(Photos – Dave Sanders Collection) – Stock car racing’s roots are well known. From the days of the moonshiners to the entrance of Big Bill France and his efforts to organize all of these guys into a group that would ultimately set the foundation for America’s most popular and wealthy racing series, NASCAR’s story is pretty amazing. During those freewheeling “good old days” there were few national heroes but lots of local ones. As it turns out, one such team of hometown wrenching mavens have a BangShift connection. Hardcore BS’er Dave Sanders let us know that he had photos and some background information on his pop’s race car, which was a 1952 record holder on the flying mile at Daytona Beach. Dave supplied us with some photos and some hard written notes his dad had compiled on the car.
Pushing the envelope of the rules is what stock car racing has always been about to some level and the elder Mr Sanders was no exception to this rule. As you’ll read in the notes, one of the guys who helped on the record running MPH was “known as a master fuel blender”. Why would you need a fuel blender? Because you were running nitro through your flathead to get just enough extra zoot out of the thing to put a MPH or two on the competition. The note states that the car had exactly enough fuel in it to make a run and the machine was bone dry when it crossed the finish line. Damn it we love this stuff!
The 1938 Ford Coupe with its wide-five wheels, bashed up fenders, 200hp Flathead V8, and home spun two tone paint job is absolutely freaking perfect. Scroll down and see the photos of this cool car, read the spec sheets as hand scribed by Dave’s dad and realize that NASCAR has come a long, long way from where it started. 114mph on the beach was the number to beat in 1952. Today that’s basically slower than the pace lap!
Oh…and the little kid you see sitting with the car in the below photos? Yeah, that’s our man Dave Sanders!
THANKS A MILLION TO DAVE SANDERS FOR SHARING THESE COOL PHOTOS THAT CAPTURE A MAGICAL MOMENT IN TIME WHEN IT COMES TO AMERICAN RACING.
Ya know, I really like the looks of these early stock cars. It would be great if this theme would catch on among street rod builders.
I will keep my opinion of the present crop of rat rods to myself for fear of offending anyone.
That said, a stock car themed rod could be built at fairly low cost and it’s flaws and patina would at least be legitimate.
Rat rods done! Bring on the vintage stock car rods!
Great story!