 I don't log into ApexSpeed as much as I should, but I was saddened to read Bob died in July. He parked next to us at the 50th and after the event sent me some files about the Eagle DGF chassis that few have seen.
A stellar guy, and for one weekend, a delightful neighbor who kept a file cabinet next to his toolbox. A keeper of cars and history. Cheers Bob. [Gladiator Racing Photo]  Our 1962 Martin T5 H-Mod lined up fifth for the inaugural American Road Race of Champions at Riverside in Nov. 1964.
Tanner's #34 machine would be sidelined with oil woes- it'd be the last time he'd pilot T5. Meanwhile the #66 Dolphin-Abarth of future Datsun standout Dan Parkinson would take the win. [John S. Gordon Collection]  Alex Gurney, Justin Gurney and Paul Jay waiting for me to come by as assumed by Paul's impatient look on the Friday of the WeatherTech International Challenge back in July.
Or perhaps Paul's thinking about how the car would have been around by now if I was the size of a jockey. Or how much better the Packers would be if #12 fell into a wood chipper. Or how it needs to warm up a bit so he can get an ice cream. Who's to say? [Alex Londe Photo]  You never know what you'll find under a late friend's workbench that is in need of a new home.
In this case, a WWII Crosley CE4 military generator motor (#CE4 1130,) used for many things, including as a auxiliary motor for field equipment and onboard PT boats, amphibians, and B-17 bombers. A later cast iron block version is used by many of my H Modified racer friends today.  Another addition to KMPR, an original 1981 Ligier JS17 wing signed by Jacques Laffite, who won the Austrian and Canadian Grand Prix that season.
 The only photo I have ever seen of Martin Tanner's final creation, the T-7. He ran it on one occasion in 1967. It was Tanner's sole rear-engine design, utilizing a Saab/VW transaxle. Sadly, Martin was losing his eyesight and sold the car after his sole outing with it.
Like T-2, T-7 car had an aluminum central body section with fiberglass corners. Bob Snider of Mequon, Wisconsin ran it at the 1968 SCCA June Sprints without much success and soon turned to another car. At last check, the car was in a sad state of affairs in Minnesota. [Hugh Nutting Photo]  I recently found an article regarding the build of Martin Tanner's T3 creation for 1960 in the December 1960 Sports Car Illustrated magazine- there was some interesting details regarding the previous build of T2, which I was pleased to find that will aid us in our restoration of Tanner's Lotus XI copy.
Key in the article was this lovely cut away of T3, which shows the aluminum chassis- the design didn't change underneath from T2, and carries much the same through T6 as well.  During the weekend of the old 'Road America 500,' SCCA would host an SCCA National event to help fill up the program. In 1962, Martin Tanner's T5 blew away the H Mod competition in his group race. As it was using Champion Spark Plug, car #98 was able to be showcased in an advert in the December, 1962 Car and Driver magazine with all the Champion-shod winners from that weekend.
Some of the names you will surely recognize...  This is Martin Tanner's T4 at Waterford Hills in 1961. There is evidence from T5's prior owner that T4 morphed into T5 for 1962, which just adds to the legacy of T5.
I also have an article enroute regarding T3, and how T2 was panned by many as being substandard to Tanner's skill level, much to Tanner's disgust. T2 still won races years after by second owner Frank Isaacson, so you can knock it all you want, it still took home hardware. |
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Kettle Moraine Preservation & Restoration
KettleMorainePR@gmail.com Hubertus, Wisconsin 'Where History and Integrity Meet' |