We admire guys who find their calling and stick to it. In the case of Connecticut’s Ron San Giovanni that calling has been flathead Ford engines. He’s hot rodder extraordinaire and he has really made his mark with Henry’s Ford’s beloved valve in block V8 engine. We’re talking about a guy who has cruised an open top, Ardun powered roadster clear across the country with his wife Laura, we’re talking about a guy who set multiple records at the ECTA over the years, at Bonneville over the years, and who is still working to make his stuff faster and faster with the beautifully arcane engine platform.
For years Ron ran a lakester configuration car but he’s since changed it not a rear engine modified roadster. Last year at Bonneville he was hauling the mail with an Ardun headed OHV conversion engine but this year he’s back to running with the valves in the block like Henry intended.
Earlier in July Ron ran the car at the Loring Timing Association event in Loring, Maine and ran 200.9mph with his blown, valve in block Flathead. To say that this guy knows these engines is an understatement of epic proportions. Check the tach out on this run. The engine is singing (for a flattie) to 6,000 RPM and pulling all the way down the 1.5 mile course. What’s the top speed on a much longer salt course? We’ll find out in a few weeks and boy does that make us happy!
Climb under the canopy and tuck in with Ron on his charge down the famed Maine land speed course.
