Tom And Group,
Thank you for taking the time to share thanks to Him who gives us all
perfect grace, love, peace. It is a pleasure to have met you and some of
the others on this list and I personally look forward to alot of years of
very fast times out on the salt with you and our other new friends and
fellow hot rodders,
Happy Thanksgiving,
Dave Haller #93 C/GALT
----- Original Message -----
From: Thomas E. Bryant <saltracer@awwwsome.com>
To: <kturk@ala.net>
Cc: Glen Barrett <speedtimer@earthlink.net>; Dick Jurkowski
<lsr_man@yahoo.com>; <land-speed@autox.team.net>
Sent: Wednesday, November 24, 1999 4:13 PM
Subject: Re: Pierson Coupe
>
> Land speed group: 4:15PM PST
>
> HAPPY THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY TO ALL!
>
> For too often we forget all the we have to be thankful for in the good
> old USofA. Even the poorest among us are rich compared to many in this
> world. God has blessed these United States. Let us thank Him for his
> Mercy, non of us really wants Justice.
>
> Keith asked me to expand on the Pierson Coupe story and my involvement,
> so here goes...
>
> In early 1980, I was approached by Dick Schell, a "shade tree mechanic"
> in the Redding area, who told me he had purchased an old Bonneville
> Coupe that had been stored, for about fifteen years, in a barn on "Old
> 44" highway east of Redding. He knew that I had a Bonneville roadster
> and came to me for a copy of the rules, so he could properly prepare the
> coupe for Bonneville. I am always thrilled when new people show an
> interest in Bonneville, so naturally, I gave him the latest rule book
> and offered to put an engine it, since I had a spare motor, when he got
> the car ready.
>
> A few months passed and one day he came to our shop, telling me that he
> was getting discouraged with the project (we all know how much work, and
> expense is involved in preparing a car to run). There was a Street Rod
> Event in the San Francisco area that he wanted to attend, needing to
> raise some money, he asked if I knew anyone who wanted to buy it. I told
> him that I didn't. However, after he left, I couldn't get the coupe idea
> out of my mind, so I made a trip out to his place to see the car.
>
> When I saw the car, it was really ugly, but I saw something different in
> my mind's eye. I set out to convince my wife that I should purchase the
> coupe. Unfortunately, she saw the same ugly car that I saw, but didn't
> have my vision. It was difficult, but through convincing argument, and
> some bribery, I suppose, I really don't remember, she relented. So, I
> called Dick and made an offer. My offer was $600 less than he paid, but
> he finally concurred, if he could keep the engine, (a basically stock
> Pontiac) and the early Ford transmission. That suited me since I really
> had no need of those items.
>
> It was mid-June. Speedweek was only about two months in the future and I
> had lots of work to do if I would make the meet. You have to remember
> that I was only fifty years young and had considerable more energy than
> I do at present. The car still had a stock enclosed driveline. I had to
> order parts for the quick-change to convert it to an open driveline, but
> most everything else was "grunt work."
>
> We did get the car ready, I borrowed a trailer, and we headed to
> Bonneville with two cars, a D/FR and a D/GCC. Since I had been unable to
> come up with a rear drive shaft yoke that I needed, I manufactured one.
> Unfortunately, after a couple of runs, which yielded times in the
> mid-170's, I was up to the starting line just at dusk, when I put the
> car in gear and found that I had lost connection to the rear axle. As we
> were pushing it off to the side, a photographer came up and wanted to
> take a picture of us, the coupe and an enormous moon that was just
> rising. Naturally, as all other racers, I have an enormous ego, so
> gladly agreed to be photographed. (The picture appeared in Sports
> Illustrated a couple of years later) This was my first indication that I
> had purchased a car that would draw lots of attention over the next
> eleven years. Through the rest of the week, while the car was residing
> in the pits, people were constantly stopping to take pictures of the
> car. A few asked, "Is the Pierson Coupe?" I had no idea since I had not
> yet become aware of what the Pierson Coupe was. Phil Fruediger, stopped
> and looked the car over and said, "This is the Pierson Coupe. I
> recognize the clutch and brake assembly I made while partners with and
> driving for Tom Cobb." They were the last to run the car at Bonneville
> before I brought it to the Salt in 1980.
>
> Through the next several years, just about ever time I appeared at an
> event, some one would give me more information about the car. The
> history of the car as best I can recount is as follows:
> August 1949 it made its first appearance at the Russetta Lakes meet.
> Owners, Bob & Dick Pierson were also running a 1936 coupe at that time.
> The First time at Bonneville was 1950, and then 1951 under the same
> ownership. Dick went into the military service and in 1952 Dawson Hadley
> purchased the car and his partner was ? Evans (I'm not sure the first
> name, but I have talked to Mr. Evans at the Muroc events). They ran the
> car for a year or two, then George Bentley (of Sadd, Bentley, & Teague)
> bought the car. Tom Cobb then borrowed (or bought) the car from George
> and ran at Bonneville setting the record in C/CC at 187.987 in 1956,
> using a blown Chevy for power. Eventually his best one-way time was 196+
> MPH, last running the car in 1958.
>
> Bob Joehnck purchased the car in 1959 and installed a Chrysler with
> plans to take it to Bonneville, but decided to scrap the plans after
> attending the Bakersfield National ¼ mile meet where he experienced
> handling problems. He sold the car to one of his employees. A fellow (I
> don't remember his name) was driving down the street in Santa Barbara
> and saw the coupe parked at the curb, he stopped and inquired about the
> possibility of purchasing it and was successful. This gentleman was in
> our shop for some service one day when I was working on the car. He told
> me that he brought the car to Redding and put in storage. His son sold
> it without his knowledge! He said that although he was terribly upset
> with his son, he was glad to see that it was in good hands.
>
> I met Dick at the Lakes in 1984, I believe, and spent some time
> discussing the car and its history. I met Bob a couple of years later
> when he stopped by our shop and spent a few hours with me, catching up
> on what the car had been doing. Both Bob and Dick and their wives have
> become dear friends, following the car just about every where we ran
> until I sold the car the end of 1991. Bob says that I made him famous,
> which really isn't too far from the truth.
>
> Both Bob and Dick have capitalized on the fame of the car and I am happy
> for them, they certainly are entitled since they conceived and built the
> car, but very likely the car would have been forgotten by most of those
> who remember it, if we hadn't given it the exposure. Certainly, the
> younger generations would not have known of the car if it hadn't been
> for the press it received while we campaigned it. The car has appeared
> in most USA hot rod publications, and in at least two overseas (Italy
> and New Zealand) magazines.
>
> I am very thankful to the Piersons for having built such a great car. I
> am proud to have been a part of its history. The only regret I have is,
> it was never MY car it was always, and always will be, the Pierson
> Coupe. Although, I do occasionally get a mention as being the last owner
> before the restoration. I guess that is the main reason for staying with
> the '34 coupe when I built the new car. When I look at it, I see the
> Pierson Coupe with streamlining and it is known as Tom Bryant's car!
>
> The Pierson Coupe is now safely in good hands. If I had continued to run
> the coupe, it is likely that it would have eventually been destroyed
> resulting in possible serious injury or death to the driver. The car was
> going too fast for its age and the quality of its construction. After
> all the car had been a race car for forty-two years when I sold it. The
> new owner, Bruce Meyer, is a super person and his joy is received from
> restoring and preserving various vintage vehicles and race cars for
> future generations. The Pierson Coupe is one of his most prized
> possessions. A real tribute when you see his collection of cars which
> includes a Duesenberg touring car that is said to be valued at more than
> million dollars.
>
> There is so much that I could say about this car. Maybe I'll write a
> book!
>
> Happy Holidays
> Tom from Redding CA
>
> Keith Turk wrote:
> >
> > Hey Tom.... Tell us the story of how you ended up with this car... K
> >
> > ----------
>
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