STUDEBAKER/NASCAR

[lstude]

While looking through a copy of the April 1953 Speed Age magazine, I found this. I don't know if this was the 1953 year or 1952, it doesn't say, but it doesn't look good. Does anyone know how Studebaker did overall during this time? I assume it is 1953, because Dodge didn't have a V8 in 52, and did well in 53.




Leonard Shepherd, editor, The Commanding Leader, Central Virginia Chapter, http://centralvirginiachapter.org/

[lstude]

While looking through a copy of the April 1953 Speed Age magazine, I found this. I don't know if this was the 1953 year or 1952, it doesn't say, but it doesn't look good. Does anyone know how Studebaker did overall during this time? I assume it is 1953, because Dodge didn't have a V8 in 52, and did well in 53.




Leonard Shepherd, editor, The Commanding Leader, Central Virginia Chapter, http://centralvirginiachapter.org/

[geojerry]

Was there any racing Avanti's entered in the TRANS- AM racing circuit during the glory years of 1968-1974 ? We use to hang out in Watkins Glen and root for the Group 44 teams ( Bob Tullis Jags and Tr's ) and Mark Donohue/George Fullmer and their Javelins. Never saw any Avanti's or Hawks or Larks. A full race Trans Am Avanti R2 or GT Hawk would be a great collector vehicle if one ever existed in full racing colors.

[geojerry]

Was there any racing Avanti's entered in the TRANS- AM racing circuit during the glory years of 1968-1974 ? We use to hang out in Watkins Glen and root for the Group 44 teams ( Bob Tullis Jags and Tr's ) and Mark Donohue/George Fullmer and their Javelins. Never saw any Avanti's or Hawks or Larks. A full race Trans Am Avanti R2 or GT Hawk would be a great collector vehicle if one ever existed in full racing colors.

[bondobilly]

quote:[i] Never saw any Avanti's or Hawks or Larks. A full race Trans Am Avanti R2 or GT Hawk would be a great collector vehicle if one ever existed in full racing colors.

On the Studebaker Racing site I found a photo of a 56J car #71 .

Wish I had another 56J and lots of money, cause I would love to replicate that car.

BG

[bondobilly]

quote:[i] Never saw any Avanti's or Hawks or Larks. A full race Trans Am Avanti R2 or GT Hawk would be a great collector vehicle if one ever existed in full racing colors.

On the Studebaker Racing site I found a photo of a 56J car #71 .

Wish I had another 56J and lots of money, cause I would love to replicate that car.

BG

[ddub]

In th early '60's I recall reading in some car Mag. about someone racing Larks with "export suspension" . ISTR that they were talking about Sebring but I could disremember after 45 years. I still recall a quote that being passed by a Lark was like being passed by a wall of steel.

Don Wilson
53 Commander Hardtop
64 Champ 1/2 ton
Centralia, WA

[ddub]

In th early '60's I recall reading in some car Mag. about someone racing Larks with "export suspension" . ISTR that they were talking about Sebring but I could disremember after 45 years. I still recall a quote that being passed by a Lark was like being passed by a wall of steel.

Don Wilson
53 Commander Hardtop
64 Champ 1/2 ton
Centralia, WA

[PackardV8]

In the early 1960s Studebaker was the only manufacturer offering a V8 in a compact car. The Falcon, Valiant, Corvair, Jaguar and the rest were all six-cylinders. There were a couple of road-race prepared Larks which ran at Daytona and other NASCAR compact class road races. These were run on a combined infield road course and one turn of the high banked oval. Ford was so jealous they had Holman-Moody put a 260" Ford V8 in a Falcon to compete with the Larks. It worked so well the Falcon Sprint 260 was made a standard offering mid-63.

thnx, jv.

PackardV8

[PackardV8]

In the early 1960s Studebaker was the only manufacturer offering a V8 in a compact car. The Falcon, Valiant, Corvair, Jaguar and the rest were all six-cylinders. There were a couple of road-race prepared Larks which ran at Daytona and other NASCAR compact class road races. These were run on a combined infield road course and one turn of the high banked oval. Ford was so jealous they had Holman-Moody put a 260" Ford V8 in a Falcon to compete with the Larks. It worked so well the Falcon Sprint 260 was made a standard offering mid-63.

thnx, jv.

PackardV8

[Jessie J.]

So, has anyone yet figured out, or found clear evidence that the [u]Studebaker Corporation</u> did in fact... "(in the 50's) have a performance division, [u]did they have an official sponsored car</u>,.......on [u]Studebaker backed</u> NASCAR teams?"
Or were these all private efforts, with nothing "official" above a dealership level of sponsorship?

[Jessie J.]

So, has anyone yet figured out, or found clear evidence that the [u]Studebaker Corporation</u> did in fact... "(in the 50's) have a performance division, [u]did they have an official sponsored car</u>,.......on [u]Studebaker backed</u> NASCAR teams?"
Or were these all private efforts, with nothing "official" above a dealership level of sponsorship?

[bondobilly]

quote:Originally posted by Jessie J.

So, has anyone yet figured out, or found clear evidence that the [u]Studebaker Corporation</u> did in fact... "(in the 50's) have a performance division, [u]did they have an official sponsored car</u>,.......on [u]Studebaker backed</u> NASCAR teams?"
Or were these all private efforts, with nothing "official" above a dealership level of sponsorship?

According to a letter from Bob Coolidge, Studebaker did NOT have an official sponsored car, nor did they have any presense in any way that would be called by Today's standards a factory team. One gentleman whos' name escapes me did try to get the factory to sponsor him, he first used a 53 and then a 56J. The 56J had the number 71 painted on it, and in one photo of it, had the lower door trim on the doors and the wheel well molding.

BG

BG

[bondobilly]

quote:Originally posted by Jessie J.

So, has anyone yet figured out, or found clear evidence that the [u]Studebaker Corporation</u> did in fact... "(in the 50's) have a performance division, [u]did they have an official sponsored car</u>,.......on [u]Studebaker backed</u> NASCAR teams?"
Or were these all private efforts, with nothing "official" above a dealership level of sponsorship?

According to a letter from Bob Coolidge, Studebaker did NOT have an official sponsored car, nor did they have any presense in any way that would be called by Today's standards a factory team. One gentleman whos' name escapes me did try to get the factory to sponsor him, he first used a 53 and then a 56J. The 56J had the number 71 painted on it, and in one photo of it, had the lower door trim on the doors and the wheel well molding.

BG

BG

[JRoberts]

Weldon Critcher has an Avanti, that, I beleive either raced at Daytona or was built to do so. I think it is a road race car. It needs restoration at the present time, but the last time I saw it it ran. It has flared fenders, a competition sytle gas filler in the middle of the trunk area and such. When he got it it had a
six two barrel intake manifold on it. I am not sure which R version the engine is.
Joe Roberts

Posted - 03/28/2007 : 7:57:02 PM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Was there any racing Avanti's entered in the TRANS- AM racing circuit during the glory years of 1968-1974 ? We use to hang out in Watkins Glen and root for the Group 44 teams ( Bob Tullis Jags and Tr's ) and Mark Donohue/George Fullmer and their Javelins. Never saw any Avanti's or Hawks or Larks. A full race Trans Am Avanti R2 or GT Hawk would be a great collector vehicle if one ever existed in full racing colors.