1917 Hudson Shaw Special Racing Car

Racing improves the breed and serves as a way to promote the brand and product. The Hudson Motor Company competed in the popular board-track Speedway events in 1916 using their Super Six-based racecars. Designed by engineer Howard E. Coffin, the Six was introduced in 1913 as the powerplant for the Hudson Model 54. A few years later, in 1916, the Super Six was introduced. Its engine had L-head architecture, improved cylinder heads, high 5.0:1 compression on standard gasoline, and a 76 horsepower rating. Ralph Mulford proved the car's potential in April of 1916 by setting a new straightaway stock-car record of 102.5 mph at Daytona Beach. The following month, at Sheepshead Bay, a Super Six set another 24 hour stock car speed record at 75.8 mph average. At Pikes Peak in August, Mulford drove a Super Six to a new class record that would remain unbeaten for eight years. Following these accolades, Mulford and co-drivers Vincent and Patterson piloted a Hudson Seven-Passenger Touring car from San Francisco to New York to beat Marmon's record. The team rested for eight hours and then returned to San Francisco, establishing America's first double transcontinental record.

Hudson-powered racing specials enjoyed success on American board-track Speedway events. Four Hudson Super Six Specials were raced at Cincinnati, earning a First in the 'Free-for-All' and Second, Seventh, and Ninth in the 250-miler. Ralph Mulford broke the 150 and 200-mile American speedway records on June 16th, 1916, driving a Super Six Special.

Hudson built a 10-unit batch of special six-cylinder racing engines designed in-house for the 1917 racing season. Privateers recognized the potential of the production-based Hudson engines, adding their own modifications and tune. One such individual was Horace Shaw, a mechanical, racer and car builder from Rochester, New York.

This Hudson-powered racing car is known as the Shaw Special. It campaigned in the Eastern United States during the 1920s to the late 1940s. During its racing career, it was constantly modified and updated. It originally had two-man bodywork resting on a chassis with an underslung rear axle setup. Its racing history and exact setup are not fully known. Horace Shaw did own and campaign several cars during his racing career. Mr. Shaw passed away in the early 1940s; in the late 1940s, it was photographed next to a fence at Trenton, New Jersey wearing a single-seat body. In February of 1949, it was advertised for sale in a Magazine. It was listed as having 2 Winfield carburetors, Bosch magneto, Hudson 6 OHV, Auburn 17-inch knock-off wheels, and new tires.

After the car's racing career came to a close, it fell into disuse. Years later, it was found by Jim Etter from Seven Valleys, Pennsylvania. Ralph Prueitt later purchased the car from Mr. Etter. At the time, the Shaw Special was complete, including a Hudson six-cylinder engine with a non-standard block casting, special crankshaft and cam, and specially fabricated front timing cover, oil pump, and magneto drive. It had a hand-fabricated chassis frame, plus the driveshaft, rear end, later single-seater body, and four wheels. The 'Shaw Spl' cast side valve cover also remained.

Mr. Prueitt treated the car to a concours-level restoration. The engine was given Winfield two-inch carburetors, new connecting rods, new pistons from Egge, and new Babbitt bearings. After the work was completed in 1991-92, the Shaw Special was authenticated by the AACA and granted its Certified Competition Race Vehicle tag (# 072). Its first post-registration judged show was in 1992 at the AACA Fall Meet in Hershey, Pennsylvania, where it earned First Junior honors in Class 24A and the AACA National Champion Award.

The car was later acquired by Tom and Jennifer Rowe of Rock Island, Illinois.

In 2018, the car was offered for sale by Worldwide Auctioneers from the Hostetlers Hudson Auto Museum Auction.

By Daniel Vaughan | Feb 2019