 |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |
1931 Clyde Adams Special news, pictures, and information | ||
| Tweet | ||
 |  |  |
Racers in this era used a wide variety of engines including Winfield flatheads, Ford-based conversions and Miller-based marine blocks. While they could all be built to perform, they also had inherent limitations. In this atmosphere, Harry Miller redesigned his power plant, creating the legendary Miller/Offenhauser race engine. Weighing in at 325 pounds, the new four-cylinder engine was 115 pounds lighter than its predecessor, yet even more rugged. The Miller/Offenhauser was one of the first commercially manufactured performance engines available to the general public. The first engines were purchased by the car owners at $2,750 each. Subsequent engines were offered to the public at $2,000. One of the first to purchase the new engine was Bill White, owner of the Ascot car driven by the flamboyant and popular Ernie Triplett.
Triplett was a lanky and dandy driver who raced in bright red knickers and a black bow tie. He lived and breathed for the sport and was the first king of night racing, a Legion Ascot innovation. He was one of the most dominant west coast of the early 1930s. He placed well in the national championship point standings on multiple years, even though he refused to participate in most east coast events. His dominance was such that at one point he won 14 straight main event victories at Ascot enroute to the West Coast Championship. This Clyde Adams-built racer was his ride for the championship year.
This racer is on loan at the AACA Museum from the McConnell Collection of Úrbana, Ohio. This AACA certified race car is rarely shown.Source - AACA Museum | | |
The body was designed by Clyde Adams. Power is from an eight valve, 4-cylinder, 220 Miller engine.
The car was later driven by Al Gordon and Shorty Cantlin.
In 2012, the car was restored by Classic Craft Motorsports.
| Texas-Sized Charlie Thomas Collection Brings $7.4 Million At Dallas Auction | |
 | • RM Auctions' sale of the Charlie Thomas Collection generates $7.4 million, with 100 percent of lots sold • Top sellers include a 1946 Chrysler Town & Country Roadster for $143,000 and a 1954 Packard Caribbean Convertible for $132,000 • Sale captures attention of global collector car community with bidders representing eight countries around the world and 31 states across the U.S. • RM wraps up its 2012 calendar with its annual London, England sale, October 31, followed by the John Staluppi ...[Read more...] |
| RM Readies For Highly Anticipated Hershey Sale | |
 | • Final countdown underway to RM Auctions' annual Hershey, Pennsylvania sale, October 11–12 • Auction features approximately 120 historic automobiles joined by a select series of vintage motorcycles and an assortment of memorabilia • Automobile offering led by famous 1931 Duesenberg Model J Dual Windshield 'Barrelside' Phaeton, winner of the epic 1932 race at Lake Muroc in California • Duesenberg headlines select group of 10 automobiles from the distinguished Ray Bowersox Collection; sale als...[Read more...] |
| Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance Introduces Its First Sport Customs Class | |
 | One-off Sport Customs designed to turn heads while tooling down Main Street USA will roll onto the 18th fairway of Pebble Beach Golf Links for the 2012 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance on August 19. This year, for the very first time, the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance is hosting an entire class dedicated to Sport Customs. 'These are one-of-a-kind cars built in the US, on modified American production chassis with American engines by individuals, designers and craftsmen,' explains auto...[Read more...] |
| RM Auctions Lifts Gavel On Charlie Thomas' Texas-Sized Collection of Automobiles | |
 | • RM Auctions further expands its 2012 calendar with the addition of 'The Charlie Thomas Collection', a single-day, single-vendor sale to be held in Dallas, Texas, October 20, 2012 • Auction features a superb assortment of more than 150 collector cars, all offered without reserve • Sale further consolidates RM's reputation as the specialist for private and estate collection auctions RM Auctions, the world's largest collector car auction house for investment-quality automobiles, is delighted...[Read more...] |
| September 15 d'Plaisir Road Rallye will precede | |
 | The September 15 road rally that precedes the Palos Verdes Concours d'Elegance the following day has been named the d'Plaisir Road Rallye in honor of the 2012 Concours' theme 'French Curves.' It begins with lunch at the Rolling Hills Country Club in Rolling Hills, traverses the stunning views and winding roads of the Peninsula and ends at the Palos Verdes Golf Club in Palos Verdes Estates with a helicopter golf ball drop and a reception honoring Concours Grand Marshals Peter and Merle Mullin...[Read more...] |
