The Buick V8 Chainsaw
Competition is almost a given anytime there is two people or businesses employed doing the same job. The banter begins about who can do their job better and faster. In Washington state the lumber trade was no different. On off days, contests were held between lumberjacks to determine who could fall a tree the fastest
Top Fuel Racing Engines – Containing the Explosions
It’s been over 60 years since Vic Edelbrock starting experimenting with nitromethane as a racing fuel in the early 1950s. In the 60 years of hands-on education since, along with the help of modern technology, there have been some amazing results. Earlier this year, I wrote a Memory Lane column titled “Going Faster in 1954”
What I Learned From ‘Maverick’ Golden and the Little Red Wagon
What would become known as “The Little Red Wagon” started out life as a 90-inch wheelbase Dodge A-100 compact economy pickup that was normally powered by a slant-six.
Understanding Borg-Warner’s R-10/R-11 Overdrive Transmissions
Borg-Warner overdrive transmissions were first introduced in 1934, originally designed to reduce engine rpms at highway speeds. The early overdrive transmission is actually a two-speed planetary transmission attached to the rear portion of a standard three-speed transmission.
From a Dump Truck Dynasty Came a Speedboat King
Garfield Wood never intended to go into the boat building business. His goal in life was to personally set every speed record on water and be recognized as the world’s speedboat king.
Going Faster in 1954
I have a large library in my office consisting of Hot Rod How-to books and annuals from the 1940s, ‘50s and ‘60s. During one of my recent review sessions I found a chapter introducing nitromethane and its use for drag racing. Keep in mind this is 1954 technology…
Following the Funks – Aircraft and Tractor Engines
Joe and Howard Funk were born just 30 minutes apart on September 17, 1910 in Akron, OH. Both brothers seemed to have a knack for all things mechanical, and both excelled in drafting and shop classes in school. The brothers took an immediate liking to flying machines, which were becoming quite popular in the Akron area during that time.
What Happens Next…?
If you decided to retire in the next five years, who runs the shop? Are you going to sell it, and to whom…? Are they qualified to run it and can they maintain the quality and, more important, the good name you have established. This may be the part we as business owners don’t want to think about, but we must.
The Shameless Art of Self Promotion
As business owners many of us tend to follow the leader and do what everyone else does to promote our business. But…if that is what everyone else does how are you going to get any different results than everyone else in town? Sometimes you need to think outside of the box and do a little shameless self-promotion.
How to Hot Rod a Fairmont
Once you’ve taken the time to wrap your brain around the terms “Fairmont” and “Hot Rod” in the same headline, you should read a little further. You’ll discover this story is not about a Ford Fairmont sedan, but rather a Fairmont Railroad Motorcar – the one built in Fairmont, MN.
Who Do You Want To Work For?
Most of us that are shop owners get up, go to work, deal with customers and employees, answer the telephone, schedule jobs, order parts, and by the time we get that done in a day, it is past time to go home. But have you ever stopped to consider how a customer sees your shop? Why did he choose your shop over the one down the street?
The Sweeney Automotive and Tractor School
Emory Sweeney founded the Sweeney Automobile and Tractor School, in May of 1908 in Kansas City, MO with just five students enrolled. Started on a shoestring, the enrollment fees collected from the first five students were used to rent a building and buy teaching supplies for a month.
