Bonneville Class Records - 1950s?

[glennpm]

I had a very interesting lunch today, by chance meeting a high school friend.
We were talking about a mutual acquittance and history at the Salt Flats in the 1950s. Hi name was Mr Bannister.

Are old records by class available and how? I haven't been able to find this, only 200MPH club and land speed records.

Thanks

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by glennpm

I had a very interesting lunch today, by chance meeting a high school friend.
We were talking about a mutual acquittance and history at the Salt Flats in the 1950s. Hi name was Mr Bannister.

Are old records by class available and how? I haven't been able to find this, only 200MPH club and land speed records.

Thanks

Is this the guy you seek info on? > https://kustomrama.com/wiki/Fran_Ban...%27s_1932_Ford



Fran Bannister's roadster at the 1950 Bonneville Nationals. Fran drove the car across the continent in order to compete at the salt.

[glennpm]

That’s him, my friend Paul’s father!

Thanks Pete!

[Ronnieroadster]

Quick story about the Banister brothers in 1950 they drove two cars to Bonneville Salt Flats Wendover Utah. One brother drove that 1932 Ford deuce roadster with a street engine for power. The other brother drove and a Ford sedan which the used to carry the race engine. The race engine was placed in the location where the rear seat would have been located. Going cross country in 1950 took them about a month carrying tools and no doubt a heck of a lot more items needed. In that time frame roadster speeds were from 100 MPH to just under 130 for the very best of the cars attending.
The roadster was restored many years ago by Larry Hook in Rhode Island i believe he still has the roadster. The 59A flathead engine in the restored roadster was built by me in a style that was popular in the early fifty's.
Ronnieroadster

[glennpm]

Originally Posted by Ronnieroadster

Quick story about the Banister brothers in 1950 they drove two cars to Bonneville Salt Flats Wendover Utah. One brother drove that 1932 Ford deuce roadster with a street engine for power. The other brother drove and a Ford sedan which the used to carry the race engine. The race engine was placed in the location where the rear seat would have been located. Going cross country in 1950 took them about a month carrying tools and no doubt a heck of a lot more items needed. In that time frame roadster speeds were from 100 MPH to just under 130 for the very best of the cars attending.
The roadster was restored many years ago by Larry Hook in Rhode Island i believe he still has the roadster. The 59A flathead engine in the restored roadster was built by me in a style that was popular in the early fifty's.
Ronnieroadster

More great info, thanks Ronnie

More of the back story

Yesterday, the wife and I went to a lunch at a small local church in the next town, a few miles away. We often donate to their thrift shop as we downsize.
After bringing in a few boxes of donations, I sat down at one of the tables for lunch with the twenty or so people there. A guy that had been talking close by, sat down next to me and turned to me to introduce himself. I knew immediately who he was when he said his name. I bumped his shoulder, held out my hand and told him who I was with a big smile. A second of surprise, and then we had a great time catching up. Last time I saw him was probably forty years ago in Wilmington where we grew up. We now both live in Maine about 20 miles apart, for the last 25 years or so and had no idea of our proximity.

One of the things we were talking about was my '40 and where I stored in years ago in the barn/out-building of a 1700s historical tavern and how the town was able to save it from the bulldozers. We then talked about the Bannisters and the '32 and the trip to the Salt Flats with the race motor for the '32 in the back of the '39 which I had been unaware of!

https://kustomrama.com/wiki/Ralph_Ba...%27s_1939_Ford

Fran's son Paul and I were quite friendly in high school, both into math and music, especially Jazz. We belonged to the high school band and beyond. Paul played clarinet and myself, tenor sax. Paul was into some composing at the time too which the two of us would try out. We were a couple of nerds that liked cars but no money! As a senior, Fran bought Paul a Nash Metropolitan ... fun. I had a '59 Chevy.

Well one day a couple of us went over to see Paul and his Dad was home, must of been a weekend. Fran brought out this album showing us the '32 and how it was built. I immediately recognized the '32 from the link Pete sent yesterday. The'32 wasn't at their small house with no garage, maybe at the brother's? Fran did have lots of great machining tools in their small basement and showed us how he bored the Flatheads out, etc.

One thing Fran mentioned that day really stuck with me. At lunch, during early construction, he would lay out alternating 4 X 4s on the shop floor and then drive over them to see how the chassis and springs performed :-)

Great trip down memory lane for me and with the wives getting along, sure to repeat!

[rich b]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

@glennpm Thanks for this post. It brought out some neat history.

[glennpm]

Originally Posted by rich b

@glennpm Thanks for this post. It brought out some neat history.

Great stuff for sure

[flatford8]

There were Bannisters mentioned in this book……..Mark

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by flatford8

There were Bannisters mentioned in this book……..Mark