Early Racing Jupiters in North America

[PJGD]

I see that there are a number of Jupiters shown as race entries in these 1953 events.

http://www.ferrariexperts.com/SCCA%20re ... 53.htm#MAC

It would be interesting if it was possible to cross-reference the vehicles to the chassis number and see if they are still extant.

[PJGD]

Here is a Jupiter lining up for a race in Texas in 1952: https://forums.autosport.com/topic/2147 ... oeder-cds/

[Keith Clements]

Where? The link has many pictures !

[Srenner]

Pictures are 8 up from the bottom of page 1. Not sure who is behind the wheel, but it could be Carrol Shelby.

Sooooooooooo, way back in '92 or '93, I was running the Jupiter at the Wine Country Classic at the track called Sears Point, now called Sonoma Raceway. One of the fun things that made this a premier event was that they threw a big soiree for the drivers and sold tickets to the public to support charities, combining a food festival with wine tasting. The organizer would select about 40 cars, street legal or full race, to form a parade. The State Police escorted the cars for the 12 miles from the track to the Sonoma town square, then over a few blocks to the Sebastiani winery. My car had been selected and I was pretty happy to oblige.

As everything was winding down, I was at a table with James Miller, Jack Gipe and his longtime girlfriend. Jack is a rather infamous Jupiter owner known for over-imbibing and turning into an obnoxious lout. As we were heading out to get some dinner, I offered Gipe's girlfriend a ride in my Jupiter, so James and Jack headed one way and we toward my car. A man stepped over to me, asking if I was the owner. It was Carrol Shelby. Tall, dressed in black with a black cowboy hat, he told me of racing a Jupiter at Caddo Mills, TX. He was on the pole, came around the last corner and accelerated towards the starting line and.....the motor fell out of the car! We talked for a few more minutes and he headed back over to his group.

I hurried over to the car, headed to the restaurant and excitedly relate the story to James and Jack. James shouted, "You are such a LIAR!!!" Gipe loudly jumped on board with James, so to support my story I turned to Gipe's girlfriend and ask her to describe the guy who told the story. She says, "Oh, I don't know, I think he was short and bald." James continued to shout liar anytime I told someone the story.

In 1995, the Monterey Historic races honored Carrol Shelby and the race weekend featured many of the cars he raced or built, as well as a special supplement to the program that listed ALL of the races he had driven. I tore open my program to find the proof of my story and there was no listing for a Jupiter at Caddo Mills. James took the opportunity to tell everyone that I was lying and there was the proof.

To my complete surprise, I won the Ken Miles award that year. As Shelby was handing my the award, I told him no one believed my Sonoma story. Steve Earle (Monterey founder) overheard me and handed the microphone to me. For the next few minutes, Shelby and I recounted our interaction and he offered up that the so-called complete listing might be missing a few here and there.

Vindication? No, James had left before the awards and still insists I made it all up.

[Alf Heseltine]

Strenner, nice story, sure you weren’t set up. Pics also on page 2 ( 2nd & 14th.) pic.

Alf

[PJGD]

On the second page, post #69 has one Jupiter (the white one in partial view), and post #70 shows three Jupiters, one inevitably with the bonnet/hood up and a group around it - probably fixing the engine!

[AmilcarJohn]

Some helpful books I have on early post war sports car racing in the US are:

• Watkins Glen, the Street Years 1948-52
  
  North East American Sports Car Races 1950-1959
  
  Runways and Racers: Sports Car Races Held on Military Airfields in America 1952-1954

If you like the pictures in the thread, you will enjoy these books.

[ajackson]

On the second page, post #69 has one Jupiter (the white one in partial view), and post #70 shows three Jupiters, one inevitably with the bonnet/hood up and a group around it - probably fixing the engine!

Philip,
Your eyes are better than mine. In post 70, second page, I do not see the three.
Is it the correct reference? Maybe you can grab the image and post it here please?

Many thanks
Andy

[PJGD]

Hi Andy,

OK, I am posting the picture, slightly cropped, of the three Jupiters sitting in the row of cars at Caddo Mills in Texas in 1953. Caddo Mills is to the north East of Dallas, and back in the day was probably not much more that a wide spot in the road, but it did have a municipal airport and that is where the racing took place.

I have annotated the photo to point out the three cars. . .

Philip

[Keith Clements]

Brilliant Philip.

[ajackson]

Well, well, fantastic Philip.