Looking for my Dad's race car from the 1950's

[larryejames]

My Dad built this car in the early 1950's. His name was Don James and he called the car the "Special". Sometime in the mid 50's Hot Rod magazine did a write-up on him and the car. He was based in the SF Bay Area and raced the car in Northern CA until about 1960 when he traded it to a friend in SoCal. I was just entering kindergarten at the time. What a cool story it would make if I could find the car and bring it back to life !!
Any help would be appreciated. I know a lot (although dated) about race cars but nothing about chasing down things.
Thanks a ton,
Larry E James
Bellevue, WA
larryejames@gmail.com
Larry

[EricP]

THAT is cool. I hope you find it!

[Daryl DeArman]

Vintage American Road Racing Cars 1950-1970 page 186


Unfortunately no mention of where it might be today.

Best of luck in your search!

[DanW]

oops. never mind.

[E1pix]

Holy Moly, what a find! Off to a good start.

So for the record, it's the James Special?

If it further helps, here's the link for the book spread:
https://books.google.com/books?id=oZ...%20car&f=false

What a great thing to try to locate -- all the Best, Larry. Awesome.

Vintage American Road Racing Cars 1950-1970 page 186


Unfortunately no mention of where it might be today.

Best of luck in your search!

[Daryl DeArman]

The car the OP is looking for is called the "James Special". Many of the American made road racing cars of the era had "Special" in their names. I have the apparently out-of-print book that has 277 pages of these various specials.

[EricP]

The car the OP is looking for is called the "James Special". Many of the American made road racing cars of the era had "Special" in their names. I have the apparently out-of-print book that has 277 pages of these various specials.

what is the title and author?

[Daryl DeArman]

what is the title and author?

Vintage American Road Racing Cars 1950-1970 by Harold W. Pace and Mark R. Brinker

ISBN 0-7603-1783-6

https://www.amazon.com/Vintage-Ameri...=1-1&x=18&y=16

[E1pix]

what is the title and author?

It was in the link in post #5 that I posted last night — the post that clarified we were not looking for the Black Jack car as it seemed some thought.

Edit: Oops, I now see that Daryl posted an Amazon link.

[larryejames]

Hey Guys,
Thanks a ton for your input and encouragement !!
I did find that book and bought a copy. Sadly there was no mention of where the car could be.

A little more history:
I was raised until kindergarten with Dad's racing as the family focus. I have nothing but fond memories. My Dad built a small workbench and stool on top of his workbench where he would park me to "work" on things while he worked on the car. By the time I was in 1st or 2nd grade I was welding (stick and gas; and not very well) and spray painting with a real gun. My Dad finally decided he needed to settle down and traded the car. He drove it (me as passenger) to SoCal; traded it with a friend Guy Willis for a Harley Sportster; and we rode the motorcycle home with me sitting on the gas tank. I remember Guy because he was one of my favorite of my Dad's friends; he was a factory or demo pilot for ?Aero Commander? and whenever he was passing through town he would call and we'd go down to San Carlos Airport and get an airplane ride. And that is the last I know of the car.

Thanks a ton !!!!!

[E1pix]

You're welcome, Larry.

At reluctant risk of thread sway, I might recommend expanding your search to The Nostalia Forum at Autosport. I know of several that may know of this car: one poster of much depth being Jerry Entin, and another Tom Schultz (the historian at Road America and intensely knowledgeable about cars of this era). If I see you post over there, I'll do what I can to support your thread amongst people I know much better than here.

I might also recommend a call to the Henry Ford Museum. As with much in our sport, your odds of success rise immeasurably with a lot of feelers and word-spreading -- and yours is exactly the sort of story historians like to get behind.

Hope you find it, All the Best.

[EricP]

...fingers are crossed for you and would love to hear...

[larryejames]

Thanks a ton E1Pix !! I didn't know about Autosport nor its nostalgia forum. I'm setting up an account there now.

Yes I'll keep folks current with my progress !!! I was a bit concerned I would get chastised for my post given this is a Formula Car site and my Dad's car wasn't open wheel. So I really appreciate everyone's openness. I've been lurking on Apex for a few years; having been involved in Formula racing in the 1970's and playing with the idea of getting back into it albeit from the club / historical side. Who knows, someday I might be looking in earnest for a flat bottom FA or similar (I would really like a T-332C but fear those are out of my budget now days).

I also have a correction to the "history" I've been recalling: the car was traded in 1961 or 1962 (and not 1960) and I was in the 1st or 2nd grade.

So Thanks to all again,
Larry

[E1pix]

You are most welcome, Larry.

Recommend "Looking for My Dad's James Special from the '50s." I'll be on the lookout...

Hope the Carters don't mind my referring you there, just want to help you find your past.

Go Get It.

[DanW]

Hello Larry,

Best of luck to you in your search.
I PM'd you contact information for Gary Horstkorta, Northern Pacific/SF Region Historian and also the general contact email address for CalClub in Socal.

You might also check with VARA https://www.vararacing.com/

Perhaps someone in CalClub might know who the historian/archivist is for CalClub. I hope the RIAM (Riverside International Raceway) museum archives are still available for research too.

http://www.riversideinternational.org/mm/mmedia.html

[PlayersLtd.]

(random lurker clicks follow button.)

[bob darcey]

You might try putting some photos and verbiage together and submit to Victory Lane Magazine ( http://victorylane.com/Contact.cfm ). I'd bet they would publish a short article which might be a path into the vintage closed-wheel crowd.

[larryejames]

Thanks Bob. That's awesome ! I'm on it.

[scorp997]

try Martin Rudow, he is a NW motorsport historian and author of several books as well as the editor of Vintage Drift magazine. He is a wealth of information and may have more photos for you.

His contact info is at SOVREN's website
https://sovrenracing.org/club-contacts/

Good luck!