Keith,
...and Ab Jenkins replaced that car with a faster car to take the endurance
records away from the Brits. The new car, built on a Duesenberg racing
frame still wasn't fast enough and that automobile engine was replaced with
the Curtiss Conqueror engine. And he went faster than the Brits for 24
hours and all the shorter times too. A week or so before he died in 1956 he
took posession of four 500 mph tires from Firestone to go on a full on
land-speed attempt car, to have a tail fin, a little design thing he thought
necesssary. Jenkins was ...I think 73 when he died. I wonder if his son
would have done the testing on that one?
Ab was elected mayor of Salt Lake by less than 100 votes in 1939. He did no
campaigning, just his reputation as a raacer. Wonder if that would work in
1999 against the "choice" field running this year.
Sounds like fun,
Wes
----------
> From: "Keith Turk" <kturk@ala.net>
> To: <land-speed@autox.team.net>
> Subject: Mormon Meteor "wow"
> Date: Sun, 8 Aug 1999 17:13:17 -0700
>
>Well we made it to the street rod nationals and back... and the side trip
>to see the Mormon Meteor was ahhh exciting....
>
>The fellow opens this door and inside this Long Brick barn... is an art
>museum with 5-7 very special cars... several Rolls Royce's and a Pierce
>Arrow.. But mostly sitting under the soft lights is this Pale Yellow Work
>of Art.... with Huge Letters in chrome on the Bonnet spelling the name
>DUESENBURG... This was the first of two Mormon Meteors built especially for
>Ab Jenkins by Duesenburg to set records with at Bonneville... the car ran
>135mph for 24 hours with one hour at over 157mph... in 1935 it ran again in
>36 with another engine.. titled the Mormon meteor two... Marv Jenkins ....
>Ab's son owns the second car....
>
>So anyway... Knox Kershaw... says... hey want to take a ride in it?.... as
>I sat there drooling on the offset seat.... he put it in first and took off
>down the tree lined drive out to the hwy.... once through the gates he
>absolutely nailed this thing and you could hear that supercharger come to
>life.. 90mph went away quickly and we were turning for Home.... then he
>asks Brad if he would care for the same Ride....
>
>What a treat.... Un real experience.... and the Man truly does Drive all
>his cars... neat day!!!!
>Keith Turk
>Austin Healey 100 / Bugeye / Box Sprite / Bonneville Land Speed Racer
>Camaro ( D Gas Altered )
>
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