6 replies to this topic

[MG Brown]

Brian says this started out as a "back in the day" Cheetah that he mounted on a Patto's chassis. Whatever it is, it's certainly unique.






Please direct your questions to Brian... Gosh!

[TSR]

Aaah, Mick, it is not a Cheetah but rather the Cro-Sal Special of Ralph Salyer!

Nice model with the MJK chassis.

[MG Brown]

Research shows that this car won one of the modified class events during the Road America June 20-21, 1964, Sprints weekend; apparently thumping a pair of Cooper-Fords when they both experienced mechanical difficulties.

[TSR]

Ko-RREKT! The story is that Ralph Salyer bought one of the Cheetahs and scared himself to death. So his mechanic Gene Crowe (the very same that years later worked for me and built my three Coventry-Climax engines for my Cooper and two Brabham cars) re-engineered the car, reinforced the frame, and fitted a new suspension built by Bob McKee in an attempt to tame the beast. The roof was chopped to allow Ralph a quicker bail-out in case of uh... trouble. Gene told me of how bad the original frame was, literally twisting its way through, replacing the work supposed to be done by the suspension! A scary thought indeed.

The Cro-Sal was raced little as Ralph decided to get himself a real car so Bob McKee and Gene built him a McLaren-Elva (the very one modelled by Monogram with his name on it) that was later replaced by a true McKee Can-Am car, the first to actually bear the McKee name after Bob had buit a few other cars with Chevette or Plymouth Special names for Bob Montana and other courageous pilots. That one was modelled by... Strombecker!

Gene Crowe eventually became Paul Newman's chief mechanic at Bob Sharp Racing, built that fantastic (but not good enough) Nissan GTP car, and eventually all the V6 Nissan engines for Roger Mears's off-road trucks. Before retiring in Arizona, Gene went to work for me as an engine builder and did a heck of a job restoring what were effectively dead boat anchors engines back to life.

Gene died of cancer (he was smoking like a chimney) in 1997. Bless his soul.

[MG Brown]

What a shame that the Salyer Cheetah wasn't at the McKee reunion this past summer at Road America.

Is this car similar to the Salyer McKee Mk 6?



This photo doesn't do the tidy lines of the car their due; to be appreciated the car must be viewed on a beautiful July day after consuming an ear of fresh roasted corn on the cob washed down with a "Road America Pale Ale".

[TSR]

Hi Mick,

Yes, it is. Ralph Salyer (note the spelling) was a great buddy of Bob McKee. Eventually McKee and Gene built for him the famous door stop-shaped Can-Am car with the twin-turbo Olds engine with which Joe Leonard won a USRRC race at Road America if I recall correctly. That's the car modelled by Lancer and Russkit and now made as a D3 body by O/S.

[MG Brown]

Eventually McKee and Gene built for him the famous door stop-shaped Can-Am car with the twin-turbo Olds engine with which Joe Leonard won a USRRC race at Road America if I recall correctly.

Theese juan?





I am assuming that the injected Chebbie is a little lower maintenance and easier to drive than the turbo Olds...?

Gotta lub those old G7 carz.