Ask the ExpertOn this page, you can ask a personal question of our Expert of the Month by clicking the red line below and typing out your question. PLEASE LIMIT QUESTIONS TO HOT ROD HISTORY AND TRADITIONAL BUILDS. Within approximately two weeks, we will post on the website our Expert's or Pioneer's answers to as many questions as we can handle. This will be in the form of an audio message that everyone can listen to and that can best be heard on a PC with a sound card. Thanks for participating! The dry lakes were Art Chrisman's proving ground and, with his brother Lloyd in a ‘34 Ford coupe, they exceeded 140 mph before World War II. After the War, the Chrisman Garage in Compton began producing serious competition machines. Art became one of the five charter members of the 200 MPH Club driving Chet Herbert's “Beast”. His success on the drag strips was, for a time, unrivaled. In 1955, at Bakersfield, he went 140 mph in the famous “No. 25” that had originally belonged to Leroy Neumayer. Art and team built the Hustler I, powered by a 392-cid Chrysler engine, the first car to reach 180 mph. Throughout the 1950's and 60's, Art competed with the best fuelers in the sport.
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Question:
Hello Mr. Xydias,
I wanted to attatched a photograph of a 1934 Ford Cabriolet that belonged to my Uncle. I am unable to attatch the photo because I dont know how to convert it to JPEG however the car has a VERY interesting history and im trying to find out its origianal builder history and Im hoping the story may jog your memory. If it does please let me know and I will somehow get you some photos. I have several.
This car was given to my Uncle by HIS uncle Sam Snead of the golfing fame.
Sometime in the later 40's My mom , Grandmother (Sams sister) and my Uncle went to Hot Springs, VA to visit Uncle Sam at his home there. My Uncle being a young boy 16-17ish was of course admiring the car. Legend has it that Uncle Sam said " Buddy? Ya like that Hot Rod" Which Buddy quickly answered " Hell Yea" Then Uncle sam said take it home its yours."
Uncle Buddy drove the car for a long time and when he was drafted, my mom drove it to work everyday in the early 50's. The car was sold in the mid 70's to some fella in NJ, I think?
Anyway, to my question. Do you have any recolection of such a car. Legend has it that Uncle Sam aquired the car in California and had it flown to Roanoke, VA. It had a Eddie Meyers flathead with all 1941 Lincoln suspention, Trans, aircraft guages and 39 ford tail lights. I appologize if you are not old enough to have been apart of this car but I was told that you used to have a cabriolet in front of your shop years ago, so I thought I would start with you. My mom gets upset whenever she thinks about my Uncle letting the car get out of the family. No one really knows the true history of the car and I think it really needs to be found and told. How often do you hear a story about Hot Rods and sporting legends such as Sam Snead.
Thanks so much for your time..
Sincerely, Todd Day
Stanley, VA
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Question:
I was at a car show last night (April 25th) and a guy there told me that Stuart Hilborn had passed away. Is this true?
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Question:
Who had there car on the road first, back in the mid 40's Ed Iskenderian
or his good pal John Athan.
And do they both still have them!
Thanks
Bob
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Question:
What is the date of Robert Petersen's death
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Who is Charles "Kong" jackson? where did he live? When did he die? what parts did he make? there is almost no info about him on the internet. I have seen 'kong' ignition, intake manifolds, and heads. What happend to his shop and tools, tooling. what was his company name? I have seen kong ignition inc. and kong engineering inc. at one point when he was in the Korean war he sold the company to so-cal speed shop. who would know about him?
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