[rrc]

Hello, I was wondering if some of the USAC veterans may remember a car that Joe Saldana may have run sometime perhaps in the late 70's. This car was unique as it had a two piece frame that detached at the firewall/motorplate. It had a very small roll cage similar in style to the James McElreath design.Originally a spring front car. Front cross torsions were added later.Supposedly built in a GE plant by two men in the Cincy area for Saldana.Doe anyone remember this car or can put me in touch with someone who does? thanks, Ron tincan20@hotmail.com

[Racer12]

You need to go to http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/ make an account there and go to the H.A.M.B. Post your question on the Vintage Sprint Car pic thread. Somebody on there will be able to help you. If you can find any current or old pics of the car that would help.

Bob Shutt

[Seadog]

Originally Posted by rrc Hello, I was wondering if some of the USAC veterans may remember a car that Joe Saldana may have run sometime perhaps in the late 70's. This car was unique as it had a two piece frame that detached at the firewall/motorplate. It had a very small roll cage similar in style to the James McElreath design.Originally a spring front car. Front cross torsions were added later.Supposedly built in a GE plant by two men in the Cincy area for Saldana.Doe anyone remember this car or can put me in touch with someone who does? thanks, Ron tincan20@hotmail.com

Just a WAG, but could it have been the #70 Tipp City Machine tool car?

....the small cage design, possibly a Paul Leffler car?

[Racerrob]

That sounds quite a bit like a car that we built in the mid '70s.

We built a car that was bolted together at the motorplate with eight bolts and the front and rear tubes slipped together. Car was originally designed for Larry "Boom Boom" Cannon because we felt that we could just replace 1/2 of the frame after a hard crash.

I don't believe Larry ever ran the car. I do know that Clark Templeman and Parsons both ran the car at Eldora.

I believe we sold the car in 1978 possibly to Danny Milburn?

I will try to post a picture tonight.

Rob Hoffman

[rrc]

another bit of info, the steering mounted in front of the roll cage. it doesn't look like a Leffler designed cage. The rear of the cage in back of the driver actually has a couple layers of triangular supports,one on top of the other.The Tipp City car, was it a sprint or Champ car? i believe someone has the Champ car restored somewhere.

[Speedwrench]

Originally Posted by rrc another bit of info, the steering mounted in front of the roll cage. it doesn't look like a Leffler designed cage. The rear of the cage in back of the driver actually has a couple layers of triangular supports,one on top of the other.The Tipp City car, was it a sprint or Champ car? i believe someone has the Champ car restored somewhere.

As memory serves me, Tipp City had a champ car wich was a Shores. Some guy by the name of Sullivan in Minnisnowda has the car now. I believe they also had sprinters which were Stanton built - I think.

[Racerrob]

rrc sent me some pictures and I can confirm that the car was a Hoffman car built in the mid 70's. The car was designed and fabricated by Richard Hoffman and Ed "Moe" Molitor. I spent many nights cutting tubing with a hacksaw/bandsaw and filing the notches in the ends with a half-round file!!!

Rob Hoffman

[rrc]

Thanks Rob!! Thats great!

[Ovalmeister]

Originally Posted by Seadog Just a WAG, but could it have been the #70 Tipp City Machine tool car?

This one Gregg? Snapped this at Eldora in 1980.
David.