FEBRUARY 2021 TUMBLEWEED CLUB OF NEW MEXICO
RG #79, EARLY FORD V-8 CLUB OF AMERICA, PO BOX 21538, ALBUQUERQUE, NM 87154-1538
MEETS FIRST TUESDAY OF THE MONTH, 7:00 P.M., OLD CAR GARAGE, 3232 GIRARD BLVD NE
PLEASE NOTE: All meetings include Show & Tell. Members are encouraged to bring items to share.
NEXT MEETING: No February Meeting
NEXT BOARD MEETING: Tuesday, February 9, 7pm on Zoom
BREAKFAST GROUP: Saturday, February 13, Cruise to Moriarity (See Article below)
CLUB WEBSITE: Be sure to check out our website at www.abqfordflatheadv8.com Updated “current Information and calendar” is on the current information page. More club pictures are on the website.
FORD V8 FOUNDATION WEBSITE: Another interesting website to check out is www.fordv8foundation.org
EARLY FORD V8 CLUB OF AMERICA WEBSITE: www.earlyfordv8.org
2021 OFFICERS & DIRECTORS
President: Joe Abbin (roadrunnerengr@msn.com)
Vice-President: R. Jeff Jackson (jbjaxun@gmail.com)
Secretary: Beth Jackson (jbjaxun@gmail.com)
Treasurer: George Abernathy (gabernathy@sunriseveterinary.com)
Director: Demetrio Lee (Dmost_1@yahoo.com)
Director: Roger Wilbur (rogerwilbur88@gmail.com)
Director: Chris Joiner (Amy2001tweety@hotmail.com)
Director: Larry Bost (LBost11@gmail.com)
Director: Vern Willan (willan10@msn.com)
February Tour
Let’s put the pedal to the metal to Moriarty, weather permitting, on Saturday, February 13. We will leave at 10 am from the Smith’s parking lot on Tramway and Central, then cruise along old US 66 all the way for optional activities in Moriarty. Several of us will go shooting at Mags Indoor Shooting Range (410 Camino Oriente, Moriarty, NM 87035) and/or tour Archie Lewis’ museum at the East end of town. Mags is an 8-lane air conditioned range and gun store with very reasonable prices for supplies and range time. Afterwards, outdoor lunch or take-out is available at Shorty’s famous BBQ (1204 Rt 66, Moriarty, NM 87035) in the area. Confirmation will be made closer to the date of departure.
February Birthdays
Bob Quirici (5)
Pat Bost (9)
Debbie Van de Velde (9)
Chris Joiner (12)
Richard Polk (28)
President’s Message for February 2021
Joe Abbin
We will have no regular club meetings until further notice due to ongoing health concerns and evolving government rules and recommendations.
Our tour to Bernardo last month was very well attended and fun, so at the January board meeting we decided to do another cruise. This time we’ll put the pedal to the metal to Moriarty, weather permitting, on Saturday, February 13. We will leave at 10 am from the Smith’s parking lot on Tramway and Central, then cruise along old US 66 all the way for optional activities in Moriarty. Several of us will go shooting at Mags Indoor Shooting Range (410 Camino Oriente, Moriarty, NM 87035) and/or tour Archie Lewis’ museum at the East end of town. Mags is an 8-lane air conditioned range and gun store with very reasonable prices for supplies and range time. Afterwards, outdoor lunch or take-out is available at Shorty’s famous BBQ (1204 Route 66, Moriarty, NM 87035) in the area. Confirmation will be made closer to the date of departure.
Exercise your V-8 and bring your friends for fun and fresh air! Feel free to pack a lunch and drive your new Bronco (or whatever)!
Minutes of the January 12th Board Meeting via Zoom
The Zoom meeting was set up by Vern Willan (Thank you, Vern). Present were Joe Abbin, Vern Willan, Demetrio Lee, Chris and Amy Joiner, Jeff and Beth Jackson, George Abernathy and Joe Warren.
Last Saturday’s tour to Bernardo was good and enjoyed by a sizeable group which included some Model A’s and some hotrodders.
Bob Agnew does not wish to host meetings at the Old Car Garage due to liability so we need to explore new venues for when meetings are allowed to resume. We have been paying only $35 per month and prefer a fairly central location.
Joe Warren, our newest member, has been making acquaintances with several of our members and said he enjoyed a tour of Clement’s facility near the fairgrounds. He’s impressed by the number of cars owned by many of our members.
Joe Abbin went to Moriarity recently with his daughter and sister-in-law to go shooting at Mags Indoor Shooting Range. He suggested that drive for a tour in February with an option of touring Archie Lewis’ Museum if it is open. Everyone present agreed. The drive will be on Saturday, February 13th. We’ll meet at Smith’s parking lot, Central and Tramway at 10am. We intend to procure lunch in Moriarity or you may pack your own.
Vern expressed a wish for a field trip to Joe’s shop to see an engine being dyno’ed.
Beth and George will coordinate their lists of members who paid in 2020 so we know who needs to pay in 2021.
It was agreed to have another Zoom meeting on Tuesday, February 9th at 7pm, as 6:30 was too early for some members to participate.
The meeting was adjourned.
Secretary Beth Jackson
Why I Drove the Mustang to Bernardo
On our cruise to Bernardo last month I drove my 2007 Mustang. In the two days before the cruise I had driven my 1950 Mercury, my 1956 F100, and my 1963 Galaxie. They were all fit and ready to go. So why didn’t I take one of these cars on the cruise?
There was an article in Sports Car Market Magazine addressing some of the most common reasons (first five below) for not driving our classics/antiques. I was inspired and added my own concerns.
1) Fear of breakdowns and reliability concerns. Lack of service facilities and parts.
2) Lack of creature comforts like a/c, ps, pb, super sound systems, heated seats, etc.
3) Lack of safety equipment like seat/shoulder belts, air bags, safety glass, etc.
4) Wear and deterioration, and resultant effect on maintenance needs and investment value.
5) Owner/driver too lazy to prepare vehicle, charge battery, uncover, etc.
6) Lack of adequate vehicle performance capability, like marginal tires, lights, passing power, etc.
7) Marginal vehicle crash resistance, high center of gravity, poor visibility, flammable materials, rigid bumpers, structural weakness, poor brakes, etc.
8) Fear of unsafe drivers, animals, and other vehicles.
9) Fear of the police, legal requirements, etc.
10) Embarrassment, appearance, leaking fluids, oil burning, noises, low speed, etc.
11) Poor mileage, lack of appropriate fuel, cost of fuel.
12) Theft, vandalism, parking lot hazards, wrecks, etc.
13) Poor weather, rain, hail, lightning, high wind, etc.
14) Marginal driver capability, hearing, sight, strength, reflexes, anxiety, etc.
15) Insurance limitations.
Wow! What a list. I think I’ll take the bus next time. Next month we will recap the reasons why we should drive our vehicles.
Bernardo Tour Report
Sponsored by the Tumbleweed Club a group including rodders, flatheads, and Model A’s toured the Bernardo Bird Sanctuary January 9th. It was fun getting the cars out. Most took bag lunches and ate (with proper social distancing) at one of the viewing areas. Yep, we saw birds and read the informational signs. The road in was dusty (need to clean our black car) but no mud and lots and lots of birds. A simple fun outing to get us together. Thanks to Joe the traveling group was 11+ cars and we had a good time.
Early 60’s Ford Racing
The last article was in the December Newsletter “Ford Racing in the 1950’s”. It covered the extensive list of Ford racing successes and ended in 1957 when the Automobile Manufacturers Association (AMA) banned direct factory participation in organized racing. Note that ‘out the front door racing’ was quickly replaced by ‘out the back-door racing’ by most manufacturers, including Ford. Ford’s in house race support organization DePaulo Engineering and all race cars and racing parts were sold to John Holman and Ralph Moody when AMA banned factory sponsored racing.
As a Ford fan, you’ve heard of Holman and Moody racing and that is where we start this article. By 1960 automobile manufacturers were selling ‘Showroom Race Cars” and/or allowing special dealers to order parts specifically noted as “for police use only” directly from their parts catalog. Under pressure internally and from dealers to compete with the competition, Ford produced a highly aero dynamic Ford Starliner coupe. That car could be ordered with a 390 Cubic Inch (CI) engine producing 375 (horsepower (Hp). That performance package cost $109. The Tri power package was available from dealers for $260 plus installation that produced 401 Hp. Both packages came only with three speed column shift transmissions until late in the year when a factory installed four speed could be purchased.
Interestingly Ford’s aerodynamic Starliner was not popular with the public and sold less than 30,000 units. The boxy Galaxie Victoria coupes sold over 75,000 units. Of course, Ford allowed ordering the Victoria with the same engine packages as the Starliner. But, Ford didn’t allow the 390HP engine to be ordered in a Station Wagon or with any power equipment. Mid-year 1961 Ford announced factory installation for four speed transmissions and NHRA (drag racing sanction) for A/Stock and Super/Stock (SS) drag racing.
At the Labor Day 1961 NHRA Indianapolis drag racing event several S/S Ford Starliners consistently ran 103-105 Miles per Hour (MPH) trap speed in the mid 13’s. Let’s keep those numbers in perspective for today. I run a ’71 Nova with a 350 CI engine in G Stock at trap speed about 115MPH and sub 12ET’s (elapsed time). Stock means factory valve lift, cast iron block, date correct cast iron head (no porting or polish), date correct cast iron intake and carburetor, headers allowed. Technology consistently improves. When your ‘good buddy’ tells you how fast he ran in the old days, well, his memory may be fading.
Starliner’s aero dynamic benefits showed at the Daytona Beach Speed Trials. A Starliner sponsored by Zecol-Lubaid set a new flying mile record at 159.32MPH in a “stock” 375 HP unit (with roll bar installed).
Fred Lorenzen won Martinsville, Darlington, and Atlanta running a Holman and Moody prepped car. Ford won seven Grand National Events in 1961.
Resulting from the slow sales of the Starliner, Ford discontinued it in 1962 much to the dismay of Ford NASCAR and USAC racers. But, what’s the fun of winning races if you can’t brag about it in car ads?
In 1962 Henry Ford, who was President of AMA, sent a letter to AMA saying “The (racing ban) resolution adopted in the past by AMA no longer has either purpose or effect. Accordingly, we are withdrawing from it.” He also let the public know stating “The AMA ban on auto racing is null and void within Ford Motor Company in 1962.” Ford and GM and Chrysler had all signed the AMA racing ban in 1957 but none had actually stopped developing high performance engines or cars.
In 1962 a new 406CI engine came factory with 385HP using a single four-barrel carburetor (carb) or 405HP with a tri-power carb set up. The 406 engine package (11.4:1 compression, heavy duty block, 0.5in cam lift, and dual point ignition) also came with a bumper to bumper heavy duty package that included 4 speed transmission, large wheel bearing rear axle, police brakes, heavy duty radiator, oversized fuel lines and a no cost optional 4.11:1 rear axle gear. Wow, if we were back in 1962 and had money what a deal!
Ford committed itself to drag racing as well as to NASCAR. The X-garage at Ford developed lightweight Galaxies specifically for the 1962 NHRA Nationals. Ford hired Dick Brannon, a drag racer who also was a salesman at Romy-Hammes Ford in South Bend Indiana, to work on the project. Brannon had just recently won the big S/S trophy at Detroit Dragway in a race packed with top competition. The track owner Gil Cohn that day swore a “legal Ford” couldn’t win against that type competition. Mr. Cohn was so sure Brannon was cheating he offered double prize money if Brannon won and his car was legal. Brannon won, his car was inspected, and Cohn paid him double prize money.
Brannon had an engineering degree and continued working for Ford until 1969. He worked on NASCAR/USAC stock cars, drag racing cars, GT40 Le Mans, and Indy Racing programs. Brannon continued his drag racing as captain of Ford’s Drag Racing Team using everything from lightweight Galaxies and Thunderbolts to A/FX (Class A Factory Experimental) Mustangs. In 1962 Brannon set the NHRA National E.T. record at 12.42 seconds in a 427CI lightweight Galaxie. For reference a full on light weight Galaxie came with fiberglass front fenders, hood, deck lid, and doors plus aluminum bumpers and inner fender panels, Lincoln aluminum brake drums and “thin glass” without radio, clock, heater or carpeting.
Here are some names you’ll remember and they all ran lightweight Galaxies at one time: Phil ‘Daddy Warbucks” Bonner, Bill Lawton (Tasca Ford), Les Ritchey, Gas Ronda, Mikey Thompson and of course Dick Brannon. Mid-year 1962 Ford released a new, beefier 406 with cross bolt main bearing caps.
In June 1962, Troutman and Barnes in Culver City California (who were known as sports car builders), received body molds for Project W-301. You know project W-301 was a concept sports car Championed by Ford General Manager Lee Iacocca. Yes, project W-301 was the Mustang and also instrumental in the development of the GT-40. The developmental Mustangs were focused on sports car racing in SCCA (Sports Car Club of America). The initial prototypes were developed using Computer Aided Design (CAD) to improve aerodynamics and featured a full belly pan to reduce wind resistance. The engine of choice was a German Ford Taunus 12M, 60-degee V-4 mounted in the center of the car with a four-speed transmission. Ford engineering built two 11:1 compression, 91CI engines one with 91HP and a second with 109HP. These hastily constructed Mustangs (hand built in 100 days) debuted on October 7, 1962 at the US Grand Prix at Watkins Glen with Dan Gurney driving. Those cars were wildly popular with the spectators – potential future buyers. Ford debuted those cars at Laguna Seca and Daytona then sent them to Europe.
I plan to get back to Ford racing history in the next few months, but can’t help toss in a few goodies. Did you know you can go to your Ford dealer today and order a Cobra Jet mustang that comes NHRA legal with a 7.5 second certified roll cage and will run low 9 second ET’s around 140 MPH? With a little tweaking, you can have a sub 9 second car. Yes, the factory stock racing at Ford remains alive. The Cobra Jet package includes a line lock, parachute, 327CI Coyote supercharged motor, 12.5:1 compression, aluminum heads and aluminum block, aluminum drive shaft, 9” Ford solid axle rear end (converted from stock Mustang independent rear), multiple launch options, adjustable fueling meter, and more.
And, to help put into perspective here are some numbers from Trophy winners in 1957 at the Albuquerque Dragway. A/S 17.1 ET, no top speed given, B/S 18.2 ET, 73MPH, C/S 18.5 ET. 72 MPH, D/S 19.6ET, 68MPH.
By Jeff Jackson (heavily extracted from ‘Ford Total Performance’ written by Martin L. Schott and other articles). Future articles about Ford racing upcoming
Edgar Bergen & Charlie McCarthy advertise the new 1946 Ford.
From Ford Times, February, 1946
“Come, come, Bergen – who’s “Bergen, let’s let by-gones be “Bergen, the more I see of this
driving this car? Sure I see that by-gones. The truck didn’t hit us. car business the more I like it.
truck. Sure, he’s on the same side How was I to know the right side Can you imagine all those little
of the road. Can I help it if he’s of the road from the left? So I’m a bolts, screws and gadgets are
English?” blockhead!” what makes it run?”
“In fact, I’m going to be a mechanic. “Sure, Bergen, in a car you really “Boy, oh boy, oh boy, this is
You know a mechanic is no dummy. can appreciate the wonders of what I like to see – Bergen
…Calm down, Bergen, sure I know nature like…sure I see that blonde. shelling out.” “But a Ford’s
what I’m doing.” Like I told you, nature’s wonderful.” worth it.” “Bergen, you took the
words right out of my mouth!”
NEWSLETTER NOTE
Members are encouraged to submit articles, ads and photographs for inclusion in the newsletter. Please understand we have a volunteer Newsletter Editor so try and submit typed and proofed articles, comments, and new want ads (for sale items will continue to be updated at the meetings). The deadline for submissions is the 20th of the month. Beth Jackson, 505-908-7564, or email: JBJaxun@gmail.com
Tumbleweed Early Ford V8 Club Calendar for 2021
February Tuesday 9th Zoom board meeting
Saturday 13th Cruise to Moriarity – Meet 10am at Smith’s, Tramway & Central
The rest of the year – UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Club Dues Due
The Board of Directors voted to waive dues for 2021 for those members who paid their 2020 dues. However, if you did not pay your dues in 2020, you will need to pay dues now to continue as a member in good standing and remain on our club roster. If you are unsure of your status please email treasurer George Abernathy at gabernathy@sunriseveterinary.com or contact secretary Beth Jackson at jbjaxun@gmail.com
Jokes of the Month
Today’s Work from Home Tip:
Blowing on the wine in the mug will help convince your zoom meeting that your tea is hot.
You know, some people are like Slinkies. They’re not good for much but they’re fun to watch when you push them down the stairs.
1940 FORD BOOK
The long anticipated 1940 Ford Book is finally here and has been worth the wait. This new spiral bound book is profusely illustrated with 288 pages of detailed information assembled by restorer and author Michael Kubarth. This detailed book has chapters covering Chassis, Engine Compartment, Exterior, Interior, Accessories and more. Paint and upholstery patterns are shown in color. The 8 1/2 x 11 inch soft back spiral book opens flat for easy reference. It is the guideline for the U.S.-produced 1940 Ford passenger vehicle. $50.00 US (plus S&H) Can be ordered from the Early Ford V8 Club web site Online Store.