Doug Mayer writes:
Chuck Schoendorf writes a true fact in his letter in the latest "e-news" about Full Jewelled Stock Car Racing 1951-56 by Russ Truelove and Russ Hamilton. I read the book at Christmastime and had trouble putting it down--even when I was instructed to. For the dozen years I was engaged with my white 300B, bought in Montana and shipped to the right coast (NY & ME) I learned quite a lot about those sweet beasts. I recall that a mechanic told me that the 354 hemi was the best of the first 3 hemis. He didn't tell me why, but the book reports the same thing, and explains something about the balance--volumetric, I guess--that made it a more efficient engine than the other two.
I also recall a trip on I 85 in North Carolina, with Mr. Lazenby (B expert) driving, and Mr. Jett (meet host expert) in the back seat. I was merely riding along with these two raconteurs, Lazenby trying to get to the Richard Petty shop in Level Cross--I think he was trying to get there before God, he was going so fast. At one point I leaned left and saw the speedometer pointing at 130. And, at about that point, Mr. Lazenby lifted off the throttle and slowed to something less. He mentioned that the spindles--those things that hold the front wheels to the vehicle were 40 some years old, and probably not quite as good as new. Wasn't I interested to note that Mr. Kiekhafer caused the original spindles on his B's to be swapped out and Lincoln spindles put in their place because the Lincoln spindles were tougher. I wonder if Mr. Lazenby knew that as he left the entire gaggle of other 300's at the Rev. Krep's meet strung out along the interstate? I never knew that until this year, long after my B had gone to Florida--to some warehouse. I certainly strained its spindles driving the country roads of the northeast and New England.
And I remember Tim Flock getting into my B, sticking his head out and waving so I could get a photo.
Mr. Hamilton's book is a good one, and for weak readers (like me) there are lots of pictures! He is a great story teller, and writes as well about the people associated with these machines as the machines themselves.
Doug Mayer, 300L, Northport, Maine