Searching for Lukes and Shorman race cars and info

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Alan Hall
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Re: Searching for Lukes and Shorman race cars and info

#16 Post by Alan Hall »

Dan,
I found a program for the '61 Reno races on line and the Pooper was driven by someone named A.T. Whatley. I don't know if L&S were just supporting him or if he was driving for them. I do recall back in the day that a Pooper used to sit in the front portion of L&S shop (to the left as you entered the roll up door), so perhaps they sold it to Whatley and he entered it in Reno.

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Dan Macdonald
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Re: Searching for Lukes and Shorman race cars and info

#17 Post by Dan Macdonald »

Alan,
Thanks.
Does the program list Lukes and Shorman as an owner, driver for anyone else for those races in Reno?
Dan Macdonald 
'59 A Coupe (105327) 
'57 Speedster (82954) 
Registry #1921 (1982) 
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Paul Hatfield
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Re: Searching for Lukes and Shorman race cars and info

#18 Post by Paul Hatfield »

Just wondering--- Denny Akers here in Seattle owns a Pooper. Possible it is the same one? He may know history on his car and/or others.
Paul Hatfield
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Alan Hall
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Re: Searching for Lukes and Shorman race cars and info

#19 Post by Alan Hall »

Dan, I skimmed the program and did not see Lukes or Shorman listed as driver or owner anywhere, although I don't think they necessarily were careful in listing an owner if they were not the driver. I know Harry Weber also was there with a speedster and I did not find his name anywhere either.

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Dan Macdonald
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Re: Searching for Lukes and Shorman race cars and info

#20 Post by Dan Macdonald »

Guys,
I've been told that there were three Speedsters owned and raced by L&S.
We think we have the chassis number for one of them.

Does anyone know any more information about this?
Can anyone confirm or deny?
Were they all red as raced by L&S?
Dan Macdonald 
'59 A Coupe (105327) 
'57 Speedster (82954) 
Registry #1921 (1982) 
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Paul Hatfield
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Re: Searching for Lukes and Shorman race cars and info

#21 Post by Paul Hatfield »

Dan-
I think you should contact Denny Akers through his business. See http://akersporsche.com/
I think his Pooper was raced on the West Coast. If he has any info on the race history, it will likely blend with the information you are looking for.
Good luck!
Paul Hatfield
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http://www.enginesinback.com

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Dan Macdonald
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Re: Searching for Lukes and Shorman race cars and info

#22 Post by Dan Macdonald »

Thanks Paul, will do.
Dan Macdonald 
'59 A Coupe (105327) 
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Registry #1921 (1982) 
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Greg Bryan
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Re: Searching for Lukes and Shorman race cars and info

#23 Post by Greg Bryan »

Alan Hall wrote: Tue Jun 25, 2019 6:44 pm Dan,
I found a program for the '61 Reno races on line and the Pooper was driven by someone named A.T. Whatley. I don't know if L&S were just supporting him or if he was driving for them. I do recall back in the day that a Pooper used to sit in the front portion of L&S shop (to the left as you entered the roll up door), so perhaps they sold it to Whatley and he entered it in Reno.
I used to go into Lukes and Shoreman frequently between the mid-seventies to the early eighties and I don't remember ever seeing the Pooper. That parking spot that Alan refers to above always had Bill Shoreman's Irish Green C coupe during this era. It was really sad that L&S closed
Greg Bryan

Rick Danielson
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Re: Searching for Lukes and Shorman race cars and info

#24 Post by Rick Danielson »

Dan,
In 2013 one of the "shop owned" L&S Speedsters passed through my hands. I was involved with assisting the then owner in selling the car. It had been under that person's ownership since 1972 when it had been acquired in the NW. Prior to 1972, another NW enthusiast had owned the car and raced it. That was Eyerly, who also was affiliated with a sports car dealership in Salem, OR. When I saw the car in 2013, it had been a street car since 1972 and had gone through an expensive partial restoration by a local hot rod shop in Portland. Basically, metal repairs had been done to the body and a very nice silver paint job applied.

In the process of being involved in the sale, I learned that the car was one of 3 shop owned Speedsters that L&S had back in the days when they were actively racing and race prepping customers' cars. I'm not sure whether they owned the 3 cars all at once or successively over an extended period of time. What I do know is that L&S owned Speedsters had 3 distinguishing modifications that set them apart from other race prepped L&S customer cars of the period. The 3 unique modifications that they made to their own Speedsters were: removal of the rear bump stops. This included the metal mounting piece as well as the rubber stop. Reinforced tie rods. They welded another tie rod against the standard tie rod. It looked crude, but must've been effective. Lastly, they installed factory 60 mm Carrera brakes on the front wheels, complete with the Carrera ventilated backing plates. There were other race mods, too, of course, such as a rear camber compensator and heavy steel plates above the rear torsion bar for roll bar mounting, but as I understand it, the 3 mods that they did to their shop owned cars were not typically shared with customers. This particular Speedster had a later 741 transmission and B series engine in it when I encountered it. It was a 1957 model, originally white. I believe the car is in California now, but not absolutely certain of its status, regarding driven as is, fully restored, or vintage raced.

There is a former L&S mechanic in the NW who worked there in the 1980's and into the1990's. I prefer not to list his name and contact info here without his permission, but he continues to work as a Porsche mechanic and is one of the most skilled, knowledgeable and meticulous ones you will ever encounter.
All fun stuff!
Rick

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Dan Macdonald
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Re: Searching for Lukes and Shorman race cars and info

#25 Post by Dan Macdonald »

Thanks Rick and Greg,
Great info.
Does anyone know if Tom Manning is still around?
Dan Macdonald 
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Registry #1921 (1982) 
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Greg Bryan
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Re: Searching for Lukes and Shorman race cars and info

#26 Post by Greg Bryan »

I mentioned his name a few years ago, and he is around - would have to look up the thread, but he was retired and still kicking - absolutely great machinist.

Added by edit
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=21961&p=98788&hilit ... ing#p98788
Here it is but almost 10 years ago
Greg Bryan

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Dan Macdonald
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Re: Searching for Lukes and Shorman race cars and info

#27 Post by Dan Macdonald »

Greg, I just sent Tom Manning a message through the contact listed by this 356 Talk Forum.
Maybe that will work, if not I'll see if Jim Breazeale has his info.
Thanks.
Dan Macdonald 
'59 A Coupe (105327) 
'57 Speedster (82954) 
Registry #1921 (1982) 
DMAIA@aol.com
My YouTube Channel: Tinmeister 356

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Michael Moss
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Re: Searching for Lukes and Shorman race cars and info

#28 Post by Michael Moss »

Dan, Sorry to say we lost Tom a couple of years ago.

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Greg Bryan
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Re: Searching for Lukes and Shorman race cars and info

#29 Post by Greg Bryan »

Ah, too bad - Rest In Peace Tom
Greg Bryan

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Dan Macdonald
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Re: Searching for Lukes and Shorman race cars and info

#30 Post by Dan Macdonald »

Michael,
Thanks for the note. I did not know, how sad.
Dan Macdonald 
'59 A Coupe (105327) 
'57 Speedster (82954) 
Registry #1921 (1982) 
DMAIA@aol.com
My YouTube Channel: Tinmeister 356

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