Bert's Beast

[davepink53]

The Famous 'Bert Needham' Studebaker Race Car at the National Motor Racing Museum, Mount Panorama, Bathurst N.S.W. Australia. Photos by Tracey Hampson.

[BobPalma]

Way cool, Dave; thanks.

Is it really an R4, per the grill badge? BP

[trnstrtrk]

Great to see that the race car has survived! Thank you for sharing the pictures.

[Quentin]

Here is an article on Stude in Oz, with some references to the racing program.

Studebakersales and Racing in Australia - Lark V8
ON A WINGAND A PRAYER




Excitingas the Studebaker Lark was for Australians it was nothing less than a necessityfor ailing Studebaker-Packard. When the Lark flew into its picture, the grandold South Bend, Indiana corporation acquired some fresh air.



The Larkborrowed plenty from the 1953 Studebakers. From the A-pillar to the C-pillar itwas the same car. But the front and rear overhangs were pared back. In theprocess the smaller car lost both elegance and weight. At entry level, it couldget by with a 90bhp six. Like most domestic US sedans of the 1950s and unlikethe other new smaller cars (Corvair, Falcon, Valiant, etc), the Lark was bodyon frame rather than a monocoque. So in this respect at least it was veryold-fashioned for a car of its size and type in 1959.



There wasan interesting story behind the second Lark in that 1961 race. Drivers Fred Sutherlandand Bill Graetz were both members of the Victoria Police Force. The previousyear for the inaugural Armstrong 500 Sutherland had teamed with anotherpoliceman, Clyde Martyr, in an unlikely Humber Super Snipe.








STUDEBAKERVERSUS JAGUAR
TheStudebaker Lark made its international racing debut on 12 December, 1959 atSebring in a support race for the inaugural United States Grand Prix.
Three 195brake horsepower versions were entered after being prepared by Holman and Moody,famous for their race-prepped four-seater Thunderbirds and many others on theNASCAR circuit.
Othercars included three Jaguar 3.8 Mark 2s under the auspices of Briggs Cunningham,Falcons, and one each of Volvo, Hillman (!), Valiant, Renault, Saab, Sunbeamand Volkswagen.
Despitethe retention of drum brakes and the three-speed gearbox, any mechanicalresemblance to a standard issue Lark was coincidental because one was timed at138 miles per hour, five up on the Jags. But those all-wheel discs and four-speedgearbox with overdrive on the British car counted for plenty.
NASCARgreats drove the Studebakers and Curtis Turner brought his home second behindone of the Jaguars.
This racewas probably responsible for the institution of the later Sports Car Championshipof America Trans-Am series.

STUDEBAKER VERSUS DAIMLER SP250, FIAT 1500 AND SUNDRY OTHERS

Accordingto McKay, York Motors, the NSW Studebaker distributor, had ordered a Larkequipped with factory options of a 225 brake horsepower engine, finned drumsand competition dampers. But that engine was a larger 289 cubic inch unitavailable only on the long wheelbase Lark Cruiser. More likely, the car waspowered by the optional 195 horsepower engine which also came with afour-barrel carby and dual exhausts.
It waseventually deemed eligible after controversy which probably convinced Don Algieand Kingsley Hibbard to put their own Lark back to standard a week before therace. Another standard Lark was entered and the trio won the teams prize.Algie/Hibbard won their class and finished second outright behind the Daimlersports car. The remaining Larks finished sixth and seventh in their class.

As forthe 225-cum-195 horsepower car, it deserves to be recognised as the firstBathurst special a year before the Armstrong 500 moved from Phillip Island.

I OWN ONE...

[davepink53]

Yes Bob, it has an R4 engine fitted.

[cruiser]

Way back in 1976 , then owner of this 'street fighter ' Bert Needham , who was at

that time Australia's last authorized Studebaker Dealer , said to me to come for a ride

in this very car , as he had just finished doing a "tuneup" on it . Those in Australia

will be very familiar with Parramatta Road in Sydney NSW , which Bert then turned in

to a multiple traffic light series of Drag Strips . The 'Beast' made short work of the

road ahead and Bert was clearly having a bit of fun in the mid week day traffic . We

ended up turning off at "Brickies" a well known late night illegal street drag strip where

Bert would have liked to have a real go at , but the street was loaded with trucks and

vans doing business deliveries . So he turned the car around and we had a rather sedate

drive back to Needham's Motors , except he pulled over and let me drive the last few

miles back . With Bert's encouragement , he got me to 'give it a bit' and it really went.

At the time , the car was set up for the 'Drags' so the Diff was near 4:1 and on street

tyres , the times were below 14 secs for the quarter . This was/is one tough car which

had the ability to scare you . My memories of that afternoon are quite vivid . Lotsa fun !

CRUISER

[clonelark]

Did it have a vinyl top at one time? The chrome pieces on the sail panels is why i ask.

[cruiser]

NO , it never had a Vinyl roof , Bert just liked to personalise

all his cars with usually , Studebaker , bits and pieces .

CRUISER