12 replies to this topic

[Martin]

So I bought this with a plan of sharing and exposing the back story of this chassis. But even the date does not make sense to me; 2-7-8 what is that? The pans are Dynamic made, so the engraving claim, this is the first of anything is a bit optimistic. So I am wondering when was the first use of floppy floating mounts?

This is what the seller wrote in his auction:

"As pictures show it all. Custom modified chassis with floating body mounts made by a former Air Force & space engineer who worked for the NASA space program in the 1960s. All of his custom slot car chassis are etched signed as shown. A great restore project or parts piece only."
 
So is this just a fake claim or a guy (space cadet) that thought he was the first, and the date? I just don't get it?

Love to hear your comments.

[Jairus]

Those pans are from Dynamic.



Not exactly like these above, but the solid mount pans with homemade hinge. (Note the cut made different.)

[Cheater]

"2-7-8" is probably Feb 7, 1968, I'd guess.

 

Perhaps the engraving refers to his first chassis with floating body mounts...

[MSwiss]

A 13-year old post from the late Monty Ohren.

----------
Monty at B.O.W. posted:
 
"Floppy pans - First used in major competition by Jerry Cowan, but the design and build was by John Wessels. The idea was easily transferred to Dynamic cast aluminum centers, and such cars were raced extensively in the San Fernando Valley by Jerry, Jack Garcia, Bruce Erickson and others with team Dynamic affiliation or ability to copy same circa Oct. 1967 until anglewinders appeared the following February. Floppies continued in chassis design after that, still found on the latest JK production chassis."

[Martin]

That's a very innocent idea that is was "his first Chassis" and yes I  thought that 68 was the a logical conclusion, but a bit lazy on the engravers part. Maybe he had a rocket to launch?

Yes these are the non floating Dynamic mounts(modified with home made hinge). Did they predate the floating Dynamic mounts or were they sold at the same time?

 

Thanks for that Mike, I was corrcting my bad speling when you posted

I love the early Dynamic team cars, the ones with added brass to the stock castings. I did some of that but soon (68)moved to angle winders full frames.

[Tim Wilkins]

Dynamic made two sets of pans (part numbers 402 and 403). Not sure how they were different one to the other.  Pictured are pans shown of a Dodge Charger from a VSRN article.

 

 

[Jairus]

These are part number 403.


 
These are part number 404, also called Sloppy Sams. 
 

 
These then must be part number 402.

[Martin]

Yes, Tim, Jairus, these are what he (Stan Smith) used.

My question is did they come out before the production Dynamic Floppy mounts or were they offered at the same time?

[Jairus]

Therefore, the "Sloppy Sams" are derived from the part number 403 because they mount the same, and are from the same mold. The builder probably took the hard mounts and modified them to his use.

Did he see another car or did like minds come up with the solution at the same time? It happens.

It is well known that Dynamic "Sloppy Sams" came later in '68 as a response to the trend.

Respectfully submitted,

[MSwiss]

Perhaps the engraving refers to his first chassis with floating body mounts...

 

I'd bet on the above explanation.

[tonyp]

The Car Model road race that Jerry Cowan won was in the March 1968 issue. That would have come out in February with the actual race about three or more months previous.

The Car Model series was six races every other month from Jan to Dec. The floppy pan race would have been October, the fifth race in the series.
 

[Samiam]

But even the date does not make sense to me; 2-7-8 what is that?

 

Could this be a shorthand method used by engineers in the aeronautics/aerospace field? Like used by our arm winders.

[Martin]

You guys are great. I always impressed by your combined knowledge, theories and opinions. I very often come away with a different perspective than I started with.