here's a picture of what the Goliath at that time would've looked like:
http://home.arcor.de/weisshauptr/htm/gp700.htm
http://home.arcor.de/weisshauptr/htm/index_e.htm
25.5 horsepower.... holy schnikies!!!
No wonder it didn't win.
Cheers.
Alan
'53 BN1 '64 BJ8
On 3/8/06, Len and/or Marge <thehartnetts@earthlink.net> wrote:
> There have been some negative comments from drivers concerning the entry of
>Toyota into the 'good ol' boys' NASCAR game. They don't want 'them feriners'
>on their turf. This despite the fact that Toyota is already in the Craftsman
>Truck Series and that Dodge, which has a long history in NASCAR, is owned by
>Daimler-Chrysler which is headquartered in Germany. A recent poll of AutoWeek
>readers showed that 41.6% thought it would be good for the sport, 21.7% said,
>"The more the merrier", 13,9% not too thrilled, and 22.9% "Ticks me off".
>
> Thus, it was interesting to read the article by William Jeanes in the
>February 27, 2006, issue titled "Al and Goliath. NASCAR'S first brush with
>'imports' ". Although the article is focused on Al Keller, an East Coast road
>racer, the participation of 'imports' revealed some interesting facts
>regarding our Healeys and other British cars. Following are some extracts
>from that article:
>
> "...Toyota's announcement of its 2007 entry into NASCARs Nextel Cup moved
>numberless trivia experts to note Toyota would not be the first overseas
>nameplate to run with the good ol boys. There have been at least eight
>interlopers, with Jaguar leading the pack...
>
> "On June 13, 1954, racing at the Linden Airport in New Jersey, a 43-car field
>produced three NASCAR milestones. One, it was NASCARs first road race. Two,
>Kellers win in the No. 4 Jaguar XK120 fixed-head coupe remains the only
>import win in NASCARs major seriesthen called Grand National. Three, because
>Keller had won on an oval in March at Oglethorpe Speedway in Savannah,
>Georgia, he became the first NASCAR pilot to win on both a road course and an
>oval in a single season. ..
>
> "Twenty-one import makes started at Linden, including Jaguar (13), MG (five),
>Austin-Healey (one), Morgan (one) and Porsche (one). Four Jaguars finished in
>the top-10 and five finished in the bottom-10. The Morgan finished 41st (in
>case youre wondering)...
>
> "NASCARs effort to reach out to the international community ended in 1958 at
>the Riverside Grand National race, where a pair of Citrokns, a Renault and a
>Goliath competed. The Citrokns finished 18th and 19th, and the Goliath
>finished 27th. The Renault posted a DNF. The Goliath, still running at the
>finish, might have been the last import to cross a NASCAR top-series finish
>line before Toyota does so next year...
>
> "Thanks to Toyota, the memory of Al Kellers Jaguar winand Goliaths lone
>appearancewill endure. "
>
>
> I asked Bill Emerson if he had this information in his book and he suggested
>that I put it on the list and perhaps someone will get an old newspaper report
>and we can see where the Healey finished (and who was driving? LJH).
>
>
>
> (The Other) Len
> Vacaville, CA
> 1967 3000 MKIII HBJ8L39031
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