|
By texasmark1 - 12 Years Ago
|
|
OK, go ahead and call me crazy or just tell me I have too much time on my hands here at the end of the year... Just sitting around and wondering what it would be like to duplicate Mr. Miller's 56 Ford experience... It's OK to tell me to go back to reality... thoughts...? Mark
|
|
By charliemccraney - 12 Years Ago
|
You can certainly make a replica. As far as reproducing the experience, I'm not sure the car would be legal at Bonneville today, meaning they won't let you run it without some additional safety upgrades as well.
If you simply want to go as fast as him in a similar looking car, that should be a relatively easy feat today.
|
|
By texasmark1 - 12 Years Ago
|
|
sure, making it present-day legal would be a given... My dream starts with a group of folks intent on re-creating the car and experience as much as possible... perhaps to celebrate and commerate Miller's accomplishments...with a good time being had by all as a big by product. Of course Miller drove his from Texas, so that would put it on us Texans to be the home base of the deal, but it could be a shared project for any who wanted to participate...
|
|
By Hoosier Hurricane - 12 Years Ago
|
|
Maybe the first order of business would be to receive Karol's blessing to re-create his car. I haven't been in touch with him since he has moved, but there is one person on this forum who knows where he is.
|
|
By texasmark1 - 12 Years Ago
|
|
sure... that goes without saying... just "dreaming" at the moment.
|
|
By MoonShadow - 12 Years Ago
|
|
I'm not sure if anyone knows all the speed secrets that Karol applied to his Y. I would be great to get him involved at least on a consulting basis and build a true clone of his car and engine. I'd love to see what it would do, first in Karol's form and then with an engine using all of the modern parts and tricks. What a wild comparison that would be. I would help when I could. Its a bit hard from New Hampshire. Chuck
|
|
By glrbird - 12 Years Ago
|
|
The experence would be one thing, but running 150 with a car you drove there! Just ask 57 ranchwagon how hard it is to run that number. Is there a calculator that can give the horsepower it would take to push a 56 shoebox to 150.
|
|
By texasmark1 - 12 Years Ago
|
|
calculator... we don't need no stinckin' calculator... The total experience might or might not garner the exact same results... but a good ole college try / close enought for "govt. work" might be just as good as the whole package. We're human, after all. anyway, I'm dreaming, right? Mark
|
|
By MoonShadow - 12 Years Ago
|
|
How about searching out the basic information and posting links here. What he did has always seemed like a miracle. There must be pages on it. Chuck http://yblock.blogspot.com/2007/07/ford-success-stories-karol-miller.html
|
|
By texasmark1 - 12 Years Ago
|
|
that's the most lengthy article I've found so far on Mr. Miller's run. Doing a google search turns up a few more hits, probably one that most of us have come across. I'll search out what I can and link them here; all other info is surely welcome! If nothing else, perhaps a fuller picture of the man and machine can be brought into focus.
|
|
By DANIEL TINDER - 12 Years Ago
|
[quote][b]texasmark1 (12/26/2012)
what it would be like to duplicate Mr. Miller's 56 Ford experience...
Running near 150 mph on 50's era shaved bias tires inflated to 60 psi would constitute a major 'pucker' factor these days. A young man's game.
|
|
By texasmark1 - 12 Years Ago
|
|
good point, Daniel so, most of us have the "older and wiser" angle covered here, don't we! still, I guess I'm thinking of the total experience and putting off the inevitable.
|
|
By DryLakesRacer - 12 Years Ago
|
|
Texas' You could probably get his blessing but I need to tell you a story of just a few years ago. Karol, my hero since the 50's, became my friend a few years ago when I found out his daughters son and my grandson played on the same little league team. During one our discussions I told him I was the one who made the timimg tags for the SCTA and BNI. He asked me if I could make him an additional set. At the time a duplicate set could be made if the original owner inquired and speeds and dates were confirmed. It was easy to confirm as he sent me a picture of them on a plaque he had made so many years ago. A few months later I recieved a picture of them mounted on the dashboard of a Mandarian Orange and Colonial White '56 Victoria. I also noticed the 3 pedals on the floorboard. A few years after this he inquired to me as how HE could relive the past and drive his current 56 at Speedweek. I sent him a rulebook and he saw how much had changed and didn't see how he could do it again. He wasn't going to cut this one and the original had rusted away in Houston. We did discuss what he could do and what you may want to do. The Utah Salt Flats Racing Association (USFRA) hold a meet on the Salt in September every year and to help defer costs 2 class are run; one at 130 mph and one at 150 mph. The rules are much more lax than the SCTA rules and is a definate possibility for your project. Karol never around to have it happen but if he knew someone was going to do it he may even show up to cheer you on. That meet in September does not have the logistics of Speedweek especially when it come to getting rooms and their associated costs. I no longer go to Speedweek because of this and choose to run the meet in October. So, I'm just saying HE wanted to do it again...So make your plans and look up the rules for the 130 and 150 classes with the USFRA. After your done maybe you could go out on Daytona Beach like he did and run 158 with his "little" y-block and Latham Blower. Good Luck......If it happens I would bring up my Victoria for that photo op...............JD
|
|
By crown55vic - 12 Years Ago
|
I remember that Hot Rod magazine did a pretty big article on him and the car not long after his runs. Don't remember the year or month of issue but it even showed his home made cam tester using a strobe light and a single cylinder to check cam.
Ben
|
|
By DJ - 11 Years Ago
|
|
Hi Folks, I'm a new guy on this forum. I'm the guy who ran the white 55 sedan in the 130 class at Bonneville. The car and I drove about 1650 miles to get there, opened the dumps and stood on it. The first year the little Ford went 118 and change in the one mile allowed. After several changes during four seasons, it had a best speed of 129.598 The USFRA website has all the information you need to take your car there and its more fun than a geezer should be allowed. If you really want to race, feel free to email me with any questions you may have.
|
|
By Y block Billy - 11 Years Ago
|
|
I think we should all pitch in and make a legal replica (as best as can be replicated but up to code) and let Karol himself drive it since he wanted to drive his anyway!
|
|
By texasmark1 - 11 Years Ago
|
|
Now that's what I'm talking about!! And what I was hoping someone would bring up...! Talk about a group project... WOW! Suggestions/agenda/time line/input/offerings of hardware,software,space,brain-power...?? Let's do it! Mark
|
|
By yblock32deuce - 11 Years Ago
|
billy, that's about the most exciting thing i have heard since john's introduction of the aluminum heads. can you imagine, a white and orange 56 showing up again at bonneville with mr miller? de va jeu all over again! give a hounddog a mess of my liver to be there........
|
|
By DryLakesRacer - 11 Years Ago
|
|
I can supply the SFI 3.2A-20 fire suit, Hans Device and maybe the tires if we need to meet the current record specs of 228 mph. . . . Who's next..........JD
|
|
By texasmark1 - 11 Years Ago
|
|
I will bring enthusiasm, good will, grilling of the meat (if any activity is in Texas) and of course, the Lone Star beer! Mark
|