Re: Kids racing

[W S Potter <wester6935@comcast.net>]

    And those "kids" were mostly veterans of WWII if you will check birth
dates.  These were not sixteen year old kids with cars that were capable of
speeds in excess of 120 mph.  A good time on the dry lakes or salt flats in
1950 was most commonly in the 100-115 mph range.  I don't remember many cars
that registered speeds in excess of 140.  It took another ten years for the
average speeds to build up.  As an example, in 1959 the C Gas Coupe and
Sedan record was 136 and that year it was bumped to 155.  Today that
comparable record is 214 in the classic category, almost 226 in C/GC. In
1950 that speed would get top time of the meet or very close to it.  The
first doorslammer over 200 was the Burkland Studebaker now raced by Ron
Tesinski.  

    Look at the USFRA 130 Club.  The bulk of the cars racing in that
category are not specially built hot rods but production cars that came from
the factory in the last few years with the capability of those 130 plus
speeds.  Usually street driven hot rods have a difficult time getting over
130.  Not really that much faster than comparable cars of the 50's but built
well enough to pass a tech inspection.
       
Wes