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Photos: Edward Wong, Tony Gentilcore, Jim Russell, John Gerdtz.
Old Yeller II, now owned and raced by Ernie Nagamatsu, is the “Backyard Special” built in the fall of 1959 at the legendary Hollywood Motors, Los Angeles. Powered by the big block 1959, 401 “Nailhead” Buick (6.6 liter) engine which is positioned in the chassis as far back as possible to the firewall as the cockpit is over and near the rear end assembly. The Buick motor has a stock 305 bhp at 5400 rpm in the most mild set up.It was extremely fast from the start but had durability problems in the first five races. From that point in 1960, the Old Yeller II made racing history competing at all of the major International Sports Car Races as well as almost every other important California Sports Car Race in 1960.
In 1960 Old Yeller II was driven by by many legendary drivers such as Carroll Shelby (Road America & Santa Barbara), Dan Gurney (Riverside International Raceway & Laguna Seca), Bob Bondurant, Billy Krause, Bobby Drake, Paul O'Shea, and Max Balchowsky.
Many track records were broken with the Old Yeller II and the "Home Built Backyard Special" competed against the very best and newest Maserati Birdcage, Ferraris, Jaguars, and Porsches along with the road racing "Specials".
Webmasters Note: Look close at the mechanical detail. You will see the 10 minute diff ratio change being made by OY 2’s resident racing mechanic, Gerry Duttweiler from Ventura, California.
Also guest pit crew for the event, our club member, Jim Russell, who really got into helping with the rear brake problem.
The other Buick in the pits with OY 2 is also a very historic Californian car “ The Green Hornet” now owned by Jim Russell. Built in 1925, it is mechanicall mostly a 1918 Buick 6 cylinder od 4 litre capacity.
For more about this car select menu item “Buick Stories” and scroll down to “1918 - The Green Hornet”
Posted 12/2006 |
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