Most Reliable Engine In Human History?

[ssnowden]

I thought you guys would enjoy this.

 

 http://blog.caranddriver.com/lemons-utah-day-one-volvo-740-vw-golf-porsche-914-leading-classes/

 

The most shocking development of the day, however, was what happened with the Grumpy Cat Racing 1950 Dodge pickup. This truck, which not long ago was a long-dead abandoned heap in Denver, ran all day long without a single problem (unless you count a loose throttle cable, which took all of 45 seconds to fix) and racked up 149 very slow but glorious laps. This sort of performance from a first-time LeMons racer of this vintage is utterly unprecedented in the history of the series, and we believe that the Chrysler flathead six-cylinder engine, based on a 1929 design and built well into the 1970s, must be considered the most reliable engine in human history as a result of the Grumpy Cat Dodge’s amazing day at Miller Motorsports Park.

[dlrides]

Pretty neat blog article on the race, and sounds like a lot of fun !

[Jeff Balazs]

I love it!!! I hope 48dodger see's this......maybe he will add an event like this to next years BBQ.

 

Jeff

[DJ194950]

Enlarge the lawnmower race track a bit-have classes?--Too much to think about! 

 

DJ

[Jeff Balazs]

DJ;

I don't know how much space Tim has? But I am certainly game for a dirt track version.

Honestly I can't imagine anything more fun than something like this.

 

Jeff

[Desotodav]

How cool is that!

My insurance policy indicates that I am covered for 'racing' class for my blue 52 truck but I never really considered it. I actually thought that it was quite funny as I would imagine that my time on the quarter mile would be best recorded in minutes rather than seconds!

[TodFitch]

How cool is that!

My insurance policy indicates that I am covered for 'racing' class for my blue 52 truck but I never really considered it. I actually thought that it was quite funny as I would imagine that my time on the quarter mile would be best recorded in minutes rather than seconds!

About four years ago I played around with a speedometer/performance app for my smartphone. Three run average a quarter mile for my '33 was 25.2 seconds with a final speed of 55.7 MPH. 0 to 60 was about 37 seconds.

 

Since many modern cars, including generic family vehicles, will do 0 to 60 in under 10 seconds it is mildly interesting to me that in normal traffic the 37 second time is usually sufficient.

[Jeff Balazs]

No doubt top speed and acceleration isn't very high up the list......but the endurance thing is very interesting to me. I don't really care to go too fast in one of these old trucks but I sure would be up for an endurance test on a twisty road type course. Give me a chance to really test out the 4 wheel disc's I put on it. 2-3 hour stints behind the wheel would probably be about it for the armstrong steering though.

 

Jeff

[james curl]

In 2007 a friend and I drove my 48 Plymouth from Georgetown Texas, 25 miles north of Austin on I 35 to Reno Na. for hot August Nights, then to Grass Valley Cal before driving to Bonneville for speed week then back home, a total of 4800 miles.  we started off driving 55 to 60 on secondary roads through the Texas panhandle, New Mexico and Colorado before hitting an Interstate in Utah.  Coming home from Salt Lake City to Cheyenne, down Through Denver and Albuquerque to El Paso and on to the house was all interstate high ways and 70-75 mph as we needed to make time, around 500 miles each day.  That was a lot of windshield time.

[Don Coatney]

In 2007 a friend and I drove my 48 Plymouth from Georgetown Texas, 25 miles north of Austin on I 35 to Reno Na. for hot August Nights, then to Grass Valley Cal before driving to Bonneville for speed week then back home, a total of 4800 miles.  we started off driving 55 to 60 on secondary roads through the Texas panhandle, New Mexico and Colorado before hitting an Interstate in Utah.  Coming home from Salt Lake City to Cheyenne, down Through Denver and Albuquerque to El Paso and on to the house was all interstate high ways and 70-75 mph as we needed to make time, around 500 miles each day.  That was a lot of windshield time.

A few years back when I paid James a visit he tossed me the keys and I got some windshield time in this very car. It was a pleasure to drive but I did not push it very hard. And once again thanks James for the very enjoyable visit.

[james curl]

I would like to do it again but Indiana and Georgia are just too far away at this time.  Still hope to make it over to Tims one of these years before they take my drivers license, do not know about Indiana, Tennessee was a lot closer.  I have only been north of the Mason Dixon line one time in my life when I went to New York City to visit my daughter.

Edited July 2, 2014 by james curl

[Bobacuda]

In August 1971 two friends and I drove my totally unmodified 1951 Plymouth from near San Antonio, TX to Ft. Smith, Arkansas - stayed a couple of days.  Then we headed up to Hurley, Wisconsin.  Stayed there about a week then headed back to TX.  We drove interstates and major roads on the way up and all the way back - 70+ mph.  The drive back was straight through, only stopping for gas and mother nature.  No problems with the car at all.

 

On another post, the person was saying his '46 would not go over 55.  Being a young fool back in '71 (as opposed to being an old fool now), I found out that car topped out at 105 mph.  I no longer heard the whine of the fan above 85 mph, but I think I was hearing the flywheel...