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Post by kip on Jan 1, 2017 16:25:16 GMT -5
Next project, the Delrose Holt Champ Dirt Car driven by Foyt & G. Bettenhausen. I believe it had a Chevy engine (small block?). If anyone has any details regarding this car, I would appreciate your help. Engine details, engine color, pictures, etc.   kip |
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Post by Art Laski on Jan 1, 2017 18:11:09 GMT -5
Oh man, I'm going to love this one.
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Post by 2lapsdown on Jan 1, 2017 18:59:47 GMT -5
I'm with Art, I love these cars and we all know what Kip is capable of.
John
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Post by clm1545 on Jan 1, 2017 20:50:41 GMT -5
Can't tell you much, Kip. It is a small block Chevy, and that is A J. I look forward to all your builds, and this one should be fantastic.
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Post by oldphotos on Jan 1, 2017 22:56:35 GMT -5
It's a Grant King built car which is a copy of A. J. Watsons dirt car
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Post by racerbrown on Jan 1, 2017 23:28:16 GMT -5
WOW!
duane
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Post by kip on Jan 3, 2017 10:52:06 GMT -5
Started with the Big Donkey body. Ground out the instrument panel and the seat. Neither one was right for this car. Cut out the hood (going to install an engine and frame). Small block Chevy is primed.   kip |
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Post by indy on Jan 3, 2017 11:02:27 GMT -5
Nice looking start.
Jordan
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Post by sandysixtysfan on Jan 4, 2017 8:11:52 GMT -5
Good start, this is going to be a neat project.
Sandy
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Post by kip on Jan 12, 2017 17:56:06 GMT -5
I don’t have drawings for the Delrose so I enlarged a side photo of it to the proper scale using the wheel base as the determining factor. I cut out the profile and compared it to the Big Donkey body. It was obvious that the tail for the Big Donkey is all wrong for the Delrose—which makes sense since the Big Donkey is a Meskowsky and the Delrose is a Grant King. The Donkey’s overall tail is much too high and the head rest is too tall. Major surgery is required. I am going to cut out the middle section of the tail and either lower it or make a new piece.   I made the cuts , cut down the sides a bit, and lowered the old tail into the hole. Again using the scaled photo to measure. I used the old head rest because I wanted to retain the gas cap.   The top body is an unaltered Big Donkey body and the bottom body is my lowered tail version.  Now for lots of filler and putty and sanding. The extreme rear tip of the tail needs reshaping, the sides of the cockpit need to be lowered, and the nose needs some surgery. kip |
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Post by jamesharvey on Jan 13, 2017 8:11:41 GMT -5
Really interesting approach to changing the shape. Old hot rodders who chopped and channeled would be proud. While it may be too late you might want to look at an old Grant King sprint car model which might help with the shape. Too many mights but worth the thought. I really appreciate your projects. They are always just a little off the main track but really thoughtful in terms of execution and history. Good luck.
Jim
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Post by kip on Jan 13, 2017 8:38:03 GMT -5
Thanks Jim
I did look at the Grant King sprinter and I agree with you--the tail shape is right but it is considerably smaller in width, height and length. The choice--as I saw it--was use the Grant King and build it up or use the Donkey and cut it down. I chose the Donkey simply because it had the fuel cap. I am using the Grant King as a model as I shape it. I now have two layers of putty on and its starting to look better. If this approach doesn't work, I'll try again with the Grant King. Won't be the first time I had to start over.
kip
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Post by racerbrown on Jan 13, 2017 8:43:14 GMT -5
gotta love the major surgery! (on a model of course).
duane
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Post by indy on Jan 13, 2017 15:29:23 GMT -5
Very interesting to see this one getting formed. Thanks for the update.
Jordan
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Post by kip on Jan 13, 2017 16:44:05 GMT -5
History lesson. As far as I can tell, there were 2 Delrose Holt chevy powered champ dirt cars. I also believe that the paint schemes were similar throughout their use. The earliest I could find a record of these cars is 1979. Gary Bettenhausen drove a #2 car at Springfield and DuQuoin. In 1980 Foyt drove a #14 at the Indiana Fairgrounds to 23rd place. During 1980 Gary's car was #12 and he drove it to 4 or 5 wins (my source may have counted a win at DuQuoin twice). In 1981, Gary's car wore #1--I could not find any wins that year. 1982 saw Foyt back in the #14 at the Indiana Fairgrounds with a 19th place finish. Gary's car wore number 7 in 1982 (no wins). Gary's car was renumbered #9 for 1983 with 2 wins at Nazareth and Springfield. In 1984 Gary's car was # 1 again and in 1985 #2. Gary's car was number 12 through 1990 which is the last time I found that he drove it. That's the best I could find. Don't know how good my source is.
kip
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Post by oldphotos on Jan 14, 2017 0:31:56 GMT -5
You can add to the list of winning drivers in these cars
Jeff Swindell won DuQuoin in 1990 in the #12 car and then won the Hoosier 100 in 1991 & 1993 in the # 12 car.
He also had some other great finishes in the car.
Ron Shuman drove the car in 1989 at the Hoosier 100
Oldphotos
Walt
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Post by oldphotos on Jan 14, 2017 0:57:38 GMT -5
Here a few more you can add to the list of driver of the Delrose - Holt Car
Jeff Swindell also won the 1987 Hulman 100 started 27th and won the race.
Ron Shuman also drove this car in the 1988 Hulman 100
Larry Dickson in the 1989 Hulman 100
Andy Hillenburg in the 1991 Hulman 100
Steve Chassey in the #1 car in the 1981 Hoosier 100
Oldphotos
Walt
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Post by kip on Jan 14, 2017 8:27:36 GMT -5
Ah hah. I knew I could count on you all to fill in the history of these cars. Thanks Walt, I knew you would know but I didn't want to make any more work for you. Sometimes I feel like I should pay you as a full time consultant. I had only looked up the Bettenhausen and Foyt records. Little did I know that more races were won by other drivers than by A. J. and Gary. Drivers of the Delrose cars are like a list of dirt track Hall of Famers. I kinda wish I had decided to do the #12 car instead of the 14.
kip
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Post by kip on Jan 15, 2017 13:48:49 GMT -5
Got the putty on the rear and did some rough sanding. Also cut out the side panels.   Top is the original Donkey body. Below is where I am at now.  I am reshaping the nose now. kip |
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Post by 2lapsdown on Jan 15, 2017 20:19:34 GMT -5
You make it look so eeeaassyyy
John
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Post by racerbrown on Jan 15, 2017 22:52:38 GMT -5
 duane
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Post by 2lapsdown on Jan 15, 2017 23:48:11 GMT -5
Since the application of putty is pretty thick, what kind of putty are you using?
John
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Post by kip on Jan 16, 2017 8:25:47 GMT -5
I used and really like Apoxy Sculp. I dries pretty quick (overnight), is extremely hard when set, sticks to resin and plastic very well, and can easily be shaped and smoothed (really smooth) with a wet finger before it completely sets. You can put it on fairly thick. I did the tail in two applications and as John noted, it required a lot of filling.
kip
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Post by 2lapsdown on Jan 16, 2017 16:38:28 GMT -5
Thank you sir
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Post by kip on Jan 19, 2017 9:49:46 GMT -5
Redid the nose. The original Donkey is on the left. The redo on the right. I reshaped the opening, raised and rounded the chin, and rounded the top and sides of the nose somewhat. I need to reduce the amount of filler inside the nose.  The cockpit opening was too shallow so I did some measuring on a side photo and dipped the sides down a bit. Sorry for the fuzzy photo.   I have started to solder up the frame and I guess I will go ahead and do the roll cage while the soldering iron is hot. kip |
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Post by Gary Davis on Jan 25, 2017 21:23:05 GMT -5
Man Kip...you're doing some MIGHTY FINE fab work here my friend!! Hey...when you get this body finished...maybe you could get it molded? Just a thought...Again...great work. Looking forward to you next update...for sure!
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Post by kip on Jan 26, 2017 8:20:03 GMT -5
I have had some other interest expressed in getting this molded and I would be willing to have it done. I just have the hood to alter and then the body will be pretty much done. I believe that several cars could be made from it. I plan to do the Foyt 4 cam in the near future and I believe the other 4 cams of Andretti etc. could be done with some mods to the hood area. I could do the nose and the tail but they would end up being solid resin and probably pretty rough. It would be much better if someone with some molding/resin skill did it. Any volunteers?  kip |
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Post by 2lapsdown on Jan 26, 2017 9:14:18 GMT -5
Someone please take this on. Four cam dirt cars! WOW!
John
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Post by kip on Jan 26, 2017 9:22:25 GMT -5
Actually, on second thought I think I would alter another body so that the engine side body panels and hood would still be on. The shape of the open sides on the Delrose are rather unique. That would open up more possibilities and would make the 4 cam easier. Or maybe I should just do a body with the 4 cam hood and side panels.
kip
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Post by Gary Davis on Jan 26, 2017 14:14:36 GMT -5
Man...you're doing what my wife and I do all the time. LOL we start with one thing in mind(like a certain restaurant)and change our mind at least 5 times while in route...LOL... OK.. back to the KOOL dirt car. I think the body with the hood and side panels would be great. Ya know....I'll give Larry a call from Big Donkey and see if he would be interested in pouring this body. Maybe the 4 cammer would be cool too. What do you think Kip?
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