Nassau '56

[Joseph T.]

Re: Nassau '56

Joe, do you have Frank's info from John B? I just went through all of the info looking for any of Frank's references to the Nassau Trophy race but found none. The last date shown is Nov '56.

Who headed up the Nassau racing program?

Rich
p.s. anxiously waiting for your pictures too!

Copy of the Restorer article Fall 2008

restorer pg1.jpg
restorer pg2.jpg
restorer pg3.jpg

[Richard M.]

Re: Nassau '56

Joe, great info. Thanks for sharing. I recall that article and will have to pull it off the shelf for a re-read.

I wish I was more than a few years old when all this was happening, but I now can enjoy the history lessons of the era. Coincidence has it that wife & I honeymooned on Paradise Island/Nassau 20 years later after this race.

BTW, this is the wife's car.....See what I meant about the resemblance to the Bosley Interstate? He must have thought up some of his styling ideas from the Jag. Do you know what year did Bosley built it? What's the guy in IL going to do with the Interstate body? I have a waiting '62 frame I could drop it on!!!

Rich
p.s. I really like those wheels on the Interstate. Look like Hallibrands but painted black. If they were, they must have stayed with the chassis when it got split up.

[Joseph T.]

Re: Nassau '56

Joe, great info. Thanks for sharing. I recall that article and will have to pull it off the shelf for a re-read.

I wish I was more than a few years old when all this was happening, but I now can enjoy the history lessons of the era. Coincidence has it that wife & I honeymooned on Paradise Island/Nassau 20 years later after this race.

BTW, this is the wife's car.....See what I meant about the resemblance to the Bosley Interstate? He must have thought up some of his styling ideas from the Jag. Do you know what year did Bosley built it? What's the guy in IL going to do with the Interstate body? I have a waiting '62 frame I could drop it on!!!

Rich
p.s. I really like those wheels on the Interstate. Look like Hallibrands but painted black. If they were, they must have stayed with the chassis when it got split up.

Great car your wife has. My brother in law has a warehouse in Chicago with about 100 cars and has a few of these old jags and numerous jag engines. It is quite a sight. His maintainance guy is right out of the Hippy era.

Below is the last picture I received of the Bosley Interstate body without chassis sitting in Illiinois. Not sure if it is for sale. Those are probably halibrands on the complete car ( maybe the ones from the Sebring car ). The owner of the Interstate body today told me has several sets of Halibrands. You can Google Bosley Interstate and there is a story about Bosley and his cars.

Bosley_Current_Photos[1].jpg

[Joseph T.]

Re: Nassau '56

Rich

An interesting read is the story and murder mystery of Sir Harry Oakes in Nassau. Lots of famous people involved.

Joe

http://www.sangerville.lib.me.us/oakes.html

http://www.crimeandinvestigation.co.uk/crime-files/sir-harry-oakes--the-bahamas-murder-mystery/crime.html

http://www.theguardian.com/culture/2010/nov/13/william-boyd-any-human-heart-murder

[Chuck S.]

Re: Nassau '56

joe;
thank you for providing so much meaningful information to this very informative thread.

[Richard M.]

Re: Nassau '56

Joe, those photos of the Interstate are sad.......a "personalized" custom for sure, but sad nonetheless. Someone needs to restore it for Richards sake. I was searching online last night and learned he passed away a few years ago. I read about his car history. He was quite the innovator and a clever auto enthusiast. Sad that he's gone.

I'll have to read those other stories in the AM when I'm fresh with coffee!

Thanks, Great thread.....
Rich
p.s. I watched that video again, and again lately.....I think the cameraman was a guy with a eye for rear differentials.....IYKWIM

[Joseph T.]

Re: Nassau '56

joe;
thank you for providing so much meaningful information to this very informative thread.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3ifyfKsIkg&sns=em


Here is the other Fabulous video taken at the Feb. 1957 Daytona Speed Weeks. It documents at 2:00 min. into the film showing Paul Goldsmith in the Nassau car still wearing its Nassau number. Paul set both the standing start and flying start speed records at this event!

Important stuff for Corvette historians and hobbyists alike.

Great footage of the Bill Mitchell SR-2. The Bill Mitchell SR-2 was retired in early 57 as a result of the AMA ban on racing and was sold ( given ) to Eb Rose for $1 along with 2 other 57 Sebring cars. The idea was for Eb Rose to continue racing the cars..which he did.

The 3 former Sebring cars were trailered to the May 1957 SCCA event in Cumberland, Md. and Carol Shelby who was head of the Maserati team was paid a hefty sum under the table to drive one of the former Sebring Corvettes for Eb ( really for Ed Cole ). Zora and Shelby didnt get along according to Eb.

I visited Eb Rose in Houston and he told some great stories. Eb was a bit of a John Wayne character. Grew up on a ranch next to the Foyts. Eb was a horseman, outdoor sportsman, Texas Ranger, married his childhood sweetheart who became a Texas beauty queen. business man, raced cars, boats, planes and anything that went fast. He was one of the original skunkworks owner drivers hired by Ed Cole.

Another fascinating bit of history. Eb Rose also raced at Indy. Years later he was in Indy driving his friend Herb " Horsepower " Porter to an event where Herb was to be inducted into the Indy Hall of Fame. On the way to the event they had a car accident and Herb was killed. Friends of Eb..say Eb was never quite the same.

See below pictures I got from Eb out of his personal photo collection. Eb and his wife are now deceased. When I visited them years ago..they proudly hauled out their 16 mm projector to show me films of their racing history. They made dinner and I stayed overnight. Eb asked if I wanted to meet AJ Foyt and called him but he was out of town.

It is truely amazing the personal connection the Corvette brings to us across all spectrums of life.

Joe

Carroll Shelby at Cumberland with former Sebring car! Notice the SR2 behind and the other Sebring car behind the SR2.
Carrol_Shelby[1].jpg

Eb Rose being pushed by AJ Foyt and Tony Foyt at Indy!!!
rose foyt 3.jpg

[Joe M.]

Re: Nassau '56

Cool film!!!!!!!!! that car was aztec copper, right?

[Rob M.]

Re: Nassau '56

all very interesting about those cars, but who was that lady in black crossing the track half way the movie (shame she must be in her 80's by now, she sure looked hot in '56 )

[Richard M.]

Re: Nassau '56

Rob,

Do you mean the dolly in black here starting at t5:50? (edit....fixed ref time)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oClxxtt5sMo&feature=player_detailpage#t=346

Or do you mean this swimsuit dolly in black at t11:42? If so Rob, we need to talk.......
(all others please cover eyes with hands)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oClxxtt5sMo&feature=player_detailpage#t=702

Like I said in my earlier post the cameraman always liked to get a shot of those posi units!

Rich

[Rob M.]

Re: Nassau '56

5:50.......

[Gary C.]

Re: Nassau '56

Rich, in the 70's the official TV football camera man term is "hawking". Gary....

[Richard M.]

Re: Nassau '56

Rich, in the 70's the official TV football camera man term is "hawking". Gary....

Chuckled........Never heard that one.

[Geary T.]

Re: Nassau '56

At frame 10 minutes or so there is a image of a stock bodied 57 with blue colored steel wheels that the height of the car is very low. Interesting stuff.

[Joseph T.]

Re: Nassau '56

At frame 10 minutes or so there is a image of a stock bodied 57 with blue colored steel wheels that the height of the car is very low. Interesting stuff.

#43 driven by Warren Flickinger