Vanderbilt Cup Races

Never liked the Tucker (still don’t) but it is absolutely amazing how such a limited-production car has survived in near-entirety and with such fantastic documentation.  I’m enjoying this series in spite of myself and thank you , Howard, for your continued efforts.  Sam, III

Bill Hamlin was a great guy, lived in Ontario, Ca. was an aerospace engineer if I recall. He had a really nice 32 Franklin Airman sedan as well. We had a lot of communications via mail when he was alive. He told me if I came out for a visit he would take me for a ride in one of his Tuckers (he had two) at the Ontario Speedway where he knew the owners. Promised me a 100 mph ride and said he had his Tuckers at that speed on that raceway many times. He wanted to buy one new but couldn’t find one to buy anyplace when they went on sale so finally bought one from someone in 1952. Bill was an amazing mechanic and also owned a 1939 Graham sharknose Combination coupe that was profiled in one of the first issues of Special Interest Autos magazine (now Hemmings Classic Car) Bill also created a 1935 Franklin Olympic coupe - Franklin stopped production in 1934, but used the Reo/Hayes car of the era for everything but the engine in 1932-34 Franklin Olympic models . So Bill took a 1935 Reo Royale coupe, fitted a 1932 Franklin engine, fabricated a manifold to fit two carburetors, put in a Columbia overdrive, but left the exterior totally stock original. He said he used to take it out and kids in hot rods would pull up next to him thinking here is an old man in an old used up car. He motioned for them to race when the traffic light turned green and always blew their doors off and won the race. The combination of the dual carbs on a well reworked engine and Columbia overdrive made that one very fast car. It still exists in the upper midwest.