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Break Fix's History of Motorsports
series is brought to you in part
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by the International Motor Racing
Research Center, as well as the
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Society of Automotive Historians,
the Watkins Glen Area Chamber of
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Commerce, and the Arge Singer family.
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In this episode of the log book, John
Yako recounts the discovery and historical
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significance of a unique 1935 front wheel
drive speedster, created by Benjamin F.
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Harris iii.
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Initially found in a neglected
state in 1987, the vehicle's unusual
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design and Harris's innovative
contributions to automotive history,
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intrigued John and his brother.
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This led to an extensive pre-internet
research endeavor where they discovered
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Ben Harris was an early industrial
designer and motorsports architect,
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and was deeply involved in the
development of American Road Racing
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and CCAs national organization.
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He collaborated with notable figures
like Harley Earl and Jim Kimberly, and
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played a pivotal role in the establishment
of the Road America racetrack.
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John presents us with rich historical
insights, personal anecdotes, and
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acknowledges the extensive research
and supportive collaborations that
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uncovered Harris's legacy, culminating
in his posthumous induction into
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the SECA Walk of Fame in 2020.
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My introduction to Ben Harris
as a story past occurred in 1987
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while touring a property for
purchase in Clarksville, Missouri.
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The property was a time capsule of
partially buried pedigree automobiles
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and of their components I was drawn to
and later purchased the Harris Front
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wheel drive speed because of its unique
appearance and the fact that a tree had
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gone through the center of its cockpit.
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And it just amazed me.
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I began researching the purchase
pre-internet with a little more than
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this rendering by my brother Dan Yanko.
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John, what initially intrigued you about
Ben Harris and his work in automotive
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design as Ben f Harris III built?
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An anomaly in time in 1935.
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We wanted to just touch upon it
because he kind of built what was
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to come in the fifties in race
car designs and exotic designs.
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Always wore his hat,
usually flight glasses.
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He was a pilot.
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He was a very politically involved
person, and he usually had a
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dress code on, or he was dressed
in the SCCA efficient material.
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This picture is from an SCCA magazine,
Indiana Race, July, August, 1954.
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Can you elaborate on the significance of
Harris's association with the AAA in the
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early days, Ben, apparently all the way
back when this picture was taken was 1936,
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was highly involved with the a, a AAA.
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You'll notice there's AAA license
plate on the back of the speedster.
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That license plate says AAA official card.
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What are some of the design elements
of the Harris Speedster that were
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ahead of their time compared to
the later race cars of the 1950s?
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Remarkably, in 1935, the speedster was the
size of an AC cobra and a D type jaguar.
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The motors was a two cam.
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Two distributor dual rated V
eight, built in 1933 and 34.
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We could see that it had friction shock
absorbers, which I knew was something
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from the twenties and thirties.
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Ben's car started silk
chr, Metallica paint.
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DuPont's first.
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Actually, the color of that
is their patent formular.
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For chr, Metallica Paint, duke Lacquer
was put onto the Harris Speedster.
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How did GM executives
react to Harris's work?
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And was there any notable
collaboration between them?
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My favorite picture to illustrate
the size of the futuristic exotic
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design, the speedster photo from
52 Chicago Invitational event.
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There are some GM
executives in this picture.
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Here we have some other ones.
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GM was participating with Ben in
this booth, and we do believe this
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is the one that another friend of
Ben's, Chrissy Kaki, put a picture and
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featured Ben's car on the front cover
of his magazine for a special edition.
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We believe it was for this
showing, but we're truly not sure.
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It mentions Ben's car won an
Indianapolis custom car show in 1951.
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The reason for this was Wally Parks,
and I can't think of the owner's
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name of Hot Rod Magazine, ran a full
page ad looking for Ben and his car.
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They wanted to send him an invitation to
the second annual indie rod custom show.
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Ironically, at the end, 17 years of age
and design, it won a first place trophy.
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Can you even imagine that?
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It was still state-of-the-art futuristic.
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This picture here is actually
clipped from the Hot Rod Magazine
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from 1951 where they were looking
for Ben to send him an invitation.
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The car, at this point in time.
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Was still the chrome
Metallica as DuPont called it.
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Ben never really named the car that's
talked about in auto puzzles, which
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some may enjoy reading that story
'cause it brings back forth many,
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many more facts about Ben and the car.
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This is a speedster stretching
out its legs on the racetrack.
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This is a boardwalk.
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The speedster is on, and again,
we think this is 46 to 48.
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The vehicle did do some racing.
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Very limited, but it did.
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The more I learned about the
car, the more I became intrigued
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about the man behind the car.
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Harris's interest in performance.
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Cars wasn't limited to industrial design.
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He was also an enthusiast who
raced in and officiated numerous
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AAA SCCA and FI events in three.
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Countries.
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Yes.
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Three countries at Cuba, Nassau, Bahama,
and 12 states that we have him at with
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pictures and magazine articles and stuff.
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Harris needs to say, was very active
in the SCZA as it transitional lies
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into a unified national organization.
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Benjamin F. Harris was among the
vanguards of industrial designers,
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engineers, and Motorsport
architects as early as the 1930s.
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A small sampling of his associates
include Gordon Bing, Harley Earl,
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ed Cole, Zora Doff, James Kimberly,
wacky Arno, and many, many others.
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You'll see pictures of Ben talking
with Carol Shelby and his Maserati.
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You'll see a lot of different
pictures coming up, uh, including
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with Wacky and everybody else.
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He was good friends with Fred
Dusenberg, August son, Fritz.
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He was Best man at Gordon Bings wedding
in Auburn, Indiana to Betty Whitten.
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Can you describe the significance of
Harris' relationship with automotive
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icons like Harley Earl and Zora Donoff?
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Uh, knowing Harley Earl when he first
went to GM 56 Harley, and I guess
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Zora built him a special car vet and
delivered it to him right out of the
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styling building at General Motors.
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Ben took his plate, flew there, picked
it up, and while I was there, they
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also had a real nice luncheon for him.
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With most of the GM hierarchy.
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They're at the meeting Ben
brings in Harley Earl, which
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is a lot to be said there.
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I have talked to Richard Earl.
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We've coordinated just a little bit.
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I gave him some documents
that he'd never seen before.
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There's another way that Ben Harris found
together with his friends, Harley Earl.
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And others, um, concept CARNA Harris
Speech for Marketing Techniques.
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Benjamin Harris used to draw crowds at
many racing events throughout the us.
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1952 to 60 we'll mention, we also
talked about the loss history
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of the car, John Hendricks that
owns, uh, discovery channels and
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a lot the 30 year loss history.
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And I told him what I thought,
how that happened, but at the
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same point in time, he showed me
that he'd done a YouTube on that.
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That's a whole nother story.
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There's a lot of sub stories off this.
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We moved out past that.
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We run into the name Teeter.
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Teeter is the one that actually was
Perfect Circle Corporation, and also he's
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the one that sued pretty much everybody
for stealing his cruise control patent.
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Yeah.
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He's the one that designed it and made it.
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He brings in his friendships with
Pop Meyers, Jimmy Snyder, Peter
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Collins, Rodriguez Brothers,
Phil Hill, Alfred Momo, Alex
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Allman, and the great gentleman.
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Start your engines, Wil
Shaw, Wil Behar another.
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A few others are pitching in a film that
Ben did at one of the races, many races.
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That he was associated with in
officiating and sanctioning.
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We have not ran into anybody that
contributed more to building the
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national level in rules, books
and presentations than Ben Harris.
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That's a bold statement, but yet
we've been at this for 35 years.
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Then he talks about Colonel Harrington
of the contest board, the AA and
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American representative of FIA.
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I wonder if that's perhaps why
Ben was thrown an international
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flag at Nassau Bahamas.
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Speedway talks about him holding SCCA
Senior Competition license, AAA license,
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and FIA licenses, having served as an SCCA
regional executive member of the National
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Activities Committee in a former national
Vice president and publications director.
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Driven to different tracks.
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Stockholder of Road America.
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What role did Ben play in the
early development of Road America?
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David Biggs's son told me he has
records of them driving around and
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David Biggs's, uh, Mercedes 500 cab
filming the Road America before.
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It had any surface put onto it.
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They were making sure the track
was just as they wanted it.
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And this same book also has
rules and regulations that they
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were talking about adding in.
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This was 52 or 53 when this is filmed.
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I've tried to get that 'cause it would
be great to go with this, especially
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for Road America, to show the real
beginnings of shaking the track down
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at the inaugural race at Road America.
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Preston Tucker did have one of his
tuckers at that too, promoting the
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concept car and everything else.
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And by the way.
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I find this entertaining and not to
take away from anybody, but this is 52.
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Ben's car is 17 years old.
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It seems like it's still drawing
lots of people around it, and right
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in front of it is the four lac.
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Yes.
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Ben was also good friends
with the Granite Teles.
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This is ones that they
actually built for him.
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Cut the body.
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Put in the different rear
end knock off wheels.
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He used it as a tool.
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Ben had just driven it two weeks prior to
a big Indy race where ironically, many,
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many of the people that were there were
gonna be president coming at the Chino
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race that had almost 80,000 people there.
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But the point is, is Ben used
every tool that he could get.
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There's also rally events, which involves
sometimes 30 mile drives, but he wanted
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to draw as many as possible, and I'm sure.
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Everybody around him agreed and
they all participated in their
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plot that they were unleashing.
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Harris recognized the cart racing,
provided an incubator for tomorrow's
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motor sports champions, which it did.
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This is from the collection of
the Henry Ford Museum archives.
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There's a lot more to be
said about this picture, too.
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If you look in the background, you'll
see all the stands are full of people.
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He must have been bouncing everywhere
over that whole 10 days for this event.
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Road America Big Bo event is what it
was turned Harris could be spotted
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wearing a signature English flat
cap and an SCCA official shirt
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with a hands-on car number one 19.
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This photo is one of many SCCA
events officiated by Harris.
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This number 60 Jag.
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I think this is the 60 Jag that won
the inaugural race at Road America.
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Sorry to learn that.
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The one archivist that I'd spoken
with, really a nice guy, passed away.
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Looking forward to working with him, to
giving him a bunch of information that
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00:12:19,155 --> 00:12:22,550
they don't have about the beginnings of
Road America and how it all happened.
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Finn Harris was a pilot.
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He owned an airport and
he was constantly flying.
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People like Harley Earl, wacky Arnold
James, Kimberly around to the different
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00:12:32,729 --> 00:12:36,780
tracks, and in the meetings they
were having in making the national
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00:12:36,780 --> 00:12:39,719
SCC and also Building Road America.
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How did Harris's involvement
in SCCA and other organizations
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00:12:42,930 --> 00:12:44,760
influence Motorsport regulations?
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Now we're getting into
the actual racing part.
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We did wanna bring in
some about the speedster.
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Is the 65-year-old mystery of
CCAs early development solved.
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00:12:56,460 --> 00:13:00,240
The question was initially
posed in this edition of SCCA
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00:13:00,240 --> 00:13:03,060
magazine by executive director.
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00:13:03,180 --> 00:13:06,690
Uh, last name was Bird of the SCCA.
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This is the front cover.
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00:13:08,130 --> 00:13:12,060
Ironically, I'm not sure what
model or makeup vehicle it
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00:13:12,270 --> 00:13:13,890
is going over the tracks.
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00:13:13,980 --> 00:13:19,350
There's a picture of Ben going over the
same tracks, airborne in one of his mgs.
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That erased this SCCA article
written by the executive director
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00:13:24,025 --> 00:13:29,335
acknowledges that SCCA records
were sketchy and very incomplete.
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Unfortunately, this voids severely
limited the ability to identify and
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00:13:33,685 --> 00:13:37,795
recognize the individuals who made
certificate contributions to the
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00:13:37,795 --> 00:13:42,325
transformation of the SCA from a
regional to a national organization.
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This was published in
SCCA publication 1959.
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00:13:46,645 --> 00:13:47,755
I do believe it was.
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00:13:47,760 --> 00:13:53,160
February and what the executive director
says is, when after the war, the ARCA
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00:13:53,280 --> 00:13:55,770
was not reactivated to any great extent.
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00:13:55,770 --> 00:13:59,670
A group of enthusiasts in Boston
founded a Sports Card Club of
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America in February of 1944.
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00:14:02,670 --> 00:14:07,380
This is in direct contradiction to
California, claiming it in 1948.
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The club's growth from then on
is a matter of pride and common
231
00:14:11,675 --> 00:14:13,145
knowledge to the membership.
232
00:14:13,235 --> 00:14:19,325
This account, it is well realized
is sketchy and very incomplete, and
233
00:14:19,505 --> 00:14:24,455
through inadvertence of poor memory,
many names having been omitted,
234
00:14:24,455 --> 00:14:26,375
that should have been set down.
235
00:14:26,675 --> 00:14:32,015
The records have almost without exception,
disappeared, are been destroyed and this
236
00:14:32,015 --> 00:14:35,075
brief fragmentary switch has set down.
237
00:14:35,165 --> 00:14:38,825
But to hope that it may prove of some
interest to present day enthusiasts
238
00:14:38,915 --> 00:14:41,195
despite its very incomplete nature.
239
00:14:41,315 --> 00:14:44,945
So if the thought from little
acorns, et cetera, we set the time
240
00:14:44,945 --> 00:14:48,785
machine back to the present, take
our somewhat creaking departure.
241
00:14:49,165 --> 00:14:53,455
Jim Kimberly and Ben Harris, they were
recognized in the first edition of
242
00:14:53,455 --> 00:14:56,814
Sports Illustrated in August, 1954.
243
00:14:56,905 --> 00:14:58,975
How did they ever get that done?
244
00:14:59,155 --> 00:15:03,475
Why wasn't Pebble Beach Indy or
Watkins Glen use and why were Jim,
245
00:15:03,475 --> 00:15:05,185
Kimberly and Ben Harris featured?
246
00:15:05,305 --> 00:15:07,735
Could it be because of
the title, new Herty?
247
00:15:08,730 --> 00:15:14,730
Bringing in new vision, dress codes,
racing rules and regulations, safety
248
00:15:14,730 --> 00:15:20,250
aspects and formulas for drivers and
race teams to follow, which ironically,
249
00:15:20,340 --> 00:15:25,020
it seems like all the teams to this very
day were inspired that still going on
250
00:15:25,020 --> 00:15:27,540
with team colors and team wardrobes.
251
00:15:27,689 --> 00:15:31,829
There was a wealthy that was really
into this and of some of the other
252
00:15:31,920 --> 00:15:36,900
common people as is today, which
mostly constitutes the SCCA membership.
253
00:15:37,170 --> 00:15:41,819
Records were lost unfortunately,
when they removed from back east.
254
00:15:41,819 --> 00:15:47,610
I think to Indiana, maybe one or
two dumpster loads were thrown away.
255
00:15:47,730 --> 00:15:51,360
Not doing any fault of the person doing
it, you just didn't have enough help.
256
00:15:51,449 --> 00:15:55,050
It was something that happened that
made life very difficult for us.
257
00:15:55,255 --> 00:15:59,185
I did go to Indy one time, AAA early.
258
00:15:59,275 --> 00:16:00,954
They concentrated more so on.
259
00:16:00,954 --> 00:16:04,045
Indy, researched a lot of their races.
260
00:16:04,165 --> 00:16:09,175
Harris served is A-S-E-C-A National VP,
public, and other leadership positions for
261
00:16:09,175 --> 00:16:11,875
the national SEC, which we have discussed.
262
00:16:11,880 --> 00:16:14,430
Ben was a rally official at this.
263
00:16:14,430 --> 00:16:20,970
He was already digging in to statuses of
the SCCA at the regional levels and such.
264
00:16:21,030 --> 00:16:24,000
He is wearing his rally
event official jacket.
265
00:16:24,120 --> 00:16:29,040
This is one of the three mgs that
Ben raced through the 12 years.
266
00:16:29,130 --> 00:16:33,270
Always had white walls on it and
always had BFH on his license plate.
267
00:16:33,330 --> 00:16:35,340
Ben was wealthy and he also had.
268
00:16:35,550 --> 00:16:36,630
On all of his cars.
269
00:16:36,630 --> 00:16:41,849
This kind of neat silver mascot for
opening up the hood of the speedster
270
00:16:41,849 --> 00:16:47,010
and on the radiator of this MG of
a character called Adolf, and it
271
00:16:47,010 --> 00:16:49,859
was a Jacques Cartier original.
272
00:16:50,010 --> 00:16:51,810
That's kind of way he was.
273
00:16:52,095 --> 00:16:55,725
It's noted that Watkins Glen is
a turning point for Motorsport
274
00:16:55,725 --> 00:16:59,235
safety, but what role did Ben play
in rebuilding after the tragedy?
275
00:16:59,235 --> 00:17:04,665
In 1952, Harris worked closely with
Wacky Anot, Jim, Kimberly, Harley
276
00:17:04,665 --> 00:17:06,885
Earl, amongst others to rebuild.
277
00:17:06,885 --> 00:17:11,685
After the tragedy at Watkins Glen, Ben
was on the front row of the one race.
278
00:17:11,685 --> 00:17:16,990
But it wasn't a race in which Fred Wacker
slid and unfortunately hit the one child.
279
00:17:17,050 --> 00:17:17,560
Together.
280
00:17:17,560 --> 00:17:22,150
They tackled design and construction
of Road America advocating the
281
00:17:22,150 --> 00:17:26,620
use of airports for future events,
and an emphasis on safety measures
282
00:17:26,620 --> 00:17:29,410
for both drivers and spectators.
283
00:17:29,500 --> 00:17:33,790
Let's talk about Ben's advocacy for safety
measures such as seat belts and roll bars,
284
00:17:33,820 --> 00:17:35,860
and how these innovations changed racing.
285
00:17:36,220 --> 00:17:39,220
I know that Ben, which they're
in his car's seat belts.
286
00:17:39,649 --> 00:17:43,520
And a built-in rule bar, Ben was
constantly pushing that, that to
287
00:17:43,520 --> 00:17:49,939
become the law in SCCA racing and in
hopes that even Formula One would pick
288
00:17:49,939 --> 00:17:52,520
it up for the safety of the drivers.
289
00:17:52,580 --> 00:17:54,230
Few things that people didn't realize.
290
00:17:54,230 --> 00:17:57,260
But yeah, Ben had seat belts
in his car, quite amazing.
291
00:17:57,945 --> 00:18:00,585
Everything had to change at this time.
292
00:18:00,675 --> 00:18:05,175
Racing in Europe, it changed Mercedes,
it just had a horrible wreck and I
293
00:18:05,175 --> 00:18:08,835
think 40 or 50 people were killed
and they actually pulled out a
294
00:18:08,835 --> 00:18:11,595
racing in entirety for decades.
295
00:18:11,745 --> 00:18:13,515
It went to future events.
296
00:18:13,635 --> 00:18:20,265
Ended up being a Boeing SCCA
trophy and officiated at SCCA
297
00:18:20,265 --> 00:18:22,215
base racing for racing planes.
298
00:18:22,594 --> 00:18:28,385
This has been 1954 Chino
Air Force Base event.
299
00:18:28,564 --> 00:18:33,814
Our estimated attendance was 80,000
over the three day event, race car
300
00:18:33,814 --> 00:18:38,314
bill and legend, wacky on Noll as a
whimsical point, and his wife were
301
00:18:38,314 --> 00:18:41,104
film checking race cars into the event.
302
00:18:41,104 --> 00:18:42,185
If you can imagine.
303
00:18:42,480 --> 00:18:48,330
Even back then a multimillionaire, even
owning one of the towers at Sebring, where
304
00:18:48,330 --> 00:18:52,950
the crews and Ben and everybody else would
get to go on top and watch the races.
305
00:18:53,130 --> 00:18:58,920
All of this, the two years that they
held, this was all in the plot, let's
306
00:18:58,920 --> 00:19:01,800
say, of what they were doing in building.
307
00:19:02,100 --> 00:19:07,860
Road America and to take it further was
throwing the international flag at the
308
00:19:07,860 --> 00:19:11,520
first cart, SCCA competition in the world.
309
00:19:11,610 --> 00:19:18,210
I think we have about 95 SCCA Sports
Car America, um, magazines shows Ben
310
00:19:18,210 --> 00:19:20,699
as the SCCA publications director.
311
00:19:20,879 --> 00:19:26,370
I think Ben moved around through the
groups here, more or less, to accomplish
312
00:19:26,370 --> 00:19:29,100
things that they wanted to get done.
313
00:19:29,705 --> 00:19:34,685
His association with Kimberly was
really not known that well, but at the
314
00:19:34,685 --> 00:19:39,515
same point in time was very strong,
along with other, let's say, powerful
315
00:19:39,575 --> 00:19:44,675
known individuals have, I think five
of the different proposed rules,
316
00:19:44,675 --> 00:19:47,075
changes and formula changes and stuff.
317
00:19:47,195 --> 00:19:50,820
As I mentioned, some of these rules
were probably being written up, either
318
00:19:50,820 --> 00:19:55,475
driving on Road Road America while it was
still in dirt, shaking the track down.
319
00:19:55,525 --> 00:20:00,655
Does show Ben Harris down here as
a director of publication and these
320
00:20:00,655 --> 00:20:02,875
other names that come up through here.
321
00:20:02,935 --> 00:20:05,065
We have pictures of Ben with them.
322
00:20:05,245 --> 00:20:08,995
So many more documents we
had to limit ourselves.
323
00:20:09,055 --> 00:20:10,795
There's a lot to this.
324
00:20:11,540 --> 00:20:16,909
Let's just say that it changes things
from the way many people thought it was.
325
00:20:17,060 --> 00:20:20,210
How did Harris's work influence
the trajectory of SECA and
326
00:20:20,210 --> 00:20:21,920
International Motorsport standards?
327
00:20:22,010 --> 00:20:26,420
Ben was, I guess, nominated again,
or, or maybe because there's probably
328
00:20:26,420 --> 00:20:31,670
shortages of people that were allowed
to throw the FIA flag that were FIA
329
00:20:31,700 --> 00:20:33,740
licensed here in the United States.
330
00:20:34,034 --> 00:20:36,465
I pose that as a question to historians.
331
00:20:36,554 --> 00:20:40,574
This race 59 was being covered by NBC.
332
00:20:40,574 --> 00:20:45,915
I truly would like to find someone
that can get into the NBC archives
333
00:20:46,004 --> 00:20:48,824
'cause we're sure it's gonna
show Ben all over the place.
334
00:20:48,824 --> 00:20:53,264
'cause he flagged, I mentioned
the first cart competition and uh,
335
00:20:53,264 --> 00:20:58,034
a speed week and showing Ben as
the flagman of the whole thing.
336
00:20:58,220 --> 00:21:02,389
This brings forth that Ben, I guess,
had enough power where he stopped wide
337
00:21:02,419 --> 00:21:08,000
broadcast and it caused a heated debate
between Team Roosevelt and the A Bars.
338
00:21:08,120 --> 00:21:11,810
Uh, they were not allowed back on the
track, but think of the power he carried
339
00:21:11,810 --> 00:21:14,419
to stop the whole international race.
340
00:21:14,540 --> 00:21:18,320
In here, you see a lot of the names
of the people, the Scare Up Cars.
341
00:21:18,320 --> 00:21:21,230
You see Paps in there, you
see Donald Healy in there, you
342
00:21:21,230 --> 00:21:23,514
see Duncan, see Shelby's name.
343
00:21:23,814 --> 00:21:26,240
All of these people are
the ones that Ben ran with.
344
00:21:26,420 --> 00:21:30,260
I guess they all wanted to be friends
with Ben too, when you think about it.
345
00:21:30,500 --> 00:21:32,570
But this is the televised event.
346
00:21:32,660 --> 00:21:35,600
We know Ben was there in 1958 too.
347
00:21:35,780 --> 00:21:39,440
You would've thought that the
kidnapping of Juan Fangio would've
348
00:21:39,440 --> 00:21:43,514
maybe scared the person off for
1959 for other possible events.
349
00:21:44,020 --> 00:21:46,210
But needless to say, Ben stood up.
350
00:21:46,330 --> 00:21:49,030
He took it and it all turned out well.
351
00:21:49,179 --> 00:21:50,679
Ben is throwing a flag.
352
00:21:50,679 --> 00:21:56,409
We believe this was the 59 Nassau Bahamas
Speedway in his group of cars, or the
353
00:21:56,409 --> 00:22:01,030
most famous legend and race drivers
ever recorded in the history books.
354
00:22:01,215 --> 00:22:02,685
This image raises a question.
355
00:22:02,685 --> 00:22:07,125
How many FIF race officials
were active in the US in 1959?
356
00:22:07,395 --> 00:22:10,305
As I mentioned prior, I'd
sure like to find that out.
357
00:22:10,545 --> 00:22:16,245
And again, Ben, his cap on cigarette,
he always had cigarettes and his
358
00:22:16,245 --> 00:22:21,525
official shirt always wanting to
be efficient and put on a show and
359
00:22:21,525 --> 00:22:23,385
have all the drivers and teams.
360
00:22:23,580 --> 00:22:24,480
Do the same.
361
00:22:24,570 --> 00:22:30,120
And you'll notice too, he has his SCCA
stopwatch on his belt that comes into
362
00:22:30,120 --> 00:22:32,040
a lot of pictures that we have of him.
363
00:22:32,130 --> 00:22:36,120
Shelby was driving his Maserati
Bird Cage Works card note.
364
00:22:36,120 --> 00:22:39,780
The Harris front wheel drive speedster
Bird Cage design was produced
365
00:22:39,780 --> 00:22:42,630
24 years prior to the Maserati.
366
00:22:42,834 --> 00:22:49,195
We have pictures of Ben with Gurney,
Juan Fangio Moss, the Generals, and
367
00:22:49,195 --> 00:22:53,635
we have donated money to use the
pictures from the Henry Ford Museum
368
00:22:53,695 --> 00:22:59,845
for the purpose of student and historic
knowledge for records and such.
369
00:23:00,024 --> 00:23:01,615
It ends here is to work.
370
00:23:01,615 --> 00:23:05,365
Needed to create a
national and united SCCA.
371
00:23:05,544 --> 00:23:06,774
Was finished.
372
00:23:06,925 --> 00:23:11,004
Tracy Bird, executive Director, SCCA 1959.
373
00:23:11,235 --> 00:23:17,325
There's several articles, but what it all
boils down to is the fact that there were
374
00:23:17,325 --> 00:23:24,585
five different racing organizations trying
to rule the race, which was not working.
375
00:23:24,585 --> 00:23:26,265
They all had different formulas.
376
00:23:26,265 --> 00:23:27,705
They had this, they had that.
377
00:23:27,990 --> 00:23:29,490
And it wasn't working anymore.
378
00:23:29,640 --> 00:23:34,140
Names like Jack McAfee never cut.
379
00:23:34,380 --> 00:23:40,830
Jim Kimberly and even Ken Miles come up
in this where they're all arguing over.
380
00:23:40,890 --> 00:23:44,250
Apparently there was a lot of
arguing when it all settled down.
381
00:23:44,370 --> 00:23:50,640
The SCCA was the national organization
that they were gonna be racing under.
382
00:23:51,130 --> 00:23:55,210
From then on, they had their other races,
but they were not sanctioned, nor could
383
00:23:55,210 --> 00:23:58,210
they use the SCCA logoing for anything.
384
00:23:58,450 --> 00:24:02,830
Tracy Bird seemed to think at
the end of it all, that this was
385
00:24:02,830 --> 00:24:07,750
the big merger that came out of a
desert deal between four people.
386
00:24:07,750 --> 00:24:11,710
It was a good one for
SCCA and yes, it was.
387
00:24:11,890 --> 00:24:16,780
We could go on with Ben in the racing,
but the last picture we have, was it a
388
00:24:16,780 --> 00:24:24,160
Michigan race track and he was looking
at the gas cap of an AC Cobra doing
389
00:24:24,160 --> 00:24:29,230
a post race inspection of a winning
car that won the race, the AC Cobra.
390
00:24:29,415 --> 00:24:34,304
What's the significance of the induction
of Ben Harris into the walk of fame
391
00:24:34,304 --> 00:24:36,615
and how does it preserve his legacy?
392
00:24:36,824 --> 00:24:41,294
Benjamin F. Harris, I third National
International Race Organization,
393
00:24:41,324 --> 00:24:45,104
track official and original
stockholder in Road America.
394
00:24:45,585 --> 00:24:50,835
Three author of National SCCA
positions 1952 Front Roof, the
395
00:24:50,835 --> 00:24:53,475
Glen's Last Queen Catherine Cup Race.
396
00:24:53,535 --> 00:24:57,495
This was used for Ben's
induction into the walk of fame.
397
00:24:57,525 --> 00:25:00,405
Thank you again, Mr. Bill
Green for helping me out.
398
00:25:00,405 --> 00:25:05,085
There again in ceremony, Ben and Jim
Kimberly World Award Special Metal
399
00:25:05,085 --> 00:25:07,815
Lifetime, SCCA membership cards.
400
00:25:07,989 --> 00:25:13,060
I have yet to find anything of a
ceremony whenever they retired after 10
401
00:25:13,060 --> 00:25:17,919
and 12 years of building the national
level at their own expenses too.
402
00:25:18,100 --> 00:25:22,659
The first 10 years of Road America,
Harris was active in the development
403
00:25:22,659 --> 00:25:25,899
of racing throughout the thirties
through the fifties, Harris was
404
00:25:25,899 --> 00:25:29,620
nominated and selected as a track
official for the inaugural event.
405
00:25:29,679 --> 00:25:32,800
Harris was an original stockholder
and designer of the track,
406
00:25:32,889 --> 00:25:34,719
as we previously mentioned.
407
00:25:34,995 --> 00:25:41,205
The records of this are at the Chicago
SCCA archival department where it
408
00:25:41,205 --> 00:25:45,795
shows they took a vote and they
nominated Van to be, I guess the track
409
00:25:45,795 --> 00:25:47,835
official and the official flagman.
410
00:25:48,015 --> 00:25:53,625
That is a picture of, I believe
it's Phil Hill and Sherwood Johnson.
411
00:25:53,835 --> 00:25:57,585
Gone past Ben at 130 miles an hour.
412
00:25:57,825 --> 00:26:03,165
Benjamin F. Harris third is inducted in
the DSCC walk of Fame September, 2020.
413
00:26:03,254 --> 00:26:07,455
The recognition was accepted on
behalf of Harris by John Yanko.
414
00:26:07,575 --> 00:26:09,645
A sincere thank you to Mr. Bill Green.
415
00:26:09,645 --> 00:26:13,965
Again, this is on the courthouse
steps at Watkins Glen.
416
00:26:14,085 --> 00:26:17,655
Bill was very kind and let us
put on a nice display of posters,
417
00:26:17,655 --> 00:26:19,305
which people really seem to enjoy.
418
00:26:19,350 --> 00:26:23,219
Which was part of Ben's racing
history and organization.
419
00:26:23,340 --> 00:26:27,719
I'd like to point out that, uh,
for additional information on Ben,
420
00:26:27,870 --> 00:26:30,330
there's a site called Auto Puzzles.
421
00:26:30,449 --> 00:26:36,209
I believe it is the largest
site for archival automobiles
422
00:26:36,209 --> 00:26:37,409
from around the world.
423
00:26:37,500 --> 00:26:40,290
Last year I looked ahead over 9 million.
424
00:26:40,545 --> 00:26:43,995
Reads and getting back to the
Harris Speedster, can you tell us
425
00:26:43,995 --> 00:26:47,295
more about the significance of the
fire in 1964 and the impact that
426
00:26:47,295 --> 00:26:48,645
it had on the Harris collection?
427
00:26:48,915 --> 00:26:52,605
Remember, this car was built in 1935.
428
00:26:52,725 --> 00:26:55,545
This pencil sketch here
from my brother Dan.
429
00:26:55,545 --> 00:26:58,785
This is when we first found
the car and brought it in.
430
00:26:59,035 --> 00:27:02,845
And we were trying to make sense of
what we found owned by David Biggs II
431
00:27:03,355 --> 00:27:07,975
and owner, proprietor of a selected
museum for automobiles of pedigree
432
00:27:07,975 --> 00:27:13,855
in Louisiana, Missouri, a fire in
1964 damaged 13 to 18 vehicles.
433
00:27:13,855 --> 00:27:17,395
In his collection, the Harris
Front Wheel Drive speedster in a
434
00:27:17,395 --> 00:27:22,285
newspaper article was considered
the most valuable of these vehicles.
435
00:27:22,495 --> 00:27:26,215
Other vintage cars damage
included a 58 Ferrari tester.
436
00:27:27,060 --> 00:27:30,360
Known well through the
Ferrari people is big red.
437
00:27:31,020 --> 00:27:36,960
A factory alloy bodied going with
knockoffs, which he raced a pre-war
438
00:27:36,960 --> 00:27:41,160
Mercedes 500 Clee, a horse Clee.
439
00:27:41,250 --> 00:27:46,530
It was a really rare alpha Roadster,
which actually Ralph Lauren owns one of
440
00:27:46,530 --> 00:27:50,610
the four, I believe it was four or five
cars that was built that was special.
441
00:27:50,965 --> 00:27:52,794
What's next for the
Harris Beat Reservation?
442
00:27:52,794 --> 00:27:55,645
John, how do you hope to
contribute to automotive history?
443
00:27:55,764 --> 00:27:57,625
We figured everybody would wanna know.
444
00:27:57,774 --> 00:28:01,044
Uh, I'm always asked, what
condition is the car in right now?
445
00:28:01,165 --> 00:28:04,225
We're blatantly showing you the
picture of it sitting there.
446
00:28:04,225 --> 00:28:06,145
It is real as the day is long.
447
00:28:06,235 --> 00:28:09,445
There are panels right now
being restored and the motor is
448
00:28:09,445 --> 00:28:11,245
being finished off right now.
449
00:28:11,395 --> 00:28:15,235
And also, if you wanna get in and look
at this, the American Pickers came
450
00:28:15,235 --> 00:28:19,645
here to History Channel and filmed
an episode, gave 'em about maybe.
451
00:28:19,700 --> 00:28:23,390
30 seconds, 40 seconds on the car.
452
00:28:23,390 --> 00:28:28,310
It was their focus and my focus,
the episode is called Tough Texas.
453
00:28:28,430 --> 00:28:30,710
I guess it turned into a favorite there.
454
00:28:30,710 --> 00:28:34,520
Unfortunately, they still make it
pay to watch the episode even though
455
00:28:34,520 --> 00:28:38,540
it's seven years old and they wanna
come back and do an update on the
456
00:28:38,540 --> 00:28:40,520
car in the story in the future.
457
00:28:40,670 --> 00:28:45,530
This whole story and the documents that
are shown to you are actual documents.
458
00:28:45,820 --> 00:28:46,930
That are backed up.
459
00:28:46,960 --> 00:28:50,620
A lot of the things that we've read
about race tracks and this person
460
00:28:50,620 --> 00:28:55,000
and that person, we've never seen an
ounce of documentation to back it up.
461
00:28:55,120 --> 00:28:59,500
We, on the other hand, have become
totally overwhelmed with what we have.
462
00:28:59,560 --> 00:29:02,560
We actually maybe can see
a few of the posters here.
463
00:29:02,620 --> 00:29:04,840
We have 48 posters made.
464
00:29:05,315 --> 00:29:11,195
The story got to be so unbelievable
that it was hard to even rationalize
465
00:29:11,255 --> 00:29:14,975
what had went on that got
missed all through the decades.
466
00:29:15,125 --> 00:29:15,695
All right, John.
467
00:29:15,695 --> 00:29:18,275
Well, we've reached that part of the
episode where we'd like to invite
468
00:29:18,275 --> 00:29:21,425
our guests to share any shout outs,
thank yous, promotions, or anything
469
00:29:21,425 --> 00:29:22,955
else we haven't covered thus far.
470
00:29:23,135 --> 00:29:29,855
Uh, again, we have to thank
the ER symposium, the Society
471
00:29:29,855 --> 00:29:31,835
of Automotive Historians.
472
00:29:32,335 --> 00:29:41,305
I am RRC, Mr. Robert Barr, Ruben Verde,
my brother Dan Yankel, my son John Yankel,
473
00:29:41,545 --> 00:29:46,825
and probably hundreds more that will
come out later in another presentation
474
00:29:46,825 --> 00:29:52,795
when we do one more so on Ben himself
and really lay down the documents on the
475
00:29:52,795 --> 00:29:56,185
Harris Fester and the other 25 documents.
476
00:29:56,425 --> 00:30:00,625
On his racing, which were being held
back, we just can't give it all away.
477
00:30:00,745 --> 00:30:03,835
Not 35 years of work
is deserving of a book.
478
00:30:03,925 --> 00:30:08,905
I want to thank everyone again for
their time, and I hope that this, um,
479
00:30:08,905 --> 00:30:13,585
this knowledge that we've passed on is
beneficial to some in their research
480
00:30:13,675 --> 00:30:15,715
and in their museums and archives.
481
00:30:16,185 --> 00:30:20,294
One other thing, Richard
Taylor, thank you so much.
482
00:30:20,355 --> 00:30:23,564
Richard Taylor did this for
almost nothing and he also made
483
00:30:23,564 --> 00:30:27,675
blueprints of the car while making
this computer generated image.
484
00:30:27,915 --> 00:30:31,395
Uh, so we can turn it into the
Library of Congress and some other
485
00:30:31,395 --> 00:30:33,764
halls of fame as we go along.
486
00:30:33,915 --> 00:30:38,054
If anybody finds anything on Ben,
I'd sure like to know about it.
487
00:30:38,054 --> 00:30:42,554
An email address to contact
me is is capital B, capital
488
00:30:42,554 --> 00:30:44,534
J, capital H, capital S.
489
00:30:45,360 --> 00:30:49,290
P-E-E-D-S-T-E r@outlook.com.
490
00:30:49,290 --> 00:30:50,280
Feel free to send.
491
00:30:50,399 --> 00:30:51,750
It's truly appreciated.
492
00:30:52,110 --> 00:30:53,399
Thank you so much.
493
00:30:53,610 --> 00:30:57,149
This episode is brought to you
in part by the International
494
00:30:57,149 --> 00:30:58,980
Motor Racing Research Center.
495
00:30:59,580 --> 00:31:03,450
Its charter is to collect,
share, and preserve the history
496
00:31:03,450 --> 00:31:08,129
of motor sports spanning
continents, eras, and race series.
497
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The Center's collection embodies
the speed, drama and camaraderie
498
00:31:13,574 --> 00:31:17,355
of amateur and professional motor
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499
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The center welcomes serious researchers
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00:31:41,655 --> 00:31:46,935
This episode is also brought to you by
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505
00:31:47,385 --> 00:31:51,254
They encourage research into any
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506
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The SAH actively supports the
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papers, organizational records.
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Print ephemera and images to safeguard,
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511
00:32:11,505 --> 00:32:18,315
For more information about the
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512
00:32:23,175 --> 00:32:27,495
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Break Fix's History of Motorsports
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Research Center, as well as the
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In this episode of the log book, John
Yako recounts the discovery and historical
6
00:00:21,330 --> 00:00:27,310
significance of a unique 1935 front wheel
drive speedster, created by Benjamin F.
7
00:00:27,310 --> 00:00:27,840
Harris iii.
8
00:00:28,665 --> 00:00:32,775
Initially found in a neglected
state in 1987, the vehicle's unusual
9
00:00:32,775 --> 00:00:36,405
design and Harris's innovative
contributions to automotive history,
10
00:00:36,465 --> 00:00:38,475
intrigued John and his brother.
11
00:00:38,685 --> 00:00:42,615
This led to an extensive pre-internet
research endeavor where they discovered
12
00:00:42,615 --> 00:00:46,754
Ben Harris was an early industrial
designer and motorsports architect,
13
00:00:46,845 --> 00:00:50,114
and was deeply involved in the
development of American Road Racing
14
00:00:50,175 --> 00:00:52,754
and CCAs national organization.
15
00:00:53,074 --> 00:00:57,035
He collaborated with notable figures
like Harley Earl and Jim Kimberly, and
16
00:00:57,035 --> 00:01:00,845
played a pivotal role in the establishment
of the Road America racetrack.
17
00:01:01,025 --> 00:01:04,804
John presents us with rich historical
insights, personal anecdotes, and
18
00:01:04,804 --> 00:01:08,345
acknowledges the extensive research
and supportive collaborations that
19
00:01:08,345 --> 00:01:12,395
uncovered Harris's legacy, culminating
in his posthumous induction into
20
00:01:12,395 --> 00:01:14,900
the SECA Walk of Fame in 2020.
21
00:01:15,390 --> 00:01:19,590
My introduction to Ben Harris
as a story past occurred in 1987
22
00:01:19,590 --> 00:01:22,710
while touring a property for
purchase in Clarksville, Missouri.
23
00:01:22,830 --> 00:01:27,360
The property was a time capsule of
partially buried pedigree automobiles
24
00:01:27,539 --> 00:01:32,640
and of their components I was drawn to
and later purchased the Harris Front
25
00:01:32,640 --> 00:01:36,899
wheel drive speed because of its unique
appearance and the fact that a tree had
26
00:01:36,899 --> 00:01:38,850
gone through the center of its cockpit.
27
00:01:39,179 --> 00:01:41,250
And it just amazed me.
28
00:01:41,310 --> 00:01:45,960
I began researching the purchase
pre-internet with a little more than
29
00:01:45,960 --> 00:01:48,720
this rendering by my brother Dan Yanko.
30
00:01:48,929 --> 00:01:53,160
John, what initially intrigued you about
Ben Harris and his work in automotive
31
00:01:53,160 --> 00:01:56,910
design as Ben f Harris III built?
32
00:01:57,150 --> 00:02:00,510
An anomaly in time in 1935.
33
00:02:00,780 --> 00:02:05,010
We wanted to just touch upon it
because he kind of built what was
34
00:02:05,010 --> 00:02:09,660
to come in the fifties in race
car designs and exotic designs.
35
00:02:09,750 --> 00:02:13,290
Always wore his hat,
usually flight glasses.
36
00:02:13,290 --> 00:02:14,400
He was a pilot.
37
00:02:14,550 --> 00:02:18,360
He was a very politically involved
person, and he usually had a
38
00:02:18,360 --> 00:02:23,460
dress code on, or he was dressed
in the SCCA efficient material.
39
00:02:23,725 --> 00:02:31,795
This picture is from an SCCA magazine,
Indiana Race, July, August, 1954.
40
00:02:31,945 --> 00:02:35,875
Can you elaborate on the significance of
Harris's association with the AAA in the
41
00:02:35,875 --> 00:02:41,484
early days, Ben, apparently all the way
back when this picture was taken was 1936,
42
00:02:41,484 --> 00:02:44,424
was highly involved with the a, a AAA.
43
00:02:44,750 --> 00:02:49,880
You'll notice there's AAA license
plate on the back of the speedster.
44
00:02:50,030 --> 00:02:53,990
That license plate says AAA official card.
45
00:02:54,140 --> 00:02:57,140
What are some of the design elements
of the Harris Speedster that were
46
00:02:57,140 --> 00:03:00,350
ahead of their time compared to
the later race cars of the 1950s?
47
00:03:00,500 --> 00:03:07,460
Remarkably, in 1935, the speedster was the
size of an AC cobra and a D type jaguar.
48
00:03:07,520 --> 00:03:09,350
The motors was a two cam.
49
00:03:09,665 --> 00:03:15,815
Two distributor dual rated V
eight, built in 1933 and 34.
50
00:03:16,025 --> 00:03:20,255
We could see that it had friction shock
absorbers, which I knew was something
51
00:03:20,255 --> 00:03:21,605
from the twenties and thirties.
52
00:03:21,905 --> 00:03:25,415
Ben's car started silk
chr, Metallica paint.
53
00:03:25,445 --> 00:03:26,405
DuPont's first.
54
00:03:26,405 --> 00:03:29,225
Actually, the color of that
is their patent formular.
55
00:03:29,225 --> 00:03:33,575
For chr, Metallica Paint, duke Lacquer
was put onto the Harris Speedster.
56
00:03:33,845 --> 00:03:36,695
How did GM executives
react to Harris's work?
57
00:03:37,000 --> 00:03:39,190
And was there any notable
collaboration between them?
58
00:03:39,429 --> 00:03:43,149
My favorite picture to illustrate
the size of the futuristic exotic
59
00:03:43,149 --> 00:03:47,500
design, the speedster photo from
52 Chicago Invitational event.
60
00:03:47,620 --> 00:03:50,799
There are some GM
executives in this picture.
61
00:03:50,799 --> 00:03:52,420
Here we have some other ones.
62
00:03:52,540 --> 00:03:57,459
GM was participating with Ben in
this booth, and we do believe this
63
00:03:57,459 --> 00:04:01,540
is the one that another friend of
Ben's, Chrissy Kaki, put a picture and
64
00:04:01,540 --> 00:04:05,769
featured Ben's car on the front cover
of his magazine for a special edition.
65
00:04:05,955 --> 00:04:09,855
We believe it was for this
showing, but we're truly not sure.
66
00:04:10,005 --> 00:04:15,135
It mentions Ben's car won an
Indianapolis custom car show in 1951.
67
00:04:15,375 --> 00:04:19,485
The reason for this was Wally Parks,
and I can't think of the owner's
68
00:04:19,485 --> 00:04:24,585
name of Hot Rod Magazine, ran a full
page ad looking for Ben and his car.
69
00:04:24,585 --> 00:04:29,205
They wanted to send him an invitation to
the second annual indie rod custom show.
70
00:04:29,775 --> 00:04:36,195
Ironically, at the end, 17 years of age
and design, it won a first place trophy.
71
00:04:36,345 --> 00:04:37,845
Can you even imagine that?
72
00:04:38,265 --> 00:04:40,575
It was still state-of-the-art futuristic.
73
00:04:40,845 --> 00:04:45,525
This picture here is actually
clipped from the Hot Rod Magazine
74
00:04:45,525 --> 00:04:49,320
from 1951 where they were looking
for Ben to send him an invitation.
75
00:04:49,995 --> 00:04:52,155
The car, at this point in time.
76
00:04:52,425 --> 00:04:57,345
Was still the chrome
Metallica as DuPont called it.
77
00:04:57,585 --> 00:05:03,075
Ben never really named the car that's
talked about in auto puzzles, which
78
00:05:03,075 --> 00:05:07,695
some may enjoy reading that story
'cause it brings back forth many,
79
00:05:07,695 --> 00:05:11,115
many more facts about Ben and the car.
80
00:05:11,295 --> 00:05:14,925
This is a speedster stretching
out its legs on the racetrack.
81
00:05:15,045 --> 00:05:16,665
This is a boardwalk.
82
00:05:17,215 --> 00:05:22,525
The speedster is on, and again,
we think this is 46 to 48.
83
00:05:22,765 --> 00:05:24,775
The vehicle did do some racing.
84
00:05:24,925 --> 00:05:27,025
Very limited, but it did.
85
00:05:27,295 --> 00:05:30,025
The more I learned about the
car, the more I became intrigued
86
00:05:30,025 --> 00:05:31,705
about the man behind the car.
87
00:05:31,855 --> 00:05:33,475
Harris's interest in performance.
88
00:05:33,475 --> 00:05:35,905
Cars wasn't limited to industrial design.
89
00:05:36,055 --> 00:05:39,745
He was also an enthusiast who
raced in and officiated numerous
90
00:05:39,745 --> 00:05:43,735
AAA SCCA and FI events in three.
91
00:05:43,980 --> 00:05:44,730
Countries.
92
00:05:44,790 --> 00:05:45,180
Yes.
93
00:05:45,180 --> 00:05:51,990
Three countries at Cuba, Nassau, Bahama,
and 12 states that we have him at with
94
00:05:51,990 --> 00:05:54,450
pictures and magazine articles and stuff.
95
00:05:54,630 --> 00:05:59,550
Harris needs to say, was very active
in the SCZA as it transitional lies
96
00:05:59,550 --> 00:06:03,300
into a unified national organization.
97
00:06:03,600 --> 00:06:07,560
Benjamin F. Harris was among the
vanguards of industrial designers,
98
00:06:07,560 --> 00:06:12,390
engineers, and Motorsport
architects as early as the 1930s.
99
00:06:12,570 --> 00:06:18,360
A small sampling of his associates
include Gordon Bing, Harley Earl,
100
00:06:18,630 --> 00:06:26,820
ed Cole, Zora Doff, James Kimberly,
wacky Arno, and many, many others.
101
00:06:27,120 --> 00:06:33,659
You'll see pictures of Ben talking
with Carol Shelby and his Maserati.
102
00:06:33,780 --> 00:06:37,290
You'll see a lot of different
pictures coming up, uh, including
103
00:06:37,290 --> 00:06:39,330
with Wacky and everybody else.
104
00:06:39,420 --> 00:06:43,020
He was good friends with Fred
Dusenberg, August son, Fritz.
105
00:06:43,110 --> 00:06:48,325
He was Best man at Gordon Bings wedding
in Auburn, Indiana to Betty Whitten.
106
00:06:48,580 --> 00:06:51,909
Can you describe the significance of
Harris' relationship with automotive
107
00:06:51,909 --> 00:06:54,190
icons like Harley Earl and Zora Donoff?
108
00:06:54,430 --> 00:06:59,349
Uh, knowing Harley Earl when he first
went to GM 56 Harley, and I guess
109
00:06:59,349 --> 00:07:03,609
Zora built him a special car vet and
delivered it to him right out of the
110
00:07:03,609 --> 00:07:06,280
styling building at General Motors.
111
00:07:06,400 --> 00:07:09,849
Ben took his plate, flew there, picked
it up, and while I was there, they
112
00:07:09,849 --> 00:07:12,219
also had a real nice luncheon for him.
113
00:07:12,405 --> 00:07:15,075
With most of the GM hierarchy.
114
00:07:15,225 --> 00:07:18,705
They're at the meeting Ben
brings in Harley Earl, which
115
00:07:18,705 --> 00:07:20,145
is a lot to be said there.
116
00:07:20,145 --> 00:07:21,945
I have talked to Richard Earl.
117
00:07:22,094 --> 00:07:24,255
We've coordinated just a little bit.
118
00:07:24,465 --> 00:07:27,855
I gave him some documents
that he'd never seen before.
119
00:07:27,945 --> 00:07:32,145
There's another way that Ben Harris found
together with his friends, Harley Earl.
120
00:07:33,550 --> 00:07:38,560
And others, um, concept CARNA Harris
Speech for Marketing Techniques.
121
00:07:38,560 --> 00:07:43,870
Benjamin Harris used to draw crowds at
many racing events throughout the us.
122
00:07:44,020 --> 00:07:49,720
1952 to 60 we'll mention, we also
talked about the loss history
123
00:07:49,720 --> 00:07:54,070
of the car, John Hendricks that
owns, uh, discovery channels and
124
00:07:54,070 --> 00:07:56,440
a lot the 30 year loss history.
125
00:07:56,440 --> 00:07:59,620
And I told him what I thought,
how that happened, but at the
126
00:07:59,620 --> 00:08:03,220
same point in time, he showed me
that he'd done a YouTube on that.
127
00:08:03,400 --> 00:08:04,630
That's a whole nother story.
128
00:08:04,630 --> 00:08:06,610
There's a lot of sub stories off this.
129
00:08:06,760 --> 00:08:08,020
We moved out past that.
130
00:08:08,020 --> 00:08:09,820
We run into the name Teeter.
131
00:08:10,030 --> 00:08:14,950
Teeter is the one that actually was
Perfect Circle Corporation, and also he's
132
00:08:14,950 --> 00:08:19,870
the one that sued pretty much everybody
for stealing his cruise control patent.
133
00:08:19,870 --> 00:08:20,080
Yeah.
134
00:08:20,080 --> 00:08:22,180
He's the one that designed it and made it.
135
00:08:22,180 --> 00:08:27,415
He brings in his friendships with
Pop Meyers, Jimmy Snyder, Peter
136
00:08:27,415 --> 00:08:31,495
Collins, Rodriguez Brothers,
Phil Hill, Alfred Momo, Alex
137
00:08:31,495 --> 00:08:33,295
Allman, and the great gentleman.
138
00:08:33,295 --> 00:08:37,015
Start your engines, Wil
Shaw, Wil Behar another.
139
00:08:37,015 --> 00:08:42,445
A few others are pitching in a film that
Ben did at one of the races, many races.
140
00:08:42,690 --> 00:08:47,520
That he was associated with in
officiating and sanctioning.
141
00:08:47,730 --> 00:08:52,800
We have not ran into anybody that
contributed more to building the
142
00:08:52,800 --> 00:08:58,440
national level in rules, books
and presentations than Ben Harris.
143
00:08:58,440 --> 00:09:02,700
That's a bold statement, but yet
we've been at this for 35 years.
144
00:09:02,790 --> 00:09:07,110
Then he talks about Colonel Harrington
of the contest board, the AA and
145
00:09:07,110 --> 00:09:09,930
American representative of FIA.
146
00:09:10,130 --> 00:09:13,370
I wonder if that's perhaps why
Ben was thrown an international
147
00:09:13,370 --> 00:09:15,350
flag at Nassau Bahamas.
148
00:09:15,350 --> 00:09:21,920
Speedway talks about him holding SCCA
Senior Competition license, AAA license,
149
00:09:21,920 --> 00:09:27,650
and FIA licenses, having served as an SCCA
regional executive member of the National
150
00:09:27,650 --> 00:09:31,580
Activities Committee in a former national
Vice president and publications director.
151
00:09:31,830 --> 00:09:33,390
Driven to different tracks.
152
00:09:33,390 --> 00:09:36,330
Stockholder of Road America.
153
00:09:36,450 --> 00:09:39,780
What role did Ben play in the
early development of Road America?
154
00:09:39,900 --> 00:09:44,760
David Biggs's son told me he has
records of them driving around and
155
00:09:44,760 --> 00:09:51,180
David Biggs's, uh, Mercedes 500 cab
filming the Road America before.
156
00:09:51,355 --> 00:09:53,665
It had any surface put onto it.
157
00:09:53,665 --> 00:09:56,395
They were making sure the track
was just as they wanted it.
158
00:09:56,515 --> 00:10:01,075
And this same book also has
rules and regulations that they
159
00:10:01,075 --> 00:10:02,905
were talking about adding in.
160
00:10:03,055 --> 00:10:06,300
This was 52 or 53 when this is filmed.
161
00:10:06,750 --> 00:10:10,620
I've tried to get that 'cause it would
be great to go with this, especially
162
00:10:10,860 --> 00:10:14,610
for Road America, to show the real
beginnings of shaking the track down
163
00:10:14,850 --> 00:10:17,370
at the inaugural race at Road America.
164
00:10:17,400 --> 00:10:22,050
Preston Tucker did have one of his
tuckers at that too, promoting the
165
00:10:22,050 --> 00:10:24,270
concept car and everything else.
166
00:10:24,270 --> 00:10:25,200
And by the way.
167
00:10:25,270 --> 00:10:29,980
I find this entertaining and not to
take away from anybody, but this is 52.
168
00:10:30,460 --> 00:10:32,500
Ben's car is 17 years old.
169
00:10:32,500 --> 00:10:36,939
It seems like it's still drawing
lots of people around it, and right
170
00:10:36,939 --> 00:10:39,970
in front of it is the four lac.
171
00:10:40,000 --> 00:10:40,660
Yes.
172
00:10:40,780 --> 00:10:44,110
Ben was also good friends
with the Granite Teles.
173
00:10:44,199 --> 00:10:47,530
This is ones that they
actually built for him.
174
00:10:47,650 --> 00:10:48,520
Cut the body.
175
00:10:48,790 --> 00:10:52,150
Put in the different rear
end knock off wheels.
176
00:10:52,180 --> 00:10:53,920
He used it as a tool.
177
00:10:53,980 --> 00:10:59,709
Ben had just driven it two weeks prior to
a big Indy race where ironically, many,
178
00:10:59,709 --> 00:11:03,459
many of the people that were there were
gonna be president coming at the Chino
179
00:11:03,490 --> 00:11:05,860
race that had almost 80,000 people there.
180
00:11:05,949 --> 00:11:09,849
But the point is, is Ben used
every tool that he could get.
181
00:11:09,849 --> 00:11:15,400
There's also rally events, which involves
sometimes 30 mile drives, but he wanted
182
00:11:15,400 --> 00:11:17,589
to draw as many as possible, and I'm sure.
183
00:11:17,815 --> 00:11:21,775
Everybody around him agreed and
they all participated in their
184
00:11:21,775 --> 00:11:23,515
plot that they were unleashing.
185
00:11:23,665 --> 00:11:27,145
Harris recognized the cart racing,
provided an incubator for tomorrow's
186
00:11:27,145 --> 00:11:29,575
motor sports champions, which it did.
187
00:11:29,725 --> 00:11:33,775
This is from the collection of
the Henry Ford Museum archives.
188
00:11:33,865 --> 00:11:35,935
There's a lot more to be
said about this picture, too.
189
00:11:35,935 --> 00:11:39,985
If you look in the background, you'll
see all the stands are full of people.
190
00:11:40,015 --> 00:11:44,785
He must have been bouncing everywhere
over that whole 10 days for this event.
191
00:11:44,955 --> 00:11:50,025
Road America Big Bo event is what it
was turned Harris could be spotted
192
00:11:50,025 --> 00:11:54,525
wearing a signature English flat
cap and an SCCA official shirt
193
00:11:54,585 --> 00:11:57,585
with a hands-on car number one 19.
194
00:11:57,735 --> 00:12:03,105
This photo is one of many SCCA
events officiated by Harris.
195
00:12:03,465 --> 00:12:04,995
This number 60 Jag.
196
00:12:04,995 --> 00:12:09,495
I think this is the 60 Jag that won
the inaugural race at Road America.
197
00:12:09,735 --> 00:12:10,905
Sorry to learn that.
198
00:12:10,905 --> 00:12:15,314
The one archivist that I'd spoken
with, really a nice guy, passed away.
199
00:12:15,375 --> 00:12:19,155
Looking forward to working with him, to
giving him a bunch of information that
200
00:12:19,155 --> 00:12:22,550
they don't have about the beginnings of
Road America and how it all happened.
201
00:12:22,949 --> 00:12:24,390
Finn Harris was a pilot.
202
00:12:24,390 --> 00:12:27,540
He owned an airport and
he was constantly flying.
203
00:12:27,540 --> 00:12:32,729
People like Harley Earl, wacky Arnold
James, Kimberly around to the different
204
00:12:32,729 --> 00:12:36,780
tracks, and in the meetings they
were having in making the national
205
00:12:36,780 --> 00:12:39,719
SCC and also Building Road America.
206
00:12:39,870 --> 00:12:42,930
How did Harris's involvement
in SCCA and other organizations
207
00:12:42,930 --> 00:12:44,760
influence Motorsport regulations?
208
00:12:44,910 --> 00:12:47,969
Now we're getting into
the actual racing part.
209
00:12:47,969 --> 00:12:50,910
We did wanna bring in
some about the speedster.
210
00:12:51,240 --> 00:12:56,280
Is the 65-year-old mystery of
CCAs early development solved.
211
00:12:56,460 --> 00:13:00,240
The question was initially
posed in this edition of SCCA
212
00:13:00,240 --> 00:13:03,060
magazine by executive director.
213
00:13:03,180 --> 00:13:06,690
Uh, last name was Bird of the SCCA.
214
00:13:06,900 --> 00:13:08,130
This is the front cover.
215
00:13:08,130 --> 00:13:12,060
Ironically, I'm not sure what
model or makeup vehicle it
216
00:13:12,270 --> 00:13:13,890
is going over the tracks.
217
00:13:13,980 --> 00:13:19,350
There's a picture of Ben going over the
same tracks, airborne in one of his mgs.
218
00:13:19,645 --> 00:13:23,965
That erased this SCCA article
written by the executive director
219
00:13:24,025 --> 00:13:29,335
acknowledges that SCCA records
were sketchy and very incomplete.
220
00:13:29,545 --> 00:13:33,685
Unfortunately, this voids severely
limited the ability to identify and
221
00:13:33,685 --> 00:13:37,795
recognize the individuals who made
certificate contributions to the
222
00:13:37,795 --> 00:13:42,325
transformation of the SCA from a
regional to a national organization.
223
00:13:42,475 --> 00:13:46,645
This was published in
SCCA publication 1959.
224
00:13:46,645 --> 00:13:47,755
I do believe it was.
225
00:13:47,760 --> 00:13:53,160
February and what the executive director
says is, when after the war, the ARCA
226
00:13:53,280 --> 00:13:55,770
was not reactivated to any great extent.
227
00:13:55,770 --> 00:13:59,670
A group of enthusiasts in Boston
founded a Sports Card Club of
228
00:13:59,670 --> 00:14:02,610
America in February of 1944.
229
00:14:02,670 --> 00:14:07,380
This is in direct contradiction to
California, claiming it in 1948.
230
00:14:07,564 --> 00:14:11,675
The club's growth from then on
is a matter of pride and common
231
00:14:11,675 --> 00:14:13,145
knowledge to the membership.
232
00:14:13,235 --> 00:14:19,325
This account, it is well realized
is sketchy and very incomplete, and
233
00:14:19,505 --> 00:14:24,455
through inadvertence of poor memory,
many names having been omitted,
234
00:14:24,455 --> 00:14:26,375
that should have been set down.
235
00:14:26,675 --> 00:14:32,015
The records have almost without exception,
disappeared, are been destroyed and this
236
00:14:32,015 --> 00:14:35,075
brief fragmentary switch has set down.
237
00:14:35,165 --> 00:14:38,825
But to hope that it may prove of some
interest to present day enthusiasts
238
00:14:38,915 --> 00:14:41,195
despite its very incomplete nature.
239
00:14:41,315 --> 00:14:44,945
So if the thought from little
acorns, et cetera, we set the time
240
00:14:44,945 --> 00:14:48,785
machine back to the present, take
our somewhat creaking departure.
241
00:14:49,165 --> 00:14:53,455
Jim Kimberly and Ben Harris, they were
recognized in the first edition of
242
00:14:53,455 --> 00:14:56,814
Sports Illustrated in August, 1954.
243
00:14:56,905 --> 00:14:58,975
How did they ever get that done?
244
00:14:59,155 --> 00:15:03,475
Why wasn't Pebble Beach Indy or
Watkins Glen use and why were Jim,
245
00:15:03,475 --> 00:15:05,185
Kimberly and Ben Harris featured?
246
00:15:05,305 --> 00:15:07,735
Could it be because of
the title, new Herty?
247
00:15:08,730 --> 00:15:14,730
Bringing in new vision, dress codes,
racing rules and regulations, safety
248
00:15:14,730 --> 00:15:20,250
aspects and formulas for drivers and
race teams to follow, which ironically,
249
00:15:20,340 --> 00:15:25,020
it seems like all the teams to this very
day were inspired that still going on
250
00:15:25,020 --> 00:15:27,540
with team colors and team wardrobes.
251
00:15:27,689 --> 00:15:31,829
There was a wealthy that was really
into this and of some of the other
252
00:15:31,920 --> 00:15:36,900
common people as is today, which
mostly constitutes the SCCA membership.
253
00:15:37,170 --> 00:15:41,819
Records were lost unfortunately,
when they removed from back east.
254
00:15:41,819 --> 00:15:47,610
I think to Indiana, maybe one or
two dumpster loads were thrown away.
255
00:15:47,730 --> 00:15:51,360
Not doing any fault of the person doing
it, you just didn't have enough help.
256
00:15:51,449 --> 00:15:55,050
It was something that happened that
made life very difficult for us.
257
00:15:55,255 --> 00:15:59,185
I did go to Indy one time, AAA early.
258
00:15:59,275 --> 00:16:00,954
They concentrated more so on.
259
00:16:00,954 --> 00:16:04,045
Indy, researched a lot of their races.
260
00:16:04,165 --> 00:16:09,175
Harris served is A-S-E-C-A National VP,
public, and other leadership positions for
261
00:16:09,175 --> 00:16:11,875
the national SEC, which we have discussed.
262
00:16:11,880 --> 00:16:14,430
Ben was a rally official at this.
263
00:16:14,430 --> 00:16:20,970
He was already digging in to statuses of
the SCCA at the regional levels and such.
264
00:16:21,030 --> 00:16:24,000
He is wearing his rally
event official jacket.
265
00:16:24,120 --> 00:16:29,040
This is one of the three mgs that
Ben raced through the 12 years.
266
00:16:29,130 --> 00:16:33,270
Always had white walls on it and
always had BFH on his license plate.
267
00:16:33,330 --> 00:16:35,340
Ben was wealthy and he also had.
268
00:16:35,550 --> 00:16:36,630
On all of his cars.
269
00:16:36,630 --> 00:16:41,849
This kind of neat silver mascot for
opening up the hood of the speedster
270
00:16:41,849 --> 00:16:47,010
and on the radiator of this MG of
a character called Adolf, and it
271
00:16:47,010 --> 00:16:49,859
was a Jacques Cartier original.
272
00:16:50,010 --> 00:16:51,810
That's kind of way he was.
273
00:16:52,095 --> 00:16:55,725
It's noted that Watkins Glen is
a turning point for Motorsport
274
00:16:55,725 --> 00:16:59,235
safety, but what role did Ben play
in rebuilding after the tragedy?
275
00:16:59,235 --> 00:17:04,665
In 1952, Harris worked closely with
Wacky Anot, Jim, Kimberly, Harley
276
00:17:04,665 --> 00:17:06,885
Earl, amongst others to rebuild.
277
00:17:06,885 --> 00:17:11,685
After the tragedy at Watkins Glen, Ben
was on the front row of the one race.
278
00:17:11,685 --> 00:17:16,990
But it wasn't a race in which Fred Wacker
slid and unfortunately hit the one child.
279
00:17:17,050 --> 00:17:17,560
Together.
280
00:17:17,560 --> 00:17:22,150
They tackled design and construction
of Road America advocating the
281
00:17:22,150 --> 00:17:26,620
use of airports for future events,
and an emphasis on safety measures
282
00:17:26,620 --> 00:17:29,410
for both drivers and spectators.
283
00:17:29,500 --> 00:17:33,790
Let's talk about Ben's advocacy for safety
measures such as seat belts and roll bars,
284
00:17:33,820 --> 00:17:35,860
and how these innovations changed racing.
285
00:17:36,220 --> 00:17:39,220
I know that Ben, which they're
in his car's seat belts.
286
00:17:39,649 --> 00:17:43,520
And a built-in rule bar, Ben was
constantly pushing that, that to
287
00:17:43,520 --> 00:17:49,939
become the law in SCCA racing and in
hopes that even Formula One would pick
288
00:17:49,939 --> 00:17:52,520
it up for the safety of the drivers.
289
00:17:52,580 --> 00:17:54,230
Few things that people didn't realize.
290
00:17:54,230 --> 00:17:57,260
But yeah, Ben had seat belts
in his car, quite amazing.
291
00:17:57,945 --> 00:18:00,585
Everything had to change at this time.
292
00:18:00,675 --> 00:18:05,175
Racing in Europe, it changed Mercedes,
it just had a horrible wreck and I
293
00:18:05,175 --> 00:18:08,835
think 40 or 50 people were killed
and they actually pulled out a
294
00:18:08,835 --> 00:18:11,595
racing in entirety for decades.
295
00:18:11,745 --> 00:18:13,515
It went to future events.
296
00:18:13,635 --> 00:18:20,265
Ended up being a Boeing SCCA
trophy and officiated at SCCA
297
00:18:20,265 --> 00:18:22,215
base racing for racing planes.
298
00:18:22,594 --> 00:18:28,385
This has been 1954 Chino
Air Force Base event.
299
00:18:28,564 --> 00:18:33,814
Our estimated attendance was 80,000
over the three day event, race car
300
00:18:33,814 --> 00:18:38,314
bill and legend, wacky on Noll as a
whimsical point, and his wife were
301
00:18:38,314 --> 00:18:41,104
film checking race cars into the event.
302
00:18:41,104 --> 00:18:42,185
If you can imagine.
303
00:18:42,480 --> 00:18:48,330
Even back then a multimillionaire, even
owning one of the towers at Sebring, where
304
00:18:48,330 --> 00:18:52,950
the crews and Ben and everybody else would
get to go on top and watch the races.
305
00:18:53,130 --> 00:18:58,920
All of this, the two years that they
held, this was all in the plot, let's
306
00:18:58,920 --> 00:19:01,800
say, of what they were doing in building.
307
00:19:02,100 --> 00:19:07,860
Road America and to take it further was
throwing the international flag at the
308
00:19:07,860 --> 00:19:11,520
first cart, SCCA competition in the world.
309
00:19:11,610 --> 00:19:18,210
I think we have about 95 SCCA Sports
Car America, um, magazines shows Ben
310
00:19:18,210 --> 00:19:20,699
as the SCCA publications director.
311
00:19:20,879 --> 00:19:26,370
I think Ben moved around through the
groups here, more or less, to accomplish
312
00:19:26,370 --> 00:19:29,100
things that they wanted to get done.
313
00:19:29,705 --> 00:19:34,685
His association with Kimberly was
really not known that well, but at the
314
00:19:34,685 --> 00:19:39,515
same point in time was very strong,
along with other, let's say, powerful
315
00:19:39,575 --> 00:19:44,675
known individuals have, I think five
of the different proposed rules,
316
00:19:44,675 --> 00:19:47,075
changes and formula changes and stuff.
317
00:19:47,195 --> 00:19:50,820
As I mentioned, some of these rules
were probably being written up, either
318
00:19:50,820 --> 00:19:55,475
driving on Road Road America while it was
still in dirt, shaking the track down.
319
00:19:55,525 --> 00:20:00,655
Does show Ben Harris down here as
a director of publication and these
320
00:20:00,655 --> 00:20:02,875
other names that come up through here.
321
00:20:02,935 --> 00:20:05,065
We have pictures of Ben with them.
322
00:20:05,245 --> 00:20:08,995
So many more documents we
had to limit ourselves.
323
00:20:09,055 --> 00:20:10,795
There's a lot to this.
324
00:20:11,540 --> 00:20:16,909
Let's just say that it changes things
from the way many people thought it was.
325
00:20:17,060 --> 00:20:20,210
How did Harris's work influence
the trajectory of SECA and
326
00:20:20,210 --> 00:20:21,920
International Motorsport standards?
327
00:20:22,010 --> 00:20:26,420
Ben was, I guess, nominated again,
or, or maybe because there's probably
328
00:20:26,420 --> 00:20:31,670
shortages of people that were allowed
to throw the FIA flag that were FIA
329
00:20:31,700 --> 00:20:33,740
licensed here in the United States.
330
00:20:34,034 --> 00:20:36,465
I pose that as a question to historians.
331
00:20:36,554 --> 00:20:40,574
This race 59 was being covered by NBC.
332
00:20:40,574 --> 00:20:45,915
I truly would like to find someone
that can get into the NBC archives
333
00:20:46,004 --> 00:20:48,824
'cause we're sure it's gonna
show Ben all over the place.
334
00:20:48,824 --> 00:20:53,264
'cause he flagged, I mentioned
the first cart competition and uh,
335
00:20:53,264 --> 00:20:58,034
a speed week and showing Ben as
the flagman of the whole thing.
336
00:20:58,220 --> 00:21:02,389
This brings forth that Ben, I guess,
had enough power where he stopped wide
337
00:21:02,419 --> 00:21:08,000
broadcast and it caused a heated debate
between Team Roosevelt and the A Bars.
338
00:21:08,120 --> 00:21:11,810
Uh, they were not allowed back on the
track, but think of the power he carried
339
00:21:11,810 --> 00:21:14,419
to stop the whole international race.
340
00:21:14,540 --> 00:21:18,320
In here, you see a lot of the names
of the people, the Scare Up Cars.
341
00:21:18,320 --> 00:21:21,230
You see Paps in there, you
see Donald Healy in there, you
342
00:21:21,230 --> 00:21:23,514
see Duncan, see Shelby's name.
343
00:21:23,814 --> 00:21:26,240
All of these people are
the ones that Ben ran with.
344
00:21:26,420 --> 00:21:30,260
I guess they all wanted to be friends
with Ben too, when you think about it.
345
00:21:30,500 --> 00:21:32,570
But this is the televised event.
346
00:21:32,660 --> 00:21:35,600
We know Ben was there in 1958 too.
347
00:21:35,780 --> 00:21:39,440
You would've thought that the
kidnapping of Juan Fangio would've
348
00:21:39,440 --> 00:21:43,514
maybe scared the person off for
1959 for other possible events.
349
00:21:44,020 --> 00:21:46,210
But needless to say, Ben stood up.
350
00:21:46,330 --> 00:21:49,030
He took it and it all turned out well.
351
00:21:49,179 --> 00:21:50,679
Ben is throwing a flag.
352
00:21:50,679 --> 00:21:56,409
We believe this was the 59 Nassau Bahamas
Speedway in his group of cars, or the
353
00:21:56,409 --> 00:22:01,030
most famous legend and race drivers
ever recorded in the history books.
354
00:22:01,215 --> 00:22:02,685
This image raises a question.
355
00:22:02,685 --> 00:22:07,125
How many FIF race officials
were active in the US in 1959?
356
00:22:07,395 --> 00:22:10,305
As I mentioned prior, I'd
sure like to find that out.
357
00:22:10,545 --> 00:22:16,245
And again, Ben, his cap on cigarette,
he always had cigarettes and his
358
00:22:16,245 --> 00:22:21,525
official shirt always wanting to
be efficient and put on a show and
359
00:22:21,525 --> 00:22:23,385
have all the drivers and teams.
360
00:22:23,580 --> 00:22:24,480
Do the same.
361
00:22:24,570 --> 00:22:30,120
And you'll notice too, he has his SCCA
stopwatch on his belt that comes into
362
00:22:30,120 --> 00:22:32,040
a lot of pictures that we have of him.
363
00:22:32,130 --> 00:22:36,120
Shelby was driving his Maserati
Bird Cage Works card note.
364
00:22:36,120 --> 00:22:39,780
The Harris front wheel drive speedster
Bird Cage design was produced
365
00:22:39,780 --> 00:22:42,630
24 years prior to the Maserati.
366
00:22:42,834 --> 00:22:49,195
We have pictures of Ben with Gurney,
Juan Fangio Moss, the Generals, and
367
00:22:49,195 --> 00:22:53,635
we have donated money to use the
pictures from the Henry Ford Museum
368
00:22:53,695 --> 00:22:59,845
for the purpose of student and historic
knowledge for records and such.
369
00:23:00,024 --> 00:23:01,615
It ends here is to work.
370
00:23:01,615 --> 00:23:05,365
Needed to create a
national and united SCCA.
371
00:23:05,544 --> 00:23:06,774
Was finished.
372
00:23:06,925 --> 00:23:11,004
Tracy Bird, executive Director, SCCA 1959.
373
00:23:11,235 --> 00:23:17,325
There's several articles, but what it all
boils down to is the fact that there were
374
00:23:17,325 --> 00:23:24,585
five different racing organizations trying
to rule the race, which was not working.
375
00:23:24,585 --> 00:23:26,265
They all had different formulas.
376
00:23:26,265 --> 00:23:27,705
They had this, they had that.
377
00:23:27,990 --> 00:23:29,490
And it wasn't working anymore.
378
00:23:29,640 --> 00:23:34,140
Names like Jack McAfee never cut.
379
00:23:34,380 --> 00:23:40,830
Jim Kimberly and even Ken Miles come up
in this where they're all arguing over.
380
00:23:40,890 --> 00:23:44,250
Apparently there was a lot of
arguing when it all settled down.
381
00:23:44,370 --> 00:23:50,640
The SCCA was the national organization
that they were gonna be racing under.
382
00:23:51,130 --> 00:23:55,210
From then on, they had their other races,
but they were not sanctioned, nor could
383
00:23:55,210 --> 00:23:58,210
they use the SCCA logoing for anything.
384
00:23:58,450 --> 00:24:02,830
Tracy Bird seemed to think at
the end of it all, that this was
385
00:24:02,830 --> 00:24:07,750
the big merger that came out of a
desert deal between four people.
386
00:24:07,750 --> 00:24:11,710
It was a good one for
SCCA and yes, it was.
387
00:24:11,890 --> 00:24:16,780
We could go on with Ben in the racing,
but the last picture we have, was it a
388
00:24:16,780 --> 00:24:24,160
Michigan race track and he was looking
at the gas cap of an AC Cobra doing
389
00:24:24,160 --> 00:24:29,230
a post race inspection of a winning
car that won the race, the AC Cobra.
390
00:24:29,415 --> 00:24:34,304
What's the significance of the induction
of Ben Harris into the walk of fame
391
00:24:34,304 --> 00:24:36,615
and how does it preserve his legacy?
392
00:24:36,824 --> 00:24:41,294
Benjamin F. Harris, I third National
International Race Organization,
393
00:24:41,324 --> 00:24:45,104
track official and original
stockholder in Road America.
394
00:24:45,585 --> 00:24:50,835
Three author of National SCCA
positions 1952 Front Roof, the
395
00:24:50,835 --> 00:24:53,475
Glen's Last Queen Catherine Cup Race.
396
00:24:53,535 --> 00:24:57,495
This was used for Ben's
induction into the walk of fame.
397
00:24:57,525 --> 00:25:00,405
Thank you again, Mr. Bill
Green for helping me out.
398
00:25:00,405 --> 00:25:05,085
There again in ceremony, Ben and Jim
Kimberly World Award Special Metal
399
00:25:05,085 --> 00:25:07,815
Lifetime, SCCA membership cards.
400
00:25:07,989 --> 00:25:13,060
I have yet to find anything of a
ceremony whenever they retired after 10
401
00:25:13,060 --> 00:25:17,919
and 12 years of building the national
level at their own expenses too.
402
00:25:18,100 --> 00:25:22,659
The first 10 years of Road America,
Harris was active in the development
403
00:25:22,659 --> 00:25:25,899
of racing throughout the thirties
through the fifties, Harris was
404
00:25:25,899 --> 00:25:29,620
nominated and selected as a track
official for the inaugural event.
405
00:25:29,679 --> 00:25:32,800
Harris was an original stockholder
and designer of the track,
406
00:25:32,889 --> 00:25:34,719
as we previously mentioned.
407
00:25:34,995 --> 00:25:41,205
The records of this are at the Chicago
SCCA archival department where it
408
00:25:41,205 --> 00:25:45,795
shows they took a vote and they
nominated Van to be, I guess the track
409
00:25:45,795 --> 00:25:47,835
official and the official flagman.
410
00:25:48,015 --> 00:25:53,625
That is a picture of, I believe
it's Phil Hill and Sherwood Johnson.
411
00:25:53,835 --> 00:25:57,585
Gone past Ben at 130 miles an hour.
412
00:25:57,825 --> 00:26:03,165
Benjamin F. Harris third is inducted in
the DSCC walk of Fame September, 2020.
413
00:26:03,254 --> 00:26:07,455
The recognition was accepted on
behalf of Harris by John Yanko.
414
00:26:07,575 --> 00:26:09,645
A sincere thank you to Mr. Bill Green.
415
00:26:09,645 --> 00:26:13,965
Again, this is on the courthouse
steps at Watkins Glen.
416
00:26:14,085 --> 00:26:17,655
Bill was very kind and let us
put on a nice display of posters,
417
00:26:17,655 --> 00:26:19,305
which people really seem to enjoy.
418
00:26:19,350 --> 00:26:23,219
Which was part of Ben's racing
history and organization.
419
00:26:23,340 --> 00:26:27,719
I'd like to point out that, uh,
for additional information on Ben,
420
00:26:27,870 --> 00:26:30,330
there's a site called Auto Puzzles.
421
00:26:30,449 --> 00:26:36,209
I believe it is the largest
site for archival automobiles
422
00:26:36,209 --> 00:26:37,409
from around the world.
423
00:26:37,500 --> 00:26:40,290
Last year I looked ahead over 9 million.
424
00:26:40,545 --> 00:26:43,995
Reads and getting back to the
Harris Speedster, can you tell us
425
00:26:43,995 --> 00:26:47,295
more about the significance of the
fire in 1964 and the impact that
426
00:26:47,295 --> 00:26:48,645
it had on the Harris collection?
427
00:26:48,915 --> 00:26:52,605
Remember, this car was built in 1935.
428
00:26:52,725 --> 00:26:55,545
This pencil sketch here
from my brother Dan.
429
00:26:55,545 --> 00:26:58,785
This is when we first found
the car and brought it in.
430
00:26:59,035 --> 00:27:02,845
And we were trying to make sense of
what we found owned by David Biggs II
431
00:27:03,355 --> 00:27:07,975
and owner, proprietor of a selected
museum for automobiles of pedigree
432
00:27:07,975 --> 00:27:13,855
in Louisiana, Missouri, a fire in
1964 damaged 13 to 18 vehicles.
433
00:27:13,855 --> 00:27:17,395
In his collection, the Harris
Front Wheel Drive speedster in a
434
00:27:17,395 --> 00:27:22,285
newspaper article was considered
the most valuable of these vehicles.
435
00:27:22,495 --> 00:27:26,215
Other vintage cars damage
included a 58 Ferrari tester.
436
00:27:27,060 --> 00:27:30,360
Known well through the
Ferrari people is big red.
437
00:27:31,020 --> 00:27:36,960
A factory alloy bodied going with
knockoffs, which he raced a pre-war
438
00:27:36,960 --> 00:27:41,160
Mercedes 500 Clee, a horse Clee.
439
00:27:41,250 --> 00:27:46,530
It was a really rare alpha Roadster,
which actually Ralph Lauren owns one of
440
00:27:46,530 --> 00:27:50,610
the four, I believe it was four or five
cars that was built that was special.
441
00:27:50,965 --> 00:27:52,794
What's next for the
Harris Beat Reservation?
442
00:27:52,794 --> 00:27:55,645
John, how do you hope to
contribute to automotive history?
443
00:27:55,764 --> 00:27:57,625
We figured everybody would wanna know.
444
00:27:57,774 --> 00:28:01,044
Uh, I'm always asked, what
condition is the car in right now?
445
00:28:01,165 --> 00:28:04,225
We're blatantly showing you the
picture of it sitting there.
446
00:28:04,225 --> 00:28:06,145
It is real as the day is long.
447
00:28:06,235 --> 00:28:09,445
There are panels right now
being restored and the motor is
448
00:28:09,445 --> 00:28:11,245
being finished off right now.
449
00:28:11,395 --> 00:28:15,235
And also, if you wanna get in and look
at this, the American Pickers came
450
00:28:15,235 --> 00:28:19,645
here to History Channel and filmed
an episode, gave 'em about maybe.
451
00:28:19,700 --> 00:28:23,390
30 seconds, 40 seconds on the car.
452
00:28:23,390 --> 00:28:28,310
It was their focus and my focus,
the episode is called Tough Texas.
453
00:28:28,430 --> 00:28:30,710
I guess it turned into a favorite there.
454
00:28:30,710 --> 00:28:34,520
Unfortunately, they still make it
pay to watch the episode even though
455
00:28:34,520 --> 00:28:38,540
it's seven years old and they wanna
come back and do an update on the
456
00:28:38,540 --> 00:28:40,520
car in the story in the future.
457
00:28:40,670 --> 00:28:45,530
This whole story and the documents that
are shown to you are actual documents.
458
00:28:45,820 --> 00:28:46,930
That are backed up.
459
00:28:46,960 --> 00:28:50,620
A lot of the things that we've read
about race tracks and this person
460
00:28:50,620 --> 00:28:55,000
and that person, we've never seen an
ounce of documentation to back it up.
461
00:28:55,120 --> 00:28:59,500
We, on the other hand, have become
totally overwhelmed with what we have.
462
00:28:59,560 --> 00:29:02,560
We actually maybe can see
a few of the posters here.
463
00:29:02,620 --> 00:29:04,840
We have 48 posters made.
464
00:29:05,315 --> 00:29:11,195
The story got to be so unbelievable
that it was hard to even rationalize
465
00:29:11,255 --> 00:29:14,975
what had went on that got
missed all through the decades.
466
00:29:15,125 --> 00:29:15,695
All right, John.
467
00:29:15,695 --> 00:29:18,275
Well, we've reached that part of the
episode where we'd like to invite
468
00:29:18,275 --> 00:29:21,425
our guests to share any shout outs,
thank yous, promotions, or anything
469
00:29:21,425 --> 00:29:22,955
else we haven't covered thus far.
470
00:29:23,135 --> 00:29:29,855
Uh, again, we have to thank
the ER symposium, the Society
471
00:29:29,855 --> 00:29:31,835
of Automotive Historians.
472
00:29:32,335 --> 00:29:41,305
I am RRC, Mr. Robert Barr, Ruben Verde,
my brother Dan Yankel, my son John Yankel,
473
00:29:41,545 --> 00:29:46,825
and probably hundreds more that will
come out later in another presentation
474
00:29:46,825 --> 00:29:52,795
when we do one more so on Ben himself
and really lay down the documents on the
475
00:29:52,795 --> 00:29:56,185
Harris Fester and the other 25 documents.
476
00:29:56,425 --> 00:30:00,625
On his racing, which were being held
back, we just can't give it all away.
477
00:30:00,745 --> 00:30:03,835
Not 35 years of work
is deserving of a book.
478
00:30:03,925 --> 00:30:08,905
I want to thank everyone again for
their time, and I hope that this, um,
479
00:30:08,905 --> 00:30:13,585
this knowledge that we've passed on is
beneficial to some in their research
480
00:30:13,675 --> 00:30:15,715
and in their museums and archives.
481
00:30:16,185 --> 00:30:20,294
One other thing, Richard
Taylor, thank you so much.
482
00:30:20,355 --> 00:30:23,564
Richard Taylor did this for
almost nothing and he also made
483
00:30:23,564 --> 00:30:27,675
blueprints of the car while making
this computer generated image.
484
00:30:27,915 --> 00:30:31,395
Uh, so we can turn it into the
Library of Congress and some other
485
00:30:31,395 --> 00:30:33,764
halls of fame as we go along.
486
00:30:33,915 --> 00:30:38,054
If anybody finds anything on Ben,
I'd sure like to know about it.
487
00:30:38,054 --> 00:30:42,554
An email address to contact
me is is capital B, capital
488
00:30:42,554 --> 00:30:44,534
J, capital H, capital S.
489
00:30:45,360 --> 00:30:49,290
P-E-E-D-S-T-E r@outlook.com.
490
00:30:49,290 --> 00:30:50,280
Feel free to send.
491
00:30:50,399 --> 00:30:51,750
It's truly appreciated.
492
00:30:52,110 --> 00:30:53,399
Thank you so much.
493
00:30:53,610 --> 00:30:57,149
This episode is brought to you
in part by the International
494
00:30:57,149 --> 00:30:58,980
Motor Racing Research Center.
495
00:30:59,580 --> 00:31:03,450
Its charter is to collect,
share, and preserve the history
496
00:31:03,450 --> 00:31:08,129
of motor sports spanning
continents, eras, and race series.
497
00:31:08,985 --> 00:31:13,574
The Center's collection embodies
the speed, drama and camaraderie
498
00:31:13,574 --> 00:31:17,355
of amateur and professional motor
racing throughout the world.
499
00:31:18,074 --> 00:31:23,264
The center welcomes serious researchers
and casual fans alike to share stories
500
00:31:23,264 --> 00:31:29,085
of race drivers race series, and race
cars captured on their shelves and walls,
501
00:31:29,475 --> 00:31:33,824
and brought to life through a regular
calendar of public lectures and special
502
00:31:33,824 --> 00:31:36,855
events to learn more about the center.
503
00:31:37,125 --> 00:31:41,055
Visit www.racing archives.org.
504
00:31:41,655 --> 00:31:46,935
This episode is also brought to you by
the Society of Automotive Historians.
505
00:31:47,385 --> 00:31:51,254
They encourage research into any
aspect of automotive history.
506
00:31:51,765 --> 00:31:56,295
The SAH actively supports the
compilation and preservation of
507
00:31:56,295 --> 00:31:58,665
papers, organizational records.
508
00:31:58,980 --> 00:32:03,930
Print ephemera and images to safeguard,
as well as to broaden and deepen
509
00:32:03,930 --> 00:32:08,370
the understanding of motorized
wheeled land transportation through
510
00:32:08,370 --> 00:32:10,710
the modern age and into the future.
511
00:32:11,505 --> 00:32:18,315
For more information about the
SAH, visit www.auto history.org.
512
00:32:23,175 --> 00:32:27,495
We hope you enjoyed another awesome
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513
00:32:27,495 --> 00:32:29,535
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