Tweet
Does anyone know ANYTHING at ALL about an engine shop called TRACO in California? Any history, are they still in business, any of the owners still around, how to contact them or anyone that worked there? I think they were in operation in the 60s and 70s. As always, your input is much appreciated. Thanks, Rex #8089
-
-
Re: Traco engines
Traco built engines for Rodger Penske when he raced in the Trans Am Series. They also built the engines for the IROC Series . I have read that the shop was bought out and relocated to the DEI race shops. -
Re: Traco engines
Rex -
Finest race engine shop in the country in the 60's-70's; Jim Travers and Frank Coons sold the business to Jim Jones, their chief engine builder, and retired many years ago. Jim subsequently sold the business to DEI and is now the Engine Development Manager at Callaway Engineering.Comment
-
Re: Traco engines
Rex------
TRACO was sort of the Lingenfelter Performance Engineering of the 60s and early 70s. Their engines were widely used in "high end" racing. One thing that I remember about their engines, which differs markedly from LPE and other current engine builders, is that they were usually not "dressed up" in any way----all business. Painted gray with stamped steel valve covers, they were without chrome or other ornamentation.
When they were in business, they were located in Culver City, CA. Not too far away was Guldstrand Engineering. Also, in these days Culver City and environs were home to many other famous names in racing. Offenhauser and Meyer-Drake Engineering, which once dominated the power plants of Indy racing cars, was located in the area. Many of the Indy racing cars of the day were actually built within a 25 mile radius of Culver City.
Unrelated to anything automotive but of possible passing interest, Culver City was home to Columbia Studios (now Sony) and MGM Studios. It was also home to Hughes Aircraft Company and is the location where Howard Hughes' giant flying boat, The HK-1 or "Spruce Goose", was built. It's also the final resting place of many of the stars at Holy Cross Cemetary, including and among many others, Jimmy Durante, Lawrence Welk, and John Candy. In fact, my grandfather, grandmother and one uncle lie at rest their, too. My grandmother is only a few steps from the grave of Sharon Tate and not very far from Rita Hayworth and "Der Bingle", Bing Crosby.In Appreciation of John HinckleyComment
-
Re: Traco engines
Rex,
for period information, there was a nice article in one of the mid '60's Corvette News issues. I think it was one of the '67 issues. George #31887Comment
Comment