The subscriber cover of issue #53 features the Eddie Miller Lakester now owned by Don Ferguson Jr. The Ferguson family has long been associated with land speed racing both on the dry lakes and the Bonneville Salt Flats. Their participation spans three generations with Don Sr., Don Jr. and Don III, who is now President of the SCTA. Don Sr. was always on the hunt for old racing cars, engines and parts. One of his most important acquisitions, which he made back in the mid-70s, was the Eddie Miller Lakester. Don Ferguson Jr. and a crew of skilled craftsman completed a full restoration in time for the 2010 Pebble Beach Concours D’Elegance. Jim Miller is not only a noted hot rod historian, but is Eddie Miller Jr’s son as well and we felt it only fitting that he write the text for our article. He also supplied plenty of previously unpublished vintage photography.
The newsstand cover features Tom Venezia’s ’41 Willys. It just so happened that a trip to the East Coast to create material for this issue was necessary. We were able to pack three car features from three different states in to a ten-day thrash. We became aware of Tom’s ’41 Willys after the 2009 Jalopyrama where it was on display on the main floor. The Dayton, Maryland based Willys was built as a tribute to the original Gassers from the 1960s. It features a 6-71 blown, 4-port injected, 392 Chrysler Hemi, chromed tube axle, polished mag wheels and diamond pleat interior. We shot the coupe at The Baltimore Museum of Industry in Baltimore, Maryland, with the city’s harbor and skyline as the backdrop.
