[…] As you will undoubtedly understand, I voluntarily omitted to drop Enzo Ferrariâs name into the conversation, for any historical fact linking him to the car would have resulted in an immediate increase of the asking price, by at least 100%… Luckily for me, the seller made no mention of Ferrari either. On the very […]
[…] Hossain , Treasurer -Phil Hall and Direc tors are Ray Scroggins , Matt Joseph, and Bill Cameron. Bill is also Editor or the Spark. In the la test issue of the Spark there are com ments by the officers on editorial policy and activities of the membe rship. There are also featured a number […]
[…] their works will grace the front pages of upcoming issues. I still need book reviews. As the summer winds down l start to ref1ect on the la test car show season. At show after show l have witnessed what jim Crabtree calls that “phenomena of being interested in only the cars of your youth. […]
[…] for the Eag le w hil e the other two mod els got better . Every month, Automot ive News ranks the ten brands with the grea test change in sales from the previous year. This year, a lmost every month, Eag le has bee n the worst preformin g brand. In August , […]
[…] Indi ana. jon Bill , the museum ‘s archivist, is in charge of the overall activity Each year the books entered in SA H’s Cugnot Award Con test (including now the non-English language entries) are delivered to the ACD Library-Ar c hives. Th ey then are placed in a section labeled “SAH Library books […]
[…] frame and a single-cylinder engine with belt drive.lt weighed 106 pounds ready to go and was capable of speeds up to 40 miles per h our. It cost $200 at Duck ‘s shop in Oakland. Soon Duck was offering several engine sizes , ranging from one and three-quarter horsepower to four horsepower. The two […]
[…] two routes of 100 deliveries each day taking five hours each. The new truck enabled him to cover 250 customers in three hours . In a measured test, he delivered 28 cases of milk to 180 stops , traveling 19 1/4 miles and consuming 1 3/4 gallons of gas. News of the unusual vehicle […]
[…] mote Rolls-Royce heritage. I n order to encourage research and writ- ing effort among university students in the area of automotive history, the Society confers its annual award for the best student paper in the auto history fi eld. The award is named for Richard Scharchburg, the late Professor of History at Kettering University, eminent automotive historian, and former director and vice-president of the Society of Automotive Historians. Persons submitting papers must be enrolled at educational institutions (upper-class undergraduate or graduate level) at the time of submission. This competition is international in scope, but papers must be in the English language. Papers already published or accepted for publication will not be accepted. Manuscripts should not exceed 10,000 words, and should be double-spaced. An abstract is requested. Judging criteria include clear statement of purpose and testable hypothesis, accuracy and thoroughness of research, originality of the research, documentation, quality and extent of bibliographic resources, and writing style. Diagrams, graphs, or photographs may be included. Submissions are to be electronic, in Word 1997-2003 format or PDF fi les only, to the email address below. The SAH 2013 RICHARD P. SCHARCHBURG STUDENT PAPER AWARD Possible subjects include but are not limited to historical aspects of automobile companies and their leaders, regulation of the auto industry, fi nancial and economic aspects of the industry, the social effects of the automobile, highway development, […]
[…] interactive with others, -Vehicles as sentient characters, non-verbal but self-motivating, -Vehicle(s) integral to the plot, -Vehicles that are incidental but clearly identifi able by make and model. In the 1980s and 1990s there was a subcategory of cars which transform; cars into robots, cars into other modes of transport, human into car and vice versa. The Wind in the Willows, by Kenneth Grahame, 1908. In the original text, Mr. Toad of Toad Hall is an addictive personality fi xated with motoring and novelty-seeking behavior. Subject of an unsuccessful intervention by Mole, Rat and Badger. Adapted into 13 video titles. Gasoline Alley, beginning 1918, by Frank King, Bill Perry, Dick Moores, and Jim Scancarelli. Originally set amongst motor- cars and mechanics, the characters were notable for proceeding through the stages of life in the continuity. The Adventures of Tintin beginning 1929, by Hergé, aka Georges Remi. Excellent craftsmanship and accurate drawing. En- gaging characters and storylines resulted in several animated and motion picture adaptations. Society of Automotive Historians 2010-2011 Fiscal Year Summary October 1, 2010 through September 30, 2011 Checking Account Balance as of October 1, 2010: $34,801 Summary of Financial Activity, 10/01/2010 thru 09/30/2011: INCOME: Membership Dues 29,908 Silent Auction 2010 Net […]
[…] The chassis was built by wheelwright Alain Montpied from French oak especially procured for the project. This was not so much for authenticity as for logistics, since suitable timber was not to be found in the United States. Nicolas Cugnot had been amazingly forward-thinking, albeit unknowingly, in designing the fardier. Its front-wheel drive and rack-and– pinion steering are found in the majority of cars today. The engine and the ratchet drive mechanism, the fardier’s “transmission,” were replicated exactly, as was the mechanical foot brake. Alain credits Cugnot with the fi rst such brake on a vehicle, a necessity because it was a powerful beast of burden to slow or stop. The brake is a simple lined shoe, operated by the driver with a leveraged foot pedal. The one signifi cant change to the original design involves a water feed to the boiler, so that more than a few minutes of steaming are possible. This results in a multiplicity of control levers, although the prominent throttle rod seen in images is replicated and operates just as the original did. It has been written and said that Cugnot’s machine was impractical and unworkable, so many times that it verges on conventional wisdom. Alain Cerf, however, has come to the opposite conclusion, that Cugnot got it mostly right. His replica, constructed true to the historical record, runs very well, if slowly, and would have been very useful for its original purpose, moving artillery pieces. It would have been even more useful with a boiler water feed. The main impediment to its popularity, according to Alain, is that it was too far ahead of its time, and suffered from social and political resistance. David Falvey, the fardier’s driver, […]
[…] note: Committee Report Summaries as reported herein summarize more complete reports of the committees submitted for the offi cial record of the Society. Members wishing complete copies of the committee reports may obtain same in electronic format by contacting the secretary, Bob Ebert, by e-mail at rebert@bw.edu.) A. The meeting was called to order by President Susan Davis at 6:40 PM. B. President Davis determined that a quorum was present. C. Upon motion by Stan Lyman and seconded by Paul Lashbrook, the minutes of the March 24, 2010 Board Meeting in Tupelo, Mississippi, were approved unanimously as distributed by voice vote. D. President’s Report: Susan Davis. Upon submission by the Nominating Committee Chair, Darwyn Lumley, and certifi cation by the Secretary, Robert Ebert, President Davis announced the results of the recent election for directors. Re-elected as Directors for the Class of 2013 are the following incumbents: Judy Endelman (member # 1630) Paul N. Lashbrook (member # 619) Stanton A. Lyman (member # 2270). Darwyn Lumley moved and John Heitmann seconded that the ballots from the election be destroyed with the number of votes for each candidate recorded for offi cial purposes of the society. Motion passed unanimously on voice vote. President Davis called on Vice President Douglas Leighton to report on the meeting of the Executive Committee acting as a strategic planning committee (President Susan Davis, Vice President Douglas Leighton, Treasurer Patrick Bisson, Secretary Robert Ebert and Immediate Past President, Darwyn Lumley) held earlier in the day on October 7, 2010. V.P. Leighton stated that SAH plans encompass two key areas: Concern about membership, […]
[…] Fiscal Year 1997-1998 appears on this page. Income exceeded expenditures by $8,635.55. The total funds in the checking account and money market accounts now total $79,036.50. Election Results Election Committee Chair Fred Roe reported the results of the 1998 election. Elected to three-year terms on the Board of Directors were Joe Freeman and Leroy […]
[…] Hardbound, 6118 x 9118 inches. ISBN 1-55778-360-8 . Paragon House, 90 Fifth Ave ., New York , NY 10011 $2 1.95. “One of th e g rea test newspaper stunt s of all time ,” Alaskan journalist and author Derm ot Co le ca lls th e 1908 race from New York to Paris. […]
[…] the automobile, longbefore theproliferation ofinternal combus- tion engines andanyhint ofan “industry.” Thesaga ofJoseph Renshaw Brownmakeshighdrama; ifhis exploits hadbeen more successful, couldhisfame haveeclipsed thatofHenry Ford? W. Dorwin Teaguewri testhat”itisimportant toavoid theold cliche thattheoutput ofany design officewasthework ofone man.” Herehemakes twoimportant contributions tothe record- ing ofhistory: hisown roleinproduct andautomotive designwhile an employee inthe design officeofhis father, […]
[…] 2021 4 (Editor’s note: Inspired by his review of Louise Ann Noeth’s new book, Bonneville Salt Flats (see p. 11), author Ken Gross shares some of Bonneville’s history as a primer on the subject and to inspire the reader to learn more—as can be gleaned in the new book—and, as said at the end of his review, to “entice you to visit” Bonneville.) G listening in the relentless sun, 110 miles west of Salt Lake City, Bonneville represents a rare phenomenon of nature. Its broad, seemingly endless span of iridescent white salt stretches to the horizon, framed by pale gray mountains. In the foreground, a few times each year, you’ll fi nd brightly colored streamlined racing cars, plastered with decals and white salt spray, often fresh from a high−speed run. Yet nothing really prepares you for the majesty of Bonneville itself, until you’re standing there. The blazing sun beats down like a furnace blast, the panoramic view is breathtaking, and when a racecar roars past, running fl at out, its tortured engine shrieking at maximum revs, the rippling exhaust note fairly smacks you. As each speeding car streaks by, its roaring exhaust note echoes far into the distance, and just stops suddenly. Then it’s so quiet you can’t believe what’s just happened. Real racing at Bonneville began in 1914, fi rst with speed exhibi− tions and staged con tests, and then with “Terrible Teddy” Tetzlaff, who managed a torrid 142.8 mph timed dash in his 300−hp Blitzen Benz. However, the American Automobile Association (AAA), which sanctioned most racing, ignored Tetzlaff ’s feat. Most speed attempts at that time were held on the smooth sands of the Ormond and Daytona Beaches in Florida. Hotels and infrastructure made those destinations popular, but the narrow beach course indirectly contributed to the death of Indy 500 winner Frank Lockhart in 1928, when a tire blew on his streamlined Stutz Black Hawk and his car fl ipped. Had there been runoff room, Lockhart might have survived. Although it was located “in the middle of nowhere,” Bonneville’s broad salt surface made racing sense. Meet David Abbott “Ab” Jenkins, who would become a big proponent of the salt fl ats over several decades. Jenkins came up with a great idea for Pierce−Arrow to help publicize its new Special Twelve—grueling 24−hour endurance runs. Refi ning his long−distance driving technique over two years, in 1933 the clean− living, tee−totaling Jenkins single−handedly drove a stripped−down Pierce−Arrow V12 roadster 3,000 miles over a ten−mile course in 25½ hours, breaking European records set by Bugatti, Delage and Voisin and attracting the interest of the reigning British “Speed Kings,” Reid Railton and Captain George E.T. Eyston. Bonneville was about to expand internationally. Ab Jenkins convinced Sir Malcolm Campbell, holder of eight world land speed […]
The Automotive Historians Australia (AHA) and the SAH have co-convened a one-day online symposium for their members on September 18, 2022 in North America and March September 19, 2022 in Australia. Fifteen to twenty minute presentations are being sought that address the shared transnational histories of the automotive industry, exploring ways in which the Australian and […]
[…] was the prototype of all L-head Mercer cars. It was raced by Dawson in the Elgin Road Races in 1913 where it finished second, setting the fas test lap time in the process, and finished only seven seconds behind Ralph de Palma in a Model F T-head factory works race car. It would have […]
[…] and too much money. The Highway Trust Fund is bulging and ever tempts Congress to such inanity as the 6,3 7l “pet projects ” of the la test authorization and its myriad of other programs that have nothing to do with highways. Solutions to congestion call for reduction in traffic or more building rather […]
[…] thenext hundred yearsmany more, inboth Europe andtheUnited States,wouldtrytobuild their ownvehicle orm e sometechnological improvementon a particular parttoadvance thecause. On September 21,1893, twobrothers, CharlesE.and 1. Frank Duryea, successfully testedinSpringfield, M sachusetts, what isnow generally regarded the first American horseless carriage withag oline engine.” Theygained further notoriety 6 for their invention twoyears laterwhen, onNovember 28,their two-cylinder […]
[…] was intro duced to use up the Healey-designed bodies when the switch was made to the Farina-design ed body in 1952. And it could have been a test bed for the AUSTIN-HEALEY using the more readily available Austin A90 engine, first introduced in 1952. From Frank T. Sn yd er, Jr., Hackensack, New Jersey. […]
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