Oakdale Mall 2008
The 2008 winter show
season kicked off on
Thursday night, Feb. 28 with
a quick trip to the Oakdale
Mall in Johnson City. It was
a balmy night with the
temperature hovering
around zero and a nice cool
breeze just in case anyone
got too hot. At least the
roads were clear and the trip
went off without a hitch, at
least until we got to the mall.
My father's 'Teardrop ' car
was done just in time for the
show - the result of many
cold afternoons in his one
holer shop - and he did a
great job on it too. The car is
a tribute to John Manny's
original driven first by 'Irish'
Joe Donahue as the #49
through the 1960 and 1961
seasons. In 1962 Don
Diffendorf took over the
controls and ripped off 9
straight in the now
renumbered 9 coupe. When
Diff won his 10th in a row,
the car was renumbered
again and he rode the mount
to the '62 5MP
championship.
The replica has a 21 stud
flathead, '39 toploader
tranny and banjo rear. The
right rear is dual, like the
original (this was done at the
time to increase traction
prior to racing slicks) and of
course the body and frame
are '34 Ford. The car fired
right up in the cold, but
didn't like moving to well. A
hung brake gave us fits but
luckily member Gary Wood
was on hand to help push
and we finally got it in place
with some helping hands.
Actually did break a sweat
doing it, believe it or not.
On Saturday afternoon I met
with Joe Donahue Jr. and
Don & Shirley Diffendorf for
some photo opportunities
and to show them the car. It
was great seeing them all
again, and to meet brother
Bill as well as daughter
Sherry, son Don Jr.,
Marchie, etc. - there are a lot
of Diffendorfs in the area
and many of them made it to
see the car. As I arrived Ron
Hills from the RaceReport
was interviewing Don, then
we got down to looking over
the car and taking some
pictures. Joe Donahue Jr.
showed up soon after and
the bulbs were really
popping then. Don brought
along his All Star helmet and
Joe Jr. brought his fathers
original Triumph helmet as
well, it was just great, lots of
smiles and handshakes, and
quite a crowd gathered as
well. It re-affirms the
thought that there is a lot of
interest in the history of
local racing. Many younger
people had questions and
wondered if it would even
run, it does and sounds good
doing it. I'd have loved to fire
it up but figured it's get me
in a bit of trouble so I let it
lie. As we were finishing up
Carl Nagle stopped by and
the camera's came back out.
Truly a good time enjoyed by
all I could see. Now I'll let the
pictures do the talking and
get ready for my next trip
which is tommorrow to the
Saratoga Automobile
Museum to meet with Cliff
and Roy Kotary. We're going
to check out the Syracuse
Mile display which includes
Cliff's #90, he's bringing the
trophy he earned in 1963
with the car as well so it'll be
a great time again. I'll post
pics tommorrow night of that
event.
The 2008 winter show
season kicked off on
Thursday night, Feb. 28 with
a quick trip to the Oakdale
Mall in Johnson City. It was
a balmy night with the
temperature hovering
around zero and a nice cool
breeze just in case anyone
got too hot. At least the
roads were clear and the trip
went off without a hitch, at
least until we got to the mall.
My father's 'Teardrop ' car
was done just in time for the
show - the result of many
cold afternoons in his one
holer shop - and he did a
great job on it too. The car is
a tribute to John Manny's
original driven first by 'Irish'
Joe Donahue as the #49
through the 1960 and 1961
seasons. In 1962 Don
Diffendorf took over the
controls and ripped off 9
straight in the now
renumbered 9 coupe. When
Diff won his 10th in a row,
the car was renumbered
again and he rode the mount
to the '62 5MP
championship.
The replica has a 21 stud
flathead, '39 toploader
tranny and banjo rear. The
right rear is dual, like the
original (this was done at the
time to increase traction
prior to racing slicks) and of
course the body and frame
are '34 Ford. The car fired
right up in the cold, but
didn't like moving to well. A
hung brake gave us fits but
luckily member Gary Wood
was on hand to help push
and we finally got it in place
with some helping hands.
Actually did break a sweat
doing it, believe it or not.
On Saturday afternoon I met
with Joe Donahue Jr. and
Don & Shirley Diffendorf for
some photo opportunities
and to show them the car. It
was great seeing them all
again, and to meet brother
Bill as well as daughter
Sherry, son Don Jr.,
Marchie, etc. - there are a lot
of Diffendorfs in the area
and many of them made it to
see the car. As I arrived Ron
Hills from the RaceReport
was interviewing Don, then
we got down to looking over
the car and taking some
pictures. Joe Donahue Jr.
showed up soon after and
the bulbs were really
popping then. Don brought
along his All Star helmet and
Joe Jr. brought his fathers
original Triumph helmet as
well, it was just great, lots of
smiles and handshakes, and
quite a crowd gathered as
well. It re-affirms the
thought that there is a lot of
interest in the history of
local racing. Many younger
people had questions and
wondered if it would even
run, it does and sounds good
doing it. I'd have loved to fire
it up but figured it's get me
in a bit of trouble so I let it
lie. As we were finishing up
Carl Nagle stopped by and
the camera's came back out.
Truly a good time enjoyed by
all I could see. Now I'll let the
pictures do the talking and
get ready for my next trip
which is tommorrow to the
Saratoga Automobile
Museum to meet with Cliff
and Roy Kotary. We're going
to check out the Syracuse
Mile display which includes
Cliff's #90, he's bringing the
trophy he earned in 1963
with the car as well so it'll be
a great time again. I'll post
pics tommorrow night of that
event.
~ 3/2/08 ~
~ Thanks to Dif, Joe Jr., Ron, The Kotarys,
Mom and Dad for making this weekend great! ~
Mom and Dad for making this weekend great! ~