An illicit drive

The following piece came from Gary M. Hacker (which I had to shorten, sorry Gary, and that’s the only Lincoln photo I could get) and according to Gary is true. Having done all sorts of terrible things in my youth, I can relate to this. Gary entitled it Driving The Road Race Lincoln. Here is his story.

“I stood back in awe, as the Ford Motor Company driver carefully unloaded the Mexican Road Race Lincoln that Friday morning in 1954. It was to be displayed by my father at his Lincoln Mercury dealership in Alameda, California, courtesy of the Ford Motor Company.

“I was 18 years old, fresh out of high school, and thrilled and excited to examine this authentic winning race car. It was bright yellow, had large numbers on the side, a roll bar and a big metal gas tank in place of the rear seat; and had recently won the widely acclaimed Pan American Road Race in Mexico and the driver’s name, “Bill Stroppe” was still on the driver door.

“I worked in the Lincoln Mercury dealership on Saturdays, and was responsible for locking the doors when I left. That Sunday morning, my two closest friends, Bob and Jerry and I talked about racing, and how exciting it would have been to be involved in the Pan American Road Race. We decided to drive into Alameda that night, to closely examine the Lincoln race car before it was relocated by the Ford Motor Company on Tuesday. “I wonder what it sounds like?” Bob said. “Do you think it burns rubber?” Jerry questioned. “Why don’t we find out.” We all looked at each other. We unstrapped the hood and discovered a plate covering the intake manifold where the carburettor had been. Plates also covered the fuel pump opening and that of the distributor. It was not driveable. We sat on the showroom floor in disappointment, imagining ourselves behind the wheel charging through small Mexican villages with cheering onlookers along the road.

“Jerry spoke up, ‘Gary, we have a whole parts department right there,’ as he pointed to the back of the showroom. We made for the parts books. Jerry called out the numbers as Bob and I searched the shelves. Opening the rear showroom doors, we carefully undid the ropes enclosing the Lincoln and pushed it into the service area. It was after midnight when we installed a battery, put gas in the metal tank and pushed the starter. A deafening roar. Straight exhaust and an engine tuned for racing, emitted a bark of authority. We were ready for a trial drive.

“With no license plates, straight exhausts and enthusiasm, the three of us jammed into the two bucket seats and headed for Lafayette. We weren’t aware of the new Lincoln passing in the other direction or of the shocked surprise of the Ford Motor Company Zone Manager who was returning from a cocktail party and saw us. A desolate area allowed us to step down and open it up on the long two lane straight-away. 100MPH, then 110, the trees and poles flew by like teeth in a comb. We switched places. Jerry was just reaching 80 when the engine stopped abruptly and a terrifying silence ensued. Oh no, we were out of gas. After hitchhiking for miles, refuelling and driving back to Alameda, it was 5 a.m. The car was filthy. We carefully washed it, painstakingly removed the new parts, cleaned them and returned them to their original boxes. We replaced the metal plates and rewired the lead seals. By the time the car was back on the showroom floor and the ropes re-attached, it was 9 a.m. and we had to leave before someone came in and caught us.

“Monday morning the dealership opened for business. The phone was ringing. An irate Zone Manager was yelling at my dad claiming that he had allowed the display Lincoln to be driven. Dad looked up from his desk and observed the car on the floor surrounded by the red velvet ropes. ‘You are badly mistaken,’ he replied. The car has never left this dealership. An hour later, two Ford Motor employees arrived to inspect the vehicle. ‘The boss must have had too many cocktails,’ they chuckled. ‘No one could drive this car.’ ‘It has been plated and lead sealed at the factory and shows no sign of use.’ The Sunday night sighting was discredited and the matter closed.

“Twenty years later, I sat with my dad and watched a program on the National Automobile Museum. ‘Look Gary, there’s the Mexican Road Race Lincoln that we had on display in Alameda back in 1954, do you remember?’ ‘Sure Dad, I ran out of gas in that car in Moraga,’ I replied. ‘Son, you’re losing your memory; that car was only on display and never driven.’ I smiled and just looked at him. He twitched and a surprised look crossed his face. ‘Son, did you actually drive that car?’ ‘Dad, you don’t really want to know,’ I replied.”

TGTC Round 4 this weekend Yes, the Thailand Grand Touring Car championships rounds are definitely ON this weekend at Bira, after the postponement of the Thailand Touring Cars the other weekend. This will be a professionally run meeting, with events for the GT cars, the Sport Grand Champion cars, the Concept I series and the 400 cc motorcycles. Come and watch our own “Kimi” Kaikkonen try for his second win in the Concept I cars. Come and watch 19 other drivers in the Concept I cars trying to make sure he doesn’t get another win in the Concept I cars! Bira Circuit is on Highway 36 heading towards Rayong from the ISR end and before you get to the Highway 331 intersection.

The definitive F1 calendar

At last, the “official” calendar for next year has been issued by the FIA, gawdblessem. Interestingly, it is exactly the same as the “unofficial” one I printed a few weeks ago. Perhaps I’m psychic. So here you are, start planning your holidays now.

03 17 31 14 28 12 26 9 23 7 21 28 18 1 15 29 13

Mar Mar March Apr Apr May May Jun Jun Jul Jul Jul Aug Sep Sep Sep Oct

Australia Melbourne Malaysia Sepang Brazil Interlagos San Marino Imola Spain Barcelona Austria A-1 Ring Monaco Monte Carlo Canada Montreal Europe Nurburgring Great Britain Silverstone France Magny-Cours Germany Hockenheim Hungary Hungaroring Belgium Spa Francorchamps Italy (2) Monza United States Indianapolis Japan Suzuka

Autotrivia Quiz So to last week’s quiz. The question was asked about the Toyota MR2. I even said it was just too easy, and I wanted to know what did MR2 stand for? I certainly got some interesting replies! However, the correct answer was Mid-engine Recreational 2 seater. MR2. And now this week. You can have it in any colour so long as it’s black - the famous saying attributed to Henry Ford. There was another manufacturer between 1945-52 who did the same. Which company was it? Hint, they are still in business today. For the Automania FREE beer this week, be the first correct answer to fax 038 427 596 or email [email protected]

Now is the time to buy a Daewoo!

Poor old Daewoo has been through the mill in recent times. In this column (Pattaya Mail Vol IX, number 34) I put forward the query, was Daewoo going down the gurgler? After posting a massive 71% slide in half year profits from the same period last year, it seemed like the last gasp for the ailing Daewoo Company. The net profit was $11.15 million but sales fell to $1.28 billion from $2 billion a year ago. Operating profit fell to $12.49 million from $92.39 million over the same period. To show the real picture of financial woes at Daewoo, the car maker’s assets fell to $7 billion at the end of last year from $14 billion a year earlier, while liabilities increased by $3.6 billion to $17.3 billion. About then was not the time to buy a Daewoo, new or otherwise; however, things have changed for the better at the Korean auto manufacturer.

Daewoo Tacuma

General Motors and its alliance partners (read FIAT) have come to the rescue. A memorandum of understanding (MOU) has been signed between the GM side and Daewoo Motor and the Korea Development Bank, representing the Daewoo Motors Creditors Committee.

As we read this, GM have already sent a transition team to Korea to ensure the continued supply of vehicles, parts and servicing to (I quote from a GM press release) “enhance Daewoo Motor’s global reputation for offering customers superior value.”

Now you can see why I say that today is the time to get your hands on a Daewoo. The market is depressed. Everyone thought that Daewoos were just about to become orphans, but no! GM rode in on a white horse and there will be a dealer network, there will be spares and there will be new cars.

GM and its alliance partners (read FIAT again) will hold 67% of the new company, with the remaining 33% held by the creditors (read the Korea Development Bank). The future of two manufacturing plants in Egypt and Vietnam is not decided yet, but while I could see the VN one being dropped, GM would probably like to have a little toe-hold in Egypt. And what is the likelihood of Daewoos being assembled in the GM facility on the Eastern Seaboard at some time in the future? There is capacity. There is room for expansion. You read it here first.