Bob McKee's sports racers
#201
Posted 10 January 2009 - 12:24
Chuck
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#202
Posted 10 January 2009 - 20:41
Chuck, I do not recall a Schkee (McKee Mk 20) ever being raced with this panel in place. All the times I saw them run during the years 1977 through the end of the 1980s they always had an open top. I suspect that the panel that is in place in the picture of Albert Wray's car is an accessory that was not used back in the day. If indeed it was, perhaps someone could post a photo, etc.?Originally posted by chuckbrandt
This car? I confess I didn't look at that aspect very closely. There must be a hatch or door of some kind. You can sort of see parting panels for a door on the left side. You'd need to be pretty small to slide in that side window.. I don't think I'd make it.
Chuck
Tom
#203
Posted 11 January 2009 - 15:34
It doesn't look like somebody could actually step onto the sides of the car.
I also found a little gallery with detail shots of the car.
http://www.metaphors...975-Lola-Schkee
The sidewindows are screwed in all around. So they can't be opened like the 'doors' of the Chaparral 2H. They hade a hinge along the bottom and two quicklock screws to hold it shut.
Driver's 'door' Chaparral 2H
Thanks to the uploaders of those pictures.
#204
Posted 14 January 2009 - 23:53
#205
Posted 15 January 2009 - 02:01
#206
Posted 18 January 2009 - 01:18
Originally posted by Jerry Entin
RA Historian with Kurt Reinold. Kurt drove Bob McKee's F-5000 car in the day and did a very good job of it.
photo Paul Medici.
I realize I am replying to posts that are several years old, but I am just becoming familiar with the site and am having a great time reading the old threads.
Kurt Reinold is a great friend!
Kurt led over half of the 1970 runoffs race, only to crash after contact with Jerry Hansen. Neither finished the race.
Kurt was badly injured in a 1971 runoffs qualifying crash in his McKee - he experienced a terrible head injury. It took him years to recover. As part of his "therapy", he would come over to the house and play Ping Pong - which helped him with his hand/eye coordination!
#207
Posted 18 January 2009 - 20:56
I've always preferred the unusual cars--they were the spice that made racing so appealing in the days before everything became spec series.
Glad to know Kurt is still around.
Here is another McKee I shot--this is Dick DeJarld's M18.
Kurt did not show up in the program--maybe a late entry? At any rate Mike Yarborough is listed in car 53 which is identified as a McKee Mk12D, and Carmon Solomone, car 83, in a Mk12c.
What chassis did Kurt have? It looks different from DeJarld's which has flat sides around the cockpit so I'm guessing it wasn't a Mk18?
#208
Posted 19 January 2009 - 00:28
It is very hard to try to identify the cars in your photos because of the size. Can't really ID the second shot that was posted.
Tom
#209
Posted 19 January 2009 - 00:59
That race weekend was fantastic--Skip Barber qualified on pole with his F1 March 711--you could hear it sing all around the track over the 5 liters. He had some sort of problem early in the first heat but won the second over McRae's GM1 who won overall.
But you already knew that, I think.........
Thanks for the clarifications.
#210
Posted 19 January 2009 - 01:08
Yes, that was interesting! The format that SCCA used for its F-5000 series at that time was two heats of about 100 miles each, with overall scoring based on who knows what. Barber was classified as sixth overall, with a DNF and a 1st in the two heats. Graham McRae was the overall winner in his STP sponsored GM-1. The Cosworth certainly sounded different than the five liter pushrod V-8s, didn't it!Originally posted by Sisyphus
That race weekend was fantastic--Skip Barber qualified on pole with his F1 March 711--you could hear it sing all around the track over the 5 liters. He had some sort of problem early in the first heat but won the second over McRae's GM1 who won overall.
Tom
#211
Posted 19 January 2009 - 01:46
I bought the T333 he had. I am loading up a battery box right now for the 24 hours of Daytona that says "Sunbury Racing" on it. Used to be Bob's.
#212
Posted 19 January 2009 - 16:05
Tom
#213
Posted 14 February 2009 - 05:02
#214
Posted 14 February 2009 - 14:59
That would have been the Bob Montana Mk V. The LMD was the Mk IV.Originally posted by xkssFrankOpalka
A few yrs ago I attended an Auction in AZ and met a fellow who had what looked like an LMD, except it had a Hemi engine in it I think, wanted to sell it at very high price.
Tom
#215
Posted 23 February 2009 - 21:42
Howmet TX 11 Turbine Racer in Roadster configuration.
This car set 6 International speed records near Talladega, Alabama on August 21, 1970
Side View of the Roadster in action.
Car built by Bob McKee
photos - Bill Wiswedel collection
#216
Posted 24 February 2009 - 00:43
So what speeds did it reach to set records, and was there any front end lift at those speeds?
Chuck
#217
Posted 24 February 2009 - 01:24
Building the Bob Montana Chrysler Powered McKee
This picture was taken around Christmas of 1964.
Photo Bill Wiswedel collection.
#218
Posted 24 February 2009 - 14:42
Originally posted by chuckbrandt
Thanks Jerry for posting these. I never really knew this version existed except that MPC made a 1/25th scale model of it called simply "Can Am". The decals show Howmet Mark II just as in the pictures.
So what speeds did it reach to set records, and was there any front end lift at those speeds?
Chuck
Ray Heppenstall set the following FIA speed records for turbine cars in August 1970 on the access roads parallelling the interstate in front of Talladega Speedway (805 lbs. of lead ballast were added for the Class 3 runs).
Class 2 (cars over 500 Kg and upto 1000 Kg)
Standing Start 1/4 mile - 11.83 sec. 122.41 kph (76.07 mph)
Standing Start 1/2 Km - 13.48 sec. 133.53 kph (82.97 mph)
Standing Start 1 Km - 21.18 sec. 167.97 kph (105.61 mph)
Class 3 (cars over 1000 Kg)
Standing Start 1/4 mile - 13.87 sec. 104.41 kph (64.88 mph)
Standing Start 1/2 Km - 15.74 sec. 114.35 kph (71.05 mph)
Standing Start 1 Km - 23.92 sec. 150.50 kph (93.51 mph)
Heppenstall also recorded one mile times of 30.479 sec (118.115 mph) and 33.226 sec (108.365 mph), but that distance was no longer recognised by the FIA for records.
The Mark II Howmet was actually the TX coupe chassis #2 that Dick Thompson rolled at Le Mans in 1968. After Le Mans Heppenstall took the car to England to rebuild, where Maurice Gomm provided the Spyder bodywork. In the 1990s Bob McKee restored the car with coupe body for Chuck Haines; it’s now with Xavier Micheron in France, along with the Mk.II Spyder bodywork.
There’s more on Heppenstall and the Howmet at Howmet TX .
Edited by Pete Stowe, 20 August 2021 - 09:59.
#219
Posted 28 February 2009 - 01:58
Originally posted by Jerry Entin
This is the McKee Formula A car as it was called in the day. Now called F-5000 car. This is the car that Kurt Reinold drove.
photo Paul Medici
Who now owns this car?
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#220
Posted 28 February 2009 - 02:19
Paul Dudiak.Originally posted by S A Dunbar
Who now owns this car?
Tom
#221
Posted 28 February 2009 - 04:14
Shortly after asking the question, I saw you had already provided the answer in a previous post. My apologies...
#222
Posted 28 February 2009 - 14:19
Tom
#223
Posted 22 May 2009 - 19:41
I was a little stunned to see what the Jerry Hansen Mk. II/Chevette looks like now. I'm sure that this was evolutionary, but not how Bob built it originally! It just doesn't look "right" to me.
-Scott
Edited by ssperka, 03 August 2011 - 15:28.
#224
Posted 03 August 2011 - 15:34
Year: 1971
Date Race No. Car Drivers Entrant Result
28.11.1971 US Champions Road Atlanta [ASR+BSR] McKee Rolf Jung DNS
Year: 1973
Date Race No. Car Drivers Entrant Result
3.11.1973 US Champions Road Atlanta [ASR] 26 McKee Rolf Jung Rolf Jung DNA
Year: 1974
Date Race No. Car Drivers Entrant Result
3.11.1974 US Champions Road Atlanta [ASR+BSR] 26 McKee Rolf Jung DNA
Above is from RacingSportsCars.com summary: Rolf Jung
Edited by ssperka, 03 August 2011 - 15:37.
#225
Posted 03 August 2011 - 18:48
Anybody have a clue which McKee Rolf Jung had at, or at least was entered for, the Runoffs in the early 70s?
Year: 1971
Date Race No. Car Drivers Entrant Result
28.11.1971 US Champions Road Atlanta [ASR+BSR] McKee Rolf Jung DNS
Year: 1973
Date Race No. Car Drivers Entrant Result
3.11.1973 US Champions Road Atlanta [ASR] 26 McKee Rolf Jung Rolf Jung DNA
Year: 1974
Date Race No. Car Drivers Entrant Result
3.11.1974 US Champions Road Atlanta [ASR+BSR] 26 McKee Rolf Jung DNA
Above is from RacingSportsCars.com summary: Rolf Jung
Not ringing any bells with me. I have been trying to track down information on a car with a Fiberfab Valkerie body and McKee suspension bought as parts. It was evidently raced by Dick DeJarld as the "Maad Special". Picture of the car below, possibly you are looking at a next owner of this car?
Edited by chuckbrandt, 03 August 2011 - 19:15.
#226
Posted 04 August 2011 - 12:53
#227
Posted 03 March 2013 - 21:24
I tried to get on track pictures of all the cars during their parade lap, but I had some limitations. I missed the parade on Saturday because we were lining up for track touring. On Sunday a couple of the cars were missing, and I didn't get a good panning shot of the Mk 7 but I have one from last year I'll fill in when I get home. All images copyright Chuck Brandt, all rights reserved, please don't repost without permission.
Mk II Jerry Hansen's Chevette owned by Albert Way
Mk IV, the Skip Lehmann car that Mike Hall drove in the 1965 USRRC
Mk V, the Plymouth Hemi powered car driven by Bob Montana
Mk VI, the car Mak Kronn used to win the 1966 June Sprints
Mk VII, the ex-Bob Nagel car
Mk VII
Mk IX, the Howmet turbine, this being the third car built, the spare car, recently appeared at Goodwood
Mk XII, the Chuck Trowbridge car
Mk XII, the Tito Nappi car driven by Kurt Reinold, who was here this weekend
Mk XX, one of the "Schkees"
So there were three Howmet cars built (I always thought it was two; although my memory is not what it was!). Does anyone know which car has recently (reportedly) been sold to the ROFGO Collection?
#228
Posted 04 March 2013 - 14:17
Not ringing any bells with me. I have been trying to track down information on a car with a Fiberfab Valkerie body and McKee suspension bought as parts. It was evidently raced by Dick DeJarld as the "Maad Special". Picture of the car below, possibly you are looking at a next owner of this car?
Took me a while to notice this. The photo was taken by me on Memorial Day weekend, 1966, at Lynndale Farms circuit, Pewaukee, Wis. Event was an SCCA Regional. DeJarld was third overall in this "Maad" Special, behind winner Dick Durant, Durant Special, and second place Gary Maher, Chaparral 1.Chuck, do you have a time-frame for the DeJarld car and where was it raced? When and where the photo was taken?
Photo copyright 2013 Tom Schultz
#229
Posted 04 March 2013 - 14:20
Two McKee Mk IX (a/k/a Howmet) gas turbine cars were built in period. The third was built up later from parts.So there were three Howmet cars built (I always thought it was two; although my memory is not what it was!). Does anyone know which car has recently (reportedly) been sold to the ROFGO Collection?
Tom
#230
Posted 04 March 2013 - 15:41
Thanks Tom, so I'm not going mad! The one pictured above (in my quoted post #227) has a different exhaust arrangement from the one seen a couple of times at the Le Mans Classic, that has three large pipes at the tail.Two McKee Mk IX (a/k/a Howmet) gas turbine cars were built in period. The third was built up later from parts.
Tom
Any info on which one has sold, folks?
Edited by elansprint72, 04 March 2013 - 15:42.
#231
Posted 06 March 2014 - 22:33
Took me a while to notice this. The photo was taken by me on Memorial Day weekend, 1966, at Lynndale Farms circuit, Pewaukee, Wis. Event was an SCCA Regional. DeJarld was third overall in this "Maad" Special, behind winner Dick Durant, Durant Special, and second place Gary Maher, Chaparral 1.
Photo copyright 2013 Tom Schultz
I just found this topic and saw the mention of Dr. Dick DeJarld and his Maad special. I don't recall too much of the car in this iteration as it was raced and crashed the year before I started helping Dick on his cars. I do however have a few pictures of it, one in (I believe)1965 when he attended the Shelby Driving school at Riverside Raceway and then another of it after we rebuilt and rebodied it during the 66-67 winter with a Fiberfab Valkyrie body. This car was eventually sold to a guy in Colorado and replaced with the ex Budd Clusserath McKee group 7 car. The 1965 picture has James Garner standing against the car and it was in some scenes of his 1969 movie about racing in the US. Dick also drove the McKee group 7 car in the beginning of Paul Newman's movie "Winning" at Elkhart Lake. Dick was a great guy who without any reservation took me in basically off the street and introduced me to an exciting part of life I would never have had the opportunity to experience. Unfortunately he left us way to early in 1987 at age 57 leaving a terrible void in everyones life that he knew.
Al Butterfield
Edited by a01butal, 06 March 2014 - 22:34.
#232
Posted 06 March 2014 - 23:07
When you have inserted the picture, the first time you press the post button, the picture often doesn't show, if you just refresh the page it usually appears - You are clearly not using IE11 or you wouldn't be able to use your browser after attempting to post a picture, you would have to C-Alt-Del out of the browser, download Firefox, and start again...
#233
Posted 06 March 2014 - 23:10
I see my pictures now and deleted my post about them not displaying. Just didn't know it would take some time to show up. Thanks anyway.
#234
Posted 02 October 2015 - 03:40
So much fantastic McKee history here! One stone remains unturned though. In mid-60's Bob McKee is said to have been involved in a joint venture with John Salathe and Don Yenko to produce a mid-engined road car powered by a Chevy V8. According to the Beaulieu Encyclopedia McKee was responsible for the frame & suspension, Salathe styled the body and Yenko was meant to handle distribution. The car was known as Salathe MACH 1 or just plain MACH 1.
Someone, somewhere must have a photo of it...?
#235
Posted 02 October 2015 - 13:57
Yes, the photo from Car & Driver cover. Just wish I could get my hands on that issue to see what's inside...
#236
Posted 03 October 2015 - 18:26
proviz, a little here on the Yenko Sceptre. http://blog.caranddr...shifter-no-204/ I do have that December '67 issue of C&D. just have to dig it up !
Mike (group7) in Canada
proviz, going back in this thread, I noticed you have been looking for information on this car since 2008, I will get to that issue, if you have not already done so yourself. some else here will probably beat me to it !
Edited by group7, 03 October 2015 - 18:57.
#237
Posted 04 October 2015 - 07:25
So, the MACH 1 was also known as Yenko Scepter! Strange thing there does not seem to be any mention of it in Bob McClurg's book about Don Yenko.