Re: [Chrysler300] More on Daytona Beach in 1958.

[barjam300@xxxxxxx]

Rich, 
 
Was that the car that was purchased by Dr. Herbert Magee, Jr. At Ely Motors 
 in Redwood City in California?  If so, it was featured in the April 15,  
1958 issue of the Chrysler publication Chrysler Times that was sent to  
dealerships. There is a picture with Dr. Magee, dealership owner Leonard Ely, W.  
E. Faraker, Exec. Assistant to V. P, of Sales, Chrysler and L. K. Hancock,  
Chrysler District Manager in the article.
 
Jim Bartuska
Niles, Mich 
 
 
In a message dated 1/23/2010 1:07:05 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,  
obiwan10@xxxxxxxxxxx writes:

 
 
 
Burton:

Perhaps you could answer other questions that I've had for  some time.

I had read or heard somewhere that there were 5 different  B's that had 
exceeded 2 way runs of 135 MPH at this event. One of them  driven by a 
lady. 
Another had a one way run of 144 MPH. Are my memories  correct on this.

Also would you know the rear axle ratios that any  these cars were running 
and were any of them considered the so called 355  HP option? Were they 
running stock Blue Streak Goodyear's and running thru  the stock exhaust 
systems.

This is all interesting, especially  given that these large sedans had 
basically the aerodynamics of a sail  running against the wind. Reminds me 
of an the old Bob Segar Song.
_http://www.lyricsfrhttp://wwwhttp://wwwhttp://www.lhttp://www.lyrhttp_ 
(http://www.lyricsfreak.com/b/bob+seger/against+the+wind_20021964.html) 

I  recently have seen the outcome of its full total frame off restoration 
of  
the standard transmission 58 300D that ran at the Daytona Speed Weeks in  
1958. Those of you who attended the Club's national event at Lake Tahoe a  
few years ago will well remember this car. At that time it was basically  
and old rusty looking body (but fairly solid) with the interior almost  
completely gone and the factory 3 speed lying in the trunk. The car was  
for 
the most part complete but it was one of the sorriest looking things  I'd 
ever seen. For those of you who remember Randy Hastie's 300 F  convertible 
(hauled to a National event for the Western Club with hay  bales hanging 
out 
it) before its restoration, it was likely a tie to which  was more a sorry 
sight. This 300 D apparently was of very low mileage,  claims of 17,000 
miles 
stick in my mind.

The car is now spectacular  and likely would win Best of Show at not only 
300 
meets but many other top  pen Concours. It is white with the "PURE OIL" 
graphics posted on the side  just as it was when it ran in 1958. I also saw 
a wealth of photos and news  articles of the car just as it was when it 
ran. 
Also photos of the car  when it was being delivered in Detroit, basically 
in 
a blizzard/snowstorm  just before it was driven from Detroit to Daytona. 
Car 
was purchased new  by a California man who picked it up and Detroit and 
drove 
to Daytona.  Fascinating historical car.

I've taken photos of it that I will figure  how to upload to our website. 
Timo Tanskanen and another restorer from  Danville, Calif. worked together 
to 
complete the restoration. There are  likely many photos of the car on our 
website as the car was before it was  restored. These would have been taken 
by many members at the Lake Tahoe  Nationals. Even in its miserable 
appearance then, it was likely the most  popular car at that event.

Car is owned my a rice farmer who lives in  northern California.

I'm going to forward this missive off to the  Forward Look website.

Thank you for sharing your memories with  us.

Roger Schaaf
300 B Calyfornua

----- Original Message  ----- 
From: "Burton Bouwkamp" <_northburt@xxxxxxxxxxxx 
(mailto:northburt@xxxxxxxxxxx) >
To:  <_chrysler300@chrysler300@chr_ (mailto:chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx) >
Sent:  Saturday, January 23, 2010 4:31 AM
Subject: [Chrysler300] Daytona Beach in  1956.

RLS,
Thanks for the website address.

Here are my  memories of being at Daytona Beach in February, 1956.

Bob Rodger  (Chrysler's Chief Engineer) sent me to Daytona as an "observer" 
with no  official duties except to help the Chrysler nameplate - with 
automotive  writers for example - and help Chrysler drivers - like our 
dealer 
Brewster  Shaw of San Juan Motors - in any way that I could. And also to 
serve in a  liaison roll with Carl Kiekhaefer. We knew that Carl was going 
to 
run cars  in the Sunday oval race (on the beach and highway) but we did not 
know  that he was preparing a car for the beach speed trials to be driven 
by 
Tim  Flock the NASCAR Grand National Champion.

Tim Flock raised the flying  mile record by 12 MPH! The car had a manual 
transmission and was prepared  to perfection by the Kiekhaefer organization 
for the beach run. Carl had  the car painted with the Mercury Outboard logo 
because he knew that he was  going to win - and set a new record doing it. 
He 
wanted to showup the  factory effort - and he did!

After Tim Flock's two-way run of 139.4  MPH, Gene Carr (worked for me) and 
I 
went over to the Armory to observe  the inspection. NASCAR required removal 
of the intake manifold and one  cylinder head so that they could measure 
carburetor and port sizes, bore,  stroke, valve sizes, piston head height 
and 
cylinder head combustion  chamber volume to assure that the engine was 
within 
specifications.  Without completing this inspection successfully the 
results 
were not  official. We waited - and waited - and waited but Tim Flock and 
the 
car  did not show. NASCAR gave us a time deadline to "produce the car at 
the  
Armory or else" so Gene and I went over to the Kiekhaefer rented facility  
and there was the 300B. Carl said he wasn't interested in the inspection  
because he said that he proved what he wanted to prove. After some intense  
discussion Carl said "take the car". We did and we made the deadline at  
the 
Armory - but we did not have any mechanics to disassemble the engine.  Gene 
and I were capable of doing it but we didn't have any tools. We  borrowed 
tools from mechanics working next to us but it was obvious that  wasn't 
going 
to work because we needed the same tools and were interfering  with their 
work. So I called Carl Kiekhaefer and told him that we needed  his help. He 
went through his standard dissertation that his efforts were  not 
appreciated 
by Chrysler - but within ten minutes Carl came marching in  through the 
open 
Armory garage door carrying a tool box in each arm and  with two mechanics 
trotting behind him. We were the last ones out of the  Armory that evening 
but the engine met all specifications and Chrysler had  the official record 
- 
which was broken by six 300F's four years  later.

Burt Bouwkamp

[Non-text portions of this message have  been  removed]

------------------------------------

To  send a message to this group, send an email to:
_Chrysler300@Chrysler300@Chr_ (mailto:Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx) 

For  list server instructions, go to 
_http://www.chryslerhttp://www.chttp://wwwhttp://w_ 
(http://www.chrysler300club.com/yahoolist/inst.htm) 

For  archives go to _http://www.forwardlhttp://www.fhttp://www.fo_ 
(http://www.forwardlook.net/300-archive/Yahoo) !  Groups 
Links





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



------------------------------------

To send a message to this group, send an email to:
Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

For list server instructions, go to http://www.chrysler300club.com/yahoolist/inst.htm

For archives go to http://www.forwardlook.net/300-archive/Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Chrysler300/

<*> Your email settings:
    Individual Email | Traditional

<*> To change settings online go to:
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Chrysler300/join
    (Yahoo! ID required)

<*> To change settings via email:
    Chrysler300-digest@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 
    Chrysler300-fullfeatured@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
    Chrysler300-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
    http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/