(Photos by Scott Liggett) – The other day we showed you the first installment of photos that Scott Liggett took while visiting Lincoln, Nebraska and more specifically the Speedway Motors Museum Of American Speed and today we’re back with the second half of Scott’s work. In many ways these photos may be even more interesting than the first batch, which was no slouch in and of itself! How could this possibly be? For starters, pedal cars.
This museum has one of the largest collections of pedal cars in the country and not just the stuff that you expect to see. No, these are far more incredible than the little stamped steel fire trucks, tractors, and other cool little rigs that kids used to zip around in. Lots of these are one off or very small production pieces like the boat you see below and others. The work is incredible and their value is even more so.
Finally there are LOTS of engines and old racers in this collection of photos. The Al Mathon V16 is shown here, one of several built. The old race car which is as decrepit and busted up as the flatbed it is riding on is a personal favorite photo of ours but the wall of intake manifolds and the other mind blowing stuff is pretty much all in a tie for second. Check out this amazing and mind boggling collection of fast Americana.
CLICK ON THE PHOTOS BELOW TO SEE THEM FULL SIZE!
That V16 could be re-created using two top fuel motors with 4 turbos for a crack at the wheel-driven land speed record. I estimate an easy 5000hp bearing in mind the run would last a lot longer then 3 or 4 seconds and the motor would have to rev a lot less.
With that much power applied efficiently I reckon 450-500mph could be attained.
Especially if there were two of them in the car….
Scott, thanks for bringing this stuff. This early stuff is gold to me because without the pioneers trying the stuff they did and paving the road for us today we couldn’t have the racing we all enjoy nor the plethora of aftermarket support for our hobby. Doing it back then typically meant making it yourself and this is without CNC machines, almost no aftermarket, no plasma torches, and a lot of the tools/equipment/parts we can purchase today. Makes me feel pretty lazy not finishing the carb rebuild I have sitting out in the shop.