The Franziss Special
#1
Posted 19 September 2006 - 01:06
[IMG]http://img168.images...ziss1do8.th.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://img178.images...ziss2tf5.th.jpg[/IMG]
The badges all say "Franziss", and closer inspection showed that the car's powered by a Curtiss OX aero engine. My Dad and I lvoed it, particularly the sound! Amazingly, it sounded just like every old aircraft you hear in the movies... Quite fast, too, and had a good scrap with a Ford V-8 engined special and a lovely Lester-MG.
Anyway, I never managed to actually ask the two fellows in charge about it, but did overhear a conversation between them and another chap, and heard the words "Frazer-Nash" a few times.
A Google search turned up a few photos from an earlier event, and that's about it. ISTR that the driver's name is Roger Sweet (at least that's what it said on his overalls!) Anyone else know more? Is the car usually in the U.K., and was making a special trip Stateside?
-William
#3
Posted 19 September 2006 - 09:12
http://www.motorsnip...p?articleid=434
#4
Posted 19 September 2006 - 10:54
Roger Lund.
#5
Posted 19 September 2006 - 11:33
#6
Posted 19 September 2006 - 14:13
#7
Posted 19 September 2006 - 14:18
Superb machine, both in concept and implementation.
Roger Lund.
#8
Posted 19 September 2006 - 23:56
From Baltimore he loaded her on the trailer shown in William's first photo
and visited Watkins Glen and Lime Rock Historics before coming to Kettle
Moraine County. Wish I had thought to have a close look at the chain drive.
As William stated Mr. Sweet had a enthusiastic dice with the 1500cc
Lester MG before leaving it in the dust.
Perhaps the 9000cc Curtiss had something to do with that.
Holding on in Canada Corner
[URL=http://imageshack.us][/URL
#9
Posted 20 September 2006 - 00:06
#10
Posted 20 September 2006 - 01:01
But will those spokes hold up?
#11
Posted 20 September 2006 - 03:59
Ray-actually the spokes do seem to hold up, but they were getting a bit loose. I was watching them strap the car down on the trailer, and the "other chap" (never got his name!) was dragging his fingers along the spokes, listening for loose ones. A couple "plunked" when they should've "plinked"!
I've got more photos I'll try and post tomorrow. Man, what a neat car! If anyone here knows Mr. Sweet, please tell him that I hope he's enjoyed his Stateside adventures!
-William
#13
Posted 12 June 2007 - 20:51
#14
Posted 12 June 2007 - 21:09
In fact, what is that strange carby set-up in the earlier pics?
#15
Posted 12 June 2007 - 21:51
Originally posted by Sharman
Just a thought.....How soulless Oulton looks in the background compared with when I were a lad!
It's not all that bad...it's just a lot harder to collide with the trees these days.
#16
Posted 12 June 2007 - 22:08
I love these pictures of three-year-old cars
#17
Posted 12 June 2007 - 22:13
Originally posted by David McKinney
Ah! The Nostalgia!
I love these pictures of three-year-old cars
A newer equivalent of the 60s Napier Bentley, then? Whatever proper VSCC people think, it entertained me.
#18
Posted 13 June 2007 - 03:27
the engine pictured is also equipped with the desirable miller [no relation to harry] roller rocker conversion...these items often added another 10 or so hours of total engine life. [the ox5's in military service had a short total hour life and were deemed "non rebuildable" when replaced with new units.]
#19
Posted 13 June 2007 - 18:13
Originally posted by WDH74
Ray-actually the spokes do seem to hold up, but they were getting a bit loose. I was watching them strap the car down on the trailer, and the "other chap" (never got his name!) was dragging his fingers along the spokes, listening for loose ones. A couple "plunked" when they should've "plinked"!
-William
In fact it was a bit more serious than that. Roger Sweet has written an entertaining piece for the current VSCC Bulletin covering his escapades . At Road America, which he loved, after scrutineering, all OK, another driver pointed out the loose spokes on the NSR wheel. 6 were broken. Roger failed to persuade a spectator with a TC MG to loan him some spokes from his spare, but the chap did put him in touch with a nearby(relative term) Harley dealer who agreed to stay open until they got there, 3 hour round trip. Apparently the damage was done at Watkins Glen on the long uphill righthander, a known spoke breaker.
20 minutes away from the Glen is the Glen Curtiss Museum, with an OX5 engine motor bike, 8 ltr V8, 137mph at Daytona, one mile to get up to speed, 2 miles to slow down with only a piece of angle pressing onto the rear tyre only, for retardation.
Roger Lund.
Advertisement
#20
Posted 13 June 2007 - 18:37
#21
Posted 13 June 2007 - 19:51
And Mr Cox before meOriginally posted by David Beard
I have to admit I had tried to find the Franziss in DSJ's "The Racing Car Pocket Book" before Mr McKinney put me straight. :
I agree with your sentiments about the car's appeal, and that of others such as the Napier-Bentley and Julian Bronson's Riley, and admire the ingenuity that has gone into some of them. But it strikes me as wrong that relatively recent specials dominate the results of VSCC races for vintage cars, which by their own definition is something built before 1931. Bugattis should win these races, with perhaps the odd Bentley backing them up (but not with an 8-litre engine) and Amilcars snapping at their heels.