When I first approached Peter about posting some of his work, I think he may have thought I was a bit on the shady side. I can’t deny that…nor can I deny the pure artistry of Peter’s illustrations. I initially called these cut-aways…but Peter let know that these are freehand drawings.
“Hi Wes, the drawings are not cut aways as in a technical drawing all they are is a freehand drawing of a technical subject ie, I get the car owner to take some of the body pannels off and I sit and draw the details. I also take some photos and construct the drawing in my studio, it is all freehand no computers involved at all.” – peter hutton
Recently Frank Kayser contacted me about some photos he took at Le Mans Classic 2012. From his photos, you can feel the tires, the tears, and sweat of this legendary racetrack.
About the Le Mans Classic (Wikipedia):
The Le Mans Classic is a biennial vintage sports car event held on the grounds of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. It began in 2002 and runs every two years in July on the full 13.65 km circuit also used for the annual modern day 24 Hours of Le Mans. The Le Mans Classic event of 2002 was the first time since 1923 that the full 24 hour Circuit, part of which is public road the rest of the year, was closed specifically for an event other than the annual running of the 24 heures du Mans with contemporary sportcars and prototypes, thus allowing car owners and gentleman drivers to experience what it must have been to race these cars on this circuit.
“In 2012, 8,000 classic cars and around 110,000 enthusiasts descended upon Le Mans to witness more than 400 competing cars, all of which had participated in the 24 Hours of Le Mans between 1923 & 1979. They were divided, according to their age, into 6 grids, to take part in the race.” – lemansrace.com
Nick Huber’s Ducati 900 has been making the rounds in custom motorcycle circles. Nick shares his build notes on this instant classic. Photos by John Christenson.
Nick:
Sourced a Hand Pounded Evan Wilcox Aluminum Tank that had taken some race damage over the years from a friend. This Machine was a Low Mileage Beauty with only 8,000 miles on the clock when I first layed eyes on it 9 years previous. It had really not been ridden as the owner was more into Harleys so she sat in his garage in waiting for someone to discover her. I thought what a great time to offer up my interest in his machine. Thus I road away on this 1979 Ducati 900 GTS Bevel Darmah case Model, and proceeded to slowly change the bikes lines adding Evans Aluminum petrol tank, Tomoselli clip-on bars, original CONTI Mufflers, aluminum race number plates.
I fully serviced the engine myself rebuilding carbs, replacing the clutch with a heavier springs and plates, performance suspension, I removed the heads for inspection and replaced all the bevel gear bearings and a valve job. She has been a trouble free beauty for 3 years of almost daily riding.
Chris Runge is a multi-talented craftsman with a love of automobiles – especially Porsches. When I first saw photos of his Frankfurt Flyer – and before he painted it – I thought it was a barn find. In this detailed interview we get the story behind this creation.
“Part of the reason I was so intrigued in this Coachwork is that the art needs to be preserved so that the cars can be preserved. That’s kind of my mission statement. If I can learn as much as possible and pass on the best of what I know, and have some fun in the process, I will have achieved my purpose here.” – chris runge
Can you tell me about yourself and this project?
I am a 32 year old lifetime Auto Obsessionist. I’ve had a thing for Porsche cars since I was around 6 years old. For some reasons, automobiles that had the streamline look, almost as though they could drive backwards just as fast as forwards, have always intrigued me. As a teenager I saved my money from summer construction jobs and winning snowboarding contests and coaching camps in the winter until I could afford a 911. I bought a 78, 911SC. I’ve almost always had some type of Porsche ever since. The trend seems to be that after getting a couple newer Porsche cars, I started working my way backward and the cars I owned were older and older.
What is it about Porsches that you find alluring?
Initially it was the look of the car. Being a fan of precise craftsmanship impressed me once I was able to be close to the cars and drive a 911 for myself. The more I learned about Porsche and their history the more I fell in love. The German approach to design and engineering is something that’s in my blood.
What skill sets did you bring to the table for this project?
I really have no formal training in metal working or fabrication although I’ve studied books and have been fascinated with design since childhood. I did apprentice with a master aircraft mechanic/inventor/fabricator/overall genius part time for 2 years. He really taught me some valuable techniques and concepts on approaching fabrication and design. I’ve always been building something. Ever since I was a kid whether it was a treehouse, go kart, bike… I always had something going.
Your stated goal is, “…driving an Alloy bodied, VW 36 Horsepowered Streamliner on the Bonneville Salt Flats…” When did you first come up with this goal?
After selling my 1969, 912 in 2009 I had this unsettled void in my gut that I needed something unobtanium. Something no one has ever owned and most never heard of. After visiting a certain Porsche 550 Spyder “Kit Car” forum I knew I wasn’t the type for Fiberglass. I’ve dreamed of an Alloy bodied racer since I was a kid. The idea of being Monoposto in a wingless airplane fascinated me. It was my idea of freedom, solitude freedom.
As I was researching the cars over the past few years I found out about a guy named Tom Bruch from Iowa. Tom has been racing 36HP VW Powered cars on the Salt since the 60′s. He only lives about 6 hours from me and so I dropped him an email and we set up a time for me to drop by and look at what he was doing. I found some of his techniques are just what the fellas back in the late 40′s were going for. Some of what he is using are even some period parts in making his engines move. The Salt guys know where it’s at with making this period of VW Engine move. Again, it fascinated me.
You’ve said that you want to reach 100mph or more for Bonneville. Are you going for a record?
I would say I’m more focused on seeing my creation on the salt and the general experience of what it would feel like to go for it. Of course the competitor in me would probably like to see a record but I’ve been so busy focusing on making the alloy body I haven’t honed in on this yet.
Glockler Porsche 51
Your inspiration ending up being a Mercedes W196R Streamliner and a Glockler Porsche 51. What was it about the Steamliner and Glocker that you found interesting?
The W196R has a beautiful shape. Something about lines on cars like this suck me in. Some people may look at a car and say “Wow that’s gorgeous” and walk away. I literally couldn’t step away from the W196R the first time I saw it. I see the body lines in a grid and look for any clue of how the craftsmen assembled the car, where their welds and seems would be and why they chose to form the panels certain ways. I dissect the entire shape as if I were going to lay up a buck and start shaping. My mind can hardly see a car any other way. I was looking at a G55 Mercedes the other day and caught myself forming certain sections of it in my head. Even a boxy vehicle like that…
The Glockler was the main inspiration for the project. I had no intention of replicating the original. My thought was perhaps my finished car could have been one of the series of cars produced by C.H. Weidenhausen for Glockler. Maybe the 1 missing car that turned up in a barn in Minnesota!
Are there any other cars that you took clues from?
Yes, there is a Rometsch Racer, the only one known in existence which was on display at Prototyp Museum in Hamburg. Thankfully the museum allows many photos to be taken and this revealed the build techniques of the car. This was how I identified the structural platform in which I used ideas from for my racer.
“A mid engine center cockpit car with zero frills whatsoever is true ‘driving.’ It defines driving for me. It’s raw and it takes courage to drive. It’s a pure form of courage because you know that there’s a good chance you’re dead if something goes wrong.”
Hand-built electric bicycle by David Farish of Krank Boom Clank of Santa Cruz, California. Genius!
“The C-271 is David Farish’s hand-built electric bike that is powered by a 700 watt, 48 volt rear hub motor. It can probably reach 30 mph and brakes on a rear drum and front disc.”
Another 1941 Ford Pickup. This one has an amazing pedigree. Listen to the interview to get the full scoop. From Jimmy’s 24th Annual Old Car Picnic at the Golden Gate Park in San Francisco.
