14 replies to this topic

[WINO]

For those TNF-ers not familiar with the weekly website VeloceToday.com, starting today it will feature a multi-part series on Frank Lance. For ten years Frank worked as a racing mechanic for various Texas drivers and team owners: Jim Hall, Ebb Rose, Carroll Shelby, John Mecom and A.J. Foyt. He is 90 years of age now, with a great memory, and has some interesting tales to tell.

[ReWind]

His parents must have trusted in the „New Deal“ of the then just inaugurated President of the United States when they gave their son the name „Roosevelt Franklin Lance“.

BTW, Willem, I think you are allowed to put a link to the article on the VeloceToday website.

[WINO]

Thanks, ReWind. Much appreciated! Eight more parts on Frank to come in the next weeks.

 

Willem

[tampaguy]

Mr Lance had a front row seat to the Golden Age, I look forward to reading every installment.

[bradbury west]

Excellent interview, Willem, with marvellous archive photos. Many thanks for posting them. It is intriguing to see three small euro motors behind the Temple Buell Maserati. It looks like a Borgward/Hansa in front of a Morris 1000 with and A35 in the rear distance, which must have left some folk a little bemused.

Roger Lund

[WINO]

Roger,

 

Growing up in Holland in the 1950s, I recall those small cars were a dime a dozen there. But, apart from the Morris and Austin, I had a hard time identifying the other one in the photo. And I still wonder what kind of a market there would have been for them in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. Probably another reason for the demise of the CSSCI retail business?

 

Willem

[Sterzo]

A massive thanks, WINO.

 

Why would I click on a link to an article about a mechanic I'd never heard of, based 5000 miles from me, in a time long past? My goodness, I'm glad I did!

[WINO]

It is Tuesday, so Part 2 of the Frank Lance story is on VeloceToday.com.

 

A brief employment with Ebb Rose in Houston, then back to Jim Hall in Dallas.

[E1pix]

Although just a few years before my time and not of much interest from that, a great read and very well-written.

Thanks!

And I just smile at the very thought of Toly. We witnessed him win two H-Prod national championships in his Morgan, during a time my dad had one, in ‘73 and ‘77. He was unfairly disqualified in ‘73 so we were really thrilled when he earned it back in 1977. A real character.

[WINO]

Tuesday again, so Part 3 of the Frank Lance story is out. VeloceToday.com covers Jim Hall's 570S and Tipo 61 Maseratis, and his first Chaparral.

[WINO]

Another Tuesday and VeloceToday.com offers Frank Lance Part 4, with Chaparrals 1 and 2, Lotus 18 and Lotus 18/21 in 2.5-liter IC form.

 

And even a picture of Toly!

Edited by WINO, 28 November 2023 - 13:44.

[WINO]

Frank Lance's Part 5 is on VeloceToday.com today, with his first John Mecom employment: two Chevy-engined Cooper Monacos, the Scarab/Chevy, Lola Mk 6/Chevy, Grand Sport, MRT Spl/Climax, Lotus 19/Olds and two Husseins [the king and the car].

[WINO]

The final episode [number nine] on Frank Lance's career, now with A.J. Foyt, can be seen at Velocetoday.com.

[bradbury west]

Thanks for telling us about that series of articles, Willem. A joy to read, and some wonderful period photographs, just the stuff for an old school enthusiast.

Roger Lund

[WINO]

Glad you liked the series on Frank Lance, Roger. When I started interviewing him, I had no idea how many episodes it would end up being. Three or four maybe, but the interesting stories never stopped, so nine in the end. Even Frank thought the series might be too long for an audience like you, but you proved him wrong!

Edited by WINO, 27 January 2024 - 01:04.