SEMA News—August 2015
HERITAGE
By Drew Hardin
Photo Courtesy Petersen Archive
Racing Roadsters
 | |
In the days of hot rodding’s infancy, there were a lot of ways—and places—to go fast if you lived in Southern California. Top-speed runs at the desert dry lakes had been going on since before World War II; drag racing was beginning to boom for those whose speed needs could be contained in a quarter-mile; and oval tracks flourished throughout the area, drawing everything from rough-and-tumble jalopies to nitro-fed midgets.
Petersen Publishing Company photographers Bob D’Olivo and Eric Rickman, joined by freelancer Walter Mahony, went to the quarter-mile dirt oval at Gardena Stadium on an early spring day in 1955 to capture the first roadster race of the new season on film. Their pictures formed the basis for “Bending the Quarter Mile,” which appeared in Hot Rod’s June 1955 issue.
“They drive ‘hell for leather,’ they’re tooling cheaper iron and bigger mills than anybody in the business and as a consequence you get racing in its hottest form,” said Hot Rod. “While the roadster jockeys spend untold hours on their equipment, the majority of it is of modified stock components and the boys don’t mind using it to the hilt because of comparative low replacement costs. Lest we leave the impression that these cars are on the make-shift side, remember that workmanship is usually of the highest caliber but the costs of fancy chrome work are more often than not plowed back into speed parts instead.”
At this particular event was a “wild assortment of machinery,” noted the editors. “Powerplant limitations are non-existent…. The Gardena go drew such strange bed fellows as: a Chrysler 6 and V8, several Offenhausers, blown and unblown flathead Fords, a Riley four-port and a Latin import Talbot Largo [sic] (a frilly version of the American Offy).” The victor, they reported with some surprise, was the “undernourished little Riley! With just the right amount of power and ideal gear combination for the small track, Rosie Roussel stroked down the middle of the Goliaths while the bigger jobs chopped their tires to shreds with overdoses of power and resultant wild cornering.”
“Wild” describes the scene here, as one “Rip” Erickson “takes a flyer on the boards at seventy,” said the caption to this photo. In the magazine, D’Olivo’s picture was cropped tightly on Erickson climbing the wall; the full-frame scene, notably the number-six roadster pointed the wrong way on the track, sheds some light as to how (or why) ol’ Rip found himself in that predicament.
According to the caption, Rip’s roadster “rode the wall, caught a post and bounced back on the track upright.”
The new SATAjet 5000 B spray gun is as versatile as the user is. It offers a flexible gun distance of 4 to 8.5 in. and air pressures from 7 to 29 psi. Also features SATA’s satin-gloss pearl-chrome surface. The modern design of the SATAjet 5000 B has been co-created in cooperation with Porsche Design Studio, Zell am See (Austria). Durable, flexible and ergonomic.
MTS flip sockets have thin-wall sockets and large, easy-to-read markings. Myers’ PN 01683 is 19 x 19 mm. Myers PN 01684 is 3/4 x 3/4 in.
The Alligator TPMS snap-in valve has 80-psi maximum cold-inflation pressure and 130-mph maximum speed rating. The ring around the valve 1/4-in. from the threads indicates that it is a TPMS valve. The anti-rotation lip snugs the valve to the rim, preventing the sensor/valve from spinning in the wheel. T10 screw and self-tapping threads prevent the screw from backing out.
Inventory management system—accurate, real-time usage, inventory and restocking information. Reduces inventory immediately; eliminates paperwork. Stock-outs and rush orders with automated online ordering. Boost productivity. Product is available 24/7. Ideal for lean environments and affordable for businesses of any size.
The Chicago Pneumatic CP7732 stubby 1/2-in. impact wrench is an ultra-compact and powerful impact wrench designed for difficult work in confined spaces. At only 4.4 in. long, this tool is ideal for transmission, engine and brake work and features an exceptional power-to-weight/size ratio.
The new Chicago Pneumatic CP7748-2TL 1/2-in. impact has limited torque in the forward position (60 lb.-ft.) when operated for 1 second and 922 lb.-ft. maximum torque in reverse. When used properly in conjunction with a torque wrench, the operator can limit over torquing when changing tires.
The powerful CP8848 1/2-in. cordless impact wrench boasts a custom-designed motor and durable gearbox that provides a powerful 775 lb.-ft. of torque and weighs just 6.9 lbs. The advanced technology of the 20-volt/4-Ah lithium-ion battery provides the operator with more power and twice the run time of conventional products.
At only 6.1 in. in length (152 mm), the CP8828 cordless 3/8-in. impact wrench offers a compact and versatile design with a max torque of 150 lb.-ft. Its high-performance 20-volt/4-Ah lithium-ion battery provides the operator with more power and twice the run time of conventional products.
The Red Kap new performance shop pant and shorts are loaded with unique features designed specifically for the automotive industry (patent-pending products).
At only 6.9 in. in length (171 mm), the CP8528 cordless 3/8-in. drill driver offers an ultra-compact and lightweight design for easy access in confined spaces. With its high-performance 12-volt/1.5Ah compact lithium-ion battery smartly integrated inside the handle, it’s the perfect companion for engine, dashboard or under-vehicle jobs.