13 replies to this topic

[larryejames]

My Dad Don James built and raced a sports car in the 1950's. He referred to it as the "Special" and was written up in the March 1955 Hot Rod magazine. The car is also listed in Vintage American Road Racing Cars 1950-1970 by Harold W. Pace and Mark R. Brinker.

 

 He was based in the SF Bay Area and raced the car in Northern CA until about 1961 or 1962 when he traded it to a friend in SoCal. I was in 1st or 2nd grade at the time. What a cool story it would make if I could find the car and bring it back to life - and run it in Vintage / Historic events.
Any help would be appreciated. I know a bit (although dated) about race cars but nothing about chasing down things.
Thanks a ton,
Larry E James
Bellevue, WA
larryejames@gmail.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[E1pix]

Welcome, Larry, I wish you the best in finding your Dad's car!

 

You've come to the right place, there's lots of great historians here and I hope one knows this car — and where it is now.

 

 

Heartwarming effort.

 

Best of Luck!     

[larryejames]

Thanks a bunch E1pix !!!

 

A little more history:
I was raised until kindergarten with Dad's racing as the family focus. I have nothing but fond memories. My Dad built a small workbench and stool on top of his workbench where he would park me to "work" on things while he worked on the car. By the time I was in 1st or 2nd grade I was welding (stick and gas; and not very well) and spray painting with a real gun. My Dad finally decided he needed to settle down and traded the car. He drove it (me as passenger) to SoCal; traded it with a friend Guy Willis for a Harley Sportster; and we rode the motorcycle home with me sitting on the gas tank. I remember Guy because he was one of my favorite of my Dad's friends; he was a factory or demo pilot for ?Aero Commander? and whenever he was passing through town he would call and we'd go down to San Carlos Airport and get an airplane ride. And that is the last I know of the car - 1961 or '62; in Southern California.

Thanks a ton !!!!!

 

 

[Rupertlt1]

Car was gray and yellow in 1954, cost $840, powered by a 1949 Ford motor. Build commenced 1951.

Winner novice race at Golden Gate Park, 6 Jun 1954. Don aged 28 at the time, a mechanic for United Air Lines, lived San Mateo.

San Francisco Examiner, Monday 7 Jun 1954, Page 45.

 

RGDS RLT

[Lee Nicolle]

Interesting piece. I hope it has survived and you can find it. An attractive car.

[Tim Murray]

This article on Geoffrey Hacker’s Undiscovered Classics site would seem to be about your Dad’s car:

The 1953 Don Jones / Don James Special – 1953 Pebble Beach Road Race Participant

Geoffrey didn’t know much about the car when he wrote his article in 2010, but says that more info about the car had become available in their forums section. I can’t get that forums link to work now, and suspect that they may have been discontinued. If this is your Dad’s car, it might still be worth contacting Geoffrey to see what he knows.

[E1pix]

Nice start, everyone!

One has to wonder if you might search for the "Donald Jones" Special in addition to your Dad's actual name of Donald James. Some here repeatedly demonstrate how history gets skewed by oversights like this -- and sadly, it lives on as reality.

I look forward to seeing what else TNFers can uncover. Hang tight.

[Ray Bell]

You might extend your search via the General Discussion section of the Roaring Season forum...

There are people there, even though it's based in New Zealand, who've had a lot to do with Californian racing over some decades.

The car is very like a couple of cars built in Australia, except for the bodywork. And there's one with a similar-shaped body but which has much more sophisticated rendering of the Ford suspension.

But I know of nobody who's used that Dodge tubular axle with otherwise Ford suspension design. Very interesting.

[Vitesse2]

This article on Geoffrey Hacker’s Undiscovered Classics site would seem to be about your Dad’s car:

The 1953 Don Jones / Don James Special – 1953 Pebble Beach Road Race Participant

Geoffrey didn’t know much about the car when he wrote his article in 2010, but says that more info about the car had become available in their forums section. I can’t get that forums link to work now, and suspect that they may have been discontinued. If this is your Dad’s car, it might still be worth contacting Geoffrey to see what he knows.

The forum page is available on the Wayback Machine. Only one snapshot - there's a second one on the timeline but that just shows a server error.

 

https://web.archive....c.php?f=4&t=509

 

Might provide another line or two of inquiry though.

[Ray Bell]

That page has a gross error about the springing...

As the photos posted by Larry makes clear.

[Lee Nicolle]

The car obviously evolved, intake with 2 + 3 97s and another with 4 tubes through the bonnet. 4x97s?

[10kDA]

Very cool, Larry! I hope you're able to find your dad's car.

[larryejames]

Everyone,

Thought I'd post an update of sorts. No news. I've had some great suggestions on paths to chase; which I did. Lots of well wishes - thank you. But no real progress yet and still looking.

Thanks !!!!

Larry

[Steve L]

Have you tried the HAMB forum at the Jalopy Journal internet site? This is dedicated to all kinds of hot rods and specials and has a vast readership. If the car still exists, I am sure someone on there will know.