Cool and expensive vintage, open-wheel tether cars.

The vintage and collector race car market is going crazy right now. Ferrari's, Porsche's, Ford GT-40's, AC Cobras, Lancias, Alfa Romeo's and Mercedes Benz regularly, bring well over, or at least close to, a million dollars at auctions worldwide.

There is a bit more humble way to collect vintage race cars. Home-made and factory-made, gas -powered tether cars from the 1930's-1960's are really hot (and expensive) right now. Tether cars are gas-powered race cars that are NOT radio controlled. They raced on three types of flat, circular
tracks. Cable, rail, and a combination of cable and rail. The racers were in the center of the circle and controlled the tether line, turning counter-clockwise as the cars sped around the track. The cars were started by another guy that pushed them with a broomstick until they fired up. In addition to head-to-head racing there were timed events as well. The early cars were patterned after the open wheel, front engine monsters that raced at the Indianapolis 500.

Tethercar.net describes the early beginnings of the sport of tether car racing. "Racing of miniature cars powered by gas airplane engines started in California around 1937.  In the beginning the cars were home built with ashtray tires and primitive parts. They could reach speeds of around 40 MPH.  Soon clubs started to form, rules were drafted, tracks were spawned, and events planned.  The earliest cars were lovingly modeled to appear authentic with windshields, seats, steering wheels, gauges and sometimes even little drivers".

"Manufacturers started to spring up and produced both kit cars and factory built ready-to-race cars.  These cars were expensive for the day considering the depression had just recently ended.  Most factory built cars sold for around $20 - $30 with the most expensive being the B.B. Korn selling for $53.50 in Magnesium form.  Kit cars sold for as low as $10.  Prior to the war, cars reached speeds in the mid-70s for Protos and 100 MPH for cable streamliners.  Unfortunately, the hobby suffered like so many others during the second World War.  Most manufacturers went out of business because metals were shifted to the war efforts.  To my knowledge, The Dooling Bros. were the only one notable manufacturer that resumed operations after the war. After the war ended, manufacturers began to spring up once again.  Because of the war, there were new, light-weight materials to work with such as plastics, and fiberglass.  Most cars began to take on more streamlined looks and began to reach speeds of 100+ MPH. It has been said that the hobby came to a close due to the lack of fan participation.  The cars had become too fast and the fans could not longer view them.  The cars also lost their appeal when they took on a more streamlined appearance and no longer represented the real midget race cars of the day".

One of the early builders and promoters of the hobby was Tom Dooling. On the American Miniature Car Racing Association website Tom tell us how he got started.

"On a Sunday evening in the early part of 1937, my brothers and I were sitting around the fire in the living room, discussing the day's activities at the Los Angeles Model Airplane field. At that time I was an ardent model airplane fan, had a plane of my own, and like most amateurs in aero-dynamics, I managed to bring my plane home in pieces after each Sunday's flying.   This particular Sunday evening, the discussion came around to the possibility of building a miniature car powered by a small gas engine similar to the motor used in my airplane. Being like any other average American, I have always had the desire to tinker with gadgets of one sort or another, and this model car idea could not be passed up. The following week, with the aid of my brothers, we assembled our first car. This little buggy had the beauty and grace of a one-legged duck - and with all its ugliness. The basic principle proved a success, and we immediately started designs for a new one. Since that time, we have made several different models. The exact number, I have forgotten.  We attended the first miniature race car meet in Fresno, Calif., in April 1939. It was such a success; we decided to go to every model race car meet thereafter. My best speed on a flat track was made March 3, 1940, at an unofficial meet of the Wheel Twister Club, Van Nuys, Cal. I managed to turn the quarter mile at 63.83 miles per hour. With the same car, on the Los Angeles Speedway banked track a week later, the time for the mile was 61.9 miles per hour. Miniature cars have been a hobby that has furnished many pleasant hours of sport and entertainment. And this hobby has been the means of meeting a gang of wonderful sportsmen." 

 

Here are some examples of fine, vintage tether cars from the collection of tethercar.net, please visit this site it is all one guys collection. Click on photo to enlarge.

 

Tether car racing is gaining in popularity all over the world. Fancy covered arenas are now home for miniature car racing. All photos compliments of tethercar.net