69 replies to this topic

[Jean L]

#4 where graphicly different at Road America and Mosport,not only the black roundel at the right side.There is the same mistake in the book " Chaparral Can-Am & Prototype race car p38 (2nd pic).

[Jerry Entin]

The following is from Willem Oosthoek:
The #4 on the Chaparral in the 1962 Canadian GP at Mosport is definitely different from the one in the above photo, which is identical to the one on page 38 of Friedman's Chaparral book. I also have a photo of the RA 500 start and yes, the number has changed a little, with a base and the horizontal line slightly lower. This indicates the other two photos were taken before the start and that the number was retaped

Page 60 of Friedman's Pro Racing book shows the #4 Chaparral at the Mosport start. It is different from all of the above photos: the horizontal line of the 4 does not extend beyond the vertical line. Where it hits the cross bar of the 4 it shows a sharp corner, not the blunted one seen in the two versions at Road America.

[Jerry Entin]

Tuff- Stuff
This was what Heidi Allen's mother Marion Allen came up with. Today a similar product is called Chore-Boy. She took the fuel cell foam and made it into a kitchen scrubber. It should have made the Allen family very wealthy. It was a very good idea and worked very well.

photo- Heidi Allen collection
copyright 2009- Heidi Allen

Edited by Jerry Entin, 25 September 2009 - 00:56.

[Jean L]

Thank you,I see now.

[Jerry Entin]

Donn Allen and the Sidewinders
These Hot Rodders or Lake Racers were Donn Allen's buddies. He was one of them. He is the second one from picture left. Note the Sunshine on the car he is behind. The owner was called Sunshine Brown. Donn was known as Buck.



photo Heidi Allen collection.

Edited by Jerry Entin, 28 September 2009 - 20:12.

[Jerry Entin]

Donn Allen on his motorcycle
Donn Allen and Heidi Allen rode these bikes to pre -run the course for the Baja off road races. Donn crewed on his friend Vic Hickey's team in the Baja race.

The bike is a Sachs 125 cc and Donn had a second bike for his daughter Heidi to ride.


photo Heidi Allen collection

Edited by Jerry Entin, 28 September 2009 - 20:16.

[Jerry Entin]

Donn Allen refueling the "Banshee"
This was an Olds Cutlass, setup for off road racing and co-driven by James Garner.

Little better view of the Banshee.
Hayden trans coolers, were a transmission cooler company that was headquatered near Riverside in the day. This race was run around 1970.

photos Heidi Allen collection

Edited by Jerry Entin, 28 September 2009 - 23:57.

[Jerry Entin]

Condor Motorhome, this team used it in the Baja race.
This motorhome supposedly ran 110 miles per hour in the race.
After a trip down to Baja Mexico for the off road races this baby was plenty wore out.

According to Paul Yocom, this motorhome had seatbelts on the toilet. That is if you were man enough to try and use the toilet on the off road adventure.
photo Heidi Allen collection

Edited by Jerry Entin, 29 September 2009 - 00:11.

[Jerry Entin]

Another Oldsmobile that was in the Baja 1000 in November of 1970

photo- Heidi Allen collection.

Edited by Jerry Entin, 29 September 2009 - 00:00.

[Jerry Entin]

Jose a friend of Donn Allen's
This is a Porsche powered BMW motorcycle.
Donn Allen put this combination together for his friend Jose, this was what Jose invisioned.


Side view showing the very nice workmanship in fitting the Porsche engine to BMW

photos- Heidi Alllen collection

Edited by Jerry Entin, 30 September 2009 - 01:18.

[Jerry Entin]

Here is the BMW/Porsche during build
Paul Yocom a very good friend of Donn Allen's believes this was around 1966 that Donn Allen installed the Porsche engine in the BMW for his friend Jose.

photo- Paul Yocom

[Heidi Allen]

I hope everyone has enjoyed this little peek into my Dad's love of racing. Now, I would love to hear from those of you that knew my Dad, maybe share any pictures you have of him. My thanks to all those that have added their thoughts to the pics already posted here, and to Jerry for making this happen and encouraging me to do this!

[Jerry Entin]

Bob Bondurant and the Cobra Daytona coupe
Bob Bondurant brought this Daytona coupe to Donn Allen's shop on Bankfield street, he wanted Donn to make it more streetable. That is Dick Guldstrand next to Bob.

photo - Heidi Allen collection

[Jerry Entin]

Donn Allen in 1994 at the Portland Indy car race with AJ Watson

Portland Indy car races in 1994
Bill Kemp and Paul Yocom the lovely Heidi Allen being choked by her dads cousin Dr. Jim Moss, Donn Allen and Janna White, AJ Watson and Linda Ferguson.
Donn Allen treated Bill Kemp and Paul Yocom like they were his sons.




photos Heidi Allen collection

Edited by Jerry Entin, 01 January 2010 - 15:29.

[Jerry Entin]

Donn Allen with some fans admiring the midget race car

Loading a midget for a flight to a race
This is how they did it in the day.






photos- Heidi Allen collection

Edited by Jerry Entin, 01 January 2010 - 17:54.

[Jerry Entin]

Heidi Allen at Portland Indy race in 1994
Heidi was trying on AJ Watson's car for size.
Buddy Lazier drove the Leader Cards T-93 Lola at this race and they finished 24th.







photo - Heidi Allen collection

Edited by Jerry Entin, 01 January 2010 - 17:59.

[Jerry Entin]

Donn Allen and Frank Lance at Elkhart Lake 500 in 1962
They were the Chaparral crew for Jim Hall and Hap Sharp. They ran the front engined Troutman and Barnes built Chaparral.

Jim Hall and Hap Sharp went on to win the Elkhart Lake 500 in 1962. Jim Hall had also won the June Sprints in the Chaparral in 1962.



photo: Frank Lance collection

Edited by Jerry Entin, 21 February 2010 - 00:17.

[Jerry Entin]

Donn Allen and a few Firestones in the day


photo: Heidi Allen collection

Edited by Jerry Entin, 01 March 2010 - 15:37.

[Heidi Allen]

I hope everyone has enjoyed this little peek into my Dad's love of racing. Now, I would love to hear from those of you that knew my Dad, maybe share any pictures you have of him. My thanks to all those that have added their thoughts to the pics already posted here, and to Jerry for making this happen and encouraging me to do this!

Anybody?! Bump! I'd like to thank those who have already sent me emails and sometimes photos, I really appreciate the kind words and thoughts. Please keep them coming!

[irish1982e]

Heidi, I too grew up with a dad most fond (and involved) in racing (Valvoline).  I'm looking for (any) picture of the Firestone RASAFE (Race Safe) fuel cell sticker, and thought your dad may have had some involvement in that.  I need a photo that clearly shows the text on the sticker itself.  I have an old photo (1967) of Mario Andretti's Indy car with that sticker, but it's almost impossible to read anything but the Firestone.  Could you have anything like that in your archives?