More off-topic.
Say the early '90s Laguna Seca Monterrey Historics. When I first got the March F1 running, I ended up pitted next to an 'artillery-wheeled' Brit car of some brand or other looked after by Phil Hill. Phil sat down at the picnic table between the pits that was still there (this was a while back, not all of the pits were paved) to fix an SU carb which 'piston' was sticking. It was a pleasure chatting with him, and amusing when he "de-tuned" some abrasive paper by rubbing the abrasive surfaces together to polish the SU part. With equal good humor, he listened to my suggestions and used the ones that sounded workable; I was proud!
Anyhow, the driver reported that the car "wobbled" in most turns and I remember Phil having the artillery wheels removed, ropes tied to them and having them tossed in what was then Laguna Wetta over-night to expand the wood (it had stopped being Seca some time before that).
It worked, according to the driver, as did the group efforts to get the SUs working.
Anyhow, water was not unknown in making the things:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQSMs-b0Jzg
Wood wheels
- Ron LaDow
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Wood wheels
Ron LaDow
www.precisionmatters.biz
www.precisionmatters.biz
- C J Murray
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Re: Wood wheels
Maybe he learned that when he was driving F1 cars for Ferrari?
'57 Speedster
'59 Sunroof
'60 Devin D Porsche Race Car
'63 Cabriolet "Norm"
'67 911 S Original Owner
'03 Ferrari 575M
'09 Smart Passion
'59 Sunroof
'60 Devin D Porsche Race Car
'63 Cabriolet "Norm"
'67 911 S Original Owner
'03 Ferrari 575M
'09 Smart Passion
- Mike Wilson
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Re: Wood wheels
I just watched the video. Amazing! What an artisan. I was thinking of Bruce Crawford and Jack Arct making our wood steering wheels. Can you imagine how long it took to make a wood wagon wheel before power tools?!
Thanks, Ron!
Thanks, Ron!
Mike Wilson
Lomita, CA
'63 B coupe
Lomita, CA
'63 B coupe
- Adam Wright
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Re: Wood wheels
Wood wheels are making a comeback, this car came up for sale earlier this year.
www.unobtanium-inc.com
Check out my Barn Find column in the Registry magazine, always looking for good stories.
Check out my Barn Find column in the Registry magazine, always looking for good stories.
- Mike Wilson
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Re: Wood wheels
Wow! Are those the prototypes of the Techno-mahoganies?!
Mike Wilson
Lomita, CA
'63 B coupe
Lomita, CA
'63 B coupe
- Ron LaDow
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Re: Wood wheels
Adam,
When I was restoring the March F1, I used ply 'wheels' since the car weighed nothing and they were cheap when I needed money for other stuff. Worked fine at .005MPH and .001G accelerations.
When I was restoring the March F1, I used ply 'wheels' since the car weighed nothing and they were cheap when I needed money for other stuff. Worked fine at .005MPH and .001G accelerations.
Ron LaDow
www.precisionmatters.biz
www.precisionmatters.biz
- Ron LaDow
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Re: Wood wheels
http://instantrimshot.com/Mike Wilson wrote:the Techno-mahoganies?!
Ron LaDow
www.precisionmatters.biz
www.precisionmatters.biz
- Wil Mittelbach
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Re: Wood wheels
A true by-hand wheelwright craftsman, perhaps somewhat analogous in craftsmanship to properly rebuild a 356 engine and car.Mike Wilson wrote:I just watched the video. Amazing! What an artisan. I was thinking of Bruce Crawford and Jack Arct making our wood steering wheels. Can you imagine how long it took to make a wood wagon wheel before power tools?!
Thanks, Ron!