Junkyard Emergency: 1934 Ford Tudor Race Auto Constitute Inwards Woods, Rescued
Deep woods dig for 1934 Ford. I constitute a ’34 Ford Tudor sedan race automobile stashed deep inward the woods of Alabama. Weathered lettering spells out “JACK MASSEY ‘THE DUDE’ of the SPEEDWAY” across the roof. The position out on the door, J-2, has almost been erased past times time. This slice of auto racing history deserved to live rescued. The Junkyard Life crew jumped into action. Follow us, simply brand certain you’re electrical flow on tetanus shots, receive got musquito repellent, as well as ophidian seize with teeth proof boots.
Why was I inward the woods?
Travis Brown, friend, fireman, as well as Ford loyalist, remembered stumbling upon some former cars spell searching for a missing elderly human inward the woods 1 night. After some prodding as well as permission to look, nosotros arranged to banking concern jibe out the long-forgotten stash of former cars. It was sometime in 2012, when Brown took me downwards a wooded hillside (we telephone phone it a “holler” inward the south), to notice a 1934 Ford Tudor, 1951 Ford Victoria, as well as a mangled VW bug. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 apartment caput V8 engine as well as diverse automobile parts as well as fighting metallic were constitute all around. How long had they been downwards inward those woods? I could solely guess… xl years, perchance longer?
Who owned the race car?
L.Z. Strickland or “Strick”, 1 time owned the belongings close the 4-way intersection known every bit Crosston. That solid reason is where Strickland unloaded a ’34 Ford that he had wrenched on with the Massey brothers from Locust Fork, Alabama. It’s possible that Strickland may receive got swapped the engine over to a newer body as well as injure upward with the former ’34 race automobile shell.
“L.Z. lived inward Tarrant but had his summertime house out inward the province for planting a garden. Had plans to movement out at that topographic point when he retired,” Patricia Rawlinson said. Rawlinson was married to Strickland’s son, Larry. “He kept upward a picayune garage as well as e'er had some cars to operate on.”
The elderberry Strickland never got to movement to the country. In 1977, at 61 years old, as well as less than 8 months from retirement, Strickland was crushed to decease spell working at States of America Pipe. His cars as well as tools sat untouched for decades. The cars at his summertime house out inward the province forgotten.
OK’d to rescue the car L.Z.’s daughter-in-law gave me permission to rescue the ’34. It took me five years to connect with her as well as larn written consent. The 11-acre belongings where the automobile sat never changed hands from the master copy family. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 percentage of the solid reason has been rented for many years but the automobile remained out of sight as well as hard to spot.
Note: Always larn permission to hunt for junk on soul else’s property.
Trapped past times time, tree roots
The former race car, lacking wheels as well as a bring upward end, had sunk into the earth as well as was losing a battle with nature. Several feet of tree roots grew along as well as into the bring upward frame rails. I dug around as well as nether the trunk for many hours over the course of report of several sweltering summertime months. When I reached the indicate where I could saw through the tree’s roots, the junked jalopy was finally free.
Next obstacle? Moving it. I cutting the surrounding trees downwards as well as jacked the automobile upward as well as sat it on blocks. My dad, Joe, as well as I managed to slide it several feet using metallic rails, blocks, as well as a chain as well as come-along. The railroad rails method was effective but was going to receive got forever, unless I could larn a automobile trailer downwards into the woods. The nearest navigable path was 300 yards away from the car.
Time to telephone phone the a recovery team!
I gathered the Junkyard Life crew, starting with Ron Kidd as well as Keith Lively. These guys are e'er upward for automotive peril at the drib of a hat. Keith rescued a 1969 Olds Cutlass S convertible from the scrapyard just earlier it hitting the crusher and Ron is drawn to cars similar a shaver to a lost puppy. He can’t say, “No!”
We needed to larn the automobile out, sooner rather than later!
Money Burner
Keith Lively, instigator of automotive mayhem, was the human for the job. Lively built a monster Jeep known every bit “Money Burner” that has a 6.0 liter LS engine, 43-inch tires, as well as a winch with its recovery tools. It has a TJ front end clip on a YJ bring upward which was extended into a 4-door past times stretching frame.
After ii days of chainsaw work, clearing somewhat of a path downwards into the holler. Lively as well as “Money Burner” navigated the steep hills, trees, stumps, as well as other obstacles, such every bit the discarded apartment caput Ford V8s inward the leaves with ease.
“The colina doesn’t await steep but trust me it was hard to walk upward as well as down,” said Lively. “The large amount of pino straw made the Jeep slide when I used the brakes.”
Ron Kidd as well as I assisted on the recovery past times using a massive pulley as well as the winch. We were able to fish the ’34 Ford betwixt trees. The process required pulling from a dozen unlike angles as well as directions. Lively cinched the ’34’s frame upward inward the air as well as dragged the vintage racer to freedom.
Who raced the car?
Jack Massey, whose mention is on the roof, was the cycle human on the ’34 Tudor. Jack as well as his brothers, Sam as well as Joe, also raced during the late-1940s through the 1950s. All 3 brothers, from Locust Fork, Alabama, were inducted into the Alabama Auto Racing Pioneers Hall of Fame several years ago.
“J-2 was Jack’s position out as well as my husband, Joe, e'er drove the J-1 number,” Anne Massey said. “We got married inward 1952. I never went to the races, but they raced at the Fairgrounds (B.I.R.) inward Birmingham on Sundays, the Iron Bowl, Crystal Springs, as well as inward Tennessee sometimes.”
Anne wouldn’t commit every bit to who was the best driver out of the 3 brothers. “They raced for the fun of it,” she said with a laugh.
Racing Pioneers disappear
The tough-as-nails men that raced the dirt tracks inward daredevil jalopies receive got disappeared. Jack was killed inward an auto accident spell driving an 18-wheeler inward Florida inward 1988. Sam succumbed to cancer inward the 1990s. Joe operated a wrecker companionship as well as died inward 2010.
The history of Alabama auto racing is rich as well as many stories are left untold. This automobile is a will to the racing community. Thousands of race automobile drivers, as well as mechanics were born inward the Birmingham, Alabama area. Hopefully this automobile tin smoothen a low-cal on those stories – thus they are non forgotten.
Jody Potter
— Junkyard Life
Know details most this former race car? Have a notice of your own? Send us the word as well as we’re on the way! Send emails to Jody Potter at junkyardbull@gmail.com or Ron Kidd at Kidd403@bellsouth.net.
 |
| Keith Lively’s domicile built “Money Burner” Jeep is to a greater extent than than capable of pulling a vintage 1934 Ford race automobile out of the woods. |
Why was I inward the woods?
Travis Brown, friend, fireman, as well as Ford loyalist, remembered stumbling upon some former cars spell searching for a missing elderly human inward the woods 1 night. After some prodding as well as permission to look, nosotros arranged to banking concern jibe out the long-forgotten stash of former cars. It was sometime in 2012, when Brown took me downwards a wooded hillside (we telephone phone it a “holler” inward the south), to notice a 1934 Ford Tudor, 1951 Ford Victoria, as well as a mangled VW bug. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 apartment caput V8 engine as well as diverse automobile parts as well as fighting metallic were constitute all around. How long had they been downwards inward those woods? I could solely guess… xl years, perchance longer?
 |
| Built past times the greatest generation as well as yet surviving after 40+ years inward the woods. |
Who owned the race car?
L.Z. Strickland or “Strick”, 1 time owned the belongings close the 4-way intersection known every bit Crosston. That solid reason is where Strickland unloaded a ’34 Ford that he had wrenched on with the Massey brothers from Locust Fork, Alabama. It’s possible that Strickland may receive got swapped the engine over to a newer body as well as injure upward with the former ’34 race automobile shell.
“L.Z. lived inward Tarrant but had his summertime house out inward the province for planting a garden. Had plans to movement out at that topographic point when he retired,” Patricia Rawlinson said. Rawlinson was married to Strickland’s son, Larry. “He kept upward a picayune garage as well as e'er had some cars to operate on.”
The elderberry Strickland never got to movement to the country. In 1977, at 61 years old, as well as less than 8 months from retirement, Strickland was crushed to decease spell working at States of America Pipe. His cars as well as tools sat untouched for decades. The cars at his summertime house out inward the province forgotten.
 |
| 1934 Ford as well as 1951 Ford Victoria sat at the bottom of a cry inward the woods of Alabama for to a greater extent than than xl years. This is how they looked when I outset saw them inward 2011. |
OK’d to rescue the car
Note: Always larn permission to hunt for junk on soul else’s property.
 |
| Moving the 1934 Ford Tudor was a challenge because of all the trees, roots, as well as difficulty moving a vehicle with wheels as well as a bring upward axle. |
Trapped past times time, tree roots
The former race car, lacking wheels as well as a bring upward end, had sunk into the earth as well as was losing a battle with nature. Several feet of tree roots grew along as well as into the bring upward frame rails. I dug around as well as nether the trunk for many hours over the course of report of several sweltering summertime months. When I reached the indicate where I could saw through the tree’s roots, the junked jalopy was finally free.
Next obstacle? Moving it. I cutting the surrounding trees downwards as well as jacked the automobile upward as well as sat it on blocks. My dad, Joe, as well as I managed to slide it several feet using metallic rails, blocks, as well as a chain as well as come-along. The railroad rails method was effective but was going to receive got forever, unless I could larn a automobile trailer downwards into the woods. The nearest navigable path was 300 yards away from the car.
 |
| My dad, Joe Potter, works the steel tracks into house every bit nosotros devise a conception to movement the 1934 Ford. He was quick to create a McGyver-like conception using the available resources. |
Time to telephone phone the a recovery team!
I gathered the Junkyard Life crew, starting with Ron Kidd as well as Keith Lively. These guys are e'er upward for automotive peril at the drib of a hat. Keith rescued a 1969 Olds Cutlass S convertible from the scrapyard just earlier it hitting the crusher and Ron is drawn to cars similar a shaver to a lost puppy. He can’t say, “No!”
We needed to larn the automobile out, sooner rather than later!
 |
| “Money Burner” is the ultimate junkyard rescue vehicle. LS 6.0 liter power, 1-ton axles, dual winches, onboard air compressor as well as welding capabilities. |
Money Burner
Keith Lively, instigator of automotive mayhem, was the human for the job. Lively built a monster Jeep known every bit “Money Burner” that has a 6.0 liter LS engine, 43-inch tires, as well as a winch with its recovery tools. It has a TJ front end clip on a YJ bring upward which was extended into a 4-door past times stretching frame.
After ii days of chainsaw work, clearing somewhat of a path downwards into the holler. Lively as well as “Money Burner” navigated the steep hills, trees, stumps, as well as other obstacles, such every bit the discarded apartment caput Ford V8s inward the leaves with ease.
“The colina doesn’t await steep but trust me it was hard to walk upward as well as down,” said Lively. “The large amount of pino straw made the Jeep slide when I used the brakes.”
Ron Kidd as well as I assisted on the recovery past times using a massive pulley as well as the winch. We were able to fish the ’34 Ford betwixt trees. The process required pulling from a dozen unlike angles as well as directions. Lively cinched the ’34’s frame upward inward the air as well as dragged the vintage racer to freedom.
 |
| Jody Potter as well as Ron Kidd steer the 1934 Ford clear of trees spell Keith pulled using a winch on the Jeep. |
 |
| Ron Kidd as well as the 1934 Ford await modest side past times side to Lively’s Jeep. |
 |
| The inset photograph shows cars on the Iron Bowl rails inward the belatedly 1940s. One of the tracks from the fourth dimension menstruum that Massey’s 1934 Ford raced. |
Who raced the car?
Jack Massey, whose mention is on the roof, was the cycle human on the ’34 Tudor. Jack as well as his brothers, Sam as well as Joe, also raced during the late-1940s through the 1950s. All 3 brothers, from Locust Fork, Alabama, were inducted into the Alabama Auto Racing Pioneers Hall of Fame several years ago.
“J-2 was Jack’s position out as well as my husband, Joe, e'er drove the J-1 number,” Anne Massey said. “We got married inward 1952. I never went to the races, but they raced at the Fairgrounds (B.I.R.) inward Birmingham on Sundays, the Iron Bowl, Crystal Springs, as well as inward Tennessee sometimes.”
Anne wouldn’t commit every bit to who was the best driver out of the 3 brothers. “They raced for the fun of it,” she said with a laugh.
 |
| Jack Massey e'er ran the J-2 position out when he raced. He raced for several years inward the Alabama region. |
Racing Pioneers disappear
The tough-as-nails men that raced the dirt tracks inward daredevil jalopies receive got disappeared. Jack was killed inward an auto accident spell driving an 18-wheeler inward Florida inward 1988. Sam succumbed to cancer inward the 1990s. Joe operated a wrecker companionship as well as died inward 2010.
The history of Alabama auto racing is rich as well as many stories are left untold. This automobile is a will to the racing community. Thousands of race automobile drivers, as well as mechanics were born inward the Birmingham, Alabama area. Hopefully this automobile tin smoothen a low-cal on those stories – thus they are non forgotten.
Jody Potter
— Junkyard Life
 |
| Junkyard Life recovery team, Jody Potter, Ron Kidd, as well as Keith Lively. The recovery trip lasted until past times dark. The 1934 Ford race automobile saga continues. Stay tuned. |
 |
| Safety equipment, such every bit this gyre bar, was unsmooth but necessary. The 1934 Ford was yet existence built with forest within the trunk shell for support. |
 |
| Dash inward the 1934 Ford Tudor race car. |
 |
| Inside the forgotten ’34 Ford circular tracker. |
 |
| Tape yet on the steering cycle of the 1934 Ford race automobile that has been sitting inward the woods for to a greater extent than than iv decades. |
 |
| 1934 Ford every bit I outset saw it almost five years ago. It was a long procedure to larn the automobile but worth it to salve a slice of history. |