10 replies to this topic

[Jerry Entin]

Dothan, Alabama, October 1959. Partially hidden by E.D. Martin's Birdcage Maserati is Tommy Friedman's dark colored, finless D-type.

 

Tommy Friedman ran his first race at Auburn in May 1959, winning the novice race in a Corvette. After a few additional Corvette appearances he entered the September 1959 Auburn event in a Jaguar D-type, running the same car at Dothan in October 1959. In both cases he retired with engine trouble.

 

By 1960 he seems to have sold the D-type, since he raced a Lotus 11. Does anybody know what chassis number the Friedman D-type had?

 

Photo: Bob Bellows

Edited by Jerry Entin, 25 October 2013 - 19:37.

[Cynic2]

Hi, Jerry,

 

I hadn't heard of the car here, but I know someone who will probably know.  I'll let you (and Willem) know.

 

David

[Bendriedman]

Hey Jerry,

Hope all is well.
Tommy Friedman was my dad. He owned one of the first European auto supply and repair shops in Atlanta. It was located down off Baker St.
I've got some info on the D type that he ran..the serial number was xkd545 and he purchased it from George Constantine. I still have the original bill of sale from George to my dad. Looking at the pictures I have of the car it seems to be painted a dark maroon color with white rondels ...My dad always said the car won in Sebring and was at one time a Scotish racing team practice car....I remember a name "Ivor Bueb" ? .Anyhow...Thanks for kind being kind enough to mention my dad and post a picture.
Ben Friedman

Edited by Bendriedman, 03 July 2015 - 07:45.

[Tim Murray]

Here's the potted history for XKD545 from Fiskens. If this is correct, it wasn't the Sebring winner and was never with (the Scottish team) Ecurie Ecosse:

http://www.fiskens.c...sp?StockID=9505

There are some results for the chassis on the Racing Sports Cars site:

http://www.racingspo...ts/XKD 545.html

[Jerry Entin]

Feature start at Dothan, Alabama, October 1959. Leading the pack are, from the left:

C. K. Thompson [D-type], Roy Schechter [RSK], Jim Hall [450S], Tommy Friedman [D-type] and E.D. Martin [Tipo 61].

 

 

 

Ben, many thanks for solving another mystery involving sports car racing in the South. In the Dothan image it looks as though your dad's D-type is very dark green, but dark maroon is possible as well. It looks like the car ended up with John Cannon in Canada after Tommy switched to a Lotus 11.

 

If you have any photos of the D-type when your dad owned it, we will be happy to post them. Too bad that Fiskens deemed it necessary to add that fin the car never had.

 

 

Photo: Bob Bellows [Willem Oosthoek Collection]

Edited by Jerry Entin, 03 July 2015 - 23:50.

[Jerry Entin]

The Enoche at Gainesville, Georgia, June 6-7, 1959. Tommy Friedman in his Corvette ahead of Nedra Ware's production Porsche.

 

Tommy Friedman ran his Corvette in BM class, indicating some non-production upgrades had been made.

 

 

Photo: Bob Bellows [Willem Oosthoek Collection]

Edited by Jerry Entin, 04 July 2015 - 11:44.

[Ray Bell]

That Porsche seems to be recovering from a late braking effort...

At least she missed the Georgia clay on the apex. Isn't there a song that mentions that stuff?



.

Edited by Ray Bell, 04 July 2015 - 19:29.

[Jerry Entin]

Ray: That Porsche is being driven by a girl. Nedra Ware and in her first race in an MG TD while she was 8 1/2 months pregnant at the time, she beat all the men.

Edited by Jerry Entin, 04 July 2015 - 11:45.

[group7]

here is a link to John Cannon in the D type at the Players 200 at Mosport Canada 1962. also have another photo of Cannon in the D,also '62 but can't post here, if either of you, Ben or Jerry are interested, PM me, will send.

 

http://www.racingspo...2-06-09-149.jpg

 

Mike (group7) in Canada

Edited by group7, 04 July 2015 - 13:49.

[Jerry Entin]

Nedra Ware and Tommy Friedman when they were running closer during the June 1959 Enoche.

 

Nedra comments: "I hated those damn Corvettes. They had a GET WIDE button they pushed in the corners. Hard to pass them."

 

Nedra Ware also worked for Don Fong, the nephew of Hawaii senator Fong. Don was the Roll Royce/Jaguar/ MG etc. distributor in Atlanta and Nedra put his parts department together. "Crazy guy" as she recalls. Later on Fong had some involvement with Ferraris as well

 

Photo: Bob Bellows [Willem Oosthoek Collection]

Edited by Jerry Entin, 04 July 2015 - 14:07.

[Ray Bell]

Fixed the gender issue, Jerry...

Here are the lyrics the sight of that clay reminded me of:

"I remember to this day
The bright red Georgia clay
And how it stuck to the tires
After the summer rain
Will power made that old car go
A woman's mind told me that so
Oh how I wish
We were back on the road again"

Women and tyres again! But I found there was a song called "Georgia Clay" as well...