Is this like a Roller Coaster ride or what!

[PopsGrandson]

Restoring one of these cars sure seems time consuming!
Talk about a roller coaster ride! Find a part, stap it on and then sit back and look at the list of additional parts you'll have to fabricate. No going to the parts store for this stuff!! I keep telling myself someday it will end.

Dan Erikson

[PopsGrandson]

Looks like the Roller Coaster hit a high note for me this evening!! After talking with countless "guy's in the know", and surfing the web looking for something that looked anything like the tail Pop used on his car, we finally hit pay dirt!! My good friend Butch Potter came across something unique on Ebay yesterday that was worthy of a close look! After some really hard looks, it appears to be very close to what Pop had on the car with a few simple alterations! It's called a Grant King "Wrong Way Roadster Tail". In the next week when the Money Order makes it's way to Ct. I'll be the proud owner of one! The last major piece to my restoration!! Won't be long now!! I think I'll have another beer!!! Ha Ha

Anybody remember anything about Grant King Parts?

Dan



Dan

[PopsGrandson]

Looks like the Coaster is all down hill from here!! Finally found a reverse Roadster Tail that with minor alteration will very closely match Pop's old tail!! What a find!! Never thought I'd see one!!!

Yesterday I verified who created the chassis as well! We've been searching high and low for pictures of a frame built with 3" round tubing with underslung bracing. This is how Pop's car was built. Much of the welding done in recent years was very recognizable as well as questionable. Stangely enough much of the main rails appeared to be tig welded or wire fed by a very accomplished craftsman. I had a sneeky hunch that this was originally a factory chassis of some sort.

Welds were way to nice for a back yard project out of the sixties!


While cruising E bay Motors race car section, I came across a 58-60 C.A.E. Sprint Chassis. The lower half of the main rails was identical to whats sitting in my father shop!


After a little more searching I found CAE to be Culbert Automotive Engineering. Jim Culbert was a big time car builder on the West coast! Built 400 Sprint Cars over the years. Mr. Culbert was also a 2004 inductee into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame!!!!!!!!

How Pop had the oppertunity to purchase a car of this caliber went with him to the grave.

In an earlier disscussion with Ken Monroe, who raced out of a shop just down the street from Pop, Pop and a summer resident from Chicago had bought a pair of these cars. Knock-off rims, Head hoops and exhaust that ran all the way to the tail. Ken remembered these cars being altered to run up and down the street. When Pop sold his Sedan, his CAE became the next and last car he would race. Knock-offs were replaced with drums, a full cage was installed and all the street goodies were removed.


Never imagined this to be 1 of 400 cars built by a hall of famer!!!

Just about paint time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Dan

[PopsGrandson]

After hitting the 50-50 raffle at the Kenosha County Fair's IRA show, we became even more determined to get something together for the Lake Geneva MSC Show. Unfortunately this wasn't an official VMSC event, but having raced at Geneva for more than 15 years and knowing this was Pop's home track as well, we just had to show the car there for the first time out.

We got the bare chassis back from J & J Powder Coating on the 10th with only 7 days to reassemble as much as we could before Saturday. Finally got some color pictures the day before and was able to get all the body panels and paint to our body man, Tony Kautz by the 11th. Tony did an awesome job putting the finishing touches and all my hand fabricated panels that I made and smoothened out the rough edges on the Grant King tail I had to stretch a bit! Parts came back Wednesday just in time to take a ride to the graphics guy for a quick lettering job! All the while we cleaned and painted all the additional bolt on components. After work on Friday the push was on! Dad and I worked till 2 am with much to be done before we loaded the next day!

Made it back to the garage by 8 am Sat. morning to finish the deal. Both Tony and Butch stopped in to lend a hand! Thanks guy's, we wouldn't have made it without you! Up on the trailer and off to the track by 4pm!!

After we got the car unloaded the track announcer stepped over to interview one of the Vintage Mod guy's. My good buddy Butch Potter was sure to point him in my direction!!! I owe you one Butch!! Didn't seem to embarrass myself or either club along the way.
6 of the MSC regulars stirred up some dust down on the pavement!
Had a great time showing with Butch, the Riemer family and Ed Maeder. I remembered Ed from way back when I pitted for Butch at Wilmot back in the early 80's.

As expected, heard lots of positive comments from fans who remembered Pop and the Supers of the 70's!

It was one busy week but well worth it!!

Not only have I restored my grandfathers racer, but got a deeper understanding of him along the way as well! The pictures and stories I've seen and heard have been amazing.

Thanks to John and all who keep the VMSC strong.
Because of your effort in keeping the memories alive, I now have a priceless treasure!

Dan Erikson

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