27 replies to this topic

[TSR]

When one of the greatest all-times chassis builder passed away a couple of years ago, the slot car racing world lost a true giant. Gentle Bob was a good man, a very creative individual whose passion for our little racing cars was second to none. Most famous for having humbled the British pro racers in an epic race in London, Bob's cars won countless races on this side of the pond and a good sample of his wonderfully built chassis and cars have fortunately survived.

This stock car chassis must have been one used at the "Nats", as its features are exactly in period, between September 1967 to March 1968, shortly before the anglewinder revolution. It was a rusty and corroded hulk, and has now gone through its first "decrud" process:





The chassis shows no sign of damage or repairs, and is of a 4.5" stocker design, and it appears that curved body retainers were also fitted to the front arches but later removed. Could it be the car driven by Emott at the Nats in the NASCAR class that winter in Atlanta?

 

Thanks in advance for your feedback.

[dc-65x]

Hi Philippe,

 

I really like that stocker! 

[Howie Ursaner]

I think that is probably the stock car chassis of Bob's that I ran at the Arco Nats in 1967 to second place. He gave me his car to race at the Nats and he did not race in Stock Car.

[Steve Okeefe]

Looks the same to me...

 

 

 

 

Except of course that the front loops are missing.

 

A very rare example of an inline Emott chassis... and I'm hoping to see more!

[don.siegel]

Amen... can't help on the identification, but keep 'em coming! 

 

Don 

[tonyp]

That's probably the stock car. I know he still had it.

[Bill from NH]

I'd like to eventually find out how the brass drop arm down stops were attached to the top of the lead chassis weights. Epoxy or solder?

[John Gorski]

Sano!!!

 

Emott, the Chassis God!!   

[TSR]

Gentlemen,

 

Thanks for your feedback. At least we got it positively identified for sure.

Now, Howie, we need a little more from you. I will repair the missing front wheel arch protectors, that's an easy one.

1)  What body was used on the car, and its color scheme? Who painted it?
2) What motor was used? It has to be some kind of either a modified Mabuchi FT16 or even a modified Champion 517... ?
3) I assume the front wheels were the then ubiquitous RVM or Mini Wheels mags, but what at the rear and what color sponge?
4) Assuming again, Cox crown gear?
5) Blue single or dual lead wires?

Please rake up your memory cells! 
 

[Steve Okeefe]

Regarding the five rail GP chassis, I suspect it may date to January 1968.  Here's why:

 

In October of 1967, John Wessels built the first 1/24 commercial racing chassis with moving body mounts.  Jerry Cowan drove it to victory in the 5th Car Model Road Race:

 

 

It started the tilting body mount revolution.  Soon everyone was building chassis with moving body mounts.

 

Two months later in December 1967, John Cukras built a GP with a moving body mount, and drove it to a 2nd place finish in the Final LA Car Model race:

 

 

Mike Morrissey wrote the race report and noted this type of moving body mount on a GP car was something new.

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[TSR]

Steve, I am not so sure: Morrissey was on the West Coast and had seen Cukras' car at least twice before since John had driven this car in September and October in two races he attended. The car was then used at the Atlanta Nats by Cukras, where he won the F1 class.
The floating mount was also seen on Californian and Eastern F1 cars since at least September according to my own notes.
The Cukras car survived and I restored it in its Nats form (with the Champion motor instead of the slotted Russkit "28") and it is now still with its original body at the LASCM:

 

 

 

 

It is possible that Emott used that F1 car in NY, as the left-front axle has hastily repaired damage (in the form of a glob of solder applied from underneath). But is it also possible that Bob would have used the same car just a month earlier in Atlanta? In any case, it came out of his house, with others from an earlier time, that I will soon show once the above is settled one way or the other.
Archeology is great and thanks for your fabulous contributions in many forms. People like you make this hobby as wonderful as it is and has been. 

 

[tonyp]

For some reason the F1 does not look like Bob's work to me.

[Steve Okeefe]

Tony,

 

If you are referring to the drop front axle and the folded-over main rails, I could certainly agree with you.  I've never seen another chassis Bob built during that period that had those features.  It just doesn't seem like Bob's building style.

 

On the other hand:

 

The slab of lead on the drop arm with the down-stop on top matches precisely the slab of lead, etc. on the stocker chassis, which we all agree is Bob's work.

 

The chassis, whoever built it, was (according to the OP) found in Bob's house.

 

At any rate, I do not know the answer, but I do know that mysteries like this are fun to figure out.

 

 

 

 

[tonyp]

I was referring to drop axle car.

Bob missed that first year of commercial raceways, as he was in the service which is when the other F1 would have been run.

 

He started racing again before that first Car Model race at Glen Oaks. I know Bob was collecting stuff and maybe the second F1 was in some of the stuff he bought.

[Steve Okeefe]

Tony,

 

Wow!  I was going to say I'd never known Bob to collect other builder's work. I'm glad I didn't... Now I know better! 

[olescratch]

I really don't want to take this off-topic but what is the significance of the 26 following the 517 on the motor sticker? 

[TSR]

It is the wire size on the armature.

[tonyp]

I believe 26 gauge wire.

[olescratch]

Thanks for the replies.

[TSR]

On the other hand:
 
The slab of lead on the drop arm with the down-stop on top matches precisely the slab of lead, etc. on the stocker chassis, which we all agree is Bob's work.
 
The chassis, whoever built it, was (according to the OP) found in Bob's house.

Because of this, plus the style of construction of the rear part of the chassis, I believe that it is likely that this F1 was in fact, built by Bob and possibly the one involved in that January crash.

 

Of course impossible to prove at this time. But we have made good progress today!

[Steve Okeefe]

Philippe,

 

Yes, I suppose it's possible this GP chassis appeared in both races (or perhaps neither!).

 

My assessment was based on the published articles for both races. The MRJ article for the January Car Model race shows Bob as coming in fourth. The articles (CM and MRJ) for the December Arco race show him as being there but do not mention his entering the GP race. This of course does not prove he didn't run in the Arco GP race, but it also isn't evidence he did.

 

You have got me wondering about those moving body mounts on GP cars seemingly predating the October Wessels/Cowan Car Model winner. Is this documented anywhere you know about?

[TSR]

Steve,

 

I don't know but Morrissey was well aware of Cukras' F1 car because he ran it in the final Rod & Custom F1 race, same car, same body mount, and Morrissey and Cukras had that newspaper together...  and there were pictures!

I have no time to look for it right now but check the magazines from September 1967 through March 1968; the car is shown several times.

[tonyp]

Moving body mounts were used in F1 in the Car Model race by John and Bryan after the GTC race Cowan won.

[Steve Okeefe]

Tony,

 

That's the point I've been trying to make. Keyword "after" as in "after the GTC race Cowan won."

[Tex]

I wonder if the treatment at the very front, of the guideholder itself, is of any significance(?).

Note that on the Emmott stock car, the very front piece of supporting brass isn't one piece wrapped around the tubing that would hold the guide post... it's actually two separate pieces, one coming up each side of the assembly.