Please, tell me of the Mallard

I recently learned that Jim Hurtubise has been trying to qualify his front engined Mallard at Indy until into the '80s.
While I found a lot about the driver's fascinating persona, just a few pics and no technical description of his mount came up from a Forum - Google search.
I'd love to know anything technical about the car, the behavioural differences with "more hortodox" contemporary machinery, the modifications added through the years to try and improve it.
Pictures and descriptions of the late incarnations would be of extreme interest, but really anything goes.
Thanks.

Actually, there were two mallards, one was sold to Ebb Rose. But Jim got that back later on for spare parts.

The car itseff was classic Roadster: Offset engine and driveline on the left side of the car. The engine itself was a turbocharged Offenhauser in-line 4.

Herk failed to qualify in '67 but managed to qualify in '68 and that was the last ever time that a front engined car qalified at Indy.
I know he also qualified the car in the 1970 California 500 but then was the first retirement.
Over the years he modified the bodywork of the car, adding front wings a rear wing etc to gain downforce and got a car beyond recognition.

He was always a crowd pleaser and the crowd always enjoyed whenever he brought the car out for laps. But specially in later years it was suggested that Herk entered the car on behalf of his sponsors so they had a hospitality suite in Gasoline Alley.

The last time I saw the car was in 1999 at the Bedford IN automobile museum, in the 1968 shape.
Bodywork of later years was also retained and a supporting frame built for it to make the bodywork look as if being a real car. Most striking detail on the final version of the cars: the inverted wingshape underside of the tail, very much like a groundeffect tunnel. And that in the years before the Lotus 78 and its successors and opponents
The owner of that museum has died I've understood and what happened with the cars thereafter I don't know..

A biography on Hurtubise exists: "Hurtubise" by author Bob Gates. I don't know if it is still for sale and if so where. But it's a neat book and gives a good insight about a Speedway personality that was larger than life, despite a lack of successses in later years.

regatrds,

Henri

There was an incident in one of his last years at Indy (1978?) where he lined the Mallard up for a qualifying run as per, but was then told to remove it as USAC had decreed that uncompetitive cars were not allowed to try qualifying runs, so that those with a genuine shot at the field would have more chance to do so. Which ended with some sort of chase and sit-in on the hallowed tarmac before Herk was dragged away, thus wasting even more time.

Herk's last Indy 500 came in 1974 but in a more conventional rear-engine (a McLaren, IIRC).

One of his entries was certainly merely one to gain more garage space - it was one of those Shriner vehicles that parade in charity events...a bit like the Jim Robbins Spl that was entered for years after Robbins died, basically a free set of tickets for his family who carpeted their regular pit...

www.champcarworldseries.com/PhotoPopup.asp?ID=14750

home.att.net/~raceshooter/herkin.htm

www.merrittvillespeedway.com/memories/hurtubise.htm

I wonder if Panoz borrowed any ideas from this car?

Originally posted by Rosemayer
www.champcarworldseries.com/PhotoPopup.asp?ID=14750

home.att.net/~raceshooter/herkin.htm

www.merrittvillespeedway.com/memories/hurtubise.htm

Looks fabulous. I think last time we discussed this car I commented that it looked like a Mallock U2 on steroids. My opinion hasn't changed!

David this looks like fun 180HP 900LBS.



Cheers Rosey

Originally posted by David Beard


Looks fabulous. I think last time we discussed this car I commented that it looked like a Mallock U2 on steroids. My opinion hasn't changed!

Isn't a Mallard the name of a duck, may be everyone should get their shotguns ready.............

Originally posted by Rosemayer
David this looks like fun 180HP 900LBS.



Cheers Rosey

My pictures turn up everywhere!

It sure was fun when it was 180hp (+) and 900lbs... I suspect it's now more like 165hp and 950lbs... but still fun.

Originally posted by Rosemayer
David this looks like fun 180HP 900LBS.



Cheers Rosey

Thanks for the answers, would like to hear more....
for example, how would that strange contraption in the picture be related to the Mallard?

Maybe is it the Mallock U2 David spoke of ?

Originally posted by Paolo


Thanks for the answers, would like to hear more....
for example, how would that strange contraption in the picture be related to the Mallard?

It isn't , of course, but Mallocks came in lots of different shapes over the years, and I have seen a few with front and rear ends that are similar to the Mallard in the pictures. The Mallock mk11 in particular had quite a wedge shaped body. If you removed its wings (the wheel covering type wings, I mean) there would be a strong resemblance.

Sorry Ray I did not know it was your picture.I received it via e-mail from a friend when I told him I was thinking about building a clubman.I will have Twinny remove if you want.

Paolo Here are some links to Mallock sites


mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/mallock

www.race-cars.com/carsold/mallock/m11b20/m11b20ss.htm

www.race-cars.com/carsold/mallocks.htm

Cheers Rosey

Originally posted by Rosemayer
Sorry Ray I did not know it was your picture.I received it via e-mail from a friend when I told him I was thinking about building a clubman. I will have Twinny remove if you want.

Never let that happen, no...

It was also once my car. But at that stage it didn't look nearly so good, it had a (quite tall) Renault 16TS engine and 5-speed Fiat box and sported both more power and better gearing than in its present and original form.

Who sent it to you? I have previously posted it on this forum, probably in the Tasman Revival thread. Or maybe the Welsor thread, which is where you find all the rough old Aussie Clubman pics.

Oh... and if you're building a Clubman, e.mail me... r@ybell.net

Ray

I received the picture from a friend in wisconson that is also a member of Mid West Council we both race at Blackhawk Farms.

www.blackhawkfarms.com

Just found a bunch of Mallard pics:

http://www.artemisim...rtubise mallard

I have been told that Bob McConnell, in Urbana Ohio, has one of the Mallards. Don't know which one or what condition it is in.
Here is what I have on my indy roadster website about the Mallard.

http://indyroadsters...opular-request-

indyroadsters.webs.com/apps/photos/album?albumid=6437227

mac miller in INDY

The owner of that museum has died I've understood and what happened with the cars thereafter I don't know..

When Eddie Evans died, all of the cars went on the auction block. Actually it was quite a motley assortment of race cars but the Mallard had some significance and, certainly, his 1935 Miller Ford was the jewell of the collection. Maybe, McConnell bought Eddie's Mallard at the auction.