91 replies to this topic

[Ray Bell]

Where's it staying in between times? Or more particulary towards the end of June?

I'd love to see it and I'll be down in Snape territory around that time...

[David Beard]

I hear whats left of the deSoto Kieft is in a hanger in Florida...

Do tell us more...

[humphries]

I have photos taken of this car outside the premises of E.W.Humphries Ltd, Pendeford, Wolverhampton - pre white paint job. The aluminium bodies of the Kieft GP and the Kieft-De Soto were all made by my father's company. As a 10-year-old I remember seeing the sports car and I was sorely disappointed to learn it wasn't going to replace the family Rover 75.

Copies of photos of these cars were given to Duncan Rabagliati, and I think I've posted them before on another thread, but where?

John

[Tim Murray]

Copies of photos of these cars were given to Duncan Rabagliati, and I think I've posted them before on another thread, but where?

Voila!
http://forums.autosp...w...t&p=1179791

[David Beard]

From Greg...

We had a great weekend at Winton with the Kieft. I finished it at
1:30 am Friday morning, had a sleep and got up early to load it on
the trailer and arrived at Winton (near Benalla in Victoria) about 4pm!

I was really glad to have my Dad, Graeme, there to give me a hand. It
was a very emotional first run for the car, it performed extremely
well considering our lack of testing, and finished well in all three
events.

The car generated an enormous amount of interest, and according to
the very many people I spoke to, it looked and sounded fantastic!

I have a huge list of things that I will attend to over the next week
before we give the car another run at the 10th Anniversary GEAR
meeting at Wakefield Park near Goulburn (only an hours drive away for
us) on Wednesday 10th June. The car will then be ready for the trip
to the UK. It is booked to go on the 21st June and will arrive in the
UK in mid August to joint the GP car in Leafield.

We are really hoping that both the Kiefts will get an invite to run
at the Goodwood Revival.

I noted in the forum that somebody may know of remains of the
original Kieft DeSoto, I find this very surprising, as Bill had
chased leads for about 4 years in the US with his vast network of
spies, and could find no trace! Also the roll bar is very easily
removable, and is only fitted as a few circuits here in Oz will only
let vehicles compete if roll bars are fitted!

[Ray Bell]

Originally posted by Tim Murray
Voila!
http://forums.autosp...w...t&p=1179791

And straight to the photos:

http://homepage.ntlw...es/image002.jpg

Edited by Ray Bell, 02 June 2009 - 21:30.

[David Beard]

[F1.Goodwood]

Give me a ring when the car arrives in the UK ..I might be able to help with the Goodwood entry..
www.Kieft-Racing.com

Peter 01243-609-746

[Cornelius, Terry]

The good news as of today, the Kieft DeSoto has been accepted for the Freddie March Memorial Trophy, so the two V8 Kiefts will be together again.

It's just sad that Bill won't be there in person. Certainly his spirit will be though.

[Barry Boor]

Excellent news! (Not about your absence, Terry)

[F1.Goodwood]

The good news as of today, the Kieft DeSoto has been accepted for the Freddie March Memorial Trophy, so the two V8 Kiefts will be together again.

It's just sad that Bill won't be there in person. Certainly his spirit will be though.

Do you know where the cars will be kept while in England? ...any idea who the driver(s) will be for Goodwood?

www.Kieft-Racing.com

[David Beard]

Do you know where the cars will be kept while in England? ...any idea who the driver(s) will be for Goodwood?

www.Kieft-Racing.com

I assume Greg will drive both the KdS and the GP car.

Edited by David Beard, 04 August 2009 - 19:29.

[David Beard]

The good news as of today, the Kieft DeSoto has been accepted for the Freddie March Memorial Trophy, so the two V8 Kiefts will be together again.

It's just sad that Bill won't be there in person. Certainly his spirit will be though.

Great news Terry, and good to see you posting here.

[Ray Bell]

Maybe now he's here, Terry can attend to this request?

http://forums.autosp...p;#entry3025420

He was, after all, mentioned over six years ago, the reason for this thread:

http://forums.autosp...showtopic=53393

[Cornelius, Terry]

Great news Terry, and good to see you posting here.

Thanks david, re your response to the Kieft Youtube clip.
That was done by a friend and I knew nothing about it until I discovered it. I told him how much I liked it and he's now done a MkII which, if I was computor-clever like you blokes, I would provide the link here... perhaps you could?

MkII is self-explanatory re the stage it was at... the day before Greg and Graeme whisked it back to Yass for final assembly.

Also, "The Kieft Has Landed"... (yesterday)

[David Beard]

Thanks david, re your response to the Kieft Youtube clip.
That was done by a friend and I knew nothing about it until I discovered it. I told him how much I liked it and he's now done a MkII which, if I was computor-clever like you blokes, I would provide the link here... perhaps you could?

MkII is self-explanatory re the stage it was at... the day before Greg and Graeme whisked it back to Yass for final assembly.

Also, "The Kieft Has Landed"... (yesterday)

Youtube clip...

[Cornelius, Terry]

Maybe now he's here, Terry can attend to this request?

http://forums.autosp...p;#entry3025420

He was, after all, mentioned over six years ago, the reason for this thread:

http://forums.autosp...showtopic=53393

Well, what a discovery... Wahgunyah on this sophisticated forum!
"Rickets Jackson"... sorry, never heard of him, and when it's said that he took on "the big tree" at bright, he would be one of many who took on big trees, 'coz there were hundreds of them.
While on Bright... The lap record held by an Elfin Mono? My all-time understanding was that it was Mel McEwen in his s/c 'Melmac Healey' who set the early record.
In more modern times, so to speak, the folowing gem of a poem, taken from the booklet "Trucking in verse" by Billy Reynolds, describes an incident at Bright in about 1965, when I was the proud owner of an A Model-based, Y-block-engined hot rod and my dad Arthur, owned the Autocrat Holden.
Here goes .. (rather proudly), "The Corowa Son"

He's tuned up his hot rod
He gave it all he knows
The motor's running perfectly
Man! Listen to it go,
He's out to break the record
And take it from his dad
He drives it like the devil
Does the Corowa lad.

Now the starter's flag is raised
A second left to go
He's got his motor revving
He's ready set to go
Then the wheels start spinning
And the motor takes the strain
And he's snaking up the track
With the motor belching flame.

He pushes through the S's
and slips her through the gears
The roaring of the motor
Is music to his ears
Then he winds her up the straight
For he's after the ton
He's driving like the devil, is the Corowa Son

Now he passes all the Holdens
And passes all the Fords
He passes all the specials
With a great unearthly roar
With a grin of satisfaction
That makes the drivers mad
And he's broke the track lap record
And won it from his Dad.

Enough of that... further along, "The Cooper Corvette atrocity". I was fairly involved in that, in fact I painted the body among other things and loved the car in all its forms and the car still lives on with a history further enrichened by it.

That Ford 10 pictured looks too sophisticated for a Wahgunyah car... aluminium panels? I had one of the better Wahgunyah cars back then and the only aluminium was in the frames of my two-piece goggles!

Further along, the Riley special was owned by Jim Pearsal from Albury, ultimately to become a CAMS car. The last I saw of it was in the hands of Wally Gates in Sydney about ten years ago.

And further along again, the attractive car leading the procession along Wahgunyah's main straight is my dad Arthur in his Singer Nine special "Wildcat".

And yes, Wahgunyah still carries on. It began as 5/8 mile with 5 bends. in the meantime, Hume Weir and Tarrawingee and Barjarg came and went, but the secret to Wahgunyah's continuity was in its ovalising and as of today it enjoys an important position in Victoria's speedway world, being very big (670 metres) and fast and very picturesque. Last year was its' fiftieth and Danny Claridge lapped the circuit in the only car known to still exist that raced at the inaugural official event on Easter Sunday 1958. That car can be seen in one of the forum shots, as well as in the line-up for curent Historic Winton regularity events.

[Cornelius, Terry]

Well, what a discovery... Wahgunyah on this sophisticated forum!
.......etc etc .............

.......... in the only car known to still exist that raced at the inaugural official event on Easter Sunday 1958. That car can be seen in one of the forum shots, as well as in the line-up for curent Historic Winton regularity events.

OOPS, I forgot... A second car that graced Wahgunyah's first and also the fiftieth was the Jones brothers' Wolsely Hornet Special special. (That's right, first time out it had no body, but these days it does) It also appears at Historic Wintons these days. It didn't fare so well in 1958, it suffered a monumental at high speed, landing its driver Norman Jones firstly on the ground and then in the hospital.
That car also had a CAMS connection having raced (at Point Cook, I think) pre, not post Wahgunyah.

[David Beard]

Good stuff Terry. Will you be at Goodwood?

Just found the Mk2 Youtube clip...more of a slide show.

Edited by David Beard, 18 August 2009 - 19:14.

[Ray Bell]

Terry, that information needs to be put onto that thread...

You're going to have to get someone to show you how to re-post the pictures and put a description with the ones you know.

[john medley]

The Jones brothers' Wolseley Hornet Special from Daysdale mentioned by Terry actually raced at Victor Harbor in 1936 driven by Betty Corbin

[Cornelius, Terry]

The Jones brothers' Wolseley Hornet Special from Daysdale mentioned by Terry actually raced at Victor Harbor in 1936 driven by Betty Corbin

Thanks for all that gents, I've got a terrific and timely pic to add, can't figure out how to though, and don't know anyone to ask!?

[Ray Bell]

There's a 'sticky' thread at the top of the page, Terry...

But... seeing as you asked, here's what you need to know:

There are three computers involved. Yours, the photo hosting server which will hold your photo (Imageshack or Flickr perhaps) and the Atlas F1 server which stores the threads and posts. You need to first ensure that your picture is the right size to sit on the page (not wider than 750 pixels is a good guide) and then save it to a file on your computer.

It will help you in all of this process if you have either two browser windows open at once (not at full screen size for preference) or two tabs open in your internet browser.

Then go to the image hosting service (www.imageshack.us is good, but there are others) 'browse', select, then type in your e.mail address then click 'host it'. That is literally all you do to upload the picture. Don't worry about anything else at all, just browse, select, type in your e.mail address and click 'host it', all of which are close to each other in this pic, shown as things appear immediately after you click on 'browse' (though I have moved the browsing window to one side for clarity, 'browse', e.mail box and 'host it' are all just to the right of the browsing window) :



This is the result.



You will notice just below that Toshiba advertisement there is a box with 'include details'... you will probably want to 'untick' that. This is immediately over a URL string which is identified on the far right by the words 'hotlink for forums 1'

You put your cursor over that url and left click (the pic I've posted shows it at this stage, with the url string highlighted) and then right click, then you left click on 'copy' in the dialog box that appears, paste to your post. You don't need to make any other preparation with imagecodes or anything else, just paste it into your post where you want the picture to appear.

Some of the details change from time to time, but not significantly. It's not a Toshiba ad any more, for instance, but there's bound to be something there.

One thing to be careful of is not to click twice when only one click is called for... or you will finish up having your page disappear under an advertisement.

[Ray Bell]

Okay... I've weakened... a little lattitude for Terry... who writes:

"For now I'm sending this fabulous history-making shot to you so I can be sure it's submitted.

I received it from Leafield this morning and at my request was given permission by Victoria to submit it to the forum."



Pretty neat, eh?

[Cornelius, Terry]

Okay... I've weakened... a little lattitude for Terry... who writes:

"For now I'm sending this fabulous history-making shot to you so I can be sure it's submitted.

I received it from Leafield this morning and at my request was given permission by Victoria to submit it to the forum."



Pretty neat, eh?

Thanks Ray, and I apologise to all for cluttering the strain.

And Goodwood? Yes David, have wanted to for years, looking forward to it immensely.

[275 GTB-4]

Thanks Ray, and I apologise to all for cluttering the strain.

And Goodwood? Yes David, have wanted to for years, looking forward to it immensely.

Terry...someone like you and Greg reviving great racing vehicles could never be accused of cluttering the straini!!

Cheers, Mick
Canberra

[johnny yuma]

Ignorance is bliss ,but discovering a racecar like this in the pits at Historic Winton 2009,then reading this thread,is better than bliss---as are most of the best things in life IMHO, when all's said and done.

BTW will that tiny carburettor be upgraded for Goodwood by the way, or have we no Colonial pride?

All history rolls along in our own favourite linked chariot wheels,and for me the Modern Era began sometime around my birth (naturally), and my feeling is that we are always most nostalgic for the things we....missed..almost..well partly..OK completeley..!.Oldsmobile Rocket 88,Ike Turner,Stepdown Hudsons,50s Aussie specials,Jack Brabham in speedway,Slim Dusty singing about the rain tumbling down in July....as Sam Phillips said of Blues Music as he put Sun Studios on the map in Memphis before Elvis walked in the door,and, unknown to him,as this racecarcar was being developed , we want to keep that place "where the soul of man never dies".Historic racing cars,like any loved culture,won't die out unless a bloody great comet gives all us a nudge.

Hoping my spelling and punctuation are up to scratch..just enjoying a restorative ale or three at the computer.

Edited by johnny yuma, 21 August 2009 - 10:32.

[David Beard]

First UK outing of the K d S at the Donington VSCC See Red meeting yesterday...

[Cornelius, Terry]

Goodwood Revival is something I've dreamed about attending for years and now I can say I've done it.
It was everything I expected and then some, in multiples.
I have to thank the Snapes (all of them) and of course, Bill and Victoria Morris for including me in this fascinating Kieft saga.
If Bill could only have been there too it would have put the icing on the cake properly. The Kieft V8 twins and their amazing history embodied everything that Goodwood and historic racing is about, both on and off the track. When all is said and done, Bill is to be saluted for having the dream, and Victoria for following it through.
I'd like to submit some pics, but I stuffed up last time, so will leave that to someone more capable, I'm sure there are plenty out there!
I note that a model of the Grand Prix car has been struck and it looks like one of the Sports car is on the way... I can't wait to see that pair in my model cabinet.
Terry Cornelius

[David Beard]

Goodwood Revival is something I've dreamed about attending for years and now I can say I've done it.
It was everything I expected and then some, in multiples.
I have to thank the Snapes (all of them) and of course, Bill and Victoria Morris for including me in this fascinating Kieft saga.
If Bill could only have been there too it would have put the icing on the cake properly. The Kieft V8 twins and their amazing history embodied everything that Goodwood and historic racing is about, both on and off the track. When all is said and done, Bill is to be saluted for having the dream, and Victoria for following it through.
I'd like to submit some pics, but I stuffed up last time, so will leave that to someone more capable, I'm sure there are plenty out there!
I note that a model of the Grand Prix car has been struck and it looks like one of the Sports car is on the way... I can't wait to see that pair in my model cabinet.
Terry Cornelius

Good to see you there, Terry.

I snapped Mike Lawrence showing an interest. I had completely missed his excellent feature on the Kiefts, especially the V8s, in the Donington See Red programme two weeks previously.





Later on track at Lavant...

Edited by David Beard, 02 October 2009 - 16:33.

[Cornelius, Terry]

:clap:Did you know that the KDS is on its way back to Oz?!

[Ray Bell]

Originally posted by Cornelius
Did you know that the KDS is on its way back to Oz?!

That's just fantastic news!

I'm very keen to see the car in the flesh...

Edited by Ray Bell, 07 October 2009 - 11:12.

[brucemoxon]

And ooh, what luck, 'cause here it is.... (As he quotes "Chicago")





Looks and sounds lovely.







Bruce Moxon

[Ron B.]

The Baby hemi Desoto is fantastic engine despite it's heft. Look up Indianapolis History and you will Tony Capana of the Wilcap company had a couple of goes at racing A Desoto at Indy.
Speed gear was always a little difficult to obtain for this and the Dodge red ram but Capana had injection etc and developed a lot of racing parts and tranny adaptors based on his experiences . The bottom end is easily modified to use the later Chrysler Small block V8 oil pump and bearings which makes racing one a simple proposition. Isky and others still list cams,lifters and so on and the heads breath so well you can leave them stock.
I built a couple of Hemis a while back,but mine were the bigger ones,both Chryslers.

[275 GTB-4]

Kieft DeSoto looking fabulous at Yass on Saturday (Greg looked OK as well!! )

[Dick Willis]

Driving down Highway 31 on Thursday arvo a bit south of Yass I got quite a shock to see a green sportscar cruising up the Highway, the Kieft on its way to Yass. A bit of a change from the normal stuff one sees on the Hume.

[David Beard]

Driving down Highway 31 on Thursday arvo a bit south of Yass I got quite a shock to see a green sportscar cruising up the Highway, the Kieft on its way to Yass. A bit of a change from the normal stuff one sees on the Hume.

Excellent!
Driven by Greg in civvies, or his race kit?

[john medley]

After September Wakefield Park saw the KDS heading south towards Holbrook, when it turned right for coffee at The Submarine, a small warmly clad Victoria at the wheel of a large car. I was envious : she had mentioned the day before that Stumpy Russell was to drive it at Mount Tarrengower one week later

[Dick Willis]

Last weekend Stumpy told me about his KDS experience at Mt, Tarrangower, he thought it was really great. We are so fortunate to have it here in Aust.

[275 GTB-4]

Excellent!
Driven by Greg in civvies, or his race kit?

Greg was in full Goodwood regalia at the show....

[earlbeer]

About Erwin Goldschmidt. Erwin was a friend of mine for a brief period from 1953 to 1956. I do not know anything about his Kieft DeSoto. I met Erwin at the sports car races held at Floyd Bennet Naval Air Station in Brooklyn, NY on Labor Day weekend in 1953, where I raced my MG TD. These races were held under the auspices of the AAA, not the SCCA, which was why Erwin was present and racing. I met him when he asked me for a piece of cardboard to put in front of the radiator of his Kieft MG, because the water temp was too low. He came in 2nd overall in his race , which was won by a Jag XK120M. He did not drive this car in the main event. He switched to his Cad Allard. Erwin was quite a character. Brash is a pretty good way to describe him. He had a unique driving manner; his elbows were straight out from his body. His favorite expression was “I’ll suck him up.” Erwin had many, many cars. He gave me a ride in his brand new Maserati 4.9 which the factory had run at Sebring. That was the scariest ride I have ever been on. I think he was also the money behind the previously mentioned Bill Frick, a Long Island, New York tuner and specialty car builder, who was also at that time the sole US distributor for Kieft. Frick’s original claim to fame was the Fordillac, and then the Studillac. He would swap the Ford or Studie engine for a Cadillac, and make suspension and brake mods as well. I lost touch with Erwin in 1956, and was saddened to read of his death on your message board. I have fond memories of him. If you google Floyd Bennett Sports Car Race, 1953, you will find the entry and race result of Goldschmidt, and Studillac - Bill Frick - Studillac Connection for the ad proclaiming his distributorship. Sorry to not have been able to post the originals. Computer savvy is not one of my strong points. Happy New Year to all. I was fascinated by this entire thread.

[David Beard]

I have just received this from Greg Snape...the search for the original Kieft DeSoto may have changed to one for a Kieft Chevy!

We have a theory that the Kieft DeSoto may have had an engine change in the late 50's and become the "Kieft Corvette" raced at Lime Rock in the US in September 1958 by Eddie Johnson. Would love to know if anyone knows anything about this car and also if there are any photos from this event as we would be easily be able to identify the car.


The results from the race are below:


USAC Road Racing Championship Round: 1

USAC Lime Rock
Haybale, First Annual Lime Rock International Open, Lime Rock Park Date: 7.9.1958

Circuit lenght: Race distance: 224,502 km Winner's average speed:

1. - George Constantine (USA) Aston Martin DBR2 93 1:46:10,000 1. 1:05,210
2. - Bruce Kessler (USA) Ferrari 315S 93
3. - Alan I. Markelson (USA) Ferrari 500 TR
4. - Vic Meinhardt (USA) Porsche 550 RS
5. - Bill Rutan (USA) Porsche Special
6. - Bob Kuhn (USA) Maserati 200SI
7. - Ray Saidel (USA) Jomar 100
8. - Herb Swan (USA) Ferrari 2900
9. - Lloyd Ruby (USA) Maserati - Corvette
10. - Rodger Ward (USA) Alfa Romeo Disco Volante
11. - Jack Ensley (USA) Jaguar D-type
12. - Art Bunker (USA) Porsche 550 RS
13. - Marshall Teague (USA) Jaguar D Corvette
14. - W. Jacobs (USA) Ferrari Monza
15. - Bob Said (USA) Sadler - Chevrolet
16. - Eddie Johnson (USA) Kieft - Corvette


This may be why the car has been so hard to find - we have been looking for a DeSoto powered car while it may very well be now Chev Corvette powered!