Thread: Ted Harbit and the Chicken Hawk crash

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Fortunately Ted's injuries are not life threatening but the famous 51 Studebaker that he has raced since 1961 is pretty much a goner. Details here:

http://forum.studebakerdriversclub.c...TOPIC_ID=28940

At 74 years old Ted is a pretty amazing guy and I'm sure will continue as a major influence in the Studebaker world.

Pat

Someone at the scene said a rod was punched through the pan, dumping oil under the rear tires.

Some of you know that NHRA is gettin' on the bandwagon with ballistic engine diapers and fabricated sheet metal pans with oil absorbent material in the pan. Diapers are required now at 7.49 on all cars and on Super Gas and Super Comp, who run on indexes of 9.90 and 8.90 respectively.

Sportsman diapers are available on ebay for around $130 and that small investment could possibly have saved the Chicken Hawk and Ted from injury.

Even cheaper than that, NHRA will accept a sheet metal pan that anybody can make up from scrap. Make it the width of the chassis rails on a digger and from the damper to the bellhousing with two inch tall walls. On a doorslammer, make it as wide and as long as you can under the car. Put some Pig Mat in the bottom and secure the mat with expanded to keep it from blowing out and you're good to go.

In my opinion, a rule should be instituted immediately mandating pans or diapers for any car with a roll bar or roll cage. That would take the rule down to 11.49 and would stop some of this foolishness.

Sure do hope Ted heals up fast! Having been through the drive thru your own oil deal a couple times, I do know what a ride it can be..... Aluminum tray under the car now, similar to what Tech described... Don't know if it works or not, haven't had one come apart with the tray there... Cheap and lightweight insurance against that guardrail to guardrail excitement, though....

Wow pretty lucky to survive that one. For those of you who haven't seen the chicken hawk here is a picture of before and after.

Sounds like great ideas for safety. For those not familiar, the Chicken Hawk was first raced in stock eliminator with Studebaker's 232 cu in OHV V-8. Ted won several National events in that configuration. In it's current configuration it had a twin turbocharged Studebaker V-8 somewhere around 299 cubic inches.

Pat

Here is a great article about Ted and the Chicken Hawk

http://www.hotrod.com/featuredvehicl...upe/index.html

Also apparently Ted has stated that the car was pulling hard at the time the accident happened. Some speculation is that one of the turbocharger oil feed lines may have come loose and that is what put oil on the track. The engine may have over-revved when the tires hit the oil causing the engine to grenade. If that is the case, he had a rev limiter on it but it evidently did not do it's job. Last report is he may be coming home on Thursday if his collapsed lung is staying sufficiently inflated. He is already talking about taking his R2 powered Studebaker Daytona to the Pure Stock Muscle Car drags in Martin MI in about 6 weeks. Hard to keep a good man down!

Pat

Good to hear Stu Cool!

Latest report from the Studebaker community is that Ted is now home and recovering. Not as fast as he would like, but recovering all the same. Closer look at the car has determined that the engine did not blow. It appears that the oil line to the right side turbo came loose and sprayed oil under the right side of the car. This is further evidenced by a trail of oil found for several hundred feet on the track. The track being slicked up combined with the high cross winds and the relative high profile of the Chicken Hawk certainly could also be a factor. There was not a rod sticking out of the pan as earlier reported, rather the steering bell crank was broken during the crash and was shoved into the pan from the outside. Ted has maintained that the motor was pulling strong throughout the run and he thought it was still runnning when he hit the guard rail. So perhaps the amazing motor will live to race another day, along with it's amazing builder.

Pat

ted is back racing this past weekend he was running in the 12.00s with a stock R-2/4-speed combo 63 lark at the all stock drags.check sdc for more details

Yes I saw that. Those are very impressive times, not far off the R3 Plain Brown Wrapper times. He said the traction was exceptional, they must have had some good air too. I think this event was at Muncie and he was getting ready for the Pure Stock Drags coming up in Michigan. Not may 1963 cars of any brand had that type of stock performance.

Pat