Puzzle #1947 - Clem Front-Wheel-Drive Midget / Guy “Mac” McHenry

[Otto Puzzell]

Know the story? For 1 point, please respond below to identify the car and the driver.

Only complete answers will earn a point

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Thanks!

[Otto Puzzell]

Experts?

[Otto Puzzell]

...and Pros.

[Otto Puzzell]

The odd configuration of the car could help lead you to the identity of this guy ;)

[Wendax]

Is he a boxer?  :lmao:

[Otto Puzzell]

Clever lad

[Otto Puzzell]

The car and driver were both taken out of commission by separate accidents that didn't take place on a racetrack. While the engine may appear to be horizontally opposed, it is of the inline type, originally designed for aircraft.

[whcgt]

D.A. Clem # 13 front wheel drive # 13 midget. Driven by 1942 Westside Speedway Champion Guy "Mac" McHenry(pictured in the car). Powered by a Menasco engine.

[Otto Puzzell]

Correct!

[nicanary]

Who is this and what is the car?

[FrontMan]

Was it made from aircraft parts in the 1940s?

[nicanary]

Was it made from aircraft parts in the 1940s?

It was made in the 1940s, yes. I don't know whether any aircraft parts were used.

[FrontMan]

............was he in the auto industry?

[nicanary]

............was he in the auto industry?

The man sitting in the car did not build it. I just checked the internet, and amazingly there is still a company named after the builder which exists in the city where this car originated. I will accept either the driver of this car, or the builder, as the answer.

[nicanary]

Experts?

[Willie McCrum]

Looks French to me.  Some kind of Panhard-based device, although the heads don't look right.  There was a device called a Julien which had a similar rear suspension layout I think....

[nicanary]

Looks French to me.  Some kind of Panhard-based device, although the heads don't look right.  There was a device called a Julien which had a similar rear suspension layout I think....

Not French at all, I'm afraid.

[richard cuyler]

Jim Was Very Proud Of His New Creation And Luckily His Wife Never Did Discover What Happened To Her Vacuum Cleaner.

[tobytwirl]

looks to be a flat 4 engine, with no radiator, driving forwards - is it VW?

[nicanary]

looks to be a flat 4 engine, with no radiator, driving forwards - is it VW?

It's not a VW engine. I don't have any information about the transmission arrangements, only the make of the engine.

[D-type]

Steyr engine?

[nicanary]

Steyr engine?

No.

[tobytwirl]

is the engine from a known car manufacturer like lancia

[nicanary]

is the engine from a known car manufacturer like lancia

Not at all well-known. I have heard of the company, but they did not make engines for use in cars.

[Allan L]

We had a flat-four sidevalve industrial engine in the Thermo. Lab. at college which I think was made by Wisconsin so I'll be a bit more general and ask if the engine is a US-built industrial unit.