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Post by alwaysindy on Jul 22, 2023 12:22:38 GMT -5
Gentlemen: An iconic Indycar, requested by a legend, that "coulda', shoulda', woulda" at the Indy 500... Jimmy Murphy is a legend of the Roaring 20's. All over the world, at road race tracks, speedways, and board races, he was fast and a regular winner. In 1921, he captured the French GP at LeMans in a Duesenburg. Brought the same car, now with a Miller engine, to win the 1922 Indy 500 from pole. National champ in 1922, 2nd in 1923 and Champ again in 1924. He contacted Harry Miller to build a front wheel drive car for Indy, theorizing that it would pull faster out of the corners at Indy, while not being as hard on tires. Miller loved the idea, specifically that it would lower the center of gravity (without the driveshaft under the driver’s seat), so he built 1 for Murphy and 1 for himself. Sadly, Murphy was killed at a dirt track in September of '24...his car, proudly wearing the Nat. Champ #1, shows up at Indy in May of 1925...  It will be driven by Dave Lewis. He is Harry Miller's brother-in-law. It is the first front wheel drive car to make the race. The car is 36" tall, has a supercharged 122 cu.on. engine, and weighs less than 1,500 lbs... I called Harold Bradford and got his kit of the Packard Cable Special. It has a 91 cu.in.engine but I figured it would be "relatively easy" to convert to the Lewis car...uhhhhhhh: no! Different tail; different hood, different underbody, different supercharger placement,no intercooler, and an unusual color...(!!!!!!!!!) So here goes...  Where I’m at…  Hood changes…  Moving along…   Thanks for stopping by! Questions, comments welcome… Tim |
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Post by Gary Davis on Jul 22, 2023 13:02:43 GMT -5
This is an undertaking for sure Tim. That color of blue sure looks clean...don't it? What engine are you going to use on this bad boy?
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Post by kyledehart5 on Jul 22, 2023 13:50:01 GMT -5
Wow Tim!! Now this is a project. Going to be fun following along. It’s already looking really good
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Post by alwaysindy on Jul 22, 2023 13:59:55 GMT -5
Gary: I’m gonna’ use Harold’s…the original was 122 cu.in. For 1926, the rules changed to 91cu.in.(like Harold’s Packard Cable Special). They are different but extremely hard to tell…I used the induction side on another 122 cu.in. as reference because I couldn’t find a picture of the #1 induction…  I will mount the supercharger behind the firewall; not at the front like on the 91cu.in. Tim |
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Post by Gary Davis on Jul 22, 2023 14:03:36 GMT -5
Cool...now this going to be fun to follow Bud!
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Post by arcticwolf on Jul 23, 2023 4:22:02 GMT -5
Gentlemen: An iconic Indycar, requested by a legend, that "coulda', shoulda', woulda" at the Indy 500... Jimmy Murphy is a legend of the Roaring 20's. All over the world, at road race tracks, speedways, and board races, he was fast and a regular winner. In 1921, he captured the French GP at LeMans in a Duesenburg. Brought the same car, now with a Miller engine, to win the 1922 Indy 500 from pole. National champ in 1922, 2nd in 1923 and Champ again in 1924. He contacted Harry Miller to build a front wheel drive car for Indy, theorizing that it would pull faster out of the corners at Indy, while not being as hard on tires. Miller loved the idea, specifically that it would lower the center of gravity (without the driveshaft under the driver’s seat), so he built 1 for Murphy and 1 for himself. Sadly, Murphy was killed at a dirt track in September of '24...his car, proudly wearing the Nat. Champ #1, shows up at Indy in May of 1925... It will be driven by Dave Lewis. He is Harry Miller's brother-in-law. It is the first front wheel drive car to make the race. The car is 36" tall, has a supercharged 122 cu.on. engine, and weighs less than 1,500 lbs... I called Harold Bradford and got his kit of the Packard Cable Special. It has a 91 cu.in.engine but I figured it would be "relatively easy" to convert to the Lewis car...uhhhhhhh: no! Different tail; different hood, different underbody, different supercharger placement,no intercooler, and an unusual color...(!!!!!!!!!) So here goes... Where I’m at… Hood changes… Moving along… Thanks for stopping by! Questions, comments welcome… Tim What a beautiful car! And I love the baby blue. Good luck with this one man! |
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Post by bobbyc on Jul 24, 2023 4:06:26 GMT -5
I want to do that same car also. I had Starfighter Hobbies make me the #1 decals for it. Send me your mailing address and I'll mail you a set. Also- There are some good photos of the car as restored. I think they also include the engine area. Send me your email address and I'll send them to you.
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Post by alwaysindy on Aug 17, 2023 11:26:45 GMT -5
Guys: Work continues on the chassis while enamel paint and I wrestle in 100+ degrees…the exhaust is temporary and will eventually be glued…  Miller’s cars were hand built, so no 2 examples are “exactly alike…” I love the wide track in the back…  The front wheel drive set up…  The wheels and tires came out great…  The Rustoleum enamel paint is wrinkling on the Tamiya primer…that is a first for me…I ‘ll post pictures when I can get it painted…it is VERY HOT in Texas…we are down -11” of rain since spring, so it’s also DRY…Craig would be laughing at me and inviting me to Michigan! Comments, questions, suggestions welcome! Thanks for stopping by! Tim |
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Post by kyledehart5 on Aug 17, 2023 17:20:55 GMT -5
Nice looking chassis
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Post by racerbrown on Aug 17, 2023 20:40:15 GMT -5
Looking great Tim!
Wherever Craig is you can guarantee he’s still laughing at us.
And like you I’m sick of dealing with the heat and humidity here in sunny Florida.
I finally broke down and made myself a hobby room with a spray booth.
Duane
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jj66
Podium Finisher
Posts: 346
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Post by jj66 on Aug 21, 2023 9:09:02 GMT -5
Lookiing good. I really like the shine of the light blue paint.
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Post by raceparke on Aug 21, 2023 13:39:00 GMT -5
Tim, I wouldn’t laugh at you but I would invite you to NYS. I hope the heat is/has let up.
The car looks v cool. That wide track is indeed interesting.
Dan
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Post by kyledehart5 on Aug 21, 2023 16:26:59 GMT -5
Having just seen this car in person at the museum, it is indeed a very beautiful machine. Can't wait to see this one come together
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Post by alwaysindy on Sept 23, 2023 11:14:30 GMT -5
Gentlemen:
These 20’s era cars are fascinating to me…some of these were races counting toward the national championship…
For those of you who have not seen board track racing, this is for you…***Warning*** there are a few crashes that are tough to watch…Getting upside down with no seatbelt is usually fatal…
(Wait! Changing out boards from underneath while a race is going on?)
Tim
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Post by Gary Davis on Sept 23, 2023 13:13:08 GMT -5
That is a great documentary, Tim. I also like the HISTORY of those tracks. Thanks for posting that Video.
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Post by alwaysindy on Sept 23, 2023 17:13:55 GMT -5
Gary: Check this out…clip from “Speedway”—-film was shot at 1929 Indy 500…The 17th 500 on Decoration Day…lotta’ dust and weeds growing in the turns…  This 122cubic inch supercharged engine produced 250 horsepower and top speed 170 mph… Tim |
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Post by Gary Davis on Sept 24, 2023 0:11:04 GMT -5
Tim...I don't see anything... the link looks broke..
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Post by kyledehart5 on Sept 24, 2023 2:07:20 GMT -5
Gentlemen: These 20’s era cars are fascinating to me…some of these were races counting toward the national championship… For those of you who have not seen board track racing, this is for you…***Warning*** there are a few crashes that are tough to watch…Getting upside down with no seatbelt is usually fatal… (Wait! Changing out boards from underneath while a race is going on?) Tim awesome!! |
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Post by alwaysindy on Sept 24, 2023 11:12:20 GMT -5
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Post by Gary Davis on Sept 24, 2023 12:51:42 GMT -5
That did it! Man...the guys on the pit wall really made me chuckle with that sign they showed the Driver..."FASTER"..... Great video of some older cars...
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Post by alwaysindy on Sept 29, 2023 12:32:05 GMT -5
Gary: If this movie was from today, it would say “Faster but save fuel!”🤣🤣🤣 This picture shows supercharger placement behind the firewall…  The car breaks cover at the Miller factory…  Shout outs to bobbyc and Starfighter Ace for the decals…Thank you!  It looks fast, but will it go fast?  Now to attach hood hold downs and get it to Indy…  Comments, questions welcome! It is closing in on the finish line… Tim |
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Post by hurtubise56 on Sept 29, 2023 13:59:01 GMT -5
That thing looks fast! Nice job, those little last minute details can be a real pain, can't they? At least there was no "color debate" with this one!
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Post by kyledehart5 on Sept 29, 2023 18:14:04 GMT -5
Looks excellent!
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jj66
Podium Finisher
Posts: 346
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Post by jj66 on Oct 3, 2023 14:27:45 GMT -5
Superb finishing Tim!
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Post by alwaysindy on Oct 3, 2023 17:43:20 GMT -5
It’s a rainy day in Southeast Texas, so the Brickyard shots are indoors… Dave Lewis had raced at Indy in 1916 and finished 14th. He arrives at Indy in 1925 and qualifies 5th. He likes the car and is fast and comfortable. The number 1 is on the car for Jimmy Murphy who had won the 1924 National Championship.The other FWD car is withdrawn after qualifying because the driver, Bennett Hill, is uncomfortable in the car.  Mr.Bradford has made an excellent resin kit. As others have noted, the instructions could be much better…  Big shout out again to Bobbyc and Starfighter for the decals!  First front wheel drive car to qualify and start the Indy 500…  With 22 starters, the race begins and Lewis runs up front all day. Pete De Paolo leads but is forced to pit because of badly blistered hands, and on lap 105, he hands over the car to Norm Batten, who drives it for laps 106-127. Lewis grabs the lead and begins to pull away. He is on the way to victory but must have a routine pit stop on lap for gas and tires. He pulls in and MISSES his pit, so he is forced to go all the way around. When he returns, he is exhausted and beat up from the bricks. A 1 and a half lap lead has become a lap and half deficit. He falls out of the car, and Bennett Hill jumps in(!) on lap173. He is evidently comfortable in This FWD, and tears off after DePaolo. He makes up a lap and is closing very fast on DePaolo but runs out of laps. The final margin is 53.9 seconds; at that time the closest finish in 500 history. Coulda, shoulda, woulda... I love the super wide track…Simple, but elegant design…  Lewis starts 4th in '26, and DNF's for 15th. In the Championship, he wins 3 times. In '27, he starts 8th and DNF's in 33rd. In the championship, he wins once. All of these are in this car... He retires and meets a strange and tragic end. On May 13, 1928, a brush fire (!) threatened to burn down his mountain cabin, 40 miles northeast of Los Angeles.Supposedly, when the fire got out of control, he ran in the cabin, got a shotgun and killed himself... However, it was common knowledge among his fellow drivers that he was going to run the 500 in 2 weeks. His family disagreed with the coroner's report, and believed he was murdered during a robbery...either way, a sad end for an outstanding driver. After several lap records, laps led, etc. , a front wheel drive Miller engine and transaxle (in a Stevens chassis) finally wins Indy in 1930. Jimmy Murphy’s idea would also equip the 1932, 47, 48, and 49 winners and would eventually dominate passenger auto manufacturing from the 80’s even until today. Comments, questions welcome! Thanks for stopping by and reading this story! You guys always encourage me… Tim |
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Post by kyledehart5 on Oct 3, 2023 22:08:11 GMT -5
Really great stuff Tim!! A great build and a fantastic history lesson. I always love reading about the cars and stars of the past at Indy. What a tragic ending for an obviously talented driver.
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Post by pntmachine on Oct 3, 2023 22:26:29 GMT -5
Fantastic build Tim. Love the detail. The steering wheel rap is awesome. Super job and great story. Love it.
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Post by indy on Oct 6, 2023 11:37:34 GMT -5
Really great stuff Tim!! A great build and a fantastic history lesson. I always love reading about the cars and stars of the past at Indy. What a tragic ending for an obviously talented driver. +1 same and I really love watching your WIPs showing us your process. Jordan |
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Post by Art Laski on Oct 7, 2023 19:46:10 GMT -5
Looking good, Tim!
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Post by racerbrown on Oct 8, 2023 16:03:12 GMT -5
As always Tim, a beautiful job along with the fun history lesson.
Thanks for sharing.
Duane
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