Kart Hauler in TRJ

[Dick Steinkamp]

The latest issue of The Rodder's Journal has a feature article on the "75 Most Important Customs of All Times" exhibit at the 2011 Grand National Roadster Show in Pomona. The Kart hauler was one of the cars pictured in this article.



I sold the car in August of 2009 at the GoodGuys Pleasanton meet to a collector from Texas. He sold the car at the Pebble Beach concours in August of the following year to Jay. I got a call in the fall of 2010 from Axle of the Shifters car club who was pulling together the cars for the special GNRS exhibit for John Buck (the show owner) and wanted the Kart Hauler back for that exhibit. I gave Axle as much info I had on the car's current ownership. Axle was able to locate Jay and talk him into bringing the car to the show.

I was also able to make contact with Jay and agreed to meet him at the show. It was a real thrill to see the car at the Grand National Roadster show for the second time in two years! This was actually the car's third appearance, counting its original showing in 1959 at the predecessor of the GNRS in Oakland. I know of no other car that has done this "hat trick" other than Ala Kart (which was also at the '59 show with the Kart Hauler).

It was also great to meet Jay and his wife at the show. Jay is a great "car guy" with several very special race cars. Jay sold the car at the show to the current owner.

This car was a lot of fun for me. I never expected, however, for it to have the show and magazine coverage that it has received (and continues to receive). I'm glad I was able to be a part of this car's history.

[avantilover]

Well done Dick, you did a service to the car loving community. Too many of these interesting vehicles have been lost in the intervening years, this one will stay around.

[parts2]

I have seen pictures of the car and the early show car pictures. Now I know why it looks so nice.. Great save and terrific to see it back showing.. Saving some historic show customs..a real treat for those who never saw it..and especially for those that remember it..
Thanks for saving and restoring a piece of show/custom history..
Excellent..

[ddub]

Interesting that it has changed hands so many times since you sold it. I guess not everyone has the "buy and hold" mentality.

[BobGlasscock]

I could never have the mentality it takes to do the work that you, Dick, did on that car and then let it go. I would just get too attached to it. And then you promote it with new owners and the public, 'tis just amazing to me.

You are truly a leader of the car lovers hobby.

I hope I can see the Kart Hauler every now and then for the rest of my life. And I know that each time I do see it, I will remember all the threads about it's restoration right here on the SDC Forum.

[sweetolbob]

Dick

You forgot to mention how much better the hauler looks in person.

As an aside, Lee Talbot is one of the neatest car guys I've met, I hope he is doing well.

Bob

[BobPalma]

Cool beans, Dick. May we assume the Go-Kart and all "attachments" are remaining with the car? BP

[jclary]

I discovered the forum on December 30, 2008. Following your story restoring the Kart Hauler was/is the most fun vicarious experience to date. I know that you are not a one car make type of person. However, I would love to see you get another historic Studebaker and share the restoration experience with us. Being a rather self-centered type of person (little confession here)...getting that type of admiration, from me, is no small feat.

To me, the fact that the car has changed hands so many times is an indication that the "responsibility" for keeping it is greater than the glory of owning and preserving it. That fact alone...is a testimony of the quality of work you accomplished.

[Dick Steinkamp]

Interesting that it has changed hands so many times since you sold it. I guess not everyone has the "buy and hold" mentality.

I could never have the mentality it takes to do the work that you, Dick, did on that car and then let it go. I would just get too attached to it.

There are plenty of ways to have fun with old cars. I have a friend with the same '50 Olds coupe hot rod he had in high school (1959). J2, try power, Cad/LaSalle floor shifted stick. Another with the same 1958 Porsche Speedster he had when I met him in 1967. They have as much fun with the hobby as I do.

Part of my problem is that I lust after LOTS of cars and can't afford to keep them all, so I have to own them in series. Also, I enjoy the whole process...finding them, coming up with a plan for each car, doing the restoration work, networking for parts, learning new things about different cars, meeting new people, playing with the finished product, and even marketing and selling. That process stops if I keep it.

Dick

You forgot to mention how much better the hauler looks in person.

As an aside, Lee Talbot is one of the neatest car guys I've met, I hope he is doing well.

Bob

One of my regrets at the 2009 GNRS was not being able to spend some time with every one from the forum who came to the show. I only got a chance to say "hi" to you and your wife and then wasn't able to catch up with you guys again. It was a fun, but busy time. In the "old days", the GNRS ran for a whole week (2 weekends). That kept the crowds down some at any given day and made it easier to hang out with friends at the show.

To the best of my knowledge, Lee is still doing fine. He is my hot rod hero! A prolific builder of well engineered hot rods back in the day. He was actually even MORE famous for building and racing drag boats. He did some of the pioneer work on jet drives for these boats and many of his inventions are still being used today. One of my projects after the Kart Hauler was a 1965 Raysoncraft V-drive, flat bottom drag boat.

I had lusted after these boats since I saw my first drag race on the Kings River in Central California in 1965. I contacted Lee when I bought the boat. Lee walked me through the history of the Raysoncraft company and sent me a bunch of articles on his exploits and records with drag boats. It was just as interesting to me as hearing him talk about the Kart Hauler. A VERY special guy for sure.

Cool beans, Dick. May we assume the Go-Kart and all "attachments" are remaining with the car? BP

Yes. Everything went with the car, except the vintage helmet which I had borrowed from James Bell...



I did keep a set of the signs that my buddy Larry Ewing made for the show and a set for Jon Falcon who did the paint and body on the car. I had some small sets of the signs made up that I gave to others that helped with the car...





BTW, here are few more pics of the car (I have thousands )

Kart Hauler

[dnevin]

Thanks for sharing those pics. I'm at the stage of my build where it seems like things just take forever, and seeing a work of beauty like that helps keep me plugging along.

[studegary]

'50 Olds coupe hot rod he had in high school (1959). J2, try power, Cad/LaSalle floor shifted stick.
Part of my problem is that I lust after LOTS of cars and can't afford to keep them all, so I have to own them in series. Also, I enjoy the whole process...finding them, coming up with a plan for each car, doing the restoration work, networking for parts, learning new things about different cars, meeting new people, playing with the finished product, and even marketing and selling. That process stops if I keep it.

"try power" - I guess that is a case of parapraxis.
I, too, enjoy buying and owning many different cars. I guess that accounts for my having owned more than 100 cars, of which more than 50 have been Studebakers. The more than 50/100 is what I have been saying for two decades. Who knows the real number now. Different than you, I no longer like the selling aspect. Mabe it is too many sales, both private and commercial. Many people can't understand not keeping the same car for decades. I can understand their viewpoint, I just wish that more could understand mine.

[Peanut]

Part of my problem is that I lust after LOTS of cars and can't afford to keep them all, so I have to own them in series. Also, I enjoy the whole process...finding them, coming up with a plan for each car, doing the restoration work, networking for parts, learning new things about different cars, meeting new people, playing with the finished product, and even marketing and selling. That process stops if I keep it.

Let me be the first to say that I'd LOVE it if you would consider taking on the rehabilitation one of the remaining carcasses out at the old proving grounds. It would be a much different process than the Kart Hauler, as there really is so much that would have to be fabricated from a mix of existing parts and unobtanium. Hmmmm... maybe that isn't so different!

[4961Studebaker]

Dick,
It's never dull looking at those ute photos, I recall old photos and threads contemplating the choice of paint color.
You, John, not seeing eye to eye, but your final decision is what makes the ute stand out and remain memorable.
So glad you didn't listen to "us" my hope is one day a SDC member will own it, or any owner could bring it to an International.

[woodysrods]

I have a hard time getting rid of cars. I love them all.
Good thing I have lots of storage space???
Good Roads
Brian

[jallen]

Congratulations on the well deserved recognition, you might have made the big time without spending the BIG BUCKS. Just shows what a lot of hard work and innovation can get you.