LTA 2023

[Stan Back]

There's the answer!

Thanx

[55chevr]

2009 Inaugural Maine Event.  All the way from the west coast we see Bill Hosler, "The California Kid" on "Bill's Land Speed Racing Team" #9190. He set a record in 1350cc Fuel Partial Streamlined motorcycle (APS/F-1350/4) at 207.837 mph.  Bill is from Mission Viejo, California.  He made to the first 3 Maine Events and achieved admittance to the LTA 200 MPH Club at the first event.  I believe he has the distinction of traveling the furthest  distance to race at an LTA Event.

[Stan Back]

I'm sure, along with lots of others, enjoying these posts.

[55chevr]

Look at the intensity and concentration on Paoli Roberts' face.  Her dad is Kevin Roberts.  The family race together as "Team Prehistoric".  In addition to Paoli, Kevin's son Starbuck and another daughter Devra compete at Loring.  The daughters hold a number of records with the 250 Ninja. Kevin holds a record with his pre-unit construction 650 cc T120 Triumph Bonneville at 135.260 mph.  Having British Cycle's warehouse on the former air base must help with spare parts readily on hand. Tom Shay photo.

Looks like I missed one of Team Pre-Historic's racers. Appears there are 5 "Racing Roberts". Golden Roberts made a 103.562 mph pass on 250 cc Ninja #9114 at the 2022 Maine Event.

[55chevr]

On the course and at speed we see "Street Sweeper Racing Team's" street rod.  Entered in 135 MPH Steet Car Class it was driven by Dan Lagrigan.  It appears to be a 1932 Dodge 3 window coupe. No information on this car. Reviewing the Tom Shay photo from Harvest Event 2013 I see it is powered by an 8BA Ford Flathead engine with 2 deuces.  l am hoping someone can help identify this car.

[55chevr]

2011 Maine Event. Standing behind his machine #9433 we see John Petsche.  From Hicksville, NY, the then recent graduate from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute designed and built an alternate fuel motorcycle using a mid-1970-s Kawasaki 400 rolling chassis and an engine from a diesel generator.  He was able to reach a record speed of 56.535 mph in Altered / Alternate Fuel -  350 cc (A/AF-350).  John engineered the induction system to burn supermarket purchased Wesson Canola Oil. He used direct drive with a centrifugal clutch. The exhaust smells like french fried potatoes. D Falk photo

[55chevr]

On the course and at speed we see "Street Sweeper Racing Team's" street rod.  Entered in 135 MPH Steet Car Class it was driven by Dan Lagrigan.  It appears to be a 1932 Dodge 3 window coupe. No information on this car. Reviewing the Tom Shay photo from Harvest Event 2013 I see it is powered by an 8BA Ford Flathead engine with 2 deuces.  l am hoping someone can help identify this car.

I am informed that the coupe is a 1926 Durant Star Car.  There is a resemblance to an internet photo.

[55chevr]

Inaugural Maine Event 2009.  At the starting line we see "Erli Days Racing Team" #9555.  The Ford Model T roadster was entered in A/GMR (7 liter engine / gasoline powered modified roadster).  Driven to record speed of 202.935 mph by Larry Illingsworth.  A record  which still stands.  They also hold the retired A/GMR record from Maxton.  The engineering, fit and finish on the car is exceptional.  If I recall correctly the EDR Team is from the Springfield Ma - Windsor Ct area. I have not seen this car in many years.

[55chevr]

On the course and at speed we see "Street Sweeper Racing Team's" street rod.  Entered in 135 MPH Steet Car Class it was driven by Dan Lagrigan.  It appears to be a 1932 Dodge 3 window coupe. No information on this car. Reviewing the Tom Shay photo from Harvest Event 2013 I see it is powered by an 8BA Ford Flathead engine with 2 deuces.  l am hoping someone can help identify this car.

Thanks to Marcia Barker who was able to contact the owner.  Turns out his name is Dan Ladrigan. There was a typo on the run log.  He said the car is a 1925 Durant Star Car Coupester.  An extremely rare car. 

[55chevr]

In pre-stage we see the #55 "Leadfoot Racing Team" orange roadster.  Joe Ledyard drove it to a B/STR (7 liter / Street Roadster) record speed of 215.596 mph at the 2009 Inaugural Maine Event.  A record that still stands.  Beautiful well built land speed roadster.

[55chevr]

2011 Maine Event.  In the pits standing alongside team "Maxx2Racing" fabricated stock car we see Dave Haas.  He drove the former NASCAR Ford Thunderbird to a record speed of 208.489 mph in C/GCT ( 6 Liter / Gas Circle Track ). This was one of the first fabricated cars to race circle track class at Loring.

[55chevr]

2022 Maine Event.  We see Ron SanGiovanni Jr steering "Scotty's Roadster #96 as it is towed to the staging area for a run.  This beautiful roadster competes in XXF/BGR (Flathead Ford engine with overhead valve conversion / Blown Gas Roadster). Ronnie holds the record at a speed of 200.655 mph which he set at the Maine Event 2019. 

[55chevr]

2011 Maine Event.  In the pits standing alongside team "Maxx2Racing" fabricated stock car we see Dave Haas.  He drove the former NASCAR Ford Thunderbird to a record speed of 208.489 mph in C/GCT ( 6 Liter / Gas Circle Track ). This was one of the first fabricated cars to race circle track class at Loring.

I was informed of the whereabouts of the "Ledfoot" roadster.  It is on display at the Speedway Motors Museum of American Speed in Lincoln NE.   Nice collection of a lot of Land Speed cars

[55chevr]

Searched everywhere for a Loring photo of the Chenoweth Racing #508 with no success. I did find this photo taken by David Fox at the SCTA Bonneville Nationals in 2018.  Lawson Chenoweth drove this V4/GMR (Vintage 4 cylinder / Gas Modified Roadster) and set the record at the 2016 Maine Event with a speed of 154.488 mph. In Order to be entered in V4, the engine has to be 4 cylinder manufactured before 1935.  I am guessing it is powered by a Ford Model B flathead 4 banger with a specialty head. Manufacturer claimed 50 horsepower from 200 cubic inches. Extraordinary accomplishment to get a 90 year old engine to go over 150 mph in a roadster.  Lawson also set the V4/GMR SCTA BNI record in 2016. DFox photo.

[55chevr]

The Chenoweth roadster is on permanent display at Wheels Through Time Museum in North Carolina.

https://wheelsthroughtime.com/new-worlds-fastest-model-a/