy Speedster following the shakedown runs. Needless to say, Pete likes it…

So here it is: America’s Most Beautiful Roadster: Bill Lindig’s Indy Speedster

If you missed them: Past Winners from the Grand National Roadster Show

RHD Falcon Squire Wagon Groovy Video

1963 Ford Falcon Squire Wagon

Images Courtesy of Daniel De Silva

In case you didn’t know, Ford Falcons were made and sold in Australia while the “compact” Ford was selling in the USA too. The cool old Ford Falcons we enjoyed all through the 60′s were replaced with some 70s Falcons that looked like… cars from the 70s. In a word, YUCK. But that’s another story…

Daniel De Silva of Bandit Films has teamed up with Luke from Fuel Magazine to make Fueltank.tv. It’s a collection of great hot rod and custom car videos all done in HD. I’ve watched a few, especially this trick Falcon wagon, and I’ll be back!

Dig the groovy sounds and especially dig this gorgeous right hand drive Falcon. I want it!! Hopefully my 63 Falcon Wagon Project will turn out half as nice!

 

Wrecked Metal Hot Rods Video

Hot Rod Video from Idaho

Give credit when it’s due.

I gotta say, I like taking pictures. Not just pictures of hot rods, but just about everything. And although editing takes some time, I enjoy it! For the pictures, recomposing them, making the most of the colors, zooming in or out… it’s fun and the end result’s rewarding. That’s not true for me with video. I hate editing video! For that reason, the few I’ve done aren’t much to look at. On the other hand, check out the handiwork from Josh Clason.

Josh tells us: “I had the opportunity to cruise up to Boise, Idaho a few months ago and meet with Matt Whitlock of Wrecked Metals. We had a great time shooting this over the course of 2 days. The cars and motorcycles Matt has put his touch on have been amazing.”

Josh first caught my eye when in his first trip to Bonneville, he shot this Bonneville Speed Week Video. The boy’s got skills! Josh, let us know what’s next! More on Josh at his home page: JoshClason.com/

Can you shoot video like this?

Don Garlits Crash Video – The Modern Dragster Born

Famous Don Garlits Swamp Rat Crash Caught in Video

Swamp Rat 13 – Photo Courtesty of the Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing (See a copy of the crash photo behind, middle)

If you’re a fan of drag racing then you know “Big Daddy” Don Garlits. You’ll also know his varied “Swap Rat” dragsters creations that carried Big Daddy to just about every racing “Hall of Fame” in existence.

Don Garlits was certainly a winner and an innovator. Along the way, he was the first to hit 170, 180, 200, 240, 250, 260, and 270 miles per hour in the quarter mile. As an innovator, he’s best know for driving the first REAR engine dragster ever raced.

How’d he come up with the idea that changed dragster design and drag racing forever?  It happened in Long Beach, California at the 1970 AHRA Grand American. In the finals against Richard Tharpe, this crash happened in Swamp Rat 13.

I’ve only ever seen pictures of this crash before! I never know video existed… I’ll show the picture here when I get permission from the owner. The two speed transmission Big Daddy was experimenting with exploded right off the line.

Swamp Rat 14 – Photo Courtesty of the Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing

So… following the accident that took off a piece of Big’s right foot, Swap Rat 14 made it’s debut in Pomona in 1971. Funny thing is, the steering was too quick in Swamp Rat 14, so the project was nearly scrapped save for not-so-gentle nudging from Big’s wife Pat. Maybe she was the smartest of the bunch cause the fine-tuned digger, sporting a new Dodge Hemi behind the driver, making it much safer, went on to set the all time quickest ET at Indianapolis at 6.21 at over 240mph. Safer and faster!

Now you know about the birth of the modern dragster.

Gotta thank Lionsvideo.com for posting this on Youtube. Get your copy on DVD!

Also, if you get a chance, go to the Don Garlits Museum in Ocala, Florida. I was in Florida on business once and got to go. It’s worth the trip!!

Crashes Before Seatbelts – Old Racing Video

Gave Their Lives for Racing

This video’s a compilation arranged by Ryan over at Jalopy Journal. This is vintage racing video, and Ryan warns that in some cases, the drivers lost their lives.

Here’s the original story called, “Killed Myself When I was Young”

Check out more videos from days gone by here: Jalopy Journal Motion Pictures

Thanks to my old buddy Swanee for the lead…

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