Anyone have any info on his cars?
Edited by etceterini.com, 30 September 2009 - 09:49.
Anyone know Cort Whitlock?
Started by
etceterini.com
, Sep 30 2009 02:47
9 replies to this topic
#1
etceterini.com
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Posted 30 September 2009 - 02:47
This guy has some interesting cars but is somewhat secretive about them.
Anyone have any info on his cars?
Anyone have any info on his cars?
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#2
Patric
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Posted 30 September 2009 - 11:30
Siata-Mercedes in New Zealand during 1988. Was not very fast from memory.
#3
RShaw
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Posted 30 September 2009 - 18:07
The last I heard he still had the Hughes-Kircher Special, a 300SL-engined sports racing car built in Denver in 1953-54 by Charlie Hughes and Kurt Kircher. An extraordinary device, it enjoyed some local success in Colorado and New Mexico in '54 and '55, initially with a Jaguar engine. The body is all-aluminum, made by master metal craftsman Charlie Lyon, a man who also made the body for the original Kenz & Leslie 777 twin flathead engined Bonneville streamliner.
Here are two pictures of the car taken by a friend of mine in 1958 at La Junta, CO, by which time it had been converted to the Benz engine.
RonS.
Bill Bollendonk Photo
Bill Bollendonk Photo
Here are two pictures of the car taken by a friend of mine in 1958 at La Junta, CO, by which time it had been converted to the Benz engine.
RonS.
Bill Bollendonk Photo
Bill Bollendonk Photo
Edited by RShaw, 01 October 2009 - 01:38.
#4
Patric
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Posted 30 September 2009 - 22:11
Same car that was in New Zealand during 1988?
There is a photo on page 183 in the book 'Historic Racing Cars of New Zealand'.
There is a photo on page 183 in the book 'Historic Racing Cars of New Zealand'.
Edited by Patric, 30 September 2009 - 22:17.
#5
RShaw
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Posted 01 October 2009 - 01:16
Same car that was in New Zealand during 1988?
There is a photo on page 183 in the book 'Historic Racing Cars of New Zealand'.
Patric,
Was that question directed to me? If so, I have no info about the H-K Special being in New Zealand.
In any event, the H-K Special was not based on a Siata chassis. The entire car, except for the heavy metal (engine, gearbox, differential) was custom designed and fabricated by Hughes and Kircher, the body designed and fabricated by Lyon.
Also, I have edited my original post to read "1958" in place of "1956". I became suspicious of the presence of a 1957 Ford in the background in a picture supposedly from 1956. Also, the Colorado license plate on the car shows a skier on it, unique to plates from 1958 and 1959.
RonS.
Edited by RShaw, 01 October 2009 - 01:43.
#6
Patric
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Posted 01 October 2009 - 09:40
RonS.
The car in the two photos that you posted looks identical to the car that was in New Zealand during 1988.
Not sure about the copyright rules so do not want to scan the photo and post on TNF.
From memory the car was red.
I do hope that someone [maybe a Kiwi from the South Island] here has a copy of the book that I mentioned in post #4 and can confirm the photo.
Patric
The car in the two photos that you posted looks identical to the car that was in New Zealand during 1988.
Not sure about the copyright rules so do not want to scan the photo and post on TNF.
From memory the car was red.
I do hope that someone [maybe a Kiwi from the South Island] here has a copy of the book that I mentioned in post #4 and can confirm the photo.
Patric
Edited by Patric, 01 October 2009 - 09:41.
#7
Patric
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Posted 01 October 2009 - 10:09
Well RonS & I have put our little knowledge forward - there must be a lot more, mr etceterini ?This guy has some interesting cars but is somewhat secretive about them.
Anyone have any info on his cars?
#8
fbarrett
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Posted 01 October 2009 - 16:50
Ron:
Great photos! As you may know, Charlie Lyons was into Porsches, too, and is still in the Denver area; I think he's still messing about with race cars. Bill Bollendonk drove his MG TA on the Colorado Grand two weeks ago. Court Whitlock contacted me about the car's history years ago, and I was unable to tell him anything but may have put him in touch with Kurt Kircher, who I recall lived in Pagosa Springs then.
As the owner of a Maxton, I should write an article on sports cars built in Denver!
Frank
Great photos! As you may know, Charlie Lyons was into Porsches, too, and is still in the Denver area; I think he's still messing about with race cars. Bill Bollendonk drove his MG TA on the Colorado Grand two weeks ago. Court Whitlock contacted me about the car's history years ago, and I was unable to tell him anything but may have put him in touch with Kurt Kircher, who I recall lived in Pagosa Springs then.
As the owner of a Maxton, I should write an article on sports cars built in Denver!
Frank
#9
RShaw
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Posted 01 October 2009 - 18:28
Patric,
It is possible that the H-K Special made a trip to New Zealand. Your comment about it being red is significant, as I believe that the car is now red, at least that is the color of the car in a photo in a book about American racing sports car specials. I expect it was painted "resale red" when it was auctioned years ago.
The original color was a very dark blue, although it tends to look more like dark green in the two photos I posted.
Frank,
Are you going out to the RMVR meet in Byers this weekend? I believe I'll be able to go Saturday, and so I'm told, get a lap or two around the track.
RonS.
It is possible that the H-K Special made a trip to New Zealand. Your comment about it being red is significant, as I believe that the car is now red, at least that is the color of the car in a photo in a book about American racing sports car specials. I expect it was painted "resale red" when it was auctioned years ago.
The original color was a very dark blue, although it tends to look more like dark green in the two photos I posted.
Frank,
Are you going out to the RMVR meet in Byers this weekend? I believe I'll be able to go Saturday, and so I'm told, get a lap or two around the track.
RonS.
#10
klemcoll
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Posted 03 October 2009 - 02:22
I have known Cort for many years and, some years back, raced with him in historics. He is a super guy and a wonderful raconteur. He always had nice cars. He is one of the good guys.
