![]() ![]() Relying on Indy 500 veteran Babe Stapp, the pair set new International Class B records for everything from 50 miles on up to 24 hours (153.823 mph) and 48 hours (148.641 mph). ![]() Into the Duesenberg chassis Augie had stuffed a 1750 cubic inch Lycoming-made Curtiss V-12 that produced 750 hp, and this, along with other changes, resulted in the designation Mormon Meteor II. In 1936 Jenkins returned to the salt flats with his Duesenberg speedster which he had since purchased from Auburn, and a naming contest sponsored by the Deseret Daily News had rebadged the speedster to be known thenceforth as The Mormon Meteor. Swapping speed records between these individuals would continue for some time. A short time after that, Captain Eyston bested Jenkins’ new record by setting a new 24-hour record of 140.520 mph in Class B with his Rolls-Royce Speed of the Wind. Only days later, on September 3, 1935, the absolute speed record fell to Sir Malcolm Campbell, who set a new world’s record of 301.337 mph in the Bluebird, his custom land speed racer. A 25-minute filmed re-enactment of the Auburn and Duesenberg runs are featured in a King Rose Archives short that can be viewed at Despite a fire in the cockpit caused by a loose cable, luck held and the Duesenberg Special established a new series of records for Class B, including a 24-hour endurance mark covering 3,253 miles at an average speed of 135.470 mph. Swapping engines, Jenkins enlisted Tony Gulotta, an Indy 500 racer and friend, as his relief driver for a third try. ![]() On the second attempt, the crankcase split. A spare engine was prepared, which was good, because on the first attempt, while challenging all of John Cobb’s speed records, the Duesenberg Special spun an engine bearing and Jenkins had to quit the run. ![]() Herbert Newport cloaked the 142.5” SJ frame with an elongated speedster body, and Augie, along with cam specialist Ed Winfield, worked their magic on the supercharged SJ engine to ensure that it developed every bit of 400 hp at 5000 rpm. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |