1968 Tucson Airport slalom. The car was owned by Sam Balsley at the time.
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Some
people enjoy the fruits of researching their Family tree through the
power of the internet. It was by Gamble luck to learn the history of
Carrera Speedster 82833. The silver '57 Speedster would become like a
family member when in 1968 fellow PCA Autocross pal Sam Balsley made a
trip to California to trade his Pre A cabriolet for a Porsche that was
faster than all the other Speedsters. Sam wound up at none other than
Vasek Polak's and traded that old red Cab for a Silver Carrera
Speedster. This car had all the trim shaved off and the 4 cam engine
sounded like music to all of us. However, unfortunately for Sam, the
mighty Carrera quickly proved once again non-competitive at the tight
autocrosses. Graduating from college Sam moved away from Tucson to
Northern California, running the car at the Cotati race track
with some success. On his way to do a tour of duty with the Army Sam
returned the Speedster to Tucson for storage. About this same time
(1973) with the advent of the 55 mph national speed limit I decided to
return back to my 356 roots and sell my fast, beautiful '70s Signal
Orange Targa. After close scrutiny for dreaded rust I traded my set of
American 911 racing wheels and slicks and cash for the old Silver
Speedster with its sick 4 cam engine and limped it home.
Car in storage with Vasek Polak dealer licence plate frame.
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#123 Phoenix International Raceway long course 1974-5 (Note steel air dam)
Body man Bob performing 250 hrs of Lead metal finishing
Riverside Region PCA time trial at Ontario Motor Speedway circa 1974, Rustolium primer color
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Within
a short time a C engine and roll bar were installed and I was off to
Holtville, California to run with the San Diego region PCA time trial
hot shoes. With the interior stripped out and the windshield removed
the car was light and a lot of fun at the various tracks in So Cal and
Arizona. Stripping off the worn silver paint job I had the major
discovery this Carrera Speedster had led an embattled life. The left
front fender was so bad Bob the body man almost replaced it but instead
spent two hundred fifty agonizing hours straightening and leading the
car plus widening the rear fenders to accept seven inch wide custom
wheels.
You
have to understand this was the early 70's when old Speedsters were
just Old Speedsters and weren't worth a lot of money, so the fender mod
was no big deal. While the body work was in process I kept the car in
running condition and Bob would primer over his work and then I'd go on
a racing weekend using shoe polish numbers on his primer finish.
Finally crunch time was nearing to choose a paint color. So to help
decide I reviewed all my concours photos from the recently attended PCA
Parade held at the Del Monte lodge at Pebble Beach. As an extra 3D aid
I molded a Speedster in Dental plaster and then painted the models my
various favorite colors.
I also received the Factory Kardex,
however it did not list the exterior color, perhaps because Black was
not a standard Speedster color. More than any other the one color that
compelled me to go back and take a picture was "Black." Making the
choice was almost like when you find that special puppy at the pound
that you must have and you know that's "The One". The beauty of a
classic car painted in hand rubbed Black lacquer is absolutely stunning
when the car's metal work is straight as an arrow. Hence forth, the
Speedster stopped life as a Race car taking on a new title of "Black
Beauty". Master trimmer, Roy Nelson (then working at Ocean Beach
Upholstery) of Autos International fame installed a natural tan leather
interior and black vinyl Robbins top. After entering the car in shows
and concours I noted it started to appreciate and by 1981 I was feeling
uncomfortable driving such a valuable auto on the street. Besides, the
extra cash for a major house addition would be a good investment. I
placed an ad in the Registry and the Speedster was sold to Canadian
Franz Klemet who faithfully drove it home via the Lake Tahoe West Coast
Holiday. A number of years (1983) later Franz rebuilt and reunited the
4 cam with the car and proudly showed it at the Whistler. Franz then
re-sold the car in the late 80's to a broker.
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