Topic: Jim Khougaz Dry Lakes Roadster (Read 13989 times)

GregKhougaz · « **on:** June 04, 2009, 12:52:41 PM »

Trying to share some family history. My Uncle Jim Khougaz was a B-17 tail gunner over Italy in WW II. After the war, he became a well known "rodder." Here, he relaxes after a quick lakes run. At the July 16-17, 1949 SCTA Speed Trials at El Mirage, entered in the C Lakester class, with this channeled '32, Khougaz achieved a best-ever speed of 141.95 mph. Power was a 286-cid Flathead with a Winfield SU1A cam, Edelbrock heads, and four-carb manifold, backed by a three-speed, '40 Ford box with Zephyr gears.

GregKhougaz · « **Reply #1 on:** June 04, 2009, 12:53:49 PM »

Uncle Jim campaigned his '32 roadster successfully at El Mirage from 1946-1950. At first, it was a dual-purpose street and lakes car, but by 1949, with a tank full of methanol and a full bellypan, it could top 140 mph. Here, Khougaz streaks across the lakebed at El Mirage in a period photo that captures the excitement of lakes racing and preserves it for all time.

GregKhougaz · « **Reply #2 on:** June 04, 2009, 12:54:48 PM »

Like many lakes racers, Khougaz flat-towed his roadster to El Mirage. Safety chain (on ground) ensured the '32 roadster and tow car wouldn't part company. Although a channeled '32 wasn't as aerodynamic as a '27 T or a purpose-built lakester, with its smooth bellypan and other mods, this car came close. Its 141-plus-mph top speed was an impressive feat.

GregKhougaz · « **Reply #3 on:** June 04, 2009, 12:55:38 PM »

The sleek bellypan on the Khougaz '32 runs from the front frame horns all the way to the rear. Designed strictly for racing, and despite the louvers, the pan retains heat and the car tends to overheat quickly. At the lakes, it was another story. Runs were short and the pan maximized the car's aerodynamic efficiency. Dave Simard reproduced the bellypan from pieces of the original and period photos.

GregKhougaz · « **Reply #4 on:** June 04, 2009, 12:56:28 PM »

STREET RODDER Photo Editor Eric Geisert shot the ex-Jim Khougaz roadster out at El Mirage dry lake. Running on methanol, it hit 141.95 mph there at an SCTA meet in July 1949.

GregKhougaz · « **Reply #5 on:** June 04, 2009, 12:57:14 PM »

A roadster body on the Khougaz lakes car is channeled deeply over the '32 Ford frame and welded to the frame in front. Khougaz fabricated a neat fairing to mold the body into the framerails. That was a challenge for the painters who had to do some repainting after the body and frame were fused. The low silhouette still looks great today. Is channeling worth the effort? Jim Khougaz's lake times indicate yes.

GregKhougaz · « **Reply #6 on:** June 04, 2009, 12:59:03 PM »

Although most cars in his class were T roadsters, chosen for their svelte silhouettes, Jim Khougaz wanted to see how low he could get his roadster and be competitive. Today, its sleek silhouette marks it as one of the best-looking vintage lowboys ever built.

GregKhougaz · « **Reply #7 on:** June 04, 2009, 12:59:44 PM »

Dark brown interior contrasts neatly with this car's metallic blue exterior and cordovan wheels. A comfy bench seat permits three cozy passengers. Also to note is the '40 Ford column shift.

GregKhougaz · « **Reply #8 on:** June 04, 2009, 01:00:29 PM »

To improve high-speed aerodynamics, Khougaz fabricated an aluminum bellypan for his sleek roadster. It ran from the front frame horns under the full length of the car and ended in a smooth tailpanel.

GregKhougaz · « **Reply #9 on:** June 04, 2009, 01:01:16 PM »

Not content with simply pirating an Auburn dashpanel, Jim Khougaz cut the entire Auburn dash out of an old sedan, reversed it, and cut it down to fit snugly in his Deuce.

GregKhougaz · « **Reply #10 on:** June 04, 2009, 01:01:57 PM »

This Auburn panel, with 100-mph speedo, is from a straight-eight model; Auburn V-12s used 120-mph speedometers.

GregKhougaz · « **Reply #11 on:** June 04, 2009, 01:02:35 PM »

Note the SCTA timing tag. Khougaz kept the original; this reproduction commemorates the car's best time: 141.95 mph in July 1949.

GregKhougaz · « **Reply #12 on:** June 04, 2009, 01:03:34 PM »

A 286-cid Flathead in the Khougaz roadster runs a Lincoln-Zephyr distributor conversion, Edelbrock heads, 4-carb manifold (with four Stromberg 81s), and homemade headers. Inside, pop-up pistons, big valves, Johnson adjustable tappets, Lincoln valve springs, and a Winfield cam do the serious work. For the restoration, Mark Kirby and his talented crew at Motor City Flathead, Dundee, MI, built the engine.

Last summer in Monterey, Dr. Mark Van Buskirk sold the ex-Jim Khougaz dry lakes racing '32 Ford roadster for $385K at RM. I tried to go in with Dad to buy it but..... out of our league!!

Rooster · « **Reply #13 on:** June 04, 2009, 01:10:29 PM »

Nice piece of history, is the car still in the family?

TBird · « **Reply #14 on:** June 04, 2009, 01:10:48 PM »

Very Cool

miker · « **Reply #15 on:** June 04, 2009, 01:16:14 PM »

Awesome Greg!

GregKhougaz · « **Reply #16 on:** June 04, 2009, 01:18:33 PM »

Quote from: Rooster on June 04, 2009, 01:10:29 PM

Nice piece of history, is the car still in the family?

Oh how I wish. See #12 Sold for $385k in 2007 at the RM auction in Montery. It's up for auction again! http://www.rmauctions.com/FeatureCars-RW.cfm?SaleCode=RW09&CarID=r208&fc=1

Probably still out of my league. Guess I could sell the house...

ak · « **Reply #17 on:** June 04, 2009, 01:32:15 PM »

Nice, Solvang trip TOUR was right up your ally--AK

RidinRuby · « **Reply #18 on:** June 04, 2009, 02:00:14 PM »

Nice photos Greg, thanks for sharing

SBB · « **Reply #19 on:** June 04, 2009, 02:08:07 PM »

Quote from: GregKhougaz on June 04, 2009, 01:18:33 PM

Oh how I wish. See #12 Sold for $385k in 2007 at the RM auction in Montery. It's up for auction again! http://www.rmauctions.com/FeatureCars-RW.cfm?SaleCode=RW09&CarID=r208&fc=1

Probably still out of my league. Guess I could sell the house...

Greg

Just don't sell the SERG.
60 years from now it will be worth the same!

SBB

grandpadoc · « **Reply #20 on:** June 04, 2009, 04:53:10 PM »

Nice thread Greg. How did it initially get away from your dad ? Thinking back I guess thats a question we all can ask ourselves about neat stuff we've had in the past. Doc

TN · « **Reply #21 on:** June 04, 2009, 05:14:36 PM »

thanks for sharing.

TN

GregKhougaz · « **Reply #22 on:** June 04, 2009, 05:21:42 PM »

Uncle Jim had a minor crash in it (as I understand) and it sat stored in his shop from about 1951 until 2001. I had asked about it to no avail. He put it in Hemmings and Van Buskirk flew out from Indiana to buy it.

He did a great restoration as you can see. Dad and I got to sit in it at the Rodeo Drive Concourse in 2007. BTW that is a spectacular Father's Day event each year.

GregKhougaz · « **Reply #23 on:** June 04, 2009, 05:22:49 PM »

Father Erney and Van Buskirk with car in Beverly Hills.

charlie · « **Reply #24 on:** June 04, 2009, 06:04:49 PM »

great pics thanks for sharing.

Fired00d · « **Reply #25 on:** June 04, 2009, 06:06:20 PM »

Wow!!!! That is awesome thanks for sharing.

Ride Safe,
Fired00d

Trapperdog · « **Reply #26 on:** June 04, 2009, 07:38:44 PM »

Nice piece of family history greg, you're lucky to have the pics. Thanks for sharing. Roger

Jock · « **Reply #27 on:** June 04, 2009, 09:06:20 PM »

That's a hell of a ride...And what it was back in the day and now!

Gettinold · « **Reply #28 on:** June 06, 2009, 05:48:32 AM »

Thanks Greg

Enjoyed the trip back in time.

09S/E roadglide · « **Reply #29 on:** June 06, 2009, 08:43:44 AM »

Great car and a very cool slice of automotive history !

GregKhougaz · « **Reply #30 on:** October 30, 2009, 12:29:57 PM »

Thought I'd post an update here just in case anyone might be interested. Times have indeed changed and the car is not "fresh." The car sold at the RM Action at the Peterson Museum, Sept. 26 for $214,500. Still way out of my reach. RM Auction Results

LOT: 225

Estimate: $250,000-$350,000 US
Chassis No. 18155453
Offered Without Reserve
AUCTION RESULTS: Lot was Sold at a price of $214,500

bandit · « **Reply #31 on:** October 30, 2009, 01:54:35 PM »

Outstanding!! I could see and read about speed-car-history
for a long time. There is book world-record-vehicle from the
beginning (tried to translate), which I read in my holidays.
The history starts at 1898 and ends with 2000+. Great stuff,
great pics (ISBN 3-89602-527-9).

Bandit

Terriez · « **Reply #32 on:** October 30, 2009, 03:48:22 PM »

Very cool Greg a nice bit of history

sgchick · « **Reply #33 on:** October 30, 2009, 05:35:59 PM »

Missed this the first time around!! Great pics and facts on a cool car Greg. Nice pic of you and your Dad too

GregKhougaz · « **Reply #34 on:** October 30, 2009, 05:53:34 PM »

Thank you Ladies!

johnnymap · « **Reply #35 on:** October 30, 2009, 05:59:38 PM »

Way cool piece of family history. No one can take that away.

Thanks for sharing.

john

JoMo · « **Reply #36 on:** October 30, 2009, 08:17:36 PM »

Greg that is a great piece of history you must be, should be very proud!!!
Thanks for sharing.

Jo Mo NYC

Gettinold · « **Reply #37 on:** October 31, 2009, 04:43:08 PM »

I guess you'll be keeping the house for a while. Thx for the up date.

HDBaggerDave · « **Reply #38 on:** November 06, 2009, 12:19:36 AM »

Thanks Greg, I really enjoyed that!

Dave

jonga · « **Reply #39 on:** November 07, 2009, 06:43:14 PM »

Very cool thread Greg.... I missed it the first time. I'm glad for the update that allowed me to read entire story. Just one more reason I enjoy this site so much. All of our personal stories and adventures of families and friends make for some pretty interesting reading. What an awesome story to remember your uncle and your family by. I think all of us harley guys have some sort of gearhead in our family tree. I have these 2 pictures of my grandma on a harley and the other of grandpa and grandma on what appears to be a 1920-22 V-twin. Found these photo's after my father died..... he never mentioned his parents my grandparents riding...... just how much he was against me riding when I got my 1st minibike motor from my mothers father my fun grandpa that had the 1st corvette stingray on the roads in Oregon when they 1st came out. Damm could have bought it for 700.00 in 1973.....instead I bought his 1962 scout for 200.00 since I was moving up to snow country and thinking I was going to go to college......Hah, that didn't last.

Jon. Thanks again for the story Greg I enjoyed it......

GregKhougaz · « **Reply #40 on:** November 09, 2009, 01:02:06 PM »

Hey Jon,

That's a great story too! Thanks for sharing! Just think of the cool cars and bikes our relatives had.... Oh if we knew then which would be so coveted today. Wish I knew half the motor stuff my uncle did...

jonga · « **Reply #41 on:** November 10, 2009, 12:51:32 AM »

Kind of cool how we get to keep our memories and how this site brings them to mind.....

.... Jon

CVOMOE!! · « **Reply #42 on:** November 10, 2009, 02:28:40 PM »

Very cool car. It would be nice if you could get possession of it. I love the old uniform of the day. White T-shirets and jeans with rolled up cuff.

Regards, Moe

Hotrodstitcher · « **Reply #43 on:** November 10, 2009, 05:05:20 PM »

Greg, very familiar with your Uncle's car. Here's a picture of the car at the Grand National Roaster Show in San Mateo in 2003. Great car, just love these old history hot rods. Was lucky enough to be involved in the interior restoration of a few of them...Thanks for sharing...Sid

GregKhougaz · « **Reply #44 on:** November 11, 2009, 01:13:39 PM »

Sid, Thank you for posting! Great photo too!

GregKhougaz · « **Reply #45 on:** March 18, 2013, 12:20:25 PM »

Sad update to this thread. Jim Khougaz passed away earlier this month. Here is the Khougaz Roadster at Pebble Beach in 2007.

Gettinold · « **Reply #46 on:** March 18, 2013, 01:02:53 PM »

Sorry for your loss Greg! I remember when you posted this thread and have looked back on it a couple times. A true piece of art and history.

ultrarider123 · « **Reply #47 on:** March 18, 2013, 01:14:32 PM »

Sorry about your uncle, Greg. Saw your post and went back to the beginning.....wow. Saw he flew B17's in WWII. My step father, Robert Harwell, flew 69 missions over Germany in a B26 Marauders in WWII. What a generation. Thanks for sharing a bit of your family history with us.

GregKhougaz · « **Reply #48 on:** March 18, 2013, 01:28:48 PM »

Thank you for the kind thoughts. Jim had a great run. He was 88.

Quote from: Haird on March 18, 2013, 01:14:32 PM

My step father, Robert Harwell, flew 69 missions over Germany in a B26 Marauders in WWII. What a generation.

69! Two and a half tours! that is a very brave man. The term "greatest generation" is most accurate. I say that with no disrespect to any other generation.

ultrarider123 · « **Reply #49 on:** March 18, 2013, 01:40:15 PM »

Quote from: GregKhougaz on March 18, 2013, 01:28:48 PM

Thank you for the kind thoughts. Jim had a great run. He was 88.

69! Two and a half tours! that is a very brave man. The term "greatest generation" is most accurate. I say that with no disrespect to any other generation.

Greatest Generation....absolutely! Yep, out of those 69 missions, only shot down once over France. He has a book of his accounts and all his flight records. He just turned 90. Your uncle and my step father probably crossed paths along the way.

Eagle Eye · « **Reply #50 on:** March 18, 2013, 02:21:51 PM »

Quote from: Haird on March 18, 2013, 01:40:15 PM

Greatest Generation....absolutely! Yep, out of those 69 missions, only shot down once over France. He has a book of his accounts and all his flight records. He just turned 90. Your uncle and my step father probably crossed paths along the way.

That's an amazing survival story. Many didn't make it through the first tour, much less two 1/2.

Eagle Eye · « **Reply #51 on:** March 18, 2013, 02:23:18 PM »

Sorry to hear about your Uncle's passing Greg. I bet he was a great guy to sit and talk story with. RIP Uncle John.

sadunbar · « **Reply #52 on:** March 18, 2013, 06:28:26 PM »

Quote from: GregKhougaz on March 18, 2013, 12:20:25 PM

Sad update to this thread. Jim Khougaz passed away earlier this month. Here is the Khougaz Roadster at Pebble Beach in 2007.

My condolences...

MAT · « **Reply #53 on:** March 18, 2013, 07:59:13 PM »

Greg,
Very sorry for your loss, with out doubt your Uncle Jim led a great life. You have treasures in the Chest!

Author Topic: Jim Khougaz Dry Lakes Roadster (Read 13989 times)

charlie

Terriez

ultrarider123

ultrarider123